Author: Nancy Meredith
More Personalized Treatment for Mesothelioma Patients in the Future
Physicians who specialize in treating mesothelioma predict that in the next five to 10 years, researchers will identify more accurate ways to detect the disease and tailor treatment to individual patients. Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen closely associated with exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was widely used in building materials, fireproofing and insulation through much of the 20th century.
In an article in the November issue of Clinical Lung Cancer, Drs. Linda Garland of the Arizona Cancer Center, Raja Flores of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and Anne Tsao of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center predict that the global burden of mesothelioma will increase in the decade ahead, particularly outside the United States. In the U.S., about 2,500 to 3,000 die each year of mesothelioma. With cases of mesothelioma expected to spread, doctors need more effective treatments for the aggressive cancer and more personalized treatments for patients, they say.
Under current medical practice, doctors select mesothelioma patients to undergo radical surgery to remove cancerous tumors based on factors including the stage of the cancer, specific structure of the cancer cells, lung function and the patient’s overall health. But these factors are not very good predictors of long-term survival. Less than a third of the mesothelioma patients selected undergo radical surgery live four to five years, according to the article.
The researchers say there is an opportunity for development of tests for earlier detection of mesothelioma through telltale molecules in the bloodstream, known as biomarkers. Biomarkers are a relatively new but promising area of genetic research. One researcher has compared biomarkers to fingerprints of the disease. For example, the prevalence of a biomarker protein identified as microRNA-29c in mesothelioma tissue has been linked to longer patient survival and improved prognosis after surgery, according to an important recent study. These patients may be better candidates for tumor removal surgery, if the biomarker are validated by further research.
The article authors say that progress has been made in the last decade in the development of chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma. Longer survival for mesothelioma patients may be possible with chemotherapy regimens tailored to the individual patients in the future. According to the studies, this may be possible if biomarkers can be pinpointed to help doctors identify which patients are receptive to individual chemotherapy drugs such as pemetrexed-based therapy.
Doctors are still awaiting the development of a break-through drug or therapy that may allow the targeting of mesothelioma tumors, according to the article. In the next five to 10 years, they say there will be promising developments toward a brighter future for mesothelioma patients.
Mesothelioma Increasing Among Women in Great Britain, Latest Stats Show
New statistics from health officials in Great Britain show an alarming increase in cases of mesothelioma among women. For decades, men have been far more likely to develop mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen.
Mesothelioma develops far more often in men traditionally because they had jobs in construction, mining and manufacturing that exposed them to asbestos, a mineral fiber. Inhaling asbestos dust is closely associated with developing mesothelioma and other serious respiratory diseases, though the symptoms may not appear for decades.
Cancer Research UK, a leading non-profit cancer organization, said that in the last decade, mesothelioma had shown a 57 percent increase in incidence among women—the highest rate of increase of any cancer. Uterine cancer increased by 33 percent and skin cancer or melanoma by 49 percent in the ten-year period through 2007, the group said.
The latest data from the Health and Safety Executive indicates that mesothelioma was listed as a cause of death for 384 women and 1,865 men in 2008. Great Britain has the highest incidence of mesothelioma in the world. The death rate has been increasing for decades and isn’t projected to peak in Great Britain before 2015. In the United States, mesothelioma claims 2,500 to 3,000 lives a year, but the incidence is about half of that of Great Britain.
Cancer experts said they do not know why the incidence of mesothelioma is increasing among women. Symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not appear for 30 year to 40 years after the initial exposure to asbestos. The perception among cancer experts who reviewed the data was that many women victims had not worked in industries traditionally associated with asbestos disease and had low level exposure to asbestos.
There is some speculation that the increase is linked to asbestos-riddled schools that were built in the 1960s and 1970s. Until it was banned in the UK, asbestos was widely used in building materials such as ceiling and floor tiles and insulation in construction of schools and other buildings because of its durability and heat resistant qualities.
Recognizing Allied Health Professionals Who Supports Mesothelioma Care
By Nancy Meredith
The week of November 7th is National Allied Health Professionals Week and brings to light many of the health care professions in the industry that are distinct from doctors and nurses. Allied health professionals collaborate with physicians and other members of the health care team to deliver patient care services. They also provide support in the prevention, identification and treatment of diseases. Due to the rare and complex nature of mesothelioma, a large number of allied health professionals are needed to provide the appropriate level of support mesothelioma patients require.
Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs, is highly aggressive and is resistant to many standard cancer treatments, making it a difficult disease to treat effectively. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, it can be treated with varying degrees of success through the use of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation.
Allied health professionals are either technicians (assistants) or therapists/technologists. Technicians are trained to perform procedures, but are required to work under the supervision of technologists or therapists. Typically, a technologist gets a certificate with 2 years or less of higher education, and includes professions such as physical therapy assistants, medical laboratory technicians, radiological technicians and respiratory therapy technicians.
