Posts Tagged mesothelioma treatment
Finding a Mesothelioma Doctor: Tips for Choosing the Right Doctor after a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Posted by in Uncategorized on March 8th, 2010
After you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, choosing which mesothelioma doctor you will trust your care to is one of several important decisions that must be made. The tips below offer guidelines for finding a mesothelioma doctor who can meet your needs, ensure that you get the best possible care, and help you through this difficult time.
Tip 1: Choose a Doctor who has Experience Treating Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure Cases
Mesothelioma is a relatively rare disease and not all doctors are knowledgeable regarding asbestos exposure, diagnosing mesothelioma cancer, and the types of mesothelioma treatment. It is important for mesothelioma patients to find a doctor who has experience treating patients with this disease, particularly if they are interested in exploring some of the newer and non-traditional forms of mesothelioma treatment. There are several ways that you can find mesothelioma doctors, including the following:
Ask your primary care physician to refer you to a mesothelioma specialist.
Contact a cancer organization such as the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation or the American Cancer Society and ask if they can provide assistance.
Speak to friends, family members, or coworkers who have dealt with a mesothelioma diagnosis and ask if they can recommend a doctor.
Keep in mind that every mesothelioma case is different and every patient has their own unique set of needs and concerns. You may have to consult with several mesothelioma doctors before you find one that you are comfortable with.
Tip 2: Ask the Right Questions to Find Out About Your Mesothelioma Doctor’s Background
Before choosing a mesothelioma specialist, you should talk to the doctor and ask questions in order to learn about his or her background and qualifications. This can also help you get a sense of the doctor’s personality and character. Listed below are three questions that you can ask a mesothelioma doctor to find out about his or her experience:
What kinds of mesothelioma treatment options can you provide?
How many cases of mesothelioma cancer have you treated in your career?
What kind of specialized education, training, and certification have you received related to mesothelioma and asbestos cancer?
It is important to find a mesothelioma doctor who you trust to provide the highest level of care possible. You need to be comfortable communicating with your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have regarding your mesothelioma treatment. It can be very helpful if your family has a good relationship with the doctor as well, particularly if your family members are taking an active role in your treatment.
Liz Ryan is a Writing and Content Specialist for IQ Mesothelioma. Visit IQMesothelioma.com to learn more about Choosing a Mesothelioma Doctor and search our national mesothelioma doctor directory to find a mesothelioma specialist in your area.
Article Source: Finding a Mesothelioma Doctor: Tips for Choosing the Right Doctor after a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Mesothelioma Latest: New Mesothelioma Treatment discovered in Australia
Posted by in Uncategorized on February 17th, 2010
Nothing can be better than this! Yes I mean it. Can you believe a new mesothelioma treatment has been discovered in Australia? The effectiveness of this treatment is definitely a ray of hope for the several people who are waiting for a miracle to happen.
What is the new mesothelioma treatment?
It is Dr. Malcom Feigen from the Austin Health Centre, Victoria, Australia who is behind this discovery. It has been seven long years of effort that has made is possible. A Radiation Oncologist by profession he has been into the research for mesothelioma treatment methods. The treatment is about providing a high dosage of radiation in treating mesothelioma, which has shown impressive results that include increased years of life without mesothelioma attack and lower chances of getting it back.
In his research Dr. Malcom tested his research on 13 patients who had already undergone chemotherapy or surgery. Those who had undergone only radiotherapy showed recovery, but with greater chances of the disease repeating. The outcome of the research is that only a combination of treatments proved effective, than any one. This combination effect included a high dosage of radiotherapy regiment. The best about the introduction of high dosage radiotherapy is that the patients who had undergone the treatment where benefitted with lower side effects and long lasting benefits.
The real benefit of new radiotherapy treatment is that it keeps cancerous tumors suppressed. The conclusion is that those who had been treated with high dosage of radiotherapy, found additional benefits from the other treatments they had undergone. This important finding of combination treatments, was effective in not only making a person live atleast two years longer but has also increased the chances of new discoveries happening in the medical parlance of the disease, that will completely cure the disease. Radiation has an important role to play in treating mesothelioma cancer and benefits are far reaching and long lasting.
Mesothelioma Latest: New Mesothelioma Treatment discovered in Australia
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Getting Advice from your Mesothelioma Doctor
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 19th, 2010
Being diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer is serious. As a life threatening disease, Mesothelioma cancer should be handled with care. Not only is it about the medical treatments you will undergo, but also the mental trauma. Hence, it is important to learn some important information about the disease and the ways to handle it.
