Meso Analysis: October 2009

Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy Agents and Drugs Class

There are a large number of chemotherapy drugs in use today. Different agents are grouped into classes that differ from chemotherapy drugs, in which each separate class is defined by the biological activity of individual drugs. Agent of most standards groups have been investigated for treatment of mesothelioma both as a single agent and in combination with other chemotherapy drugs, but generally the results are disappointing. Recent studies indicate that mesothelioma may have a built-in resistance to apoptosis, the programmed death of cells that are not healthy, that would be a major factor in resistance to treatment and possible factors in the overall aggressiveness.

The following section is a summary of a few individuals who have used drugs to treat mesothelioma in the past. Although the pemetrexed and cisplatin is the current standard treatment and has replaced a lot of drugs to be discussed, the possibility that a patient chemotherapy mesothelioma research will find some of these names, so we provide this information to help patients learn more about the history of different agents which has been used for treatment of mesothelioma. In some cases, like that of vinorelbine, a drug which will be discussed at the end of this article is the future possibility of drug treatment and are included to provide information on advanced studies of chemotherapy, rather than the use of this history.
Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy with Antifolates

Antifolates are chemotherapy drugs that inhibit the activity of folate (folic acid) during the synthesis of DNA, which is an important part of cell division and replication. By inhibiting the formation of new DNA, antifolates and may limit the growth of new cells. This is the reason for its usefulness in the treatment of cancer.

Antifolates is a member of the larger class of chemotherapy drugs known as antimetabolites. These chemicals damage the proper execution of certain biochemical processes as the basic structure similar to the elements required for this process, so that they are metabolized to replace the right elements. Once this happens, however, the body can not complete the process targeted for antimetabolite structure prevents the process' execution is appropriate. Antifolates inhibit folate activity because they are structurally similar to it.

A number of antifolates have been investigated for treatment of mesothelioma, the pemetrexed showed the most effectiveness. Even before it was introduced, however, other drugs in this class showed modest response rate in mesothelioma patients. Gene expression analysis has shown that mesothelioma cells over-express folate receptors alpha and powerful theory of mesothelioma specialists is that the antifolate agents produce response activity in mesothelioma cells because they interfere with the folate receptor is activated.

Along with pemetrexed, raltitrexed is another antifolate that has been examined for treatment of mesothelioma. Studies have investigated combination therapy with cisplatin and raltitrexed, and it also has shown some therapeutic activity. When compared with pemetrexed + cisplatin, the cisplatin + raltitrexed regimens exhibited similar toxicity profile, but it does not fit with the overall efficacy of standard regimens.
Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy with Platinum Agents

Platinum agents are part of the class known as alkylating chemotherapy agents / alkylating-like agents. Drugs of this class disrupt cell replication by binding to DNA and cell damage its structural integrity, triggering apoptosis and removal of cells from the cycle of replication. Platinum agent cisplatin was originally developed for chemotherapy, although the analog-carboplatin and oxaliplatin, are also used today.

Both carboplatin and oxaliplatin have been investigated as an alternative platinum agent in first-line treatment of mesothelioma, but they have not shown the same effectiveness of cisplatin has shown. However, cisplatin can be difficult to tolerate and have been associated with side effects in some patients, so it can be used carboplatin replaced cisplatin if poisoning is a concern.
Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy with Anthracyclines

Anthracyclines are among the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs. They are active at all stages of the cell cycle and has been proven effective in the treatment of various types of cancer. Because the general usefulness, doctors have high hopes that the anthracyclines also be effective for treatment of mesothelioma. Doxorubicin, which is marketed under the trade name adriamycin ®, is one of the agents most widely used in this class and extensively tested with mesothelioma patients. At first considered active enough, but subsequent research has revealed very little clinical benefit for its use. Other Anthracyclines have been used as well, but they also have not shown effectiveness for the treatment of many diseases.
Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy with Vinca Alkaloid Agent

Vinca alkaloids is the last major class of drugs we will cover the overview of chemotherapy treatment for mesothelioma. This class drug target cell mitosis, which is the process of cell division in cells where a mother was split into two daughter cells that are genetically identical to each other. A number of Vinca alkaloids have been investigated for treatment of mesothelioma, but most of them have not shown useful activity in the management of disease. However, several recent studies have shown that vinorelbine, newer agents in this class, is very active with mesothelioma cells.

Vinorelbine has been investigated in both single agent therapy and combination therapy with cisplatin. This also has been studied as first-line chemotherapy and as a second-line therapy. The results of this study indicate that that among the most active agents that have been deployed for the treatment of mesothelioma, with response rates similar to pemetrexed. However, some of these same studies also identified a tendency of toxicity in a large number of patients. Most researchers who have reported their findings to do with calls for more research using vinorelbine for the treatment of disease. Because this study treatment activities have been described, vinorelbine research is likely to continue and may be increased if future studies also showed the same response rate.
Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy Agent Other

The four classes of chemotherapy drugs that we have discussed here do not represent all the available classes of chemotherapy for cancer treatment. However, agents from these classes made most of the drugs that are used for mesothelioma chemotherapy, or represents a significant effort in the history of the disease treatment.

A number of newly developed chemotherapy agents is currently engaged in a research laboratory in the treatment of mesothelioma or a new start human trials, so that the information on this page tend to change as a result of this study into
Related information: Chemotherapy & Mesothelioma

For more information related to chemotherapy and treatment of mesothelioma, please read the following:

* Mesothelioma Treatment: What is Chemotherapy?
* Mesothelioma Treatment: Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma Treatments: Surgery

The operation is one of the main therapeutic modalities used in the treatment of mesothelioma. There are a number of procedures available and the decisions doctors make will be based on each individual patient's presentation. Important factors to be considered will include the overall treatment strategy, disease histology, location and stage, and patient general health and performance status. Improvements in surgical techniques and postoperative care have resulted in higher "success" for many of these procedures rate, as well as a large reduction in perioperative mortality and post-surgery. However, serious complications still occur, so the decision to conduct extensive operations should always be very clear.
Mesothelioma Treatments: Surgery - Surgical Strategies

There are two main surgical strategies used in the management of mesothelioma: palliative surgery and surgery with curative intent. The use of this term in describing a similar surgery to explain the overall treatment strategy. Palliative surgery is a procedure to treat certain symptoms of mesothelioma, without aggressively treating the disease itself. Running this operation, starting from a low-impact, supporting the treatment of symptoms of the disease aggressive efforts of individual control (although the underlying disease itself will not be treated with aggressive).

The purpose of the operation with a curative goal is to remove a malignant tumor as possible. Ideally, this would mean that all cancer is removed, but the disease is a complex pattern of growth makes complete elimination of a very difficult task. Unlike other cancers that present as individually-identified tumors with clear boundaries between tumor and surrounding tissue, appear as diffuse mesothelioma malignancies that spread to the entire surface area. This usually appears as a layer-like layers of malignant tissue created by a large number of individual tumors, too many to remove individually. The boundaries between the malignant (s) and surrounding healthy tissue is often not clear, which can complicate the decision on where to start the extraction, and obscures the true infiltration rates. This means that the disease can remain hidden after resection. Occult disease refers to the microscopic cancer cells are hidden or too small to be seen during surgery or post-operative analysis, but is still alive and still able to grow. When the mysterious disease was present, which mesothelioma will continue to grow and to come back unless some kind of post-operative care is trying to eradicate these cells.

In light of this problem, mesothelioma experts have concluded that surgery is rarely effective as single modality therapy, and that it must be combined with other treatment modalities to maximize patient survival time. The purpose of the surgery, then, is to achieve complete resection, macroscopically, which refers to the elimination of all visible tumor cells, and then adjuvant therapy will be used to treat potentially occult disease.
Mesothelioma Treatments: Surgery - Surgery with Curative Intent

There are two operations with the intention curative attempt for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma: pleurectomy-decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. They are very-invasive procedures are indicated by the amount of tissue resection and extensive radical surgery was considered a term used to describe procedures that require invasive measures significantly. Because mesothelioma is not curable, this procedure is sometimes called procedures prolong life.

The following section contains a brief description of each procedure and the links to learn more about it.

Extrapleural pneumonectomy
      An extrapleural pneumonectomy feature elimination parietal pleura, diaphragm and pericardium, and the whole lung on the affected side. For patients in all but the early stages of disease, an EPP is generally the best procedure to achieve complete resection, macroscopically.

      Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatment: Curative Surgery - Extrapleural pneumonectomy
Pleurectomy-Decortication

      A pleurectomy / decortication is the surgical procedure in which the parietal pleura, the visceral pleura, and may be tissue from the chest wall, diaphragm and pericardium all deleted. The lungs of the affected side, however, is left in place.

      Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatment: Curative Surgery - Pleurectomy-Decortication

Mesothelioma Treatments: Surgery - Surgery palliative

There are a number of operations available for mesothelioma palliative care and patients for their eligibility would be based on her overall health and performance status.

