Mesothelioma Help Cancer News
Biomarker May Help With Diagnosis and Prognosis of Mesothelioma
The search for a reliable biomarker to help diagnose mesothelioma, serve as a prognostic indicator or even to assess the efficacy of treatment in mesothelioma patients is critical for patient survival. Recently Mesothelioma Help reported that uPAR overexpression (a protein normally found in the colon and kidneys) could help identify prognosis in mesothelioma patients and may lead to a new treatment. Now, researchers report that glycodelin could indicate improved prognosis, and could also be used to diagnose the asbestos-caused cancer.
Researchers from Germany at the University Hospital Heidelberg and the Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg report when they measured glycodelin serum concentrations in pleural mesothelioma patients after receiving an initial treatment of chemotherapy and/or surgery and radiotherapy, the team found a “strong correlation between the serum levels and the tumor response to treatment. “Gylcodelin,” according to the researchers, “seems to be a new potential biomarker for the aggressive malignant pleural mesothelioma.”
The researchers then set out to assess whether glycodelin might be useful as a novel biomarker for early diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma, and found that “most patients with benign or malignant lung diseases did not show increased glycodelin serum concentrations except patients with pleural mesothelioma.” This, according to the researchers, points to the potential diagnostic use of glycodelin for early detection of pleural mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma often has symptoms such as a persistent cough, shortness of breath, fatigue and wheezing, that are similar to many other respiratory illnesses. When a patient presents with these symptoms, doctors often first treat the patient for a respiratory infection before turning to testing for cancer. However, the key to increasing survival for mesothelioma and lung cancer is through early detection.
“Our data strongly suggest that glycodelin might be a feasible serum marker for the diagnosis of MPM [malignant pleural mesothelioma] and the monitoring of tumor response to treatment during the follow-up of MPM patients,” concluded the researchers in the study.
Nearly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. There is no cure for the disease.
Find the full report in Oncotarget.
Feeling the Love After Losing My Dad to Mesothelioma
The day that my father passed away was a day full of shock, grief, and sadness. These feelings overwhelmed me, and figuring out how to process them seemed to be an insurmountable task. The days and weeks following, it seemed as though I was in a fog. I was lost and trying to make some sense, any sense, of what had just happened. That was when I realized that I needed to look beyond the grief to find the love.
The day that my father passed away was a day full of love, support, and compassion. Within minutes of receiving a call that Dad wasn’t breathing, a friend came to my home to be with me until my husband arrived home from work. After we got the news that he had passed away, we began to make some calls of our own. These resulted in an ocean of love.
When I finally got the courage to pick up the phone, I called one of my dearest friends who was an hour away. I was scared; saying the words out loud that my Dad was gone made it seem more real. She answered, thankfully, and I told her what had happened. I just needed to let someone know, not expecting anything at all. Within an instant, her husband, one of my oldest and closest friends, showed up at my door. He ended up driving us the three hours to my parents’ home only to turn around and make the trip back. That is love.
During this time, our family began to come. No one said a word; they just hugged us and cried. There was nothing to be said, nor was there a need for a conversation. Knowing that they were there for us gave us all that we needed, love.
When we arrived at my parents’ home, we were greeted by more family members who were there to support us. Throughout the next several days, the outpouring of this love was more than I could handle. I never knew that you could feel so much comfort in the wake of inexplicable sadness.
God truly blesses us with exactly what we need at the moment that it is called for. Through all of our hardest times through Dad’s journey with mesothelioma, we were always met with a helping hand, a hug, and a promise of prayer. I can never repay those who were there for my family and me during this time, but when I think about it, I don’t believe they would want us to try. We are surrounded by the most amazing people and I truly thank God for them every day. They were able to help me see the love through the tears.
Know more about Mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.
Focus on Mesothelioma Education During Lung Cancer Awareness Month
For many people, November means apple cider, pumpkin pie, and Thanksgiving. In the health and medical fields, November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month, which emphasizes education and awareness of all things about lung cancer and other cancers affecting the respiratory system – such as mesothelioma.
This year, help out by making November a month to educate others about mesothelioma and lung cancer by taking part in Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Teaching the facts about mesothelioma, its symptoms, and its causes can help patients, family members, and friends better understand the disease and help advocate for the community.
Pleural mesothelioma is caused by inhalation or ingestion of airborne asbestos fibers. The fibers then become lodged in the lining of the chest, where, over the years, they begin to irritate the tissue leading to cancer. Not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop mesothelioma, but those who do often are not diagnosed until decades after exposure. The treatment protocol for pleural mesothelioma is similar to that of lung cancer.
People who live with pleural mesothelioma, or who care for someone with the cancer, know that educating the public about the struggles facing rare disease sufferers often takes a focused effort from organizations, the government, the medical community and many volunteers.
Early Detection of Mesothelioma is Important
With a vision of “a world where no one dies of lung cancer,” LUNGevity is 100% focused on increasing and improving lung cancer survivorship. In addition, the 501(c)(3) charity focuses on building and sustaining a community for all those affected by lung cancer and through “accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments” the organization aims to make an immediate impact on quality of life and survivorship in lung cancer patients.
The key to increased life expectancy when battling mesothelioma is early detection. When treating mesothelioma patients, the best outcome is achieved with early detection of the disease by increasing treatment options and improving the patients‘ quality of life while battling the cancer.
