Mesothelioma and Asbestos Blog

As more and more people are becoming familiar with the asbestos caused illness known as mesothelioma, scientists and doctors are attempting to find various ways to treat the disease. The new treatments that are being tested often combine traditional treatments with treatments that are more revolutionary.

Angiogenesis and Anti-angiogenesis Drugs

Anti-angiogenesis agents are often used for mesothelioma and other cancers that are hard to treat effectively.

These types of drugs are new in the sense that in the past, doctors attempted to find drugs that didn’t have serious side effects. On the other hand, these medications target the tumor itself while sparing the body’s healthy cells.

Immunotherapy

Also known as biological therapy, this type of treatment uses the body’s own immune system to protect itself against disease.

Through research, doctors have found that the immune system may be able to recognize the difference between healthy cells and those that are cancerous.

In immunotherapy substances known as biological response modifiers (BRMs) are used to ultimately improve the body’s ability to fight illness.

BRMs help to:

·    Enhance the immune system to fight further cancer growth
·    Eliminate, regulate and suppress body responses that allow cancer growth
·    Prevent cancer cells from spreading

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

This type of cancer destroys cancerous cells with fixed frequency light to activate photosynthesizing drugs that have gathered in body tissues.

The main risk with this treatment is that direct sunlight hitting the skin can be harmful, so patients receiving the treatment are asked to stay out of the sun for at least six weeks.

Treatment options for mesothelioma depend upon many factors including the stage of the cancer and where in the body the cancer has spread.

Although patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma as the result of asbestos exposure are typically told they have a survival rate of only eight to twelve months, researchers are finding that there are more treatments becoming available. Therefore, they are also finding that those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma are living longer.

According to Dr. David Sugarbaker from Brigham and Women’s Center in Boston, the five-year survival rate has reached 40 percent of the patients he has treated.

Traditional Treatments

Until recently, there were only three traditional treatments available for patients with malignant mesothelioma.

These traditional mesothelioma treatments are:
·    Surgery- Going through a surgical procedure to remove the cancer
·    Chemotherapy-Using powerful drugs to fight the cancer
·    Radiation Therapy-Using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill the cancer cells

MESOMARK Approved

In January, the FDA approved a new technique used in conjunction with treatment to help fight mesothelioma. MESOMARK helps to monitor response to treatment in epithelial and bi-phasic malignant mesothelioma patients.

A protein called Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptide (SMRP) could be released into the body by mesothelioma cancer cells. Doctors found that by measuring the amount of SMRP in a blood sample, they may be able to better monitor the patient’s progress in relation to treatment.

Diagnostic Procedures Available

Diagnostic surgery is an important factor in determining the stage of an individual’s mesotheliona.

The various types of diagnostic procedures include:

·    Thoracoscopy- This enables a physician to evaluate the pleural cavity and conduct multiple tissue biopsies.
·    VATS- This alternative utilizes small incisions so the doctor can view the pleural space with a video camera
·    Mediastinoscopy- Is used as an aid to determine the extent of the disease by using imaging techniques

Eating a well-balanced diet is important to all human beings and is an essential factor in helping to prevent and treat illness and disease. Proper nutrition plays a particularly crucial role in helping those with mesothelioma build strength and maintain energy through the course of their sickness.

Getting the proper nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fat and water, has been proven to benefit those who have been exposed to asbestos and as a result, have developed this life altering illness. Although cancer treatment doesn’t always enable patients to eat the foods they used to, and most patients often experience a loss of appetite due to therapy, researchers have proven through various studies just how important eating regularly and getting the proper nutrients in a day can be to someone with mesothelioma.

Essential Nutrients for Meso Patients

According to doctors who specialize in mesothelioma treatment, a high percentage of those diagnosed lose about 10 percent of their body weight prior to receiving any treatment. Since patients typically lose additional weight when going through chemotherapy and other cancer treatments, doctors say that it’s essential for them to maintain healthy eating habits.

Most doctors recommend that their patients endure some form of nutritional therapy so they can maintain a healthy weight and adjust to the changes that are brought on by aggressive treatments or mesothelioma progression.

Seeking a nutritionist can help:
·    Prevent or correct malnutrition
·    Maintain the ability to fight infection
·    Maintain or improve quality of life

Eating Right to Prepare for Treatment

Studies show that eating well is one of the best ways patients can prepare their bodies for mesothelioma treatment. Patients who are well nourished before their treatment begins normally have more reserves to maintain their strength, rebuild tissue and fight any infection that could be brought on.