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Month: February 2016

Wishes and Gifts to a Patient Traveling for Mesothelioma Treatment

Many people have to travel for mesothelioma treatment, doctor appointments, clinical trials, and events.  Oftentimes, you would like to send something along with them to make the trip a little more comfortable, but you’re not really sure what that should be.

Here are a few ideas:

  • Why not send along some comfort in the form of slippers, a robe, or a pair of pajamas? Whether your loved one is in the hospital or a hotel, it’s always nice to get cozy and relax.
  • Send something to keep their mind occupied like a puzzle book, music, or a novel. I know that for me, my mind can be my own worst enemy at times. These items could help them keep busy and forget about the mesothelioma for a while.
  • It’s always nice to have some words of encouragement; sending a card or letter can make someone’s day. When my Dad was in the Hope Lodge, his cousin would mail jokes from time to time. Dad always enjoyed that – the laughter coupled with knowing that he was being thought of made him smile.
  • Send some snacks along! Before doing this, be aware of their appetite and eating habits. Some treatments might cause their favorite foods to be not quite so appetizing.

If you don’t know what could be useful to your friend or family member, simply ask!  Tell them you would like to give them something to help on their trip and see if they have anything in mind.  If not, just get creative!  Your thoughtfulness will make all the difference!  (And don’t forget about their caregivers!)

cola may improve the absorption of the drug

Drinking Cola to Increase Anti-Cancer Drug Absorption for Mesothelioma

Oncologists know that a mesothelioma patient’s survival can be greatly increased by selecting a therapy that targets a specific genetic mutation, or biomarker, in the patient’s tumor. Patients with mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor protein are often treated with the anti-cancer drug erlotinib (Tarceva). However, often times the cancer fights back hard and survives despite the demonstrated effectiveness of the therapy. Now, researchers report that lung cancer patients who drink a cola may improve the absorption of the drug.

According to a study from the Netherlands, the correct balance of pH in the stomach can make a difference in the absorption of erlotinib. But, for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease or who take corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and are given proton pump inhibitors (PPI), like esomeprazole, that balance can be disrupted. The pH level increases with esomeprazole, but when cola was consumed the acidic level helped bring the pH back down to a level where erlotinib was effectively absorbed.

In a study of patients with non–small-cell lung cancer who were given erlotinib and a PPI the mean absorption increased by 39 percent in patients who drank cola. Patients who were not receiving PPIs but still drank a cola did not see a difference.

The researchers concluded, “Cola intake led to a clinically relevant and statistically significant increase in the bioavailability of erlotinib during esomeprazole treatment.”

Erlotinib, an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), works by blocking the activity of the EGFR tyrosine kinase enzyme, preventing the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow, and, potentially, killing cancer cells.

Mesothelioma and lung cancer treatments are often similar. In addition to erlotinib, other kinase inhibitors used to treat mesothelioma and lung cancer include gefitinib and dasatinib. The researchers believe the results of this study will translate to these other TKI’s as well. Additional research needs to be conducted for confirmation.

Kinases function as drivers for numerous types of cancer, including mesothelioma. To combat this, kinase inhibitors are one of the primary treatment methods for mesothelioma. The drugs attack the proteins in an effort to prevent cell division and to kill the cancerous cells.

“These findings can be used to optimize the management of drug-drug interactions between PPIs and erlotinib,” note the authors.

Nearly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the incurable cancer, mesothelioma, each year. While recent advances in treatment for mesothelioma patients have improved survival for some patients, continued research is critically important to ensure existing treatments become even more effective. Each breakthrough or promising result from a study increases hope that mesothelioma patients can live longer, higher quality lives with the disease.

The study was published in the Feb. 5 issue of Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Daughter & Father Fight Against Mesothelioma

Home is Sometimes the Best Place for Mesothelioma Patients

Home is where the heart is. There is no place like home. Home sweet home. One could say these are clichés, but I would disagree. We all say them, but sometimes it is what makes the difference.

We recently took care of a patient, who, unfortunately, had more than his fair share of complications. He was discharged from the hospital, to the local hospitality house, but he really had a tough time of it with an inability to sleep, pain, and generally feeling miserable all the time. When I visited him there he kept telling me how fatigued he was, and what an effort it was to keep his eyes open.

With a lot of encouragement he agreed to be  readmitted to the hospital. His wife was worried that he was not emotionally prepared to go back to the hospital, but with her support and encouragement he agreed. He received IV hydration, his pain medication was adjusted to alleviate symptoms, and after a few days he was discharged.

The team agreed that going home this time would be the best medicine for him. The first afternoon, he slept five hours in his own bed, and he continues to sleep well each night since he has been home. He has also begun to do light housekeeping, including vacuuming. Yes, he was tired but he is doing very well. The familiar surroundings are giving him a big emotional boost.

