Mesothelioma Help Cancer News
Overall Number of Cancer Survivors Increasing, Number of Mesothelioma Deaths Rising Slightly
After recovering from the initial shock of being diagnosed with mesothelioma, most patients turn their thoughts to their treatment plan. Their primary goal is to kill as many of the cancer cells as possible offering them a longer, higher quality of life while battling the disease. Ultimately, mesothelioma patients want to become cancer survivors.
ACS Reports Good News for Many Cancer Patients
Although most people associate cancer survivorship with the time after treatment ends, the American Cancer Society defines a cancer survivor as “any person who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of diagnosis through the balance of life.” And according to its recently released report Cancer Treatment and Survivorship Facts & Figures 2012-2013, an estimated 13.7 million Americans with a history of cancer were alive on January 1, 2012, and the ACS expects that number to continue to grow.
In fact, it estimates that by January 1, 2022, the population of cancer survivors will increase to almost 18 million. The ACS further defines survivorship by identifying three distinct phases: the time from diagnosis to the end of initial treatment; the transition from treatment to extended survival; and long-term survival.
The ACS reports death rates continue to decline for lung, colon, breast, and prostate cancers, which are responsible for the most cancer deaths. Since 1991, death rates have decreased by more than 30% for lung cancer in men, 40% for prostate cancer, and by more than 30% for colon cancer, breast cancer in women.
However, according to the ACS, a total of 1,660,290 new cancer cases and 580,350 deaths from cancer are projected to occur in the US in 2013. Close to 3,000 of those cases will be mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Deaths Continue to Rise
In a separate report from the Minnesota Department of Health using statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of deaths from mesothelioma has slightly increased during the latest reporting period. The report covers mesothelioma deaths in the U.S. from 1999-2010. In 1999 there were 2,484 deaths, with a steady rise until 2010 where 2,745 deaths were reported.
The authors conclude that “despite the dramatic decline in asbestos use in the U.S since the early 1970s (down from 800,000 metric tons in 1973 to 1,100 tons in 2012) and implementation of more protective occupational health standards, asbestos remains present in millions of homes, offices, and industries and represents an ongoing potential exposure hazard to both workers and the public.”
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs. Caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed 30 years or more after exposure. The latency period can be as long as 50 years.
In 2011, Michele Carbone, M.D., Ph.D., director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, reported that more than 20 million people in the United States are at risk of developing malignant mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. In addition, he reported that malignant mesothelioma mortality rates will increase 5 to 10 percent per year in most industrialized countries until about 2020.
Research Progress
With recent successes in cancer research and with many new initiatives, some mesothelioma patients are realizing longer survival rates and a better quality of life. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is one institution that has been waging a war against cancer for years. The Center has over 30 specialists on staff that supports its multi-disciplinary approach to treating mesothelioma patients through its Mesothelioma Program. Most recently, MD Anderson started its Moon Shots Program “to dramatically accelerate the pace of converting scientific discoveries into clinical advances that reduce cancer deaths.”
In addition, other researchers have reported improved screening methods leading to early detection of mesothelioma as well as novel therapies for limiting side effects. Other breakthroughs have been made taking physicians closer to personalized treatment.
Libby Mesothelioma Deaths Lead to National Asbestos Awareness Week
For the seventh year in a row, Senator Baucus of Montana proposed legislation designating the first week of April for special focus on the prevalence of asbestos-related disease. The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the resolution and has designated the week of April 1-7 as National Asbestos Awareness Week. Baucus represents the residents of Montana where nearly 300 people died in Libby from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Libby, Montana is the site of the W.R. Grace mine and mill that shut down in 1990 and is blamed for widespread contamination from asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a known carcinogen and is proven to cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, a serious cancer caused by breathing in the asbestos fibers that then become lodged in the thin membrane that lines and encases the lungs.
“We can never forget the suffering people in Libby have faced in the name of corporate greed. Asbestos Awareness Week is just one more way we can keep the folks in Lincoln County and people with asbestos-related disease everywhere in our thoughts and prayers,” said Baucus in a press release announcing the weeklong awareness resolution.