What you should ask your Mesothelioma Doctor?
Getting the advice and medical support of your medical practitioner is important in order make sure your progress is along expected lines. You need to know:
* What is the nature of my Mesothelioma cancer?
* What is the specific reference used to describe my problem?
* What is the stage of my cancer?
* What is the life expectancy of my disease?
* Is my Mesothelioma disease in a curable stage?
* Can you explain the treatments and their course applicable to my stage of Mesothelioma?
* What is your area of experience in treating Mesothelioma cases?
* How comfortable are you in treating my Mesothelioma stage of cancer?
* Can you name the specific mesothelioma treatment applicable to my stage of the disease?
* What is the course of this treatment and how long will it take to complete the course?
* Are there any specific side effects I will come across during the course of my treatment?
* What is the possible outcome of the treatment recommended?
* What will happen to my disease and what kind of a relief can I expect?
* Where can I have my treatment done and will you perform the treatment?
While these are an illustrative set of questions you could ask your medical advisor, nothing can stop you from listing anything that comes to mind. It is definitely better to list your questions before hand, so as not miss them while talking to your doctor.
Getting Advice from your Mesothelioma Doctor
Article Source: Getting Advice from your Mesothelioma Doctor
Dealing with Mesothelioma in the Family
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 15th, 2010
When a family member has Mesothelioma, it can be incredibly difficult on all members of the family. Often the victim goes from being relatively healthy to being in critical condition very rapidly. It is very important to understand as much about how to deal with this disease as a family as it is to understand the disease itself.
The Disease
Mesothelioma is a form of asbestos cancer which affects the lining of the lungs, stomach or heart. The common symptoms for the disease are breathlessness, pain in the chest and in the rib cage. If your family member has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, based on the stage, they need to have some form of mesothelioma treatment and understand that there is no cure. When considering treatment, they need to consider various aspects like:
* Benefits of the treatment
* Insurance coverage
* Payment modalities
* Logistics
* Side effects of the treatment
The Role of the Family
When a family member is diagnosed with Mesothelioma, it results in a great amount of stress to all the family members as each member wants to get answers for all their questions related to the disease, its effects and the future of the family. It is advised that families seek the help of support groups who help in dealing with the stress as well as the effects of the disease. Along with the patient, the family members also feel helpless and face emotions of anger, sorrow as well as confusion.
The family members need to be prepared to deal with all these aspects of the disease and its treatment. If they decide to not have any form of treatment, they need to be prepared to tolerate the pain using painkillers or other palliative treatments. Patients and their family members need to start making arrangement for the future of their family by developing wills, estate planning and trusts. The family should also hire a capable Mesothelioma attorney to file a lawsuit against the asbestos manufacturers or the employer that allowed exposure to the deadly asbestos resulting in the disease.
Coping with the Disease
The family members are usually keen to help the patient but they also have to focus on matters related to finances and generating compensation through a Mesothelioma lawsuit. The most important thing to do while a family member is suffering from this disease is to learn to cope with the disease. The family members can help the patient by just being around, being supportive, being caring and compassionate. They need to also gather the maximum information about the disease deal with misconceptions.
If the patient is in final stages of the disease, it is better to seek the help of hospice care. People working for hospice care are trained specifically to take care of people who are facing the end of life and being a support to the families as well as friends. The hospice care givers also train the members of the family in different ways to take care of the patient and make the rest of their life as comfortable as possible.
The family members of the patient suffering from Mesothelioma are so emotionally affected that they are considered “secondary patients” due to the strain on their lives. While the patient is treated for the disease, the caregivers also need to take care of themselves. They need to focus on their diet and nutrition, get adequate rest and take time for recreation to get able to take care of the patient better.
New Mesothelioma Research – What Are My Survival Chances?
Posted by in Uncategorized on January 2nd, 2010
The survival rate for mesothelioma patients about twenty years ago was less than one year from the time of diagnosis, but with early detection and aggressive treatment mesothelioma patients are living longer that predicted. With new developments and ongoing research mesothelioma sufferers are gaining more hope about their treatment and longer life expectance.
