The City of Hope is among these outstanding cancer treatment and research facilities where patients diagnosed with mesothelioma can find excellent treatment.  City of Hope has remained steadfast in its commitment to provide patients with quality care for nearly 100 years, and it is listed as one of 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The City of Hope states that “Compassion drives our innovation.”  It aims to “give patients the chance to live longer, better and more fully.”  Many great institutions like the City of Hope understand that the quality of a patient’s life is as important as preserving life itself, especially when treating a disease like mesothelioma.  Institutions like City of Hope have dedicated themselves to providing their patients with state-of-the-art treatments and well-rounded patient support for the mind, body, and soul.

Patient Support at City of Hope

The Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center helps to fulfill the City of Hope’s mission to “care for the whole person.”  This resource facility aims to be a model of compassionate care similar to other facilities around the nation.

Here you will find volunteers and professionals offering services that range from psychological consults to palliative care.  Pain management specialists, spiritual care providers, peer support groups, nutrition education, and social workers are all available to patients and their families at the Sheri & Les Biller Patient and Family Resource Center.  The focus here is “strength, resilience, and hope.”

Services Offered At The City of Hope

• Patient Navigators at The City of Hope

These professionals are available to patients throughout their stay.  They help patients and family members get through complicated health care systems and help patients make use of the services available to them.  The patient navigators can help patients find interpreters, social workers, and financial counselors.  A patient navigator will likely contact a patient before his or her second visit to a City of Hope physician.

• Healing Arts Program

Many times, patients can find it therapeutic to take part in art classes, writing workshops, or music therapy.  These services are offered through the Biller Resource Center and are taught by specially trained artists and therapists.

• Positive Image Center

The way you look on the outside often affects the way you feel on the inside, and it can often be difficult for cancer patients as certain treatments can result in hair loss, and skin and nail discoloration.  At the Positive Image Center, makeup, skin care products and advice are offered along with hats, scarves and wigs for hair loss.  The goal here is to improve one’s self-image and self-confidence.

• Nutrition Education

Anyone who has been on a diet knows that nutrition can be a complicated subject.  Often times, patients experience a loss of appetite or difference in taste, and others may just want to eat healthier.  Here, dietitians help minimize treatment side-effects and help you create nutrition plans after treatment.

• Counseling and Support

Feelings of anxiety and depression often surface after being diagnosed with mesothelioma.  The City of Hope screens patients who may benefit from counseling.  Psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers can help patients cope with these feelings that have a lot to do with a patient’s overall health.  These services can also help with pain and the common feeling of isolation that so many mesothelioma patients experience.

In addition to these counseling services, the City of Hope offers patient peer pals.  This allows patients to be matched with other patients who have gone through an experience with cancer.  Sometimes the most comforting feeling comes from listening to someone who has been in your position before.

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Continues to Support Facilities That Provide Comprehensive Care to Victims of Asbestos-Related Illnesses

Over the years of representing many individuals with asbestos-related illnesses, we have created strong bonds with our clients and their families.  We know how devastating a diagnosis of mesothelioma can be.  As attorney Gary Galiher says, “We have been greatly moved by the courage our clients display, and we are truly thankful for institutions like the City of Hope that strive to enhance and encourage their patients’ commitment to live longer, healthier, fuller lives.”

Focusing on Asbestos Fibers

Researchers such as John Godleski, M.D. at the International Mesothelioma Program want to answer three basic questions about asbestos in the body and its relationship to mesothelioma.  They want to know what kinds of asbestos fiber are present, how much is there and where those fibers are located.  Using various scientific equipment and innovative techniques including confocal microscopy, chemiluminescence on in vivo or live tissue, and scanning electron microscopy, they are able to answer some of these questions.

Confocal microscopy captures images that are cross-sections of tissue samples.  These two-dimensional slices can be combined to create a three-dimensional volume or model which helps researchers visualize the precise locations of the asbestos fibers in the tissue.  Knowing where the asbestos fibers are located is key to understanding the mechanism of translocation, which is the way asbestos fibers deposited in the lungs are transported to the pleura or lining in the lungs and abdomen.

The amount of reactive oxygenation species or ROS present in a tissue sample can be measured using in vivo chemiluminescence techniques.  High levels of ROS can damage DNA and may be linked to the development of cancers such as mesothelioma.  The IMP research team uses chemiluminescence to determine the timing and location of this important process.

Lastly, when asbestos fibers are identified accurately, the amount of asbestos fibers or fiber burden can be estimated with electron microscopes.  The type of fiber may be compared with the patient’s asbestos exposure history to correlate certain fiber types with the development of mesothelioma.

Possible Implications for Mesothelioma Treatment and Prognosis

One approach to prevent the development of mesothelioma is to try to block, disrupt or alter the process of translocation of asbestos fibers from the lungs to the pleura.  As noted earlier, in vivo chemiluminescence can identify susceptible regions like the lymphatic system involved in the translocation process.  This information could be used to slow down the movement or allow removal of the fibers before they are able to develop mesothelioma in the pleura.

The IMP investigators observed that pleural malignant mesothelioma patients with lower asbestos burdens have a higher survival rate than those patients with the highest burdens.  They discovered an association between asbestos fiber burden and degree of tumor suppressor gene silencing.  Higher asbestos burden corresponded to an increase in epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes in mesothelioma.  This may explain why patients with lower asbestos fiber burden are predicted to have better clinical outcomes.

Need for Asbestos Research Remains

The use of asbestos through the 1980s and later in the United States and long latency means that mesothelioma will affect a significant number of exposed individuals for the foreseeable future.  Gary Galiher, a lawyer who has represented mesothelioma patients for more than 30 years, agrees with the International Mesothelioma Program researchers that “additional studies of the role of asbestos in the development of mesothelioma are necessary and will help improve treatment and prognosis of this deadly cancer.”