Senate resolution 66 urges the Surgeon General to warn and educate people about the public health issue of asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their health. The resolution cites the facts that asbestos is a known cause of occupational cancer; thousands of workers in the U.S. face significant asbestos exposure; and a significant percentage of all asbestos-related disease victims were exposed to asbestos on naval ships and in shipyards.
“We must do everything we can to help folks in Libby while preventing a similar tragedy in the future,” added Senator Tester, co-sponsor of the resolution. “Max and I will keep fighting for Libby and raising awareness of the dangers of asbestos to make Montana a safe, healthy place to live and work.”
Baucus was instrumental in urging the EPA to declare its first ever public health emergency in Libby, Montana. The declaration requires the federal government to offer screenings and health care for Libby residents as well as authorizing cleanup work in homes and other structures.
The resolution points out that asbestos-related diseases can take 10 to 50 years to present themselves, and the expected survival of people diagnosed with mesothelioma varies from 6 to 24 months. Most often diagnoses are not made until symptoms appear and the disease has progressed to an advanced stage leaving the patient with life-threatening complications. The resolution also notes that generally, little is known about late-stage treatment of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure for such diseases.
About 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States.
See the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization’s website for daily informational postings about asbestos.
Offering Words of Comfort to a Friend or Family Member
Sometimes, when a family member or friend is ill, you don’t know what to say. You worry about saying the wrong thing, asking too many questions, or appearing to be less than genuine, so instead you say nothing. It’s important to think before you speak to someone about their diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, but also to be there for your loved one and show concern and support.
Even though you may not understand mesothelioma, keep in mind that the person you’re trying to comfort may not know a lot about it either. Questions about the disease itself may not be the best thing to discuss right off the bat. Trust me, it is a lot to take in! Also, realize that malignant mesothelioma is a serious thing; be careful not to shrug it off.
It might be best not to discuss where the person thinks they were exposed to asbestos, as that is neither here nor there at this point. Talking about others who might have had mesothelioma is a good topic to shy away from as well. Medicine and mesothelioma treatments are much more advanced now than they were even 5 or 10 years ago, and the survival rate is much better.
Whatever you say, be sure that it comes from the heart. If you are going to ask how someone is doing, listen. Don’t change the subject or try to lessen what they are going through. Rejoice with them in their triumphs and share in their struggles. Offer to help with specific things, but again, be sincere and follow through. Make plans once or twice a month to do something together, and be sure to do it. Platitudes mean nothing if they are not concrete.
Some things that my Dad was told that helped him so much were, “keep the faith!”, “God doesn’t only go half way”, and other uplifting messages of hope and trust in God. Also, never underestimate the importance of silence and saying a prayer together. My family spent and still spends a great deal of time praying. God will hear them and answer them.
Your loved one might have things they want to talk about, some of which may have nothing to do with meso. Let them guide the conversation and allow them to get some things off their chest if need be. They might not feel like talking about things that day, so let them take control and talk about their interests.
Don’t be afraid or discouraged to talk with someone about their illness, mesothelioma or otherwise. The key is to be sensitive to what they are going through and to be earnest and heartfelt in your conversations. They and their family will appreciate your presence and prayers!
Mesothelioma Survivor Jan Egerton Pens Book to Raise Research Funds
Jan Egerton enjoys a visit to the store.
Mesothelioma can be an all-consuming disease. The physical and emotional toll of dealing with the symptoms, treatments and side-effects can leave those battling the cancer overwhelmed and exhausted. For many, plans are put on hold and “living for the day” becomes a mantra. Jan Egerton, a long-time mesothelioma survivor from England, lives for each day as well, but she can’t stop hoping for a future that holds a cure for mesothelioma. Jan hatched a plan last year on how she could help make that a reality, and this month she published her 402-page novel and is donating a portion of the proceeds to raise funds for mesothelioma research.
