Mesothelioma Help Cancer News
Family Shares Approach to Fundraising for Mesothelioma Research
Many people wonder what they can do to help with mesothelioma research. The answer is simple… DONATE or FUNDRAISE! The next question is often, “How?” That answer is also simple: Do what you can.
I have done several fundraisers over the past few months. Some have been more lucrative than others, but all are worthwhile. For instance, I am an independent consultant for a direct selling company. I have done two open houses and donated half of my commission to the charity of my choice, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. That was a simple fundraiser, as I set it up as I would any open house for a customer of mine. I invited family and friends and was able to send a nice donation both times.
Another fundraiser that we’ve done took a lot more time and planning. My hometown hosts a community festival every year. We spoke with the people in charge, and did a raffle table at the event where we raffle off gift baskets, gift certificates, Broadway show tickets, and even a tree stand. We started several months in advance, asking family members, friends and businesses if they would be interested in donating an item or items to our cause. People were very receptive and happy to help out, and we ended up with 31 different baskets!
We sold tickets all day at the festival and were overwhelmed with how generous people were. They purchased tons of tickets and even made extra donations to help with mesothelioma research. Everyone knew Dad’s story just from living in the town (Dad knows everyone) or by seeing the story in the newspaper or on TV on the local news. The hard work was definitely worth it.
We are currently starting to work on our next event and plan to continue our efforts. If you are interested in doing a fundraiser, I would be happy to talk with you. I am by no means an expert, but I’ve had a little experience this past year that I would be glad to share. The Meso Foundation is an amazing organization, and I am so happy to be affiliated with them and to be able to help them by fundraising and making donations. No donation is too small, as is no prayer!
Best of luck to you. Please know how grateful all those impacted by mesothelioma are for you and your efforts! God bless you!
Experimental Therapy Targets Mesothelioma Cancer Cells to Commit Suicide
A frontier in treatment of mesothelioma and other cancers is the use of a type of gene therapy that induces cancer cells to self-destruct.
In a recent article in the Journal of Genetic Syndromes and Gene Therapy, Dr. Marek Malecki of the University of Wisconsin and Phoenix Biomolecular Engineering Foundation reports that cancer suicide gene therapy while not without risks remains one of the most promising experimental therapies for treating many types of cancer. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the chest cavity caused by exposure to asbestos.
The success of the gene therapy hinges on delivering the suicide genes to the cancer cells. That is accomplished by identifying unique or overabundant proteins that serve as flags of the invading army of malignant cancer cells, giving away their location. Researchers have identified a number of biomarkers that may serve as chemical signals of malignant mesothelioma cells.
The identification of biomarkers allows doctors to deliver therapeutic drugs with more precision, avoiding collateral damage to healthy cells. Chemotherapy drugs by comparison affect all cells and have side effects including nausea and toxicity. Surgery to remove operable mesothelioma tumors inevitably removes healthy tissue as well as cancerous tissue and affects a patient’s quality of life.
That is why targeted therapies such as suicide gene therapy hold promise. To induce cancer cells to self-destruct, doctors inject a genetically modified virus into the tumor to deliver the suicide genes which prompts them to produce a special enzyme. The patient then receives another drug that transforms the enzyme into a toxic compound that prompts the rapidly dividing cancer cells to commit suicide.
Researchers have observed promising results of suicide gene therapy in initial clinical trials involving mesothelioma and other types of cancer. While the treatment has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it holds the potential to eliminate cancer cells without harming healthy cells, minimizing side effects suffered by patients.
New Report: Incidence Of Mesothelioma More Than Doubled in Ireland Since 1990s
A new report on cancer trends by Ireland’s National Cancer Registry says the incidence of mesothelioma among men in Ireland has doubled since the 1990s and will continue soaring during the next decade. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the thin lining of the lungs and abdominal cavity.
Despite large year-to-year variations in the number of cases of pleural mesothelioma diagnosed on the Emerald Isle, the report says the incidence of pleural mesothelioma among men has more than doubled since 1994 from an average of 13 cases per year in 1994-96 to 36 cases in 2009. The researchers project the number of cases will increase to 68 cases of mesothelioma per year in men by 2020.
Most people encountered asbestos on the job. Approximately 97 percent of men and 82 percent of women diagnosed with mesothelioma inhaled asbestos fibers in a workplace.
Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the chest cavity and is by far the most common form of the disease. Ninety four percent of the cases of mesothelioma in men and 75 percent of the cases in women in Ireland were malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is largely linked to chronic exposure to asbestos in male-dominated jobs. Of the mesothelioma patients in Ireland whose occupations were documented, half were construction workers, electricians, carpenters, metal workers and woodworkers. More than five times as many men as women were diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is more prevalent among construction workers and workers in occupations exposed to asbestos in the United States as well.
