Mesothelioma Help Cancer News
Presiding Officer Enrolled in Experimental Treatment for Mesothelioma
The leader of the Suffolk County Legislature, William Lindsay, will begin next week an experimental treatment for mesothelioma overseen by the National Institutes of Health, according to Long Island Newsday.
Lindsay, a former electrician and official with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, was diagnosed in 2012 with malignant pleural mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The cancer diagnosis came soon after he had been elected to a seventh term as the legislature’s presiding officer.
Lindsay worked as an electrician for 15 years and served for 23 years as a business agent and business manager of Local 25 of the IBEW. As an electrician, he had to scrape off the asbestos fireproofing from a beam before attaching electrical conduits to it, according to Long Island Politics. Electricians are among the occupations with a higher risk of occupational exposure to asbestos and higher rates of mesothelioma.
Lindsay has been receiving treatment at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Manhattan and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center since undergoing surgery last May to remove a diseased lung. “We don’t realize how lucky we are, being in the New York vicinity, to be near some of the greatest hospitals and physicians, probably in the world,” Lindsay said, according to minutes of a Suffolk County Legislature meeting.
Lindsay is 67 years old. Many victims of mesothelioma are in their 60s and 70s when they are diagnosed with the disease. The symptoms of mesothelioma typically take 20 years to 50 years to appear after exposure. He will receive one week of treatment followed by a 21-day break, then another week of treatment.
More information about New York Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Patient Finds Therapy in Making Music
If you’ve read my previous posts, you know that my Dad plays in a bluegrass band called the Dunbar Boys. He had to take some time off from playing during his mesothelioma and treatment, but he is now back playing the guitar and singing with his friends.
Dad loves his band and everything about it – the friendship, being on stage, singing, meeting new people. These are some of his favorite things and being away from them for so long was tough. At the same time, getting back to doing what he loves was great motivation for him during his recovery. Music has been great therapy for so many, and I think it was for Dad, too, maybe just in a different way.
I know that Dad missed making music. During his chemotherapy, and even while going through the clinical trial, he would talk about wanting to play from time to time, but didn’t feel comfortable going back just then. He wanted to make sure that when he made his return, he was ready. When that great return did come, it was at the Dunbar Community Fest, held in my hometown every year. We were doing a fundraiser for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation during the festival and Dad would be playing for the first time back in public.
You have to understand that Dunbar is a very small town where everyone knows everyone. Dad, being a life-long resident, is recognized and loved by the whole community and everyone was so excited to see him healthy and back with the band. The newspaper did a story on him and then we received a call from a Pittsburgh news channel wanting to share his joy. All the exposure was kind of surreal, but Dad and the rest of the Dunbar Boys had a great time!
When he got on stage that Friday night, it was an emotional time for my family and friends who were present. They gave a wonderful performance and everyone was elated for Dad. Dad was happy, too. He was beaming because he was able to get back to his music.
Dad is still playing every chance that he gets, and the Dunbar Boys are all finally back together again!
Know more about mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.
World Health Organization Reiterates All Forms of Asbestos Cause Cancer
The World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer issued a joint statement Feb. 19 stating that all forms of asbestos cause cancer in humans and stopping the use of all forms of asbestos is the most efficient way to eliminate diseases caused by asbestos such as mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the chest and abdominal cavities.
The joint statement came in response to an article published this month in The Lancet medical journal raising questions about the IARC ‘s participation in a conference in Kiev, Ukraine and potential conflicts of interest. The IARC is participating with the Russian Scientific Research Institute of Occupational Health in a study of cancer among chrysotile workers in Asbest, Russia. The lead author of the research is Evgeny Kovalevsky, who is a promoter of chrysotile asbestos. The IARC is providing epidemiological expertise for the study.
Several prominent American health researchers including Richard Lemen, retired U.S. Assistant Surgeon General, sent a letter to the IARC saying it was unacceptable that a scientist who is a promoter of asbestos should be a lead investigator on an IARC research project. The authors of the letter noted that the World Health Organization had previously withdrawn the Russian Scientific Research Institute’s designation as a WHO collaborating center because of the institute’s conflicts of interest with the Russian asbestos industry.
In the joint statement, the WHO and IARC said the study on cancer among chrysotile asbestos workers in Asbest, Russia will provide important scientific data to quantify the risk of cancers known to be related to chrysotile, the most commonly produced asbestos fiber. In addition it may be useful in quantifying the risks of additional cancers suspected to be related to chrysotile asbestos exposure. The IARC acknowledged receiving a number of emails urging the agency not to participate in the conference.
The IARC and WHO said they take conflict of interest seriously and use a rigorous process to protect research.
