Search Results for: right to try

Experimental Mesothelioma Drugs and the New Right-to-Try Law
| | |

Experimental Mesothelioma Drugs and the New Right-to-Try Law

Legislation signed this week by President Trump could pave the way for mesothelioma patients to access promising experimental treatments—even years before they are approved by the FDA. But not everyone thinks it is a good idea. The “Right to Try” legislation gives patients with terminal illnesses like malignant mesothelioma the right to receive new treatments they would not normally be able to get because they haven’t gone through the FDA’s three-phase testing requirement. Controversy Over New Legislation Although the legislation could make it easier for some patients to access potentially life-saving mesothelioma treatments, it is also not without controversy. Some argue it could even be dangerous. Typically, the FDA requires that all proposed mesothelioma therapies go through three-phases of studies…

A Bright Future for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Mesothelioma Treatment
| |

A Bright Future for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Mesothelioma Treatment

A new report shows that immune checkpoint inhibitors can be a practical and rational therapeutic approach to treating mesothelioma patients. The use of ICIs to treat human tumors has quickly become part of clinical practice. Immune checkpoint inhibitors block mesothelioma’s natural resistance to immune system attack. They are among the most promising approaches to combating this intractable cancer. Researchers from the Cellular and Molecular Research Center report the use of ICIs in tumor immunotherapy. What is Tumor Immunotherapy? Malignant mesothelioma is a frustrating disease for patients and doctors. Conventional cancer treatments often do not work. If cancer recurs, doctors can try other approved treatments, even if they are not part of the official treatment guidelines. Immunotherapy is also referred to…

Targeted Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma May Extend Survival in the Right Patients
| | | |

Targeted Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma May Extend Survival in the Right Patients

A meta-analysis conducted by some of the country’s top cancer researchers says targeted radiotherapy for mesothelioma can help some people live longer. It is the first such analysis of targeted radiation after lung-sparing mesothelioma surgery. The team focused on intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). IMRT is more precise than earlier forms of radiation treatment.  The new article appears in Practical Radiation Oncology. It is a meta-analysis of ten smaller studies. The researchers conclude that healthier surgery patients could safely consider targeted radiotherapy for mesothelioma. Making Radiotherapy Less Toxic In the past, radiation for mesothelioma has sometimes done more harm than good. Earlier types of radiation treatment were not as precise as IMRT. When radiation spills over into healthy tissue, it…

Mesothelioma Registry Could Improve Outcomes, Prevent Future Cases
| | |

Mesothelioma Registry Could Improve Outcomes, Prevent Future Cases

A distinguished team of scientists are calling for a national mesothelioma registry they say could improve outcomes. If the registry collects and provides the right information, they say it could even help prevent future mesothelioma cases. Experts from the CDC, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and several top US cancer centers participated in a workshop on the topic. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation convened the workshop. The group says existing tumor registries at some cancer centers are not as useful as a national mesothelioma registry. But coordinating a national registry will require government support. What is a Mesothelioma Registry? Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer which makes it hard to study. A national mesothelioma registry is…

Australian Registry Releases First Mesothelioma Report
| | |

Australian Registry Releases First Mesothelioma Report

The first report using data from the newly-established Australian Mesothelioma Registry has been released, and the new is not good – especially for the country’s blue collar workers. According to the report from Safe Work Australia, a health and safety advocacy group for the country’s building industry, the Australian Mesothelioma Registry recorded 612 new cases of mesotheliomain 2011. The new national registry became operational in 2011 with a goal of recording and tracking all new mesothelioma cases. The purpose of the registry is to help spot trends, provide research data, etc. Six hundred and twelve new cases in 2011 equates to a rate of 2.7 mesothelioma cases per 100,000 people. However, Safe Work Australia cautions that the number is likely to…

The Nazis Couldn’t Kill Him… Neither Could Mesothelioma

The Nazis Couldn’t Kill Him… Neither Could Mesothelioma Paul Kraus is a Holocaust and mesothelioma survivor. He was born on October 20th, 1944 in a Nazi labor camp during World War II… Poor nutrition, lack of hygiene, shootings by the SS, failed attempts to escape, and bombings by the Allies caused many deaths at the camp. But Paul survived. Then, in 1997, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos. His doctors originally believed that the cancer was terminal and he had only weeks to live… But that was 27 years ago. And now… Paul is now considered to be the longest living mesothelioma survivor in the world. He is a constant reminder that mesothelioma does…

A New Hope for Mesothelioma: Smart Computers Helping Cancer Treatment
|

A New Hope for Mesothelioma: Smart Computers Helping Cancer Treatment

In the fight against mesothelioma, there’s some exciting news. Scientists are using smart computers to figure out better ways to treat patients. This study is like a first step towards making treatments that fit each person better. The Breakthrough for Mesothelioma Patients Mesothelioma is a tricky cancer, and finding the right treatments can be hard. The usual way to predict which treatment might work takes a long time and costs a lot of money. But now, scientists are trying a different way, using smart computers to make things faster and more personalized. In this new study, scientists used smart computers to look at pictures of mesothelioma and predict which treatments might work best. Scientists looked at images of cancer cells…

Genes and Hope: The Promise of Personalized Treatment for Mesothelioma

Genes and Hope: The Promise of Personalized Treatment for Mesothelioma

A new study used advanced technology to understand the genetic details of mesothelioma. New results are pointing to potential ways to personalize treatment for this rare and aggressive cancer. Mesothelioma starts in the thin lining around our organs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. This cancer is known for being hard to treat and having few options for therapy. But recent research brings some hope. Exploring Mesothelioma with Sequencing Sequencing technology has been a big help in studying mesothelioma. It helps us understand its genetic makeup. One important finding is that more than 20% of the time, there are genetic issues. These issues may affect crucial genes called tumor suppressors. Some of the most common mutated genes in mesothelioma…

Improving Survival in Epithelioid Mesothelioma: Following Treatment Guidelines

Improving Survival in Epithelioid Mesothelioma: Following Treatment Guidelines

When doctors treat epithelioid mesothelioma, they use a mix of treatments. Treatment guidelines often include chemotherapy and surgery. But, a new study looked at whether patients were getting these recommended treatments and how it affected how long they lived. The Role of Guidelines in Prolonging Life A recent study checked data from an extensive database of mesothelioma patients between 2004 and 2016. They wanted to see if doctors followed the guidelines and if that affected how well patients did. They found something surprising. Only about 19% of 3,534 patients got the treatments that doctors usually recommend. Also, certain patients were more likely to get the recommended treatment. These were younger patients or those with insurance. Also, people living in wealthier…

So You Have Mesothelioma… What Can You Do About It?

So You Have Mesothelioma… What Can You Do About It? Is mesothelioma always fatal? How much time do you have left? Is there anything you can do? You are right to be asking these kinds of questions. And unfortunately there is no known cure. BUT… If I’ve learned anything from surviving mesothelioma for more than 25 years, it’s this… …Mesothelioma does NOT have to be a death sentence. Over the last few years I’ve seen more and more people surviving mesothelioma every single day. And no… it’s not because of some special new drug hidden away in the far corners of Eastern Europe… …What I’m about to share with you is the entire system behind my survival. You’ll discover… You’ll get all…