The following section contains a brief description of each procedure and the links to learn more about it.

Debulking Pleurectomy
      A debulking pleurectomy is a surgical procedure that tries to remove as much cancer of the parietal pleura as possible. This is done to reduce dyspnea associated with tumor burden and can be used together with patients to improve the quality of pleurodesis-life.

      Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Debulking Pleurectomy
Decortication of lung
      A decortication of the lung is a surgical procedure to remove the visceral pleura of the lungs. This is done when the lungs are restricted and unable to expand fully for visceral pleural tumor infiltration. Can also be used in conjunction with patients to improve the quality of pleurodesis-life.

      Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Decortication of lung
Pleural catheter and Pleuroperitoneal Shunts
      Pleural catheter and implant pleuroperitoneal shunts can offer effective palliation for patients suffering from recurrent pleural effusions and other fluid buildups. Long-term use of this option is generally used only for those who have late stage disease who do not agree with the other treatment options.

      Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Pleuroperitoneal pleural catheter and Shunts
Pleurodesis
      Pleurodesis is a procedure that fuses with the parietal pleura and visceral pleura, destroyed the space between them. This is the most frequently-performed palliative procedures and conducted to prevent the buildup of fluid in the pleural space and the recurrence of pleural effusion.

      Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Pleurodesis

Mesothelioma Treatments: Surgery - Technique

Most of the operations performed to mesothelioma completed by trained physician as thoracic surgeons, namely, a doctor who specializes in operations conducted in the chest area, the medical name thorax. Our chests containing two of the organs most vital heart and lung operations be conducted in areas requiring highly skilled and careful treatment, as well as good post-operative procedures that can maximize the recovery, while trying to minimize complications. One of the most important factor for achieving these goals is the surgical technique used to enter into the chest.

Two main techniques to enter the current work in most thoracic surgery: Thoracotomy and video-assisted thoracic surgery (barrel). To learn more about this procedure, please read the summary below and follow the "Learn More" link for detailed background is greater.

Thoracotomy
      Thoracotomy is a surgical procedure in which a large incision is made to open the chest so that the operation can be performed. This is a very invasive technique, but is required for completion of curative surgery.

      Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatment: Surgery Technique - Thoracotomy
Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (vat)
      Video-assisted thoracic surgery (barrel) is a minimally invasive surgical techniques using video imaging to guide surgeons. Tong has been replaced Thoracotomy for some procedures, because it allows the same treatment or similar, but managed to reach them in a less invasive way.

      Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatment: Surgery Technique - Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (vat)

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Mesothelioma Treatments: Curative Surgery - Pleurectomy-Decortication

Pleurectomy-decortication is a compound operation, showing parietal pleurectomy and decortication of lung with a full resection of the visceral pleura. During the second pleurectomy-decortication of pleura is removed and the possibility that the extrapleural tissue structures, as part of the diaphragm and the pericardium, will be deleted as well. This is usually used to present patients with early stages of disease, although the individual procedures can be used for palliative purposes as well. To learn more about using this palliative, please read:

      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Debulking Pleurectomy
      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Decortication of lung

Pleurectomy-decortication is one of the two main curative surgery performed for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma. Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is another major operation.
Pleurectomy-Decortication - Overview of the Procedure

Pleurectomy-decortication (PD) is considered radical surgery because of extensive tissue resection tried during invasive procedures and techniques that are required to complete the operation. Patients who undergo pleurectomy-decortication faces a long recovery period and the serious complications that are not ordinary, but the procedure has been used to prolong survival time in a large number of mesothelioma patients.

During the initial phase of operation, extrapleural pneumonectomy pleurectomy-decortication and continue in the same way. Thoracotomy require extended posterolaterally into the chest. Conducted extensive wedge to give the surgeon a greater exposure to the patient's thorax. In some cases, the ribs 6 may be removed to facilitate entry into the pleural cavity. When the surgeon reaches this area, he will begin the actual resection.

Parietal pleura and its surroundings will be the initial target of surgery. Diaphragm likely to be removed, as if the pericardium can not be easily separated from the parietal pleura, or if it showed signs of malignancy.

The surgeon will begin what is probably the most difficult part of the operation: decortication of the lung and full resection of the visceral pleura. Some problems may affect the extent to which the two pleural effusions can be separated and clean and safe visceral removed from the lungs, so the surgeon will carefully analyze the status and structure of this network will be continued in a way that maximizes the potential for full elimination of visceral pleura and the achievement of -macroscopically complete resection. Every surgical manipulation of visceral pleura increases the likelihood of damage to the lung underlying, so the surgeon must balance the desire to achieve full resection with current status of the lung and the potential for workers lung damage.

After the surgeon has completed the operation, he must then begin the process of reconstruction needed to ensure that lung function. If the diaphragm or pericardium have been removed, the surgeon will reconstruct each structure using a fiber mesh that will achieve the same functionality as the original structure.

During the procedure, the surgeon will remove lymph nodes adjacent to post-operative performance analysis. The lymph nodes will be packaged and identified, and then sent to a pathologist for analysis. This information will inform any follow-up care that patients can undergo.

After all networks have been removed, and the diaphragm and pericardium are reconstructed if necessary, the surgeon will start the exit procedure. Unusual complication with pleurectomy-decortication, so that the surgeon will check to make sure that everything has been correctly completed and are in the appropriate country. Drainage tube will be inserted at various locations to ensure the spread of fluid from the pleural cavity and its surroundings. This should enable the expansion of the lung proper and will help the recovery of patients. Should they order, the surgeon will step back through each of the steps undertaken during the initial approach, rebuilding and reattaching tissue to be cut off at the time of entry and close the incision because he went along.

The patient will then be transferred to the Intensive Care Unit for several days before starting its monitoring of the rehabilitation program. Pleurectomy-Thoracotomy and decortication is a major operation and significant features of post-operative healing, so it is important for patients to take their recovery slowly.
Pleurectomy-Decortication - Treatment Considerations

As in all forms of radical surgery, serious complications can occur during pleurectomy-decortication, or the hours and days after that. Damage to the lungs from the manipulation of the visceral pleura is always a concern, because of complications associated with blood loss, breathing barriers and reconstruction of the diaphragm and the pericardium. However, although the possibility of complications, most surgeons feel that the candidates have to undergo curative surgery operations to maximize their potential for long-term survival. Most of the complications associated with pleurectomy-decortication is now quite popular, so even if a surgeon can not prevent them, they can plan and probably they will be ready to adjust should one arise.

Historically, pleurectomy-decortication has been shown perioperative and postoperative lower levels of mortality and morbidity than having extrapleural pneumonectomy.
Decortication vs. Pleurectomy-Extrapleural pneumonectomy

A recurring question in the treatment of mesothelioma is the extent to which pleurectomy-decortication should be selected for extrapleural pneumonectomy and what it "means" to choose one over the other procedures. Many people think that treatment is relatively interchangeable and pleurectomy-decortication is "better" choice for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma as less radical procedures that protect the lungs, while the extrapleural pneumonectomy is a "bad" option for the elimination of long and extended recovery time.

The study generally concluded that the two procedures are different domain requests and the most effective for patients in various stages of disease. Pleurectomy-decortication is generally performed in patients with mesothelioma present with only local evidence of progress that thin to the adjacent tissue, while the extrapleural pneumonectomy is most often used for patients who show a wider spread of the disease or for those who have enrolled in the treatment of EPP protocol which determines as one of the modalities in multimodal approach to the disease.

Kunci untuk semua mesothelioma operasi adalah untuk mencapai reseksi macroscopically-lengkap, sehingga prosedur yang terbaik dapat mencapai seperti reseksi pada kenyataannya "lebih baik" prosedur untuk setiap pasien. During the early stages of the disease, a pleurectomy-decortication be all that is needed to achieve complete resection, macroscopically. For patients who are fortunate enough to be diagnosed with the tumor burden is limited, pleurectomy-decortication likely to be a good choice. However, for patients who present with more extensive infiltration of tumor-norm with the majority of mesothelioma diagnosis will extrapleural pneumonectomy operations for more possible options to achieve than macroscopically complete resection is pleurectomy-decortication.