Nature of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a disease caused by exposure to asbestos. In most cases symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear for decades after initial exposure to asbestos. Because it is not detected until it has reached its later stages makes it very difficult to treat. The symptoms of mesothelioma are often mistaken for other common diseases such as influenza or phenomena because the symptoms are so similar and those suffering from this disease may not even realize that they have developed mesothelioma.
Longer Survival Chances for Mesothelioma Patients
There are new tests which was developed over the years that aid in early detection of mesothelioma. Most of these tests have helped mesothelioma patients lead a more comfortable and longer life. There have been reports of a number of mesothelioma patients who have even survived past their predicted survival date. In some cases a number of patients have been cured of this disease due to early diagnosis and aggressive mesothelioma treatment. Researchers believe treatments that improve the immune system can stabilize and even cure mesothelioma.
Over the past years more and more mesothelioma survivors are beginning to speak out about this disease and sharing their stories about how they overcame it. Below are two exciting stories about mesothelioma survivors and what they are doing to fight this disease. These survivors are providing hope for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones.
Paul Kraus, an Australian mesothelioma survivor was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1997. According to Mr. Kraus he developed mesothelioma about 35 years earlier where he was exposed to asbestos working in a factory. He has been very outspoken about his disease and decided to do whatever it takes to fight this cancer. He became a vegetarian and started taking vitamins and nutritional supplements to his daily diet. He also tried a treatment known as ozone therapy which was a very effective treatment. Kraust believe that a combination of all the therapy, drugs and change in diet helped to stabilize his mesothelioma. According to Kraust’s doctor he is disease free and could continue living for a long time.
Rhio O’Connor is another mesothelioma survivor who recently published a book about his ordeal with mesothelioma. He recommends alternative treatments instead of the traditional medicine, surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Mr. O’Connor stated that he has lived with mesothelioma for seven years. He decided not to undergo the traditional treatment of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Instead he decided to develop his own regimen with the help of several expert physicians. His regimen included to drastically change his diet. He also adds to his daily diet 100 nutritional supplements and daily mediation among others.
American Cancer Society Statistics on Survival Rate of Mesothelioma Patients
According to mesothelioma statistics published by the American Cancer Society, the five-year relative survival rate for patients with mesothelioma is approximately 10 percent and that number has improved within the last five years, up from 9 percent reported at the end of 2002. In addition recent studies show that the one-year survival rate is now about 40 percent, a number that has also increased in the past five years – there is hope for mesothelioma patients.
New Mesothelioma Research – What Are My Survival Chances?
Article Source: New Mesothelioma Research – What Are My Survival Chances?
Sirolimus – A Brand New Addition to Mesothelioma Treatment
Posted by in Uncategorized on December 30th, 2009
Mesothelioma treatment improved with addition to Sirolimus treatment. This is wonderful news for mesothelioma patient because of its anti-proliferative effects; sirolimus is now being looked at for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma and a number of other cancers.
After being diagnosed with mesothelioma it is natural to experience a whirlwind of emotions. This lethal disease can definitely turn your life upside down, but rests assure that researchers are working night and day to find a cure for you!
Researchers at the Boston women’s hospital report that the immune suppressant drug called Sirlimus is an effective mesothelioma treatment. According to the researchers working at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston they saw greater success when using sirolimus along with cisplatin than they did when using cisplatin alone.
What Is Sirolimus?
Sirolimus also known as rapamycin is an immunosuppressant drug which is typically used to prevent rejection of organ transplantations especially in kidney transplants. Sirolimus has an anti-proliferative effect which makes it an effective treatment option for mesothelioma.
Benefits of Sirolimus
It is believed that the benefits of sirolimus could make it easier to treat certain cancers. Sirolimus acts as an inhibitor in the development of certain proteins that affects the cell survival and cell growth among others. The researchers also stated that upon observation of combination of sirolimus and cisplatin “Sirolimus appears to enhance the cytotoxicity of cisplatin in malignant pleural mesothelioma cell lines through the mammalian target rapamycin pathway. These results provide a basis for the clinical evaluation of combined sirolimus and cisplatin chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma.”
Precautions & Warnings When Taking Sirolimus
According to research, before taking sirolimus you should follow these guidelines:
* Let your doctor know if your are allergic to any medication
* Give your doctor a list of medication (prescription or non prescription) including vitamins nutritional supplements, herbal products and make sure you let your doctor know if you are taking amphotericin B, antifungals, ketoconazole, bromocriptine, cimetidine, HIV protease inhibitors, seizure medication, Phenobarbital, metoclopramide, rifabutin, verapamil or any other medication. Your doctor will need this information to prescribe appropriate dosage of your medication or to monitor for any side effects.
