November 10, 2008
Mesothelioma, an asbestos-linked cancer, has always been considered a death sentence because it takes so long to develop that it’s usually too late by the time it’s been diagnosed. For one man in Australia it has not been a death sentence.
An article in The Daily Telegraph reports that Stephen Bolon is the first Australian to be cured of mesothelioma. The break-through of this treatment of cancer has provided some new early detection tests and Stephen was one of the earliest people to take advantage of the tests. Lung biopsy showed no cancer but the soluble mesothelin-related peptide that measured raised levels in his body told doctors otherwise.
Stephen underwent surgery to remove his right lung, part of his diaphragm, part of his pericardium and his pleura, the thin covering that protects the lungs. That was followed by radiotherapy and two years later he is fit , healthy and cancer-free.
Respiratory physician Deborah Yates, of Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, said mesothelioma had an incubation period of 20-40 years so once it was discovered it was too late for meaningful treatment. “We are very cautiously excited,” said Dr Yates. “We see so many people dying from mesothelioma, it would be wonderful if this works, it really would.”
Because Australia has the the highest incidence rates of asbestos-related disease in the world, it is at the forefront of research into mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung.
Doctors hope to make early detection even easier and are working under a grant to develop a simple breath test for that purpose.
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Asbestos, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma, Treatment | Tagged: Asbestos, mesothelioma treatment, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma Lawyer, Mesothelioma News, The Daily Telegraph, St. Vincent's Hospital | 
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Posted by Dave Austin
September 10, 2008
Heather Von St. James has been free of mesothelioma for two and a half years since her radical treatment at a Boston Hospital. Von James believes that her mesothelioma was caused by her being exposed to her father’s work clothes when he worked at Ainsworth-Benning as a construction laborer. Many of the products he worked with contained asbestos. She would often get into his boots and coat to go outside and feed the rabbits.
Von James learned she was pregnant in 2004. She didn’t gain much weight, was short of breath and felt pressure under the left breast but figured this was part of being pregnant. After her daughter was born in 2005, she went back to work part-time but was exhausted. She attributed her exhaustion to being a new mother combined with going back to work. When she returned to full-time work, the pain in her chest was “like a truck was parked on my chest.” Her doctor ordered x-rays and blood work that showed fluid around her left lung.
She was sent to United Hospital in St. Paul where the fluid was drained and a CT scan was done. They found a mass the size of an orange so she had a needle biopsy done and, on November 21, 2005, she was told she had mesothelioma. Her options were 1) to do nothing and live for perhaps 15 months; 2) try radiation and chemotherapy or 3) go to Boston to see Dr. Sugarbaker at Brighams and Women’s Hospital.
She went to Boston and had radical surgery on February 2, 2006. The surgery removed her left lung, several lymph nodes, a rib, half her diaphragm and some of her heart lining. When she returned home in May she started chemotherapy every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. It’s been 2 years since she ended treatment except for periodic scans. So far she has been mesothelioma free.
Dr. David Sugarbaker, who heads the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, said Von St. James is a shining example of the progress he is beginning to see in the fight against a disease that traditionally carried a maximum survival of 12 to 18 months.
Von St. James claims she is cured and that she is a poster child that says there is hope even after such a diagnosis. Dr. Sugarbaker only will say that “right now in this present moment she is disease-free.”
Von St. James has filed a lawsuit against Ainsworth-Benning and others and is waiting for the court to set a trial date.
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Asbestos, Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma, Treatment, lawsuits | Tagged: Mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatment, mesothelioma lawsuit, Brigham and Womens Hospital, United Hospital, International Mesothelioma Program | 
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Posted by Dave Austin
March 2, 2008
Here is a lady who created a website about her family’s experience with mesothelioma.
A Webster woman whose husband died in 2006 at age 58 from mesothelioma has put together a Web site to help others cope with the rare cancer.
Patricia Gaglio’s husband, Mike Gaglio, was a sheet metal worker who was exposed to asbestos on construction projects; he also ran Mike Gaglio Photography in Webster.
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
“Those of us that have had to deal with it know that time is of the essence,” says Patricia Gaglio. Her husband traveled to New York City for chemotherapy, surgery and radiation; others go to Boston.
At http://meso-westernny.com, Gaglio has compiled travel information, mesothelioma resources, books and legal resources, and created an online forum where people can post questions and get support.
Source: DemocratandChronicle.com
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Lung Cancer, Mesothelioma, Treatment | Tagged: family help with cancer, Mesothelioma, support groups | 
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Posted by Dave Austin
February 19, 2008
An Abstract:
Standard tests of pulmonary function were carried out in 6o subjects exposed to asbestos dust for a prolonged period. The results of these tests have been correlated with the clinical and radiographic findings.
In 10 patients, while the chest radiograph was compatible with asbestosis, the dominant functional pattern was characteristic of airways obstruction. These subjects did not admit to symptoms of cough and sputum of greater severity or to heavier smoking than was found in other subjects with a restrictive ventilatory defect and no airways obstruction. Possible explanations for airways obstruction occurring in patients with radiographic evidence of asbestosis are suggested.
