Once someone is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, treatments such as radiation therapy and surgery can help slow its advancement and allow a patient to extend his or her lifespan. Unfortunately, however, there is currently no cure for the disease. Because of these roadblocks in providing quality care for patients living with mesothelioma, doctors and researchers have been on the hunt for a new and effective treatment avenue. Most recently, those efforts have been focused on bringing personalized medicine to the forefront of mesothelioma research. A new drug treatment A recent study may … [Read more...]
Mesothelioma Treatment
Can Hypnotherapy Really Help Cancer Patients?
If you watched cartoons as a kid, you may be familiar with jokes about hypnotism, in which characters are put into a trance and unconsciously compelled to do wacky things they would not normally do, whether it's getting into some mischief or quacking like a duck at the sound of a certain word. In all seriousness, though, hypnotism can be very valuable in a medical context, even for lung cancer and mesothelioma patients. We know how difficult it can be to cope with the symptoms of cancer as well as the side effects of treatment. Pain and anxiety can significantly decrease your quality of life, … [Read more...]
Better Drug Treatments Now Available for Mesothelioma Patients
Although some individuals who have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma may make good candidates for surgery, others may be at a stage in the disease that is too advanced for this remedy. Instead, these patients may undergo radiation treatments or chemotherapy. However, whether we are talking about surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, none of these approaches is likely to completely cure someone of mesothelioma. This fact underscores the need for more effective medications. At Mesothelioma Circle, we always welcome any positive news on the scientific front. One analysis recently … [Read more...]
Medicare Basics for Mesothelioma Patients
Lung cancer and mesothelioma patients have a lot of health-related decisions to make. They need to choose what medical treatments they prefer, where they want to receive care who they want to help them through everyday living. Ultimately, many of these decisions are partly influenced by a patient's healthcare plan. Because most individuals diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease are advanced in years, Medicare is likely to play a major role. At Mesothelioma Circle, we know that this system can be somewhat difficult to navigate through. We want to make sure you know all you can about the … [Read more...]
Experimental Drug may Kill Mesothelioma Stem Cells
Scientists are very excited about the idea of studying stem cells. These primordial structures come in many different forms. While some are retrieved from embryos, others are more well-developed and embedded within adult organs. In the laboratory, researchers can even modify adult skin cells to look and behave similarly to embryonic stem cells. However, a certain type of stem cell may even be responsible for driving persistent malignant diseases, such as mesothelioma. Fortunately, pharmaceutical companies such as Verastem are working to eradicate these cancer stem cells. Malignancies get a … [Read more...]
Cancer Patients can Benefit from Aromatherapy
Lung cancer and mesothelioma patients face a wide range of challenges. Aside from dealing with the physical symptoms of these diseases, patients often have to navigate changing interpersonal relationships and tackle financial planning. While chemotherapy and radiation can help treat the malignancy, individuals may be left feeling drained of energy. Some experts suggest that aromatherapy can provide stress relief in the comfort of one's own home, or anywhere else it is needed, for that matter. Global civilizations turn to plant oils The National Cancer Institute describes aromatherapy as a … [Read more...]
Researchers Evaluating Powerful Cancer Drug not Currently Available in the U.S.
There are many treatment options for asbestos lung cancer. If the disease is at a certain stage, patients may be good candidates for surgery. Otherwise, they may undergo radiotherapy or receive any number of powerful chemotherapy drugs. However, despite the diversity of options, researchers are still keen on finding more effective medications. While some scientists are trying to develop new drugs, others are exploring the effects of existing ones. One team from the Salk Institute for Biological Studies even went so far as to evaluate a a drug that is currently not available in the … [Read more...]
How Lung Cancer Patients can Benefit from Palliative Care
The link between asbestos and lung cancer is undeniable. The Environmental Working Group estimates that asbestos-induced lung cancer claims the lives of about 4,800 individuals in the U.S. every year. As the prevalence of this condition is expected to grow in the next decade or so, scientists are trying to find more effective ways to improve the lives of patients. At Mesothelioma Circle, we try to keep tabs on the latest news from the scientific front. One team of researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital decided to explore the use of palliative care that gets integrated into standard … [Read more...]
Future Cancer Patients may be Matched with their Own Drugs
Chemotherapy is one of the most widely used mesothelioma treatment options. These medications target the DNA and other parts of cancer cells in order to make it more difficult for them to thrive and grow. Unfortunately, these drugs sometimes affect healthy cells in addition to diseased ones. When this happens, patients can start to feel side effects such as gastrointestinal problems and fatigue. Such complications may be avoided if doctors have a more effective system that allows them to tailor the medications they prescribe to individual patients. At Mesothelioma Circle, we love sharing … [Read more...]
Researchers are Looking at Gene Therapy for Mesothelioma
After doctors diagnose a case of malignant mesothelioma, they may combine several different treatment approaches in order to maximize your ability to fight the disease. If you are eligible for surgery, physicians will physically excise the cancerous tissue from your body. They may also use both radiation and chemotherapy to help you battle this illness at the cellular level. Even though doctors have several tools at their disposal, scientists are still trying to improve the prognoses of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma. At Mesothelioma Circle, we keep track of the latest developments … [Read more...]