The Hunt For A Cure For Mesothelioma - Experimental Treatments And Clinical Trials

Research and studies continue in the pursuit of a cure for Mesothelioma. This is where we try to find and innovate creative new treatment plans, remedies and solutions for coping, dealing and addressing the disease and the quality of life for the patients suffering from this disease. It robs the patients of their very precious breaths of life.

Evaluation of new treatment effectiveness, therapies and related medications or medical interventions is ongoing and for most doctors and specialists in this field a passionate and urgent, as well as serious pursuit and commitment is unquestionable. The race is on to find a cure for this rare type of cancer.

The newest technology and procedures are being tested in experimental conditions and clinical trials and progress is being made, albeit small steps at a time. We keep unraveling the mystery and deadly secrets of this killer cancer.

Here are some examples of some of the progress and ongoing studies underway at present:

Combination chemotherapy

More than one treatment at a time approaches have proven successful. Mixed results at times just deepens the complexity of these diseases, making it obvious that there is more here than meets the eye. Drug cocktails and mixes are tested in clinical trials on real patients and the results publishes in medical journals. Most of the patients respond well to the treatments and feel that they are doing their part to forward the science and treatment of themselves, but also many others.

Intra-cavitary chemotherapy

Invasive and aggressive internal treatment, by applying the treatment drugs or chemo elements directly into the cavities (like a concentrated and much higher dose, localized) This is done and has been successful, with minimal side effects and the results look promising. It actually reduces the damage significantly and controls the spread somewhat. It holds promise for more experiments and clinical trials in years to come.

Brachytherapy or radiation (radio-active) treatments are placed directly into the chest or peritoneal cavities.

Multimodality therapies where combination treatments and methods are used surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation to optimize a patient's chances for a successful outcome and surviving the disease, have a quality of life in their final days and even die with dignity and manage pain associated with the progressive nature of the disease.

Gene Therapy

This is a revolutionary and experimental form of Mesothelioma treatment. It consists of a genetically and manufactured virus to counter the effects of the disease, ,repair the damage and stop the progression. It attacks the tumors and cancerous areas, stains, all in an attempt to intervene and cure.

Immunotherapy

Giving patients a fighting change and improving their quality of life, these approaches typically focuses on giving the immune system a boost to fight the disease. It leverages the body's natural ability to want to re-establish equilibrium and heal itself.

Photodynamic therapy

Photosensitive drugs are used to treat the tumors or affected area.

There are lots of other examples and always the hope that the cure is around the next corner! Pursuits and efforts in this area will continue.

Elizabeth Perez, the webmaster of http://www.mesotheliomamedical.com/mesothelioma.htm is a part of the Sharing Information Group that provides useful information to the public through the syndication of free articles.

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The World's Most Deadly Disease Mesothelioma Cure Possible

Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months.

It’s a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions.

They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one’s heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next...

But what they didn’t know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.

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Mesothelioma Research

No matter what type of cancer you have or disease you always want to know that doctors are working on finding a cure.

For Mesothelioma like many other cancers still have no cure.

However doctors are still continuing to find new treatments and hopefully one day a cure.

The downfall with mesothelioma is so many people are diagnosed to late, and unfortunately is in advanced stages.

Because there has been such an up rise in the disease doctors are starting to take more notice in the cancer.

More researchers are on board now and looking for better treatments and hopefully a cure.

All newly developed drugs are tested in clinics by people who already have mesothelioma.
Of course the success of these drugs are found out in these clinics. If they are successful they will be approved by the FDA and marketed, or thrown away and have to start all over again.

Chemotherapy is still the most popular treatment for cancer. It is used to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma and to make the patient feel more comfortable.

They are making progress with chemotherapy vs the cancer but still not a cure.
The newest drug is Alimta,when used with another long-used chemo drug called Cisplatin, this is the only FDA approved agent specifically used to fight malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Another drug waiting to be approved by the FDA is called Onconase. Its the first drug in its class that has been shown to target cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone.

There are usually 3 different phases to a clinical trial.

Phase 1-usually they enroll a small group of people and test them on how the new drug is going to react and be administered.

Phase 2-trials usually give early information whether or not a new drug will work. It also provides information about safety and benefits.

Phase 3-they compare the new drugs with the current treatment. Usually people from all over participate in this phase. They will receive the new treatment or the standard treatment.

It's up to you whether you want to participate in a clinical trial. Not everyone is up for being experimented on.

There will always be side effect that are not aware of yet, but the doctors are always there.