“LUNGevity believes strongly that everyone can drive progress and change for people affected by the disease, whether through research funding, mentoring a fellow lung cancer patient, or organizing and participating in events and activities to raise funds and awareness,” as stated in the 2016 press release kicking off the awareness month.
Know What Questions to Ask Your Mesothelioma Doctor
According to the American Lung Association, “The diagnosis of mesothelioma is very serious and may be overwhelming and affects all aspects of life in a profound way.” The ALA recommends being actively prepared for each healthcare visit by writing down questions to ensure you get everything you need in the short visit, and that your family and caregivers are thoroughly informed about your wants and needs.
- What is the goal of the treatment you are proposing? Is the intent to cure me from the disease or manage its symptoms?
- What are the side effects of the proposed treatment and how will they affect my quality of life?
- Am I a candidate for any clinical trial?
- What are my options for palliative care to address management of my shortness of breath and pain?
- Can you help me and my family make decisions about how I will be treated at the end of my life?
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women with an estimated 222,500 new diagnoses and 155,870 deaths in 2017, according to the National Cancer Institute. Nearly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.
My Dad’s Memories Will Last
October 15 will mark three years since my Dad lost his battle to mesothelioma but won his wings in Heaven. Three years. Three years. I have to keep repeating it to myself to even make it seem true. This time of year is always very difficult for me. As the dreaded anniversary date draws closer, I always think to myself, “Three years ago, this was Dad’s last Sunday”, “Three years ago, this was Dad’s last Monday.” I go on and on, torturing myself, really. It’s so hard to think that no one had any idea that they would be his lasts. What would we have done differently if we had known?
Then, I turn my thoughts. I begin to think about the other kinds of “lasts” for my Dad, the ones that really count.
These “lasts” are the things that he left behind that will always endure. His effect on people will always last. His memory will last. His impact on my life will last. His stunning example of how to live a life full of grace in the face of the toughest adversity… will last.
Sure, I still think about the last time I saw Dad, the last time I spoke to him. These things will be forever etched in my mind, yes, they will last. But thinking about these other lasting legacies that he left for me bring me such great comfort.
Another way to look at his lasts here on earth is to think about the firsts. His last seconds here led to his first in Heaven. How can that be a sad thing? For us who remain, we don’t get to experience what he did. He was instantly relieved of his pain, his worry, and his illness. Our first seconds without him were unconceivably different from what was happening to him. During our greatest shock and suffering, Dad was going through his greatest joy.
As much as I feel selfish for wanting him back, how can I not? But realistically, I would never want to take that away from him for my own benefit, even though I miss him desperately.
These past three years have been full of a gamut of emotions running wildly most of the time. I find comfort in thinking about all of the good times that I was able to share with my amazing father; remembering him is a beautiful tribute. This is how my Dad will last.
DOD Continues to Allocate Millions to Mesothelioma Research
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the fiscal year 2017 Defense Appropriations bill and kept mesothelioma-eligible funding for 2017. Mesothelioma was first funded through the bill in 2011 and has been on the list every year since then.
The funding is available as part of the DOD’s Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP). The DOD Appropriations Bill, 2017, which was submitted on May 19, allocates $30 million for distribution among eligible cancers through the PRCRP. In addition to mesothelioma, other cancers sharing in these research funds include: bladder cancer, brain cancer, colorectal cancer, listeria vaccine for cancer, liver cancer, lymphoma, melanoma and other skin cancers, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, and cancer in children, adolescents, and young adults.
An additional $12 million is set aside specifically for the lung cancer research program. The bill provides a total of $282 million for cancer research.
The Defense Appropriations bill funds critical national security needs, including military operations and readiness programs, as well as health and quality-of-life programs for U.S. troops and their military families. The PRCRP grants are offered with a goal to improve quality of life by decreasing the impact of mesothelioma cancer on service members, their families, and the American public. The entire bill provides $517.1 billion in funding.
“This bill fulfills the Congress’s most important responsibility – providing for the common defense. And it does so responsibly – funding those military needs that must be addressed now, planning and preparing for the future, and respecting the taxpayer by making commonsense budgeting decisions,” Chairman Hal Rogers said in the June 16th press release announcing the House’s passage of the bill.
http://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394614
The DOD is responsible for funding and promoting research on diseases related to military service. Veterans account for nearly 30 percent of all cases of mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung or abdomen, caused by exposure to asbestos. Former military troops have a higher risk of contracting asbestos-related diseases because of the wide use of asbestos in thousands of buildings and Navy ships from World War II until the 1970s.
“The Committee commends the Department of Defense for ensuring that projects funded through the various peer-reviewed cancer research programs maintain a focus on issues of significance to military populations and the warfighter,” noted the Committee members in the bill report. “This includes promoting collaborative research proposals between Department of Defense researchers and non-military research institutions. These collaborations leverage the knowledge, infrastructure, and access to clinical populations that the partners bring to the research effort.”
Close to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. There is no cure for the cancer.
Sources:
- Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program
http://cdmrp.army.mil/prcrp - Committee members in the bill report
https://www.congress.gov/114/crpt/hrpt577/CRPT-114hrpt577.pdf
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