In many instances, a surgeon will not know the procedures to be performed at the beginning Thoracotomy. If preoperative imaging scan showed only a thin tissue infiltration, the surgeon may assume that pleurectomy-decortication be done, but if, after entry into the pleural cavity, it found that CT or MRI failed to disclose fully the malignancy, then surgery may be tried make extrapleural pneumonectomy. Although unlikely, the opposite may be true as well: Thoracotomy surgeon can start with the assumption of an extensive network infiltration, and therefore, the performance of an EPP, but after entry into the pleural cavity, the surgeon can see a smaller area of infiltration and the PD will be done as instead.
Pleurectomy-Decortication - Conclusion

Pleurectomy-Decortication is one of the main operations used for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma. Pleurectomy-decortication performed on patients in the early stages of mesothelioma, while a network intrusion is still relatively contained in the surface area smaller. Extrapleural pneumonectomy may have done more than pleurectomy-decortication has been done, so most of the results related to multimodal treatment EPP-based reporting of disease treatment protocols. However, pleurectomy-decortication success should continue achieving the same basic goal as a successful EPP-ie, a complete resection, macroscopically, so the use of pleurectomy-decortication in the multimodal treatment protocols may reach an average live longer than a strict protocol palliative or one that features only one modality therapy.
Related Information: Mesothelioma & Surgery

For more information related to the surgical treatment of mesothelioma, please read the following:

      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Surgery
      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Curative Surgery - Extrapleural pneumonectomy
      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Debulking Pleurectomy
      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Decortication of lung
      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Pleuroperitoneal pleural catheter and Shunts
      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Palliative Surgery - Pleurodesis
      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Surgery Technique - Thoracotomy
      * Mesothelioma Treatment: Surgery Technique - Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (vat)

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Mesothelioma Treatments

Mesothelioma is a disease that is difficult to treat effectively. Even after decades of mesothelioma treatment, there was still no cure for the disease and the historical method to control the development of highly effective yet. Namun, baru-baru ini kemajuan dalam pemahaman kita tentang biologi kompleks penyakit tertentu, telah menyebabkan peningkatan efektivitas terapi standar, yang dipandang paling jelas dengan peningkatan rata-rata kelangsungan hidup kali dilaporkan oleh beberapa pasien kelas. Even when much more work to be completed before the medical community can say it has changed the angle of mesothelioma treatment, increasing survival times, as seen in patients treated with Alimta, or with an effective multimodal protocol refers to a future mesothelioma treatment less brighter and a little more hopeful than ever.
Indications mesothelioma treatment

Before a doctor can develop a treatment plan, patients must undergo a full examination and tests so that doctors can identify the extent of cancer involved, the present stage of disease, histological subtype of malignancy, and overall patient health and performance status. This information will be used to develop a treatment plan tailored to the individual patient's situation. For example, if the disease is diagnosed at an early stage and the patient presents with epithelial histologic form, then radical surgery with curative intent will likely be a decision. However, if the same patient was sarcomatoid mesothelioma histologic subtype, which was known to be resistant to various treatments, so doctors can decide on different treatment strategies. Physician needs the patient's full understanding of the presentation may be if he is to develop an effective treatment plan.
Mesothelioma treatment strategy

The first step in developing any treatment protocol is likely to decisions about how aggressively to fight cancer. Like most serious form of the disease, there are two basic therapeutic strategy for treatment of mesothelioma: palliative care, which is used to manage patients who experience associated with symptoms of the disease, but that does not attempt to cure or control the disease itself, and treatment with curative purposes, which refers to the technique is the ultimate goal of complete recovery or at least full control of the disease at hand. Because mesothelioma does not have the drug, this treatment is sometimes referred to as life-extending treatment.

While the use of the term "palliative care" refers to treatment strategies based on symptom control, there are often subtle differences in meaning when the term is used. For some people, the term "palliative care" refers to any attempt to actively control the symptoms of the individual, while for others the term refers to treatment given to ease the burden on end-of-life symptoms, or symptoms of disease is very advanced. This can also be known as a treatment supporter. We use the term "palliative care" includes both meanings as presented here.

After the doctor has decided on the treatment strategy, he then will monitor the patient response to therapy and make adjustments to treatment plans based on this monitoring. In many instances, a patient will start treatment with an aggressive, 'intention to treat' protocol, but will be transferred to a more of a palliative care plan if the disease stops responding with aggressive therapy.
Mesothelioma Treatment Modalities

A number of different modalities work in mesothelioma treatment. Operation of traditional therapy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used individually or in concert for multimodal therapy, makes most of mesothelioma treatment plan, but there are also more experimental treatments that are available for some patients. Many of the treatments in this study have shown promise in laboratory settings and is undergoing clinical trials to test their clinical safety and efficacy.
Traditional Mesothelioma Treatment Options

      * Surgery (physical removal of the cancer)
        Surgery involves the removal of physical or operative treatment of cancer. There are several different operations available for mesothelioma patients, some palliatively used to treat the symptoms and some of them considered radical surgery and is used with curative intent. Your doctor will decide on the nature and type of operation that it will be based on the overall treatment strategy and the information determined during the examination of patients.

        Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatments: Surgery
      * Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight cancer)
        Chemotherapy uses drugs and other chemical agents to kill cancer cells. This is called a systemic treatment because the drug was introduced into the patient's bloodstream and travel throughout the body to kill cancer cells. Introduction of pemetrexed-based chemotherapy has improved the efficacy of chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients.

        Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatments: Chemotherapy
      * Radiation therapy (using radiation to kill cancer cells)
        Radiation therapy uses ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. For the treatment of mesothelioma, radiation may be used as part of a multimodal treatment protocol or can be used in a way palliative to reduce pain associated with the disease.

        Learn more: Mesothelioma Treatments: Radiation Therapy

   Multimodal and Trimodal Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Doctors will often develop a treatment plan that combines two or more of these treatment options. This is known as multimodal therapy and offers the most effective treatment for malignant mesothelioma patients. Recent research shows that trimodal therapy, in which the three traditional modalities used, offers the best chance at long-term survival for patients who qualify for it.
Non-Traditional Mesothelioma Treatment Options

      * Photodynamic Therapy
        Photodynamic therapy destroys cancer cells by using energy from light and may also be effective when combined with surgery. Although this treatment is experimental for mesothelioma, it has shown promising results in treating other cancers.

      * Gene Therapy
        This is a new treatment, currently in clinical trials. This approach allows treatment to target tumors, rather than destroy healthy cells that are negative traditional chemotherapy.

      * Immunotherapy
        Immunotherapy (or biological therapy) to treat cancer by using the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells. Another name often applies to this treatment: biological response modifiers (BRMs).

Importance of Specialist Treatment for Mesothelioma

Because this disease is relatively rare in the general population, it is recommended that patients seeking an experienced mesothelioma specialist for the development of their treatment plan. These specialists will find the latest research and clinical trials involving each of the modalities discussed above and will be able to develop a treatment plan is more information than would a physician who does not specialize in the disease.

In many cases, mesothelioma specialists will develop protocols and will oversee its implementation, but the patient still will meet with his personal physician as well.

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Current Test for Mesothelioma

The following clinical trials for mesothelioma currently looking for participants as of April 2009. The study, ordered by their relevance to malignant mesothelioma. To more information about these or others in the process of clinical trials, click here.

Cisplatin, Pemetrexed, and imatinib Mesylate in Malignant Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Cisplatin; Drug: imatinib Mesylate; Drug: Pemetrexed

Video-Assisted Surgery or Talk Pleurodesis in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma; Metastatic Cancer

Interventions: Other: talc; Procedure: thoracoscopic surgery therapy; Procedure: therapeutic thoracoscopy; Procedure: therapeutic videothoracoscopy

Dasatinib in resectable malignant pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Dasatinib

Immunotoxin Therapy, Pemetrexed, and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma That Can not Be Removed by Surgery

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Biological: SS1 (dsFv)-PE38 immunotoxin; Drug: cisplatin; Drug: pemetrexed disodium; Other: immunoenzyme technique; Other: immunohistochemistry staining method; Other: pharmacological study; Procedure: quality-of-life assessment

Extrapleural pneumonectomy / Pleurectomy Decortication, IHOC Cisplatin and gemcitabine With Amifostine and sodium thiosulfate Cytoprotection for resectable malignant pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Interventions: Procedure: Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), Pleurectomy / Decortication; Drug: cisplatin; Drug: gemcitabine; Drug: amifostine; Drug: sodium thiosulfate

Study CBP501 + Pemetrexed + Cisplatin in Patients With Solid Tumors (Phase I) and Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (Stage II)

Condition: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma; MPM; Solid Tumors

Interventions: Drug: pemetrexed, cisplatin and CBP501; Drug: pemetrexed and cisplatin

Early diagnosis and Lung Cancer Mesothelioma in Prior Asbestos Workers

Condition: Lung cancer; Mesothelioma

Interventions: observational study

Dasatinib in Treating Patients With Previously Treated Malignant Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: dasatinib; Other: immunoenzyme technique; Other: immunohistochemistry staining method; Other laboratory markers analysis

Tomotherapy Treatment for Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Procedure: Tomotherapy

Bortezomib in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: bortezomib; Procedure: quality-of-life assessment

AZD2171 in Treating Patients With Malignant Mesothelioma That Can not Be Removed By Surgery

Conditions: Mesothelioma Malignant

Interventions: Drug: cediranib maleate; Other laboratory markers analysis

Bortezomib and Cisplatin as First-Line Therapy in Patients With Treatment Malignant Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: bortezomib; Drug: cisplatin