While asbestos was used heavily in the United States starting during 1940s, asbestos was mostly used in Ireland from the 1960s to the 1980s. Ireland began phasing out the use of asbestos in the 1990s and its use was generally banned under European Union regulations in 2000. Because of the long latency period of 20 to 40 years between asbestos exposure and appearance of mesothelioma, researchers in Ireland project the incidence of mesothelioma will peak in 2020.
The majority of pleural mesothelioma patients were between 60 to 80 years of age when diagnosed. Chemotherapy has become an increasingly common form of treatment for mesothelioma. Almost 60 percent of male and female patients with mesothelioma received chemotherapy from 2005 to 2010.
Yet, pleural mesothelioma has a poor prognosis. More than 70 percent of mesothelioma patients enrolled in the cancer registray since 1994 died within one year of diagnosis.
Don’t Forget to Donate to Mesothelioma Research Efforts in the New Year
Research and development efforts for new, effective pharmaceuticals for mesothelioma take a lot of time and money. Nearly all new development projects rely on both government and private funding. While there is typically an increase in the amount of money raised during the end of year push as people donate for their last chance at a tax deduction, it is important to remember that year round donations are critical to keep projects moving forward.
Mesothelioma, a rare asbestos-related cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs, 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.
Although runs and walks are the mainstay of fundraisers for cancer research, many families touched by mesothelioma often turn to dinners, silent auctions and raffles. Putting together a fundraiser takes effort, but the payoff is rewarding. Most often, mesothelioma fundraisers are targeted for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. The work of the Meso Foundation relies heavily on donations from mesothelioma patients and their families and friends. Law firms, drug companies, and companies formerly involved with asbestos also help to fund its efforts.
According to its website, “The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is the nonprofit collaboration of patients and families, physicians, advocates, and researchers dedicated to eradicating the life-ending and vicious effects of mesothelioma. We believe in a cure for meso.” The Meso Foundation also aims to “fund the highest quality and most promising mesothelioma research projects from around the world through rigorous peer-review.”
Additional information about its efforts can be found online at www.curemeso.org.
Next week, Jennifer Gelsick will share her family’s approach to fundraising for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. Their efforts started in September after her father, Don Smitley, was treated for mesothelioma, and they continue to plan and organize fundraisers to help find a cure for the disease.
Mesothelioma Essay Scholarship Contest Winners Announced
The New York City law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP and Mesotheliomahelp.org are pleased to announce the winners of its first Mesotherlioma essay scholarship contest. Current college students were invited to write an essay about mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
Nearly 60 entries were received for the contest where $10,000 in prize money was offered. The essays had to address a mesothelioma sufferer’s personal story, the history of asbestos use in American industry / manufacturing or the latest developments in medical treatments for mesothelioma.
“About 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma every year and an equal number of mesothelioma patients die every year,” said Joseph W. Belluck, a founding partner of the Belluck & Fox, LLP. However, continued public awareness of the disease is important to educate Americans of the dangers of asbestos.
“The scholarship money from our essay contest is another way to help younger people to learn about this disease,” Belluck said.
This year’s grand prize winner is Betsy Warren of Attleboro, MA. Ms. Warren is a returning student pursuing a degree in nursing at Rhode Island College. Her story, “The Ugly Elephant,” was about her father’s battle with mesothelioma. Upon being informed of winning the grand prize, Ms.Warren said, “Thank you! My father would be proud right now.”
The additional Belluck & Fox, LLP / MesotheliomaHelp.org Scholarship Essay Contest winners are as follows:
- $2,500 Second Place: Kimberly McCauley, student at AIU
- $1,250 Third Place: Kim Forgione, student at Pacific University College of Optometry
- $500 Fourth Place: Kate Nadeau, nursing student at Rhode Island College
- $250 Fifth Place: Allison Walker
- $100 honorable mention winners are: Jordeen Henry, Carla Patton, Brittany Brooks, Lisa Hu, and Rachel Norton.
Winning essays can be viewed on MesotheliomaHelp.org.
The winners had a second chance to win by sharing their essay with friends and family through Facebook. MesotheliomaHelp.org posted the 10 winning essays on its Facebook page, and the writer whose essay received the most “likes” won an Apple iPad Mini. Kim Forgione received a total of 460 votes to win the iPad.
Stay tuned to MesotheliomaHelp.org as several of the winners are highlighted in upcoming articles.
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