Not everybody is going to be eligible to participate in a study, but if you're interested in finding out more information please call toll-free 1-877-FOR-MESO (367-6376)

Also if your interested in seeing all the current clinical trials available please check it out at my website- http://www.mesotheliomadiagnosisandinformation.blogspot.com

It will be under favorite links on the right side of the page.

Rebecca please check out http://www.mesotheliomadiagnosisandinformation.blogspot.com

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Chemotherapy Helps Mesothelioma Survival?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Each year, more than 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed within the United States, many of which end up being terminal.

While there is no one-size-fits-all cure for mesothelioma, researchers and doctors have been working on different treatments to help make this rare form of cancer more manageable. Currently, treatment for mesothelioma generally depends on the location, stage, general health and age of the mesothelioma patient. From that point, patients may receive one or more of a combination of treatments that involve surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Does Chemotherapy Treatment Work?

Chemotherapy is considered a palliative treatment modality which means that it can help reduce the symptoms of mesothelioma and perhaps the size of the tumors, but it is not curative. Within the last decade, chemotherapy containing cisplatin-antifolate combinations has been shown to improve responses and prolong survival in mesothelioma patients. Based on the successes shown in clinical trials, a trio of research scientists in The Netherlands launched their own population-based study to "assess the impact of this development on clinical practice and survival at a population-based level."

The study focused on 4,731 Dutch patients diagnosed with mesothelioma between 1995 and 2006. For the periods 1995-1998 and 2005-2006, the use of chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma jumped from 8% to 36%. At the same time, median survival for chemotherapy-treated patients increased from 10.1 months in earlier years to 13.1 months in more recent years. The researchers summarized their findings by stating that increased chemotherapy use at the national level did improve survival rates of mesothelioma patients, but they also cautioned that there may still be alternative explanations as to why this is the case.

Alimta and Cisplatin

Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug marketed as Platinol and used to treat a number of different cancers, including mesothelioma, some carcinomas such as small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer, lymphomas and germ cell tumors. Inside cancer cells, cisplatin and other platinum-based drugs trigger cell death, killing the cancerous cells. In the United States, the platinum-based drug, cisplatin, is usually combined with another drug, Alimta, for treating mesothelioma. Alimta is an antifolate drug, which works by blocking the activity of folic acid inside cells interfering with cellular metabolism.

The FDA approved the Alimta plus cisplatin combination after a clinical trial demonstrated that the two drugs were more effective than one drug. In the July 2003 edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology the published results reported a median survival time of 12.1 months for mesothelioma patients who received Alimta and cisplatin versus 9.3 months for the mesothelioma patients who just received cisplatin. The researchers also found that the addition of folic acid and vitamin B12 helped to reduce the toxicity of the drugs without adversely affecting survival time.

It is the hope that as research continues there will also continue to be better alternatives (and hopefully a cure) for those who suffer from mesothelioma.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Myra D. Foreman writes for Surviving Mesothelioma. This is the only website where this important book is available for free. The book is written by Paul Kraus who was diagnosed with mesothelioma more than a decade ago and is still enjoying life today

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Mesothelioma Symptoms - Deadly Signs of Cancer Diseases

Mesothelioma symptoms are not easy to determine and can be misleading as they often resemble symptoms of respiratory, gastric or cardiovascular disorders, depending on where the cancerous cells are located in the body. Unlike other cancers it is very difficult to detect this deadly cancer at its initial stages because it normally takes decades for the cancerous cells to develop after its initial exposure to the carcinogenic substances. When finally the doctors are positive about the symptoms, in most cases the cancer has already spread to the other parts of the body.

Asbestos is the only known substance responsible for mesothelioma cases. When the particles or dust of asbestos is inhaled for a long period of time, the fibrous material get trapped and built up in the lung tissue as the body doesn't have the ability to remove it. When swallowed, the particles will be accumulated in the abdominal cavity.

The Symptoms:

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma develops in the membrane covering the lungs called pleura. Symptoms may include:

- Dyspnea (short breath)
- Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty)
- Persistent harsh and dry cough, sometimes coughing blood
- Unexplained weight loss
- Chest pain
- Night sweating
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Painful breathing
- Lumps under the chest skin

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma develops in the membrane covering the abdominal region called peritoneum. Symptoms may include:

- Swelling or painful abdomen
- Changes in bowel habits
- Vomiting or nausea
- Unexplained weight loss
- Anemia
- Night sweating
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Lumps under the abdomen skin due to obstruction of the intestines

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial Mesothelioma develops in the membrane covering the heart called pericardium. Symptoms may include:

- Dyspnea (short breath)
- Irregular heartbeat
- Chest pain
- Heart palpitations
- Night sweating
- Fever
- Fatigue

Some of the symptoms above can be easily misinterpreted, for example if you are suffering from acid reflux or Barrett's esophagus you can also have similar symptoms such as chest pain, dysphagia (swallowing difficulty), weight loss, persistent coughing and/or blood coughing. A CT scan can help to determine whether the symptoms are due to the malignant mesothelioma disease or not.