Pemetrexed Disodium and Cisplatin Followed by Surgery With or Without Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: cisplatin; Drug: pemetrexed disodium; Other laboratory marker analysis; Procedure: adjuvant therapy; Procedure: conventional surgery; Procedure: neoadjuvant therapy; Procedure: quality-of-life assessment; radiation: radiation therapy

Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: antineoplaston A10; Drugs: antineoplaston AS2-1

Dendritic cells-Based Immunotherapy in Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Interventions: Biological: tumor lysate-loaded autologous dendritic cells

Sunitinib in Treating Patients With Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: sunitinib malate

Combination Chemotherapy With or Without Surgery and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Mesothelioma That Can Removed By Surgery

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: drugs: chemotherapy; Procedure: adjuvant therapy; Procedure: conventional surgery; Procedure: neoadjuvant radiation therapy: radiation therapy

Pemetrexed, Cisplatin, and Vitamin B12 in Treating Patients With Mesothelioma of the Chest That Can not Be Removed by Surgery

Condition: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B12; Drug: cisplatin; Drug: pemetrexed disodium; genetics: analysis of gene expression; Other laboratory marker analysis; Other: pharmacological study

Everolimus in Treating Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma That Can not Be Removed By Surgery

Kondisi: Malignant Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: everolimus

Study of Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, or Chest Wall Mediastinal neoplasms, or Lung Cancer Metastasis From Non-Thoracic Origin

Condition: Esophageal Cancer; Lung Cancer; Malignant Mesothelioma; Metastatic Cancer

Interventions: Genetic: DNA methylation analysis; genetic: analysis of gene expression; Procedure: bronchoscopy; Procedure: endoscopic biopsy; Procedure: needle biopsy

Cisplatin, and bevacizumab for Pemetrexed untreated malignant Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: bevacizumab; Drug: cisplatin; Drug: pemetrexed

An Efficacy Study Milataxel (TL139) Administered Orally for Malignant Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Milataxel

Eloxatin ® Plus gemcitabine chemotherapy for Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Oxaliplatin / gemcitabine

Efficacy and Safety Study With A Treat Vandetanib for inoperable malignant or relapse Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: vinorelbine; Drug: Vandetanib

Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid (SAHA) Versus Placebo in Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma; Lung Cancer

Interventions: Drug: Comparison: Suberoylanilide Hydroxamic Acid (SAHA); Drugs: Comparison: Placebo

Study carboplatin and vinorelbine in malignant pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: carboplatin and vinorelbine

Chemotherapy was followed by a study using Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy to the pleura in Patients With Advanced Malignant Pleural But Local Unresectable Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Other: Pemetrexed + Cisplatin and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Efficacy Effects on Oral LBH589 in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic dextromethorphan Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer or Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: LBH 589

Sorafenib in Previously Treated Malignant Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Sorafenib

An Efficacy Study of MORAb-009 in Subjects With Pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: MORAb-009 by IV on days 1 and 8 every 21 days for 6 cycles.

Phase II Study of bevacizumab, Pemetrexed and carboplatin as First-Line Therapy in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: bevacizumab, Pemetrexed, carboplatin

Lung-Sparing Treatment of pleural Trimodal Mesothelioma

Conditions: Pleural Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Doxorubicin and cisplatin (intrapleural) + cisplatin and pemetrexed (systemic); Drug: Cisplatin and doxorubicin (intrapleural)

Decitabine and FR901228 in Treating Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Pleural Mesothelioma, or Lung Metastases

Condition: Esophageal Cancer; Lung Cancer; Malignant Mesothelioma; Metastatic Cancer

Interventions: Drug: celecoxib; Drug: decitabine; Drug: romidepsin

Mesothelioma Avastin Plus Pemetrexed-Cisplatin Study

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Standard Chemotherapy (Pemetrexed and Cisplatin); Drugs: Standard Chemotherapy (Pemetrexed and Cisplatin) + bevacizumab

Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of Azacitidine In Combination With Temozolomide

Condition: Soft Tissue Sarcoma; Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Azacitidine In Combination With Temozolomide

Pleurectomy / Decortication With Intraoperative Intrathoracic / heated intraperitoneal Cisplatin With Sodium thiosulfate

Conditions: Pleural Mesothelioma; Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: Cisplatin; Drug: sodium thiosulfate; Drug: ALIMTA

Carboplatin, bevacizumab, and Pemetrexed in the First-Line Treatment of Patients With MPM

Condition: Mesothelioma

Interventions: Drug: carboplatin, bevacizumab, and Pemetrexed

Neoadjuvant short Hemithoracic IMRT for MPM

Condition: Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Interventions: Other: Pre-op RT + / - chemotherapy

Sorafenib, Pemetrexed, and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Condition: Breast Cancer; colorectal cancer; Head and Neck Cancer; Lung Cancer; Malignant Mesothelioma; pancreatic cancer; Prostate Cancer; Sarcoma

Interventions: Drug: cisplatin; Drug: pemetrexed disodium; Drug: sorafenib tosylate

FR901228 and Flavopiridol in Treating Patients With Advanced Lung, Esophageal, or Pleural Cancer

Condition: Esophageal Cancer; Lung Cancer; Malignant Mesothelioma; Metastatic Cancer

Interventions: Drug: alvocidib; Drug: romidepsin

Optical Coherence Tomography in the Detection of airway cells that are abnormal in Patients Undergoing Surgery for lung cancer or lung disease

Condition: Lung cancer; Malignant Mesothelioma, metastatic cancer; precancerous / Nonmalignant Condition

Interventions: Procedure: bronchoscopic and lung imaging studies; Procedure: diagnostic bronchoscopy; Procedure: histopathologic examination; Procedure: optical coherence tomography

Gene therapy for malignant pleural

Conditions: Pleural Mesothelioma; metastatic pleural effusion

Interventions: Gene Transfer: BG00001 (adenoviral-mediated interferon-beta)

A Study To Find The Best Dose Of SU011248 When Seeing With Pemetrexed, Pemetrexed And Cisplatin Or Pemetrexed and carboplatin in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors

Condition: Mesothelioma; Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; Neoplasm

Interventions: Drug: Sunitinib, Pemetrexed, Cisplatin, carboplatin

Surgery Plus Intraoperative Peritoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC) to Treat Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Condition: Stomach Neoplasms; colorectal neoplasm; Neoplasm Metastasis; Mesothelioma

Interventions: Procedure: cytoreductive surgery; Procedure: intraoperative peritoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy with cisplatin and mitomycin

Sublingual fentanyl spray in Treating Patients With Breakthrough Cancer Pain

Condition: Cancer

Interventions: Drug: fentanyl sublingual spray; Other: questionnaire administration

Study of Oral PXD101 in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors or Lymphoma

Condition: Solid Tumors; Lymphoma

Interventions: Drug: belinostat

Electronic devices Record Cancer Symptoms in Patients With Advanced Cancer Receiving Palliative Care

Condition: Cancer

Interventions: Other: counseling intervention; Procedure: cognitive assessment; Procedure: fatigue assessment and management Procedure: psychosocial assessment and care; Procedure: quality of life assessment

Phase I Study of OSI-930 and Erlotinib in Cancer Tumor

Condition: Advanced Solid Tumor

Interventions: Drug: OSI-930 and erlotinib

1-methyl-d-Tryptophan in Treating Patients With Refractory Solid Tumor recurrence or

Condition: Cancer

Interventions: Drug: 1-methyl-d-tryptophan; Other: flow cytometry; Other: fluorescence activated cell sorting; Other high-performance liquid chromatography; Other: immunohistochemistry staining method; Other: laboratory marker analysis; Other: pharmacological study

An Analysis of Human Tumor Response microvascular endothelium to Ionizing Radiation

Condition: Ovarian neoplasms; colorectal neoplasm; Melanoma; Small Cell Lung Cancer; Liposarcoma

Intervention: Radiation: Ionizing radiation (IR) therapy; Radiation: Ionizing radiation (IR)

Study of Pemetrexed and bevacizumab in Patients With Head and Neck Cancer

Condition: Cancer

Interventions: Drug: Pemetrexed; Drug: bevacizumab

Study of Pemetrexed for Second-Line Pancreatic Cancer

Condition: Pancreatic Cancer

Interventions: Drug: pemetrexed

Continuous Hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP) With Cisplatin for Children With Peritoneal Cancer

Condition: peritoneal neoplasms; retroperitoneal neoplasms; Gastrointestinal neoplasms; Adenocarcinoma; Neuroblastoma; ovarian neoplasms; Sarcoma; Adrenocortical Carcinoma; Wilms tumor; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor
Interventions: Drug: CHPP of Cisplatin; Procedure: Abdominal Surge

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Understanding Prescriptions

Understanding Prescriptions currently no cure for mesothelioma, so most treatments are designed to slow the progression of cancer or ease the discomfort associated with the disease. Treatment is aimed solely to enhance patient comfort is called palliative care and is an important aspect of mesothelioma drug.