Sometimes going home is just what the mesothelioma patient and family need. It’s the emotional part and stress that can really weigh us down and keep us stuck. The key is to get out of that trap and do something about it. His wife was his support and with her constant encouragement, he was able to persevere through this part of his mesothelioma journey.

Situations like this one are what keep the mesothelioma team energized. It really is so rewarding to hear of someone doing well after his struggle. This makes everyone feel good about what we do. If we could say thank you to all the fighters of mesothelioma out there, we would. If we could say thank you to all the caregivers out there, we would. We are in it together and we could not do it without you.

Know more about Mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.

Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

Show Your Support for the Fight Against Mesothelioma

Each year in the United States, about 3,000 people receive the devastating diagnosis of mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer whose only known cause is exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is not a common cancer. It doesn’t receive the attention and research funding support that other more well-known cancers receive. However, its effects are just as serious and life-changing to those patients who are fighting it.

That’s why Mesotheliomahelp.org has launched a special fundraising campaign to raise awareness and support for the fight against mesothelioma. Money raised through this campaign will be donated to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, the only nonprofit organization dedicated to ending mesothelioma and the suffering caused by it.

To do your part in supporting the fight against mesothelioma:

1. Order an “I Support Mesothelioma Research” T-shirt from Booster.com. Wear it around town. Share photos of yourself in it on social media. Anything to raise awareness of the plight of those suffering from mesothelioma.

2. If you run a website or blog dedicated to helping those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please add this badge to your website to show your support and encourage others to donate by purchasing a T-shirt.

3. Share this campaign on your social media accounts, and tell your friends how they can get involved in the fight against mesothelioma.

4. Feel good knowing that your donation to this campaign will go toward mesothelioma research at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, and that research may one day save lives.

At Mesotheliomahelp.org, we are dedicated to helping mesothelioma patients through their difficult journey. It is an uphill battle, and these patients deserve all the help — and hope — they can get.

We hope you and your organization will join Mesotheliomahelp.org in our fight for a cure. Get involved today!

microRNA The Key to Mesothelioma Development

microRNA Could Be the Key to Mesothelioma Development

Recently, microRNAs have received lots of attention as a significant scientific and medical discovery. They appear to play a major role in reprogramming a cell to undergo uncontrolled cell division, causing growth of cancerous tumors. Now, researchers believe the microRNA drives the development of lung cancer.

An important new study from Vanderbilt University  published December in The Journal of Clinical Investigation suggests the miR-31 microRNA is expressed at high levels in lung cancer tumors, and it is indicative of decreased survival.

http://www.jci.org/articles/view/82720

“We discovered that miR-31 is an independent survival factor, meaning that its expression impacts survival, independent of other factors such as tumor size, tumor burden and tumor location,” said Christine Eischen, Ph.D., professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, according to a Jan. 28 press release from Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. “That suggests it’s very important.”

https://news.vicc.org/2016/01/study-identifies-new-culprit-in-lung-cancer-development/

Although the research was focused on lung cancer, every new breakthrough in cancer research brings hope to mesothelioma patients. Pleural mesothelioma, an asbestos-caused cancer equally as aggressive as lung cancer, is diagnosed in close to 3,000 Americans each year.

microRNAs, or miRNAs, are tiny molecules found within cells that serve a function in primary biological processes such as organ development, fat metabolism, cell proliferation and death. They are single stranded molecules that regulate gene expression. When miRNAs function properly, a person remains healthy. However, disregulation of miRNAs can lead to diseases, including mesothelioma and other cancers. On the contrary, when used as therapeutic agents, miRNAs can inhibit tumor growth.

The Vanderbilt researchers began to focus on the miR-31 protein when they found elevated levels resulted in increased cell transformation to tumor-like cells and cell growth. Via mouse models injected with human lung cancer cells, the researchers confirmed increased lung tumors with miR-31 over-expression.

“When we left miR-31 on for longer and longer periods of time, we saw the formation of adenomas (benign tumors) and then lung carcinomas,” said Eischen. “Mick [Mick Edmonds, Ph.D. and study lead] and I were thrilled with these results because no one had previously shown a microRNA could induce cellular transformation in the lung and cause cancer to develop.”

The teams’ findings suggest targeting miR-31 could lead to innovative treatment therapies to suppress tumor growth in patients with lung cancer, and potentially for malignant mesothelioma patients.

Targeted therapy for mesothelioma and lung cancer patients optimizes the potential for success of the treatment and offers treatment options that may not otherwise have been considered. There is no cure for mesothelioma.

The study was published in the Dec. 14 issue of The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Free Mesothelioma Patient & Treatment Guide

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It contains a wealth of information and resources to help you better understand the condition, choose (and afford) appropriate treatment, and exercise your legal right to compensation.

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