According to the Lancet article, the timing of the IARC attendance at the conference and decision to collaborate in the study are particularly sensitive on the eve of an upcoming meeting of countries participating in the Rotterdam Convention. The attendees at the conference will discuss the listing of chrysotile to the Rotterdam Convention, which would require countries that import chrysotile asbestos to give prior informed consent of the health hazards it poses. Russia which has an active asbestos industry, may try to block the addition to chrysotile to the list of hazardous substances.
The heaviest burden of asbestos cancer is currently found in the United State, European countries, Australia, Japan and South Africa, according to a 2012 article in the British Journal of Cancer. The highest consumption of asbestos is in China, Russian, India, Ukraine, Thailand, Brazil and Iran, signaling that those countries will have increases in mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer deaths in the future.
Approximately, 2,500 to 3,000 people in the U.S. die each year of mesothelioma. It is a devastating disease. Most people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos in a workplace or during military service decades ago.
Sources :
- Lancet article
http://secure.jbs.elsevierhealth.com/action/cookieAbsent - joint statement
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2013/response_lancet_20130219/en/
Researchers Assess Safety and Effectiveness of New Mesothelioma Drug
Medical researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York have treated the first patient with a new experimental vaccinia virus-based cancer therapy designed for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma or non-small cell lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the chest cavity caused by exposure to asbestos.
Genelux Corp., a biopharmaceutical company that develops vaccinia virus-based cancer therapies, announced in a Feb. 6 press release the treatment of the first patient in the Phase I clinical trial designed to evaluate a drug known as GL-ONC1.
Vaccinia virus cancer therapies are part of an emerging area of medical research that utilizes modified viruses to target and destroy malignant cancer cells. Vaccinia virus produces a potent immune reaction to help destroy tumors. The virus was used extensively during the campaign to wipe out smallpox.
Through the current trial, the New York mesothelioma treatment researchers want to learn more about the safety and effectiveness of the new drug at different dosage levels on cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion. The accumulation of fluid between the thin layers of tissue lining the lung is known as pleural effusion. When the fluid contains cancer cells, it is known as malignant pleural effusion. A buildup of fluid is a complication that occurs in many patients who have pleural mesothelioma or lung cancer.
The clinical trial, which is recruiting patients, will assess the safety and tolerability of GL-ONC1 and the severity of side effects. The primary goal is to assess a safe dosage level. The trial may enroll up to 54 patients.
Dr. Valerie W. Rusch, a leading thoracic surgeon and expert on mesothelioma, is the lead researcher in the clinical trial sponsored by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
“We are very pleased that researchers at MSKCC have initiated this important trial, “Dr. Aladar A. Szalay, founder and CEO of Genelux Corp., said in a press release. “For the first time, this will allow us to examine the feasibility and effects of administering GL-ONC1 directly into the chest cavity to some of the most aggressive cancers of the thoracic cavity—including mesothelioma and non-small cell lung cancer.”
Szalay said the drug has been well-tolerated and shown promising results in early trials involving human patients against a number of solid tumor cancers.
Mary Hesdorffer, executive director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, an advocacy and support group, said novel therapeutic approaches based upon new scientific strategies may lead to more effective treatments and eventually a cure for mesothelioma.
Prayers and a Listener Are Priceless Support For Mesothelioma Victims
When someone you care for is diagnosed with mesothelioma, you might wonder what you can do to help. The first answer is, of course, PRAY and ask others to pray as well. Never, ever underestimate the power of prayer. Our family and our story is proof of that. You might feel as though there is nothing else you can do, but the truth is that you can.
The family that is going through a mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment is scared, tired, and exhausted in every capacity. Any help that you can offer is important. If you know that the person with the diagnosis usually does a certain task, ask if you could take that job over for a while. For example, Dad always spends a lot of time cutting grass, so family members took care of that for him. If you always see someone at the grocery store, ask if they will give you their list and pick up the items for them.
One thing that was extremely helpful was people helping to take care of my two grandmothers who my parents looked after. In this case, if you are a family member, or are close to the family, offer to help take on some, or more of, the responsibility in that regard.
Take a healthy meal over to the family. Trust me, they are too tired to cook and might forget to eat all together. Nutrition is so important for any cancer patient, and helping them eat, and eat right, is a great help.
Lastly, a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear are priceless. Spending time with the people impacted by a mesothelioma diagnosis is so meaningful and kind. Let them know that you are praying for them, that you support them, and that you are there for them whatever they may need at any time. The visits we received throughout our journey were so precious to us. Knowing that you are not going through it alone is a priceless thing.
Keep in mind that any kind of help you can give or offer is appreciated whether those involved are able to express it or not. Remember that they are going through a very difficult time. When offering your help, try hard not to overwhelm them, as they are already feeling devastated, so be sensitive to their situation. Friends and family members are an important factor in helping someone recovering from mesothelioma, so you are a cherished member of the team!
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