Source: ScienceDirect.com
No Comments » | Asbestos, Mesothelioma, Treatment | Tagged: Asbestosis, lung function testing | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
February 12, 2008
From Austrailia, this news story of a family taking a portion of the settlement they received and putting it to so good use.
The family of a man who died four months after winning a record $2.75 million payout from asbestos manufacturer James Hardie, has commemorated his death with a gift.Tim Lacone died last June aged 58 after a battle with the asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma.
His family has now donated $200,000 to a research fund established by his law firm, Slater & Gordon.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald
No Comments » | Mesothelioma, Treatment | Tagged: Australia, Mesothelioma, Research | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
February 10, 2008
Patients who underwent the more extensive treatment of radical decortication/pleurectomy in attempt to cure stage 3 pure epithelial mesothelioma appear to have significantly better outcomes than patients who had less extensive operations, according to a study presented here at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons 44th Annual Meeting (STS).
However, in reviewing 127 consecutive cases of patients who presented with stage 3 mesothelioma, Dr. Trousse found that the 57 patients who underwent radical decortication/pleurectomy had better overall survival at 1 year (83%) and at 2 years (73%) than did patients treated with alternative surgical techniques.
No Comments » | Mesothelioma, Treatment | Tagged: Mesothelioma, mesothelioma treatment, surgery | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
February 6, 2008
From a scientific paper I recently read:
Mesothelioma is predominantly a disease of men. The incidence in women remained much lower and was relatively stable over the study period. Women have been less often directly exposed to asbestos in the occupational setting but they are at risk when members of their family worked with asbestos.13 There is currently no evidence to indicate that a specific treatment leads to improved survival in mesothelioma patients.14 Our study did not show any major differences in survival across the cancer networks and provides no further advice about the choice of treatment that could lead to improved survival. Other studies have found that longer survival is associated with small epithelial type, node negative pleural mesotheliomas, aggressive surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy and or radiotherapy, and early stage disease, good performance status and good haematological status.9 14 15 Extrapleural pneumonectomy (removal of the pleura with the lung, pericardium and diaphragm) within multimodal treatment may be considered for patients with early stage disease, although there are no randomised trials of this treatment and complications have been reported.16 Studies have shown that the most common symptoms experienced by patients are pain, breathlessness, fatigue, appetite loss, insomnia and cough.17 18 Chemotherapy may improve some of these symptoms although not sufficiently to improve role function and at the expense of side effects. There is, however, evidence that some of these symptoms can be targeted for control using other methods. A multicentre randomised controlled trial of a nursing intervention to provide breathing control, pacing of activity, relaxation techniques and psychosocial support for patients with lung cancer or mesothelioma found improved breathlessness, performance status and emotional states in those receiving the intervention compared with controls.19 Despite some evidence of variation in treatment between cancer networks, there was no corresponding variation in survival.
Source: http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/63/2/160?rss=1
No Comments » | Mesothelioma, Treatment | Tagged: Mesothelioma Treatment and Symptoms | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
January 25, 2008
In the UK recently a decision was reached by NICE (The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) to allow more patients to have access to this drug, which can extend life expectancy and reduce symptoms. This is a good decision that will serve to really help families and patients dealing with mesothelioma.
(NICE) issued guidance on Alimta(R) (pemetrexed), the only licensed treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma - a form of lung cancer resulting from exposure to asbestos. Alimta is recommended only in patients who have WHO performance status of 0 or 1, who are considered to have advanced disease and for whom surgical resection is considered inappropriate.
Following a two-and-a-half year approval process, which included two appeals, the guidance means that primary care trusts (PCTs) will be able and obliged to fund pemetrexed for all NHS patients with mesothelioma for whom the treatment is suitable. The most recent appeal has been dismissed on all counts.
It was hoped that access to this treatment across England, Wales and Northern Ireland would consistently be available last year when, following a lengthy review process, NICE made a landmark decision to change its position and recommend Alimta for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma[1] . However, appeals were submitted against the NICE recommendation and the process was subsequently further delayed by several months. Such delays are significant for patients with mesothelioma who have a life expectancy of between only 8 and 18 months[2]. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, Alimta can increase life expectancy and bring symptom relief and improved quality of life.[3]
View the full Press release at MedicalNewsToday.com
No Comments » | Asbestos, Mesothelioma, Treatment | Tagged: asbestos treatment, cancer, Pleural mesothelioma | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
January 21, 2008
From CNNMoney.com:
Par Pharmaceutical Companies Inc.’s (NYSE:PRX) proprietary products division said Tuesday it has acquired the exclusive licensing and commercialization rights to Onconase from Alfacell Corp. (NASDAQ:ACEL)
Onconase is a drug used in the treatment of inoperable malignant mesothelioma currently in Phase III development.
Basically just an announcement as to an exchange of rights in marketing this drug.
Source: CNN.com
No Comments » | Mesothelioma, Treatment | Tagged: mesothelioma drug, mesothelioma treatment | Permalink
Posted by Dave Austin