One of the most important aspect of treatment for mesothelioma is communicating with your doctor. It is important that you can talk to your doctor and ask any questions you may have about your condition or treatment. Many doctors encourage patients to bring with them a list of any questions that arise between appointments. It is important to your care that you keep all appointments with your doctor, as well as every promise to the laboratory or treatment. Your doctor will want to monitor your progress, and the side effects of your medication very carefully.

You should really discuss your medical history with the doctor who prescribed medication for you, especially if the first time you've seen this particular doctor. You should make a list before your appointment of all prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and supplements (both herbal and nutritional) and give it to your doctor. Many drugs interact with each other and this can aggravate your condition or influence the effectiveness of drugs.

After discussing your situation with you, your doctor may recommend some of the following medications:

Pemetrexed is a chemotherapy drug that slows the growth and spread of cancer cells. The use of pemetrexed has been successfully used to reduce pain and prolong the life of mesothelioma patients. This is most often administered by injection at the doctor's office, clinic or hospital.

Cisplatin is a platinum-containing compounds that slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. This is most often administered intravenously by an experienced health professionals. Cisplatin has proved highly effective in the treatment of mesothelioma, particularly in relation to pemetrexed, but patients should be monitored carefully for side effects due to overuse of these drugs can be fatal.

Angiogenic Inhibitor Endostatin is a slow growth of cancer cells by depriving them of an adequate blood supply. Because mesothelioma cells rely on a large number of blood vessels to grow, the researchers believe that Endostatin will be an effective treatment for mesothelioma and cancers grow faster.

The antimetabolite gemcitabine, which prevents the production of certain proteins needed for tumor growth. It is most often used to treat pancreatic cancer and lung cancer (including mesothelioma). Gemcitabine was administered intravenously in a doctor's office or hospital.

Epirubicin is antineoplastic that acts by disturbing the growth of cancer cells by allowing the body to kill them. Usually given as an injection by a healthcare provider in the doctor's office, hospital or clinic.

Intrapleural interferon gamma injected directly into the lung cavity that has been proven effective in the early stages of spreading malignant mesothelioma. Drug action is not fully understood, so consult your doctor for information about the following common side effects: diarrhea, fatigue, flu-like symptoms, headache, joint pain, muscle pain, nausea and discomfort at the injection site.

Doxorubicin are antineoplastic drugs that slow the growth and spread of cancer cells. Doxorubicin should only be administered by qualified health care provider in the office, hospital or clinic.

There are additional drugs currently being developed and tested for cancer treatment purposes. Your oncologist should be a good source for more information on this experimental drug.

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Hospice Care Centers by State

Alabama
Alabama Hospice Organization
1040 14th St., Ste. B, Calera, AL 35040-1835
Phone: 205-668-0460
Toll-free: 1-800-355-1973
Website: http://www.alhospice.org

Alaska
Alaska Treatment
c / o Hospice of Anchorage
500 W Intl Airport Rd # C
Anchorage, AK 99518
Phone: 907-561-5322
Website: http://www.hospiceofanchorage.org/Index.html

Arizona
Arizona Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
815 N. First Ave., Ste. One
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: 602-712-9822
Website: http://www.arizonahospice.org

Arkansas
Arkansas State Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
P.O. Box 251,507
Little Rock, AK 72225
Toll-free: 1-866-742-1541
Website: http://www.arkansasstatehospice.org

California
California Hospice and Palliative Care Association
3841 North Freeway Blvd., Ste. 225
Sacramento, CA 95834
Phone: 916-925-3770
Toll-free: 1-888-252-1010
Website: http://www.calhospice.org

Colorado
Colorado Hospice Organization
P.O. Box 50,888
Colorado Springs, CO 80949-0888
Phone: 719-594-9233
Fax: 719-594-9203
Website: http://www.coloradohospice.org

Connecticut
Connecticut Council for Hospice & Palliative Care
110 Barnes Rd., Box 90
Wallingford, CT 6492
Phone: 203-265-5923
Website: http://www.cthospice.org

Delaware
Delaware Hospice, Inc.
3515 Silverside Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19810
Phone: 302-478-5707
Website: http://www.dehospice.org

Washington
Capital Hospice
6565 Arlington Blvd. - Suite 500
Falls Church, VA 22042
Phone: 703-538-2065
Website: http://www.capitalhospice.org

Florida
Florida Hospices and Palliative Care, Inc.
2000 Apalachee Pkwy., Ste. 200
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Phone: 850-878-2632
Toll-free: 1-800-282-6560
Website: http://www.floridahospices.org

Georgia
Georgia Hospice Organization
Five Concourse Parkway, Ste. 3000
Atlanta, GA 30328
Toll-free: 1-877-924-6073
Fax: 703-837-1233
Website: http://www.ghpco.org

Hawaiian
Kokua Mau - Hawaii Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
P.O. Box 62,155
Honolulu, HI 96839
Phone: 808-585-9977
Toll-free: 1-800-474-2113
Website: http://www.kokuamau.org

Idaho
Idaho State Hospice Organization
190 East Bannock
Boise, ID 83712
Phone: 208-772-7994
Website: http://www.hospiceidaho.org

Illinois
Illinois Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
1525 East 53rd St., Ste. 400
Chicago, IL 60615-4530
Toll-free: 1-888-844-7706
Website: http://www.il-hpco.org

Indiana
Indiana Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, Inc.
Ten West Market St., Ste. 1720
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2954
Phone: 317-464-5145
Toll-free: 1-866-254-1910
Website: http://www.ihpco.org

Iowa
Iowa Hospice Organization
100 East Grand Ave., Ste. 120
Des Moines, IA 50309-1835
Phone: 515-243-1046
Website: http://www.iowahospice.org

Kansas
Kansas Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
1901 West University St.
Wichita, KS 67213-3325
Phone: 316-263-6380
Toll-free: 1-888-202-5433
Website: http://www.lifeproject.org/akh.htm

Kentucky
Kentucky Association of Hospice and Palliative Care
305 Ann St., Ste. 308
Frankfort, KY 40601
Toll-free: 1-888-322-7317
Website: http://www.kah.org

Louisiana
Louisiana - Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Kerlerec St 717
New Orleans, LA 70116-2005
Phone: 504-945-2414
Toll-free: 1-888-546-1500
Website: http://www.lmhpco.org

Maine
Maine Hospice Council
P.O. Box 2239
Augusta, ME 04338-2239
Phone: 207-626-0651
Toll-free: 1-800-438-5963
Website: http://www.mainehospicecouncil.org

Maryland
Maryland hospital network
408 Headquarters Dr., Ste. 3-H
Millersville, MD 21108-2550
Phone: 410-729-4571
Website: http://www.hnmd.org

Massachusetts
Hospitals and Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts
1420 Providence Hwy., Ste. 277
Norwood, MA 02602-4673
Phone: 781-255-7077
Toll-free: 800-962-2973
Website: http://www.hospicefed.org

Michigan
Michigan Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
5123 West St. Joseph Hwy., Ste. 204
Lansing, MI 48917
Phone: 517-886-6667
Toll-free: 1-800-536-6300 (MI)
Website: http://www.mihospice.org

Minnesota
Minnesota Care
2365 McKnight Rd. North, Ste. 2
North Saint Paul, MN 55109
Phone: 651-659-0423
Toll-free: 1-800-214-9597
Website: http://www.hospicemn.org

Mississippi
Louisiana - Mississippi Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Kerlerec St 717
New Orleans, LA 70116-2005
Phone: 504-945-2414
Toll-free: 1-888-546-1500
Website: http://www.lmhpco.org

Missouri
Missouri Hospice and Palliative Care Association
3905 Stonewall Ave.
Independence, MO 64055-4173
Phone: 816-350-7702
Website: http://www.mohospice.org

Montana
MHA - An Association of Montana Health Care Providers
P.O. 5119 boxes
Helena, MT 59604
Phone: 406-442-1911
Website: http://www.mtha.org

Nebraska
Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association
3900 NW 12th Street, Suite 100
Lincoln, NE 68521
Phone: 402-477-0204
Website: http://www.nehospice.org

Nevada
Care Association of Nevada
P.O. Box 160,087
Sacramento, CA 95816-0087
Phone: 916-441-3770
Toll-free: 888-252-1010

New Hampshire
New Hampshire Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
125 Airport Rd.
Concord, NH 03301-7300
Toll-free: 1-877-646-7742
Website: http://www.nhhpco.org

New Jersey
New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
175 Glenside Ave.
Scotch Plains, NJ 07076-1528
Phone: 908-233-0060
Website: http://www.njhospice.org

New Mexico
Texas and New Mexico Hospice Organization
P.O. Box 15,465
Austin, TX 78761-5465
Phone: 512-454-1247
Toll-free: 1-800-580-9270
Website: http://www.txnmhospice.org

New York
Hospitals and Palliative Care Association of New York State
21 Aviation Rd., Ste. 9
Albany, NY 12205-1141
Phone: 518-446-1483
Toll-free: 1-800-431-8988
Website: http://www.hpcanys.org

