Treatment Questions
Survival
Survival is measured in months. These figures come from the published article that reported this study. The survival figures are most often a median number that measures the time from beginning treatment to death. These median figures are usually statistical projections (Kaplan-Meier survival curves). Therefore, these numbers are only statistical estimates of median survival. Mesothelioma patients survived for longer or shorter periods than this figure. It is important to remember that these numbers are for general information only and do not and can not specify your prognosis.
Toxicity Grades
Toxicities or side-effects are graded from one to five. The higher the number, the more toxic the side-effects. The scale reflects standard clinical benchmarks and come from the published paper that reported on this specific study. The numbers are generally:
1 = Mild side-effects
2 = Moderate side-effects
3 = Severe side-effects
4 = Life Threatening or Disabling side-effects
5 = Fatal
The number in the table and in the "Treatment Details" reflects the highest grade experienced. So, if only one mesothelioma patient had a grade 4 toxicity that is the number that will be reported here. If you want to learn the actual toxicities experienced by all the patients you are urged to contact your doctor and have them share with you the full study.
Treatments
Treatments have been divided into different groups to make it easier to find specific types of therapies. This organization is somewhat arbitrary and different clinicians and researchers may use a different organizational scheme.
1. Alternative - Treatments that may include herbs, vitamins and other supplements.
2. Biologic Therapy - Targeted therapies which include: anti-angiogenesis, monoclonal antibodies, and analogues of a natural substance.
3. Chemotherapy - Cytotoxic or cell killing drugs that kill or damage both healthy and cancerous cells.
4. Gene Therapy - A therapy where a gene or gene vector is used in an attempt to reprogram cancer cells.
5. Hormone Therapy - A therapy where the goal is to block hormones or hormone receptors.
6. Immunotherapy - Overlapped with Biological Therapies, this category focuses on vaccine therapies or a treatment that uses immune cytokines.
7. Radiation - The various modalities that use radiation externally or internally.
8. Surgery - Any kind of surgical procedure.
Drugs
Some of the drugs are noted for each treatment. There may be drugs that are not included. In addition, there are often different names used for the same drug or chemical entity (i.e. generic or brand name).
Country
Country where the treatment was used.
City/State/Province
City/state/province where the treatment was used.
Hospital
Hospital where the treatment was administered. Often there are other hospitals that have administered the same therapy.
Journal
By clicking on this link you will be taken to the abstract that summarizes the treatment information from the peer reviewed published article.
Date
The date when the results for that particular treatment were published in the medical literature.
Support
If a pharmaceutical company helped subsidize a particular study and this was reported in the published article, that fact may be included.
Description
A very brief description of each treatment is included. A lot of detail is not included.
Remember:
This information is incomplete and never intended to replace consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. This information is only general in nature and should be shared with your physician. (That is why medical abstracts are linked with each treatment for you to share with your doctor.) Your doctors can help you understand what a particular therapy means in treating your cancer based on all of the facts regarding your condition and all of the facts regarding that particular therapy.