* Let your doctor know if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or breastfeeding.
* Tell your doctor if you suffer from high cholesterol or triglycerides of liver disease.
It is best to disclose any health conditions and medications to your doctor before taking sirolimus.
Are There Any Side Effects Caused By Sirolimus?
Possible side effects of Sirolimus are:
* Headache
* Constipation
* Back pain
* Diarrhea
* Weight loss
* Fever
* Weakness
* Vomiting
* Stomach pain
There are other serious side effects which are uncommon, but if you experience pale skin, shortness of breathe of unusual bleeding or bruising you should call your doctor immediately.
The most frequently recommended treatments for pleural mesothelioma patients has been chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery or a combination of two or more of these types of treatment and medication. But with sirolimus, this new addition will significantly improve the lives of mesothelioma patients.
These clinical researches are making advancements in the treatment of mesothelioma. Patients suffering from mesothelioma are volunteering to receive the newest development in mesothelioma treatment in the hopes of finding a cure for this disease. We hope that one day there will be a cure for this lethal disease.
Sirolimus – A Brand New Addition to Mesothelioma Treatment
Article Source: Sirolimus – A Brand New Addition to Mesothelioma Treatment
Survival Rate of Mesothelioma
Posted by in Uncategorized on November 23rd, 2009
Individuals between the age group of 50 and 70 years are more likely to get the disease due to the long latency period. However, a survey conducted in 2007 revealed that the disease affects more people between the age group of 30 to 40. Based on industry and occupation, statistics indicate that people working in industries such as construction, railroad, shipyard, manufacturing and automobile industries are likely to be exposed to asbestos, with the construction industry having about 1.3 million people being exposed to asbestos.
The statistics on the study of mesothelioma also indicates that the life expectancy of people with the disease to be at least one year. However, with early detection and aggressive mesothelioma treatment, the life expectancy may increase up to two to five years. Studies also indicate mesothelioma can be a silent killer as the symptoms associate with the disease lies inactive in the body for very long periods ranging between ten to fifty years. As symptoms are likely to appear only in the later stages of the disease, this reduces the survival chances of the patient.
Mesothelioma Survival Rates
The disease is hard to detect as symptoms take the form of a simple upset stomach or simple breathlessness. As result, the disease is already in an advanced stage when finally diagnosed. This leaves them with just over a year left to live at this stage in spite of getting the best treatment possible.
Even though mesothelioma statistics have shown that it has been active over the past 100 years, records of the average survival rate of patients’ dates back to just 20 years. The study also revealed that the survival period for this type of cancer is within one to five years following a diagnosis. For those diagnosed between 1998 and 2002, the survival chance for these individuals is about 9%. Some of the factors that affects mesothelioma survival rate are:
* The early detection of the disease
* The complexity of the disease
* Size of the tumor
* If the tumor can be removed via surgery
* The quantity of fluid in the chest or abdomen
* The age and general health of the patient
* The type of cancer cells
For the pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, the survival rate is under a year. However, mesothelioma specialists believe that the survival period is longer despite findings derived via clinical trails. According to various medical literatures, the average survival rate is between 4 to 18 months. The survival rate for people diagnosed and treated in the earlier stages of the disease is not very clear and the timeframe can differ from person to person.
Mesothelioma Research
Extensive Mesothelioma research is undertaken by many organizations. Various companies using asbestos are also initiating their own research. This is because more and more people diagnosed with the disease are seeking compensation, and has resulted in these companies paying out huge amounts of money. The National Institute of Cancer is also conducting continuous mesothelioma research on the cause, symptoms, diagnosis as well as the cure and treatment of the disease.
Due the increase in demand for representation of patients seeking compensation, many law firms are also conducting their own research to understand more about the disease. Drug companies, research groups, and government organizations with the hope of bringing about a cure for the disease as well ways of increasing the survival rate among the patients usually provide funding for ongoing research.