North Carolina
Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care
P.O. 4449 boxes
Cary, NC 27519-4449
Phone: 919-677-4100
Toll-free: 800-662-8859
Website: http://www.carolinasendoflifecare.org

North Dakota
North Dakota Hospice Organization
c / o Sakakawea Hospice
510 8th Ave. Northeast
Hazen, ND 58545
Phone: 701-748-7381
Website: http://www.ndhospice.com

Ohio
Ohio Hospice & Palliative Care Organization
555 Metro Pl. North, Ste. 650
Dublin, OH 43017-1375
Phone: 614-763-0036
Toll-free: 1-800-776-9513
Website: http://www.ohpco.org

Oklahoma
Oklahoma Hospice & Palliative Care Association
P.O. Box 54,586
Oklahoma City, OK 73154
Phone: 405-606-4442
Toll-free: 1-800-456-8201
Website: http://www.okhospice.org

Oregon
Oregon Hospice Association
P.O. Box 10,796
Portland, OR 97926-0796
Phone: 503-228-2104
Toll-free: 1-888-229-2104
Website: http://www.oregonhospice.org

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Hospice Network
475 West Governor Rd., Ste. 7
Hershey, PA 17033
Phone: 717-533-4002
Toll-free: 1-866-554-6774
Website: http://www.pahospice.org

Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Home Health and Hospice Association of
P.O. Box 192,152
San Juan, PR 00919-2152
Fax: 787-765-9876

Rhode Island
Rhode Island State Hospice Organization
c / o VNS Hospice
1184 E Main Rd
Portsmouth, RI 02871
Phone: (401) 682-2100
Website: http://www.vnsri.com

South Carolina
Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care
1000 Center Point Rd.
Columbia, SC 29210
Phone: 803-791-4220
Toll-free: 1-800-662-8859
Website: http://www.carolinasendoflifecare.org

South Dakota
South Dakota Hospice Organization
Dakota 200 East, Ste. 1
Pierre, SD 57501-3313
Phone: 605-224-3214
Website: http://www.southdakotahospice.org

Tennessee
Tennessee Hospice Organization
500 Interstate Blvd. South
Nashville, TN 37210-4634
Phone: 615-401-7402
Toll-free: 1-800-258-9541
Website: http://www.tha.com/tho

Texas
Texas and New Mexico Hospice Organization
P.O. Box 15,465
Austin, TX 78761-5465
Phone: 512-454-1247
Toll-free: 1-800-580-9270
Website: http://www.txnmhospice.org

Utah
Utah Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
900 South 1327 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Phone: 801-582-2245
Toll-free: 1-888-325-4150
Website: http://www.utahhospice.org

Vermont
Treatment and Palliative Care Council of Vermont
10 Main St
Montpelier, VT 05602-2978
Phone: 802-229-0579
Website: http://www.hpccv.org/

Virginia
Virginia Association for Hospices
P.O. Box 70,025
Richmond, VA 23255-0025
Phone: 804-740-1344
Website: http://www.virginiahospices.org/

Washington State
Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
1911 Southwest Campus Dr., # 316
Federal Way, WA 98023-3739
Phone: 253-661-3739
Toll-free: 1-866-661-3739
Website: http://www.wshpco.org

West Virginia
Council of West Virginia hospital
c / o Hospice of the Panhandle
122 Waverly Ct., Martinsburg, WV 25401
Phone: 304-264-0406
Toll-free: 1-800-345-6538
Website: http://www.hospicecouncilofwv.org/

Wisconsin
The Hospice Organization and Palliative Experts of Wisconsin (HOPE)
3240 University Ave., Ste. 2
Madison, WI 53705-3570
Phone: 608-233-7166
Toll-free: 1-800-210-0220
Website: http://www.wisconsinhospice.org

Wyoming
Wyoming Hospice Organization
319 South Wilson, Ste. D
Casper, WY 82.601
Phone: 307-577-4832

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Mesothelioma Resources & Topics

If you or a loved one had just been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or Asbestosis, your sure to feel overwhelmed with questions. Understanding the medical diagnosis and prognosis, your treatment options, and sources of support available is very important for you against mesothelioma.

Related Topics | FAQ | Recent News Updates
Related Topics
Malignant Mesothelioma

      * Pleura Mesothelioma |
      * Peritoneal Mesothelioma |
      * Pericardial Mesothelioma |
      * Reproductive Mesothelioma |
      * Epithelioid Mesothelioma |
      * Bi-Phasic Mesothelioma |
      * Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Symptoms

      * Mesothelioma Symptoms & Signs |
      * Mesothelioma Diagnosis (Imaging Techniques | Pathology Tests)

Mesothelioma Treatment

      * Surgery |
      * Chemotherapy |
      * Radiation Therapy |
      * Non-Traditional Therapy

Mesothelioma Specialists

      * Care Facilities |
      * Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

General Information

      * Mesothelioma News |
      * Asbestos News |
      * Lawyers & Attorneys |
      * Asbestosis |
      * Ship & Asbestos Exposure

Questions mesothelioma

      * What is Mesothelioma? How do you get Mesothelioma?
      * What are the symptoms of Mesothelioma?
      * How Mesothelioma diagnosed?
      * What is the medical staging Mesothelioma?
      * What are the treatment options for those diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
      * How do I find and participate in clinical trials?

Frequently Asked Questions Asbestos

      * What is asbestos?
      * What trade job and work with asbestos?
      * What type of products that contain asbestos?
      * Could I have been exposed to asbestos in my home?
      * Why is asbestos used in insulation and building products?
      * What is the company know and when did they know that?

Recent Mesothelioma and Asbestos News

      * Tougher Toxic Chemicals Legislation Being Considered
      * Extend the Life Alimta Lung Cancer Patients
      * Iron Range Health Screenings take place Mesothelioma
      * Chaplains Offer Comfort to Patients
      * Mesothelioma Awareness Day - 26 September
      * Wanted for Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Patients
      * Photographers Using Art to Get the Word Out on Mesothelioma
      * New Test for Early Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
      * Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation Receives Cancer Fighter Award
      * New Hope To Improve Treatment Mesothelioma Research

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Information for Patients & Families

Exposure to asbestos, even in very small amounts, can cause mesothelioma or Asbestosis. The most common form of mesothelioma pleural mesothelioma, which accounts for seventy to eighty percent of all mesothelioma diagnosis. While a rare disorder in the general population, mesothelioma is not rare among individuals exposed to asbestos. There are two to three thousand new diagnoses mesothelioma every year.

Most mesothelioma victims exposed to asbestos in the workplace and never aware of the danger (Occupational Hazards - Ships and Asbestos). Unlike many other predominantly associated with lung cancer, smoking is not known to affect the incidence of mesothelioma causes.

One of the most difficult aspect of mesothelioma to be reconciled with a long latency period, which is a period of time between first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of disease. Mesothelioma usually develop 10-70 years after initial exposure.

If you, or a family member, had recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma you have to focus on surrounding yourself with support and resources you need. We have provided the following information to help patients and families get the help they need. Please contact us for assistance and additional information.

GENERAL INFORMATION MESOTHELIOMA

      * About Mesothelioma (pleura | peritoneal)

      * Asbestos Products

      * Disease Symptoms

      * Mesothelioma News - Asbestos Headlines

      * Occupational Hazards

      * Recommended Websites

HEALTH & MEDICAL

      * Diagnosis (Imaging Techniques | Pathology Tests | Pulmonary Function Tests)

      * Mesothelioma Prognosis

      * Disease Stage

      * Treatment Options
        (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy)

      * Non-Traditional Mesothelioma Treatments

      * Doctors, Specialists, and Personal Care Facilities
            - New York
            - Florida
            - California

      * Clinical Trials
      * Mesothelioma Glossary

FIND ANSWERS

      * How Mesothelioma is different from lung cancer?

      * 100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma

      * Cancer Nutrition

      * Email Alert Offers

      * Find Support Group / Counseling Resources

      * Recommended Reading

      * Hospice Care Information

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mesothelioma support & help

Research has shown that cancer patients who are actively addressing the issues of their health, life concerns, and emotions showed both mental and physical improvement. While medical professionals focused on your care, you need to ensure that you and your family, is receiving the support you need. Family and friends are structures invaluable support for mesothelioma patients, but to participate in support groups can connect cancer patients and can help individuals learn from the experience together.

Finding the right source of support is not only important for the patient, but also for caregivers mesothelioma. Financial problems, changing family roles, and anxiety may place an additional burden on family members.

There are therapists who are experienced in helping families cope with serious illness and full of sadness. Includes advisers who are trained as part of the support structure you can help provide options when it seems not many choices.

Support groups can provide a confidential environment where patients and caregivers can get emotional support and practical advice on everyday questions such as the management of medication side effects.

Support groups provide counseling, education and communication for the victims of life-threatening diseases.

Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR)
Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR) manages a mailing list for mesothelioma patients.

