Addressing Mesothelioma from a Medical Perspective

30 Jun Addressing Mesothelioma from a Medical Perspective

Posted at 10:02h in Advocacy, Partners by Triage Cancer

Today's guest blog comes from our new partners at the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.

The word, Mesothelioma (pronounced mez-uh-thee-lee-oh-muh), is often much better known than the illness it represents.

The legal issues surrounding this cancer make mesothelioma, the most expensive keyword on Google (while most keywords cost pennies, the keyword mesothelioma can cost over $300 per click). Mesothelioma, in most cases, can be traced back to exposure to asbestos. Therefore, there are legal avenues for patients to seek compensation.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that most often affects the lining of the lung or abdomen; it has no cure and treatment options for patients are few. Prognosis is generally considered poor, at less than 10% survival at five years post diagnosis. The vast majority of mesotheliomas are associated with exposure to asbestos, with the latency between exposure and disease development ranging between 20-50 years.

Diagnosis of mesothelioma has always been difficult, mostly because initially its symptoms are quite general (shortness of breath, general malaise, pleural effusion, gastro-intestinal problems). In addition, because of the long latency between exposure to asbestos and disease development, patients and their doctors aren’t led to a diagnosis quickly, thereby wasting valuable time that could have been used to begin treatment.

When the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) began its operations in 1999, mesothelioma was a cancer largely ignored by the scientific community. At that time, virtually no research funding was available for it, and consequently, patients found themselves with little hope and sadly, very little time to live. What’s more, patients, as well as physicians, lacked updated and comprehensive treatment information about mesothelioma.

This is where the Meso Foundation comes into play. The Meso Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma and ending the suffering caused by this aggressive and incurable cancer. It does so by funding peer-reviewed research, by providing education and support to patients and their family members, and by advocating Congress for an increased federal investment into mesothelioma research. To date, the organization has allocated more than $9.4 million of its own funds and has directed more than $13 million of Department of Defense (DoD) funding toward important mesothelioma research.

For years, mesothelioma has been known as a cancer that strikes predominantly older males because of their past occupational exposures. Most recently, however, the Meso Foundation has found that more than ever before men and women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are contacting the Foundation for help.

To better define this patient population and to spur advances in mesothelioma clinical research and treatment a registry bill has been introduced in congress. HR 3284 enjoys bipartisan support and, if passed, we anticipate it will lead to unprecedented advances in mesothelioma science.

Despite the poor prognosis, patients today who are able to obtain a quick and accurate diagnosis and expert guidance to treatment options (like state-of-the-art clinical trials) can live long and fulfilling lives, with good quality of life. The Meso Foundation can help patients navigate the best path through most effective mesothelioma treatment options.

For more information about the Meso Foundation or to obtain help, patients and their families are encouraged to visit www.curemeso.org. Please note: the Meso Foundation does not provide legal referrals.