Therapists or technologists are able to evaluate patients, diagnose conditions, develop treatment plans, and understand the rationale behind various treatments. Therapists or technologists learn to evaluate patients’ responses to therapy and to assist with decisions concerning continued treatment or modification of treatment plans.
Since mesothelioma is such a complex disease, it is important for patients to receive multidisciplinary care from a team of specialists that is not limited to physicians and nurses. Following is a short list of allied health professionals that may be involved in the care of a mesothelioma patient:
- Respiratory Therapists. These therapists evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. Highly trained respiratory therapists may assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care for the mesothelioma patient including therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures.
- Anesthesiologist Assistants. Under supervision of licensed anesthesiologists (doctors), anesthesiologist assistants can operate anesthesia equipment, monitor patients, and assist in providing patient care before, during and after anesthesia.
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialists. These rehab specialists help patients understand and manage their mesothelioma so they can live longer and do more, primarily by making sure the patient understands his condition and his medical regimen.
- Clinical Laboratory Science Professionals. While not directly involved in the care of the patient, a medical technologist can discover the presence or absence of mesothelioma. They typically maintain vital data for identifying and treating mesothelioma and other health conditions.
- Health Information Manager. These professionals manage and maintain all of the medical information vital to providing care to the patient. The health manager must capture each piece of information that is tracked every time a health care personnel treats the patient including medical history, results of examinations, results of X-rays and laboratory tests, diagnoses, and treatment plans.
According to ExploreHealthCareers.org there are 5 million allied health care providers in the U.S., who work in more than 80 different professions. For a list of Allied Health Professionals see ExploreHealthCareers.org.
Source: ExploreHealthCareers.org
Lung Cancer Awareness Month Helps Raise Funds for Mesothelioma Research
The National Lung Cancer Partnership, with a mission to decrease deaths due to lung cancer and to help patients live longer and better through research, awareness and advocacy,” has once again declared November “Lung Cancer Awareness Month.” Since 2005 the organization has funded over $2 million in research for lung cancer projects, and with a fundraising push in November they hope to fund even more projects. Scientists searching for a cure for pleural mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure, are beneficiaries of some of these research dollars.
Although ongoing research is being conducted to find new treatments and therapies for mesothelioma, keeping mesothelioma researchers funded is critical to the 3,000 Americans diagnosed with the disease each year. Mesothelioma is a rare pulmonary cancer that is highly aggressive and is resistant to many of the current cancer treatments. While there is no known cure for mesothelioma, new research and an increased knowledge among medical professionals has increased the survival time and improved the quality of life for many patients.
Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer in the United States. Research requires significant amounts of time and money, and without appropriate funding, it can be challenging to start and complete research projects.
Raising awareness of the various causes of lung cancer, with occupational hazards such as asbestos exposure being one risk, is the primary reason for setting aside a full month dedicated to education and fundraising opportunities specifically for lung cancer. According to Regina Vidaver, Ph.D., executive director of the National Lung Cancer Partnership, “If we’re going to catch it early, treat it and give people the best chance for survival, they need to know about lung cancer and its symptoms, take measures to reduce their risk and talk with their doctor about their health history.”
Early detection of mesothelioma can positively influence a patient’s survival by increasing treatment options and improving their quality of life while battling the cancer. Once the disease has reached an advanced stage average survival is often less than one year.
The Lung Cancer Partnership offers the “Free to Breathe” series of fitness events throughout the country as a way for individuals, families, and companies to show their support.
For a list of upcoming events see Free to Breathe.
Doctors Offer Perspective on Future of Treating Mesothelioma Patients
Absent the discovery of a blockbuster drug to stop the advance of malignant mesothelioma, medical researchers in the next five years will focus on refining the selection of mesothelioma patients best suited for surgery and other treatments, according to the caring doctors who treat mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the lining of the lung or abdomen. The respiratory cancer is associated with inhaling asbestos dust and symptoms typically don’t appear until 20 years to 40 years after exposure. There is no known cure, but treatment can slow the advance of mesothelioma and prolong the lives of some mesothelioma patients. Surgery remains the best option for reducing the presence of malignant mesothelioma tumors, but not all mesothelioma patients are suitable for surgery.
In a recent article in Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, Drs. David Sugarbaker and Andrea Wolf, both of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, write that the role of surgery in treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma is to remove all visible tumors. Doctors generally use one of two procedures on mesothelioma patients who are undergo surgery.
One procedure, called an extrapleural pneumonectomy, is radical surgery involving the removal of the diseased lung, part of the diaphragm and part of the tissue lining the chest and covering the heart. The surgery is used for patients with mesothelioma that has spread to nearby tissues but has not metastasized throughout the body. Patients must be reasonably healthy to withstand the surgery.
The second procedure called pleurectomy/decortication, is used for patient with less extensive mesothelioma tumors. The surgery removes part of the tissue lining the chest but spares the lung.
Some patients can live longer by having a combination of radical surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
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