Link: http://www.acor.org/support.html

Lung Cancer Alliance
Lung Cancer Alliance is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated solely to patient support and advocacy for people living with lung cancer or those at risk for the disease.

Link: http://www.alcase.org/facing/support.html

American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)
American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Cancer Resource providing information to cancer patients and their families.

Link: http://www.aicr.org/site/PageServer?pagename=cs_resources

Cancer Care Counseling
Counseling cancer treatment professional counseling available for individuals or support groups facilitated by professionals.

Link: http://www.cancercare.org/get_help/counseling.php

AMC Cancer Center - Cancer Information and Counseling Line (CICL)
The AMC Cancer Research Center and University of Colorado Cancer Center has operated a toll-free Cancer Information and Counseling Line (CICL) for more than 25 years, assisted by teacher-counselors are trained and licensed. To speak with a counselor through the CICL,
Call 1-800-525-3777 (Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00 MST).

Link: http://www.amc.org/now-education.html

Care Education Institute
Hospice Education Institute offers Hospicelink, who kept a computerized database and up-to-date directory of all hospice and palliative care programs in the United States. Free phone number (800-331-1620) offers referrals to hospitals and palliative care programs, and provides general information about the principles and good practices of hospitals and palliative care.

Our website also contains general information about Hospice Care and Hospice State Associations directory.

Link: http://www.hospiceworld.org/

Wellness Community
Wellness Community is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free support, education and hope for cancer sufferers and their loved ones.

Link: http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/

Medical News Today
Latest Asbestos and Mesothelioma News articles published daily by Medical News Today.

Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/asbestos/

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Mesothelioma & Asbestos: 100 Questions & Answers

100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma offer in-depth and personal look at mesothelioma from the perspective of a doctor, a widow of a patient, and a career nanny patients with lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The amount of information and support available for mesothelioma is relatively low compared with the types of other cancers. 100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma bridge that gap by providing a broad picture of the disease and specific explanations of medical terms and procedures you will encounter when dealing with mesothelioma. This comprehensive book discusses the basics of mesothelioma, diagnosis and treatment options, legal rights of victims, and copings skills both for victims and their families.

Normally retailing at $ 17 dollars, this book offers Mesotheliomahelp.net free to provide resources invaluable for newly diagnosed patients, survivors, and family members and friends. We strongly believe in advocacy for people with mesothelioma and one of the greatest weapons in fighting this deadly disease is education and awareness.

About the author:

Dr. Harvey I. Pass is a leading practitioner in the study and treatment of mesothelioma. He is Professor of Surgery and Oncology at Wayne State University, Head of Thoracic Oncology at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, and Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the John A. Dingell VA Hospital in Detroit. Most of the research Dr. Pass and published works dealing with lung cancer and molecular genetics malignant pleural mesothelioma and novel protocols for treatment. Dr. Pass is also Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF). You can see the full profile here.

Laura Roy, RN, BSN, OCN, is a clinical coordinator for the Thoracic Oncology Program at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit. During the 16-year career focusing on the oncology nursing care of patients with primary emphasis on the care and treatment of patients with lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Sue Vento is the widow of Congressman Bruce Vento, who died of mesothelioma on October 10, 2000. Vento is MARF board member and Chairman of the Coalition to Protect Mesothelioma Victims. He offers experience and insight from first-hand about how the family members and caregivers can be overcome when dealing with the tragedy of mesothelioma.

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The Median Is not The Message

Dr Stephen J. Gould internationally renowned paleontologist and evolutionary biologist who live a healthy and productive twenty years after he was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1982. When Dr. Gould died in 2002, he died from a form that completely unrelated cancer. In 1985 he wrote the following essay about the diagnosis and experience with the disease.

This is a beautiful essay about her determination to not let the simple statistics to determine the response mesothelioma. Many cancer patients, not just those who are diagnosed with mesothelioma, has been inspired by Dr. Gould's life and words.
"The Median Is not The Message"

      My life has recently intersected, in a most personal way, two famous Mark Twain joke. One I will postpone until the end of this essay. The other (sometimes attributed to Disraeli), identifies three kinds of lies, each worse than the previous-lies, damned lies and statistics.

      Consider the standard example of stretching the truth with numbers - a case quite relevant to my story. Statistics acknowledged the steps that differ from an "average" or central tendency. The mean is our usual concept of average as a whole - add items and share them with the number of sharers (100 candy collected for five kids next Halloween will yield 20 to each in a just world). Median, a different measure central tendency, is the halfway point. If I line up five kids by height, the average child shorter than two and taller than the other two (who might have trouble getting the means of their candy). A politician in power might say with pride, "the average income of our citizens is $ 15,000 per year." Opposition leader would probably reply, "But half our citizens make less than $ 10,000 per year." Both are correct, but does not mention a statistic with a calm objectivity. First call mean, median two. (That's higher than the median in such cases because one millionaire may exceed hundreds of poor people in determining the average, but he can only balance a single beggar in calculating the average).

      Larger problem of creating a common distrust or contempt for statistics is more troubling. Many people make profitable and invalid separation between heart and mind, or feeling and intellect. In some contemporary traditions, supported by stereotypical attitudes based in Southern California, feelings are exalted as more "real" and the only proper basis for action if it feels good, do-while the intellect has received little attention as a hang-up obsolete elitism . Statistics, in this absurd dichotomy, often become the symbol of the enemy. As Hilaire Belloc wrote, "Statistics victory quantitative methods, and quantitative methods is the victory of sterility and death."

      This is a personal story of statistics, properly interpreted, as a highly nurturant and life-giving. He declared holy war on the humble intellect by telling a little story about the utility of dry, academic knowledge about science. Heart and head are focal points of one body, one personality.

      In July 1982, I learned that I suffered from abdominal mesothelioma, a rare and serious cancer usually associated with exposure to asbestos. When I returned after the operation, the first question I asked my doctor and I chemotherapist: "What is the best technical literature about mesothelioma?" He replied, with a touch of diplomacy (the only departure she has ever made from direct frankness), that the medical literature contained nothing really worth reading.

      Of course, trying to keep the intellectual and literary works about the sanctity of recommending to Homo sapiens, the sexiest primate of all. As soon as I can walk, I went straight to Harvard's Countway medical library and punched mesothelioma into the computer search program bibliography. One hour later, surrounded by the latest literature on abdominal mesothelioma, I realized with a gulp why my doctor had offered that humane advice. Literature can not be more brutally clear: mesothelioma is incurable, with a mortality rate on average only eight months after discovery. I sat stunned for about fifteen minutes, then smiled and said to myself: so that's why they did not give me anything to read. Then my mind started working again, thank goodness.

      If a little learning can be a dangerous thing, I've found a classic example. Attitude clearly matters in fighting cancer. We do not know why (from the old-style materialistic perspective, I suspect that the mental state feedback on the immune system). But right at the people with cancer to age, class, health, socioeconomic status, and, in general, those with a positive attitude, with a strong will and purpose for living, with commitment to struggle, with active response to help medical their own and not just passively accept what the doctor says, tend to live longer. A few months later I asked Sir Peter Medawar, my personal scientific guru and Nobelist in immunology, what the best recipe for success against cancer might be. "An optimistic personality," he said. Fortunately (since one can not reconstruct themselves in a short time and for specific purposes), I, if any, even-tempered and confident in just this way.

      Hence the dilemma for humane doctors: since the problem was so critical attitude, must like the sombre conclusion be advertised, especially since only a few people have sufficient understanding of statistics to evaluate what the statements really mean? From years of experience with small-scale evolution of Bahamian land snails treated quantitatively, I have developed this technical knowledge - and I believe that this plays an important role in saving my life. Knowledge is indeed power, in Bacon's proverb.

      The problem may be briefly stated: What does "death of an average of eight months' shows in our area? I suspect that most people, without training in statistics, would read statements like "I'll probably die within eight months," which is the conclusion to be avoided, because it is not so, and because so many attitude problems.

      I do not, of course, delighted, but I do not read this statement in good ways. Technical training I ordered a different perspective on "the death of an average of eight months." The point is subtle, but profound, as manifest in the typical way of thinking of my own field of evolutionary biology and natural history.

      While still carrying the burden of the history of a Platonic heritage that sharp looking and the essence of certain limits. (Thus we hope to find a clear "beginning of life" or "definition of death," although nature often comes to us as irreducible continua.) This Platonic heritage, with emphasis on the obvious differences and eternal entities separated, leads us to view statistics measure of central tendency, is contrary to the appropriate interpretation in our real world variations, shadows, and continua. In short, we see the facilities and the median as the hard "realities," and variations that allow the calculation of them as a set of temporary measures and imperfect of this hidden essence. If the median is the reality and variation around the median just the device for calculation, that "maybe I will die in eight months" may pass as a reasonable interpretation.