Although Jan loves writing and has always wanted to write a book, she had primarily used her blog, “Mesothelioma – Jan’s Journey,” to fill the void. However, after one particularly contentious day at work in early May, Jan came home, sat down at the computer and created “The DreamWeaver’s Choice.” Jan was so focused on the story that “the words just tumbled out, and my poor fingers couldn’t keep up,” she said. Three weeks later she had completed her first draft.
“Writing, regardless of whether it’s fiction or mesothelioma-related helps me deal with the cancer, instead of the mesothelioma eating away at me from the inside,” said Jan in an email interview last week. “Writing has given it a way to come out and keep me sane.”
Writing also gave Jan an opportunity to give back to the mesothelioma community. Jan contacted Chris Knighton, founder of the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund (MKMRF), an English organization that was established to raise awareness and fund crucial research projects for mesothelioma, to let her know that she wanted proceeds from the sale of her book to help fund research through the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund.
For Jan’s previous work with MKMRF and her continued generosity to help fund research efforts by the organization, Chris named Jan Ambassador for MKMRF.
“Jan is a source of inspiration and hope to so many people living with mesothelioma, and she has surpassed herself once again by writing a novel with the proceeds going towards the Mick Knighton Mesothelioma Research Fund,” Chris told MesotheliomaHelp.org in an email.
Chris explained that an MKMRF Ambassador acknowledges the work of the Research Fund wherever and whenever possible; helps to raise its profile, and encourages fundraising to help the organization continue its work in the fields of research, support and campaigning so fewer and fewer people have to go through the pain and suffering mesothelioma brings both sufferer and their family.
“What better person could we have as an ambassador than Jan, a true mesothelioma survivor, and indeed it is us at MKMRF who are humbled and honoured to have her on board,” said Chris on naming Jan ambassador.
“The DreamWeaver’s Choice” is a complex story of the battle of good versus evil where the central characters are vampires and spirits, and a human detective with her beloved K-9, Bear Boy. The story moves from the 1800’s, when vampires roamed the streets of England and viciously took victims, to modern day where vampires still live in England but have divided into factions of “good” vampires who live among humans without harming them, and “bad” vampires who continue to stalk and attack unsuspecting Brits.
The good vampires rely on a sophisticated set of medicines and supplies to help them function normally, but their enemies are working hard to hijack and sabotage their efforts while reaping billions of dollars by extorting the desperate vampires needing the potions to remain part of society. The players in the book have deeply intertwined lives and knowing who to trust becomes a matter of life and death.
“I only hope the book does the charity justice and raises some much needed funds,” says Jan.
Jan self-published the book and is trying to promote it via word of mouth and social media. You can find information about the book at Novelist Jan and on Facebook at Bearboy Vampire Books. The book is available for Kindle at Amazon.com. USA readers can order here, UK readers can access the book here. Jan is currently working on a print version of the book.
Sources:
- Facebook at Bearboy Vampire Books
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bearboy-Vampire-Books/168388509977228 - Novelist Jan
http://novelistjan.blogspot.co.uk/
Understanding the Emotional Support Needs of Patients Undergoing Mesothelioma Treatment
Medical researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York are currently conducting a clinical trial examining the emotional support and psychosocial needs of patients undergoing treatment for mesothelioma. The researchers are studying how mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer, affects patients’ emotional and physical well-being and quality of life.
Mesothelioma is a terrible disease caused by exposure to asbestos. It takes a toll on patients and their families. Patients receiving treatment for mesothelioma may experience mood swings, feelings of isolation and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The laudable goal of the research is to find ways to reduce the physical and emotional strains of mesothelioma patients and develop better ways of coping.
As part of the clinical trial, mesothelioma patients are invited to join a therapeutic internet-based discussion group, allowing patients to take part from the comfort on their own homes. The small groups of three to five patients meet for approximately an hour once a week.
Patients who have been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung and who are undergoing treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are eligible for the trial. Find contact information about the clinical trial.
Approximately, 2,500 to 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United State. Most are older workers, retired workers and veterans who were exposed to asbestos in workplace or during military service. For patients who are diagnosed with less advanced mesothelioma, there are treatments available to try to manage the disease.
Free Mesothelioma Patient & Treatment Guide
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