Check this link
http://mesoblog.org/blog/mesothelioma-average-survival-rate/
Life Expectancy of Mesothelioma Patients
Posted by in Uncategorized on October 10th, 2009
In evaluating the life expectancy of mesothelioma patient, you need to take into consideration number of factors as every patient has a completely different case. Because scientists are working overtime to come up with a new treatment routine, there is no surprise that life expectancy of mesothelioma patients are increasing. For mesothelioma patients, the average life expectancy is in the range of five to eighteen months.
Factors you need to take into Consideration
* Disease stage
* The diagnosis point
* Kind of mesothelioma you are suffering from. It includes localized mesothelioma and advanced mesothelioma.
* Your age
* Your overall health
* Kinds of treatment feasible for you
Stage of Mesothelioma Cancer
The mesothelioma cancer stage can give you a clear sign of how long you are going to live. As the mesothelioma symptoms in an initial stage are quite identical to other common ailments, there is always a possibility of mesothelioma patients not getting proper diagnosis. By the time disease is discovered, it has already entered the advanced stage which is not easy to treat and therefore much less life expectancy.
At this moment of time, there is no real cure available for mesothelioma cancer but with the help of various mesothelioma treatment routines, mesothelioma patients can increase their life expectancy especially if diagnosed early on in the piece. Contact mesothelioma centers immediately if you think that you have been exposed to asbestos. In these centers, you will get all the necessary details regarding testing for initial mesothelioma stages.
Early Detection and Aggressive Treatment
Recent study has come to the conclusion that two of the most important factors in increasing the life expectancy of mesothelioma patient are early detection and aggressive treatment. With aggressive treatment, life expectancy of mesothelioma patients can be increased by more than two years. For early detection of mesothelioma, it is quite important that you do not wait for symptoms to start making its presence felt.
Latency period and Mesothelioma
Unlike other forms of cancers in which symptoms surface quickly, mesothelioma symptoms can lay dormant in the body for more than thirty years. This long latency period quite a number of times result in a delayed diagnosis. In lots of cases, the diagnosis is made when the disease has reached advanced stage. This makes the whole mesothelioma treatment exercise ineffective. Patients diagnosed in advanced stages are going to get palliative treatments which are much more comfortable in nature but are not that effective in curing the disease.
Smoking
According to latest research, smoking can reduce the life expectancy rate of people diagnosed with mesothelioma. Therefore, it is quite important that you get rid of your smoking habits once you are diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Treatment options for Mesothelioma Patients
With regard to treatment options, you can go for radiation, chemotherapy and surgery. Before taking any decision, it is always better that you interact with your health care provider first.
http://mesoblog.org/blog/life-expectancy-mesothelioma-patient/
New Hope for Mesothelioma Treatment
Posted by in Uncategorized on June 15th, 2009
A new treatment protocol for mesothelioma has yielded impressive results in the first patient of a Nashville-based clinic, NeoPlas Innovation.
The patient, a woman aged 40+ who caught mesothelioma for being exposed to asbestos in her childhood, underwent this new treatment, when standard treatments for mesothelioma couldn’t stop or slow the progression of her cancer.
Introduced by NeoPlas Innovation, the new mesothelioma treatment protocol, where interferon and lovastatin were used in combination, led to a significant clinical improvement in the patient, and the cancer got stabilized. CT scans revealed that the largest of the tumors had substantially regressed in size.
The same treatment protocol has also yielded promising results in combating various other aggressive cancers, researchers noted.
“These are early results from one patient, so no conclusions can be drawn yet,” says, in a press release, Dr. Stephen B. Cantrell, director of research at NeoPlas Innovation, adding, “Mesothelioma is so relentless and uniformly fatal, though, that being able to stop its growth and spread is very exciting.”
Lovastatin, a drug used for reducing lipid level in humans, has significant effects against mesothelioma cells, according to the previous research. Keeping this in account, researchers at the NeoPlas Innovation introduced a precisely timed regimen for mesothelioma, by combining lovastatin with low-dose interferon.
The new mesothelioma treatment was well tolerated, and the only adverse reaction found after the treatment was fatigue, the researchers noted.
“The key to moving from the lab to success in humans has been taking a fresh look and finding the right medicines to combine,” Dr. Cantrell comments, in the press release, adding: “When we have administered a precisely timed regimen of low-dose interferon with lovastatin, the results have been surprising.”
Dr Sanjit Bagchi is a physician and an eminent health writer. He runs a blog on Useful Health Snippets. This Article is brought to you by http://healthsnippet.blogspot.com.