      But all evolutionary biologists know that variation itself is nature's only irreducible essence. Variation is the hard reality, not a set of imperfect measures of central tendency for. Facility and the median is the abstraction. Therefore, I see the mesothelioma statistics quite different - and not just because I am an optimist who tends to see the donut not the hole, but mainly because I know that variation itself is reality. I had to put myself in the middle of variation.

      When I learned about an average of eight months, my first intellectual reaction was: fine, half of the people will live longer; now what I may be in that half. I read to be angry and nervous hour and concluded, with relief: very good. I have every one of the characteristics the probability of living to negotiate again: I was young; my illness has been recognized in a relatively early stage, I will receive the best medical care, I have a world to live, I know how to read the data properly and not despair .

      Another technical point then added even more solace. I immediately recognized that the distribution of variation about the eight-month average will almost certainly become statistician so-called "right side." (In a symmetrical distribution, the profile variation on the left of the central tendency is a mirror image to the right variation. On the distribution side, the variation to one side of central tendency is more stretched - the left side if extended to the left, right, if lying on your right.) Distribution of variation must be right side, I reasoned. After all, on the left contains the distribution can not be withdrawn under the limit of zero (since mesothelioma can only be identified at the time of death or before). Thus, there is not much room for distribution to lower (or left) half of it had to curl up in between zero and eight months. But the upper (or right) half can extend out over the years, even if nobody ultimately survive. The distribution must be right side, and I need to know how long the extended tail ran - for I have concluded that my favorable profile made me a good candidate for the curve.

      Distribution really, really right side, with a long tail (though small) that extended for several years on the average of eight months. I do not see why I should not be in a small tail, and I breathed a long sigh of relief. My technical knowledge had helped. I have read the graph correctly. I have asked the right questions and find answers. I have obtained, in all likelihood, the most precious of all possible gifts in the situation - a lot of time. I do not have to stop and immediately follow the command of Isaiah to Hezekiah, set your house so that you are dead, and not live. I'll have time to think, plan, and to fight.

      One final point about statistical distributions. They only apply to a prescribed set of circumstances - in this case for survival with mesothelioma under conventional treatment. If things change, the distribution may change. I was placed on trial treatment protocols and, if luck holds, will be in the first group of new distribution with high average and a right tail extending to death by natural causes in old age.

      Has become, in my view, a bit too trendy to regard the acceptance of death as something tantamount to intrinsic dignity. Of course I agree with the preacher of Ecclesiastes that there is a time to love and a time to die, and when I finished skein I hope to face the end calmly and in my own way. Situations for most, however, I prefer the more martial view that death is the ultimate enemy, and I find nothing reproachable in those who rage mightily against the dying of the light.

      A lot of sword fighting, and there is no more effective than humor. My death was announced at the meeting of my colleagues in Scotland, and I almost had a delicious pleasure to read an obituary written by one of my friends (the so-and-so suspicious and checked, he also was a statistician, and do not expect to find me so far on the right tail). However, the incident provided my first laugh after the diagnosis. Imagine, I'm almost there to repeat Mark Twain's most famous of all: the report my death is greatly exaggerated.

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Mesothelioma Patient Profile: Charlene Kaforey

We traditionally use the "Recent News" section of this website to report the latest findings in research mesothelioma and asbestos. Most of the stories we have been discussing the latest article summaries from scientific journals, so it was quite technical. We will continue to report all the latest research, but we also extend the coverage to include stories about people who live with mesothelioma. Disease research only because the people who struggled, so we wanted to highlight the men and women who dare to struggle pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma, as well as other more rare forms of disease: mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma reproduction.
Introduction

Kaforey Charlene is a woman from New York diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in July of 2007. He is currently undergoing immunotherapy under the guidance of the cancer center in the Bahamas and respond very well to treatment. We are proud to be able to tell the story of Charlene and trust him against mesothelioma is an inspiration to all people diagnosed with the disease.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Charlene undergoing abdominal CT in March 2007 which revealed an abnormal spot on the left lung below. The doctor then scheduled a follow-up chest CT following May, which showed more spots. Charlene's doctor initially suspected lymphoma, but now they want to rule out taking wait-and-see approach and then check back in six months. Many people may have just taken a doctor's advice and waited, but requires Charlene lung biopsy and was given one. Strength and freedom of thought, which is exhibited here, will see the whole story.

Results of lung biopsy Charlene surprised everyone involved, but the most important. Pleural biopsy revealed that he has mesothelioma and then tested again to find it had spread to the lymph nodes, which is a sign of more advanced disease. Charlene thus found himself as the Stage III patients for the disease he almost did not hear. Not sure how to proceed, he immediately began chemotherapy after consultation with some of the best mesothelioma doctors in New York and Boston, who recommends that he completed the traditional, mesothelioma treatment protocol trimodal surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. However, Charlene was not sure whether the trimodal therapy in the best interest. He consulted with his personal physician, and they, too, agree that the standard therapy is not possible for him. In describing his decision, Charlene said, "When I look at research papers, I realized that the conventional surgical approach, chemotherapy, radiation, is likely to provide at most 30 months, and more likely 12-18 months. I have some symptoms. For I, the operation means giving up my 'good health' forever and then maybe have a short survival after it. No reason. Why go through all that for a little time to return? "
Mesothelioma Treatment with ITL Alternative Cancer Treatment Clinic

This is another example of Charlene independence and inner strength. Instead of beginning trimodal theory, Charlene researched alternative mesothelioma treatment and quickly find information about the ITL Alternative Cancer Treatment Clinic, the cancer clinic located in the Bahamas that specializes in the Immuno-Augmentative therapy, the treatment is trying to train the body's own immune system to fight cancer. While this treatment is considered experimental by conventional medicine, ITL has successfully treated cancer patients with this therapy for more than 30 years. Ketika Charlene menemukan ITL, dia melanjutkan untuk membaca lebih banyak dan lebih lanjut tentang Klinik dan metode-metode dan dia juga mengambil kesempatan untuk berbicara dengan pasien di bawah perawatan ITL. He recalled, "When I found the clinic, I talked with a woman who came out with meso 6 years from diagnosis with more advanced then my original case. That is reason for hope." Charlene was then applied to clinical medicine through the website and notified of her acceptance into the program These few days later. With new hope, Charlene and then began planning his trip to the clinic.

ITL is located in the Bahamas, so that patients who received the program should go to the Bahamas for eight weeks of initial visit and then had to return every 4 months for two weeks at a time. Clinic itself is an outpatient facility, so that people who come to the Bahamas for the ITL to secure lodging at a site from campus ITL. Charlene During his stay in the clinic, she had blood drawn every morning and then analyzed and used to develop a serum and vaccine injections that he would be given to treat his mesothelioma. After the first eight weeks and then each two-week visit next visit, he returned to the house with sixteen weeks worth of medicine. When he completed this treatment cycle, she returned to the clinic for follow-up and the next round of shots, and will continue this process again and again.

When he came home, personal Charlene manages injection treatment. He made six to twelve daily injections of Immuno-Augmentative therapy, as well as weekly intravenous vitamin C treatments. When she began therapy, Charlene also receive 12 weeks of bi-weekly injection of dendritic cells and heat shock protein vaccine. ITL made clear that they are not a cure for cancer therapy a person, but the treatment that trains immune system to resist cancer and mange growth. This system requires one to make these injections for the rest of one's life. Therefore, Charlene, and other patients in the ITL, equating them Immuno-Augmentative treatment for insulin injections for diabetics.
Treatment Positive Results

When we asked Charlene how the treatment worked for him, he said that initial results have been very positive. He had just completed his first CT scan since the beginning of treatment and was declared cancer is less visible and less fluid build-up and less pleural thickening than previously seen. Doctor to the home team is excited about the progress, especially in oncology, which encouraged him to follow the treatment.

Not only the treatment works, but it did so without side effects. Although some people are often very tired at the beginning of treatment, Charlene said she did not have the effect of treatment and feel better overall, especially when compared with the side effects she suffered through chemotherapy.
Hope

We can not be more happy for Charlene and her family now that he is responding well to treatment. Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be the occasion to destroy the family, but the innovative doctors did everything in their power to change the treatment equation is historically characteristic of mesothelioma. Not everyone can respond to ITL's care, but many people have responded to and for them, ITL has offered the one thing that is very rarely found among those who undergo treatment of mesothelioma: hope.

Hoping also what emerges most from Charlene's story: the hope for himself and for his family, and hope for others with pleural mesothelioma who found the story and inspired by it. Charlene has been talking about what inspired hope in the ITL and now we can talk about the hope that he can inspire others as well.

When we asked Charlene if she would recommend to others ITL, he enthusiastically replied that he would. His words here is a suitable conclusion to this story:

"I'm happy with my results so far, even the oncologist said 'that works! Keep doing it!" ... I've met so many patients there [ITL] with great success story. I now have confirmed positive results, too. I would highly recommend it to others. Each person with cancer needs to give serious consideration. "

We hope that Charlene and her family the best.