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Mesothelioma Cancer Remission And Cell Research

The search for a cure to mesothelioma, the incurable asbestos-related cancer, continues as recently released figures show 2,000 diagnosed cases are recorded annually in the UK, and the number of deaths rose to 66.4 per million people between 2006 and 2008.

The long latency period of between 15 to 50 years before the first signs of mesothelioma or asbestosis symptoms emerge has often been a decisive factor in trying to detect the disease at an early stage in a bid to improve survival rates. In addition, asbestosis treatments involving new research into genetic / cellular behaviour and drug therapy combinations have shown promising results.

Remission has been achieved in some instances, either spontaneously or through the adoption of specialised treatment procedures. While complete remission and the disappearance of all evidence of mesothelioma cancer is rare, long-term mesothelioma survivors may be considered to be in partial remission when they are able to survive for several years after diagnosis, despite the presence of the cancer tumours.

While a surgery procedure is the most likely method, which can lead to prolonging remission, partial or complete remission has also been obtained from other therapies, including systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy and oxygen therapy. In addition, the sustained application of palliative treatments, which involve significant dietary changes by adopting a vegetarian diet plus nutritional supplements.

Recent research suggests that the nuclei of mesothelioma cells could contain vital clues for predicting patient survival, rather than a prognosis based on the prescribed stage and severity the mesothelioma has reached. Analysis of the nuclei of cell samples was taken from a study group of over 230 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

An evaluation was then made by classification of seven determining features, including variation in appearance, pattern of DNA and proteins, extra proteins, components of the nucleus and abnormal division of the chromosomes.

Analysis of each cell sample revealed that the variation in appearance and the number of dividing cells were directly related to patient prognosis. A three-tier nuclear grade score was created from the observations. The average patient survival for Grade I - 28 months, Grade II - 14 months, and Grade III - 5 months.

The researchers concluded, "Not only was nuclear grade an independent predictor of overall survival, but it was also a stronger discriminator of survival than all currently available factors,". In addition, the nuclear grading system also proved a useful indicator when predicting time to mesothelioma recurrence in patients who underwent complete surgical resection.

Asbestos Victim Advice
Offering clear information, advice and FAQ's on mesothelioma and asbestos related illnesses.

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Mesothelioma Life Expectancy - What Can Be Done?

A number of factors are used to determine mesothelioma life expectancy of mesothelioma patients and each patient has a unique case. It works continuously in search of better life expectancy for patients with mesothelioma, so the life expectancy for a patient is better today than it was five years ago.

For mesothelioma patients, the average life expectancy once diagnosed is 4 to 18 months. However, each patient is different and there are many things to consider in each case.

Factors that affect the life expectancy of mesothelioma patients include:

• Stage of the disease
• The point at which it is diagnosed
• If mesothelioma is located or advanced (separate)
• Age of the patient
• Patient's general health
• Types of treatment that are feasible for the patient

There is no cure for this form of cancer

The stage a cancer such as with mesothelioma is an important indicator of how long a patient can expect to live. Unfortunately, there is no cure for mesothelioma, and if you or someone you know has diagnosed a patient with localized or advanced mesothelioma, he or she can have a maximum lifespan of just five years. However, there are cases in which mesothelioma patients have lived longer especially with early detection.

Early detection, aggressive treatment

Some studies have indicated that among patients whose mesothelioma is revealed early and treated aggressively, almost half of the patients expect their mesothelioma life expectancy will be two years and a fifth will have a life expectancy of five years. Among patients whose mesothelioma is advanced, only five percent can expect to live another five years. There new studies down all the time and trials to look for cures and improve quality of life while the patient has this form of cancer.

Be examined

The importance of diagnosing mesothelioma at an early stage cannot be overemphasized. If you worked with asbestos at some time in your life, or if exposed to significant amounts of asbestos in non-work environment, you should see a doctor about the possibility of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, although you do not have symptoms of mesothelioma. For many patients mesothelioma will not reveal itself for twenty or more years after exposure. This means someone can go almost their whole life without a symptom. If you wait until you have the symptoms of mesothelioma are losing the opportunity to treat the disease at an early stage and extending mesothelioma life expectancy.

For more information on mesothelioma visit Mesothelioma Prognosis

http://www.mesothelioma-prognosis.co

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