City of Hope

The state-of-the-art City of Hope facilities are located in Duarte, California, in acres of beautifully landscaped gardens.  At the City of Hope, compassionate patient care is the objective.  Here, ideas and breakthrough discoveries turn into emerging new therapies of tomorrow.  The City of Hope is one of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

M. D. Anderson is also one of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.  Its slogan is “Making Cancer History.”  M. D. Anderson sits in the middle of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas.  It has treated over 800,000 patients since 1944, using a multidisciplinary approach that includes immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.  Because its experts focus in the treatment of cancer, M. D. Anderson is well-known for the ability to treat all types of cancer, including rare and uncommon cancers such as mesothelioma.

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has a team of specialists, including surgeons, medical oncologists, scientists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists, who aim to provide “experienced, up-to-date, and thoughtful care” of mesothelioma patients.

Sloan-Kettering offers its patients and their families a wide base of support ranging from clinical trials, to symptom management and even cosmetic education that help patients cope with the effects of mesothelioma.  Sloan-Kettering is one of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

The International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital

The International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) is located in Boston at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which together  with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has combined resources to provide comprehensive care to mesothelioma patients.

Dr. David Sugarbaker, M.D., is the founder and director of the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP)  and is the Chief of Thoracic Surgery.  The IMP focuses on the treatment and cure of mesothelioma, and it currently consults with over 300 mesothelioma patients annually and treats over 180 of these patients.   It is the largest program of its kind.

Dana-Farber is another of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.  It has been dedicated to helping cancer patients since 1947.  It specializes exclusively in cancer research, care and treatment.  It aims to provide its patients with compassionate care while advancing the diagnosis, treatments, and prevention of cancer and related diseases.  Outpatient care of mesothelioma patients at Brigham and Women’s Hospital usually takes place at Dana-Farber.

Mayo Clinic

For decades, the Mayo Clinic has been dedicated to the treatment of complex illnesses, such as those caused by asbestos exposure.  It is one of the 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.  Mayo Clinic employs over 3,000 physicians, scientists and researchers, and offers hospital services in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

Many patients with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are treated at the Mayo Clinic.  The Mayo Clinic’s philosophy is “the needs of the patient come first.”

Galiher DeRobertis Ono Supports Treatment for Mesothelioma Patients

Over the many years of representing mesothelioma patients, we have forged strong bonds with our clients and their families.  We are aware of the devastating physical, emotional and financial consequences this disease has for patients and their friends and families.  Through our work, we have had the opportunity to interact with the researchers and the treating medical professionals of these great institutions, and we are encouraged by their dedication and unwavering commitment to helping their patients and our clients live richer and longer lives.  These professionals and outstanding treatment and research facilities continue to provide us with hope that one day we will find a cure for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Surgery as a Viable Option

Dr. Krug in his presentation discussed surgery as an option for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma.  There are two types of surgeries; one is the decortication or pleurectomy and the other is the more aggressive approach which is the extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP).  The extrapleural pneumonectomy involves resecting the pleura, the lung and the diaphragm.  This is a major surgery and should be performed by skilled surgeons, he remarked.  Dr. Krug indicated that the extrapleural pneumonectomy should be considered for patients with early stage mesothelioma.  He indicated there is a fair amount of controversy in the medical community about its use.

At the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP) at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, one of the member institutions of the NCCN, Dr. David Sugarbaker regularly and skillfully performs both surgeries with some remarkable results.

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy Necessary for Mesothelioma

The guidelines indicate that the first line chemotherapy regimen is pemetrexed (Alimta) combined with Cisplatin.  Even with surgery, both chemotherapy and radiation therapy are recommended.  Carboplatin can also be used in place of Cisplatin.  Use of other drugs such as Gemcitabine and Vinorelbine can be prescribed as well.  Chemotherapy and radiation are necessary to prevent relapse and to treat the cancer cells that are microscopic and are present even after surgery.

Mesothelioma Guidelines Will Improve Treatment

The oncology practice guidelines are a result of evidence based research and are the consensus of the malignant mesothelioma panel of NCCN.  Thirty-five oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and hematology oncologists participated on the panel and worked on the guidelines.  The guidelines are now available for practicing physicians, but of course each physician will use his or her best independent medical judgment to decide how to treat and care for a mesothelioma patient.

These unprecedented malignant pleural mesothelioma guidelines take medical care a big step forward in standardizing and improving the treatment, prognosis and quality of life for a person being diagnosed with mesothelioma today.  Attorney Gary Galiher, who has represented mesothelioma clients for over 30 years, applauds and commends the work of the many physicians and scientists in their clinics, hospitals and laboratories, “It is their hard work and years of experience that enabled the NCCN to develop these new clinical practice guidelines for malignant pleural mesothelioma.”

Multi-Disciplinary Team Serves Mesothelioma Patients

If you decide to contact Sloan-Kettering, you may want to consider the option of entering one of several mesothelioma clinical trials for treatment and care.  This consideration will be carefully discussed with a physician or nurse clinician at Sloan-Kettering who is part of a multi-disciplinary team.  This team of specialists will be there to serve you and meet your medical needs, as well as your emotional and other needs, as you go forward with your treatment and care for mesothelioma.

Consider Entering A Mesothelioma Clinical Trial

Under Dr. Krug’s leadership, there are presently at least three open mesothelioma clinical trials being conducted at Sloan-Kettering.  One trial utilizes an investigational drug known an CBP 501, a stable peptide, which is an enzyme that works on cancer cell division.  Along with CBP 501, the standard mesothelioma therapy of Alimta and Cisplatin is used.  In order to participate in this particular study, the mesothelioma tumor must be unresectable and untreated.  The mesothelioma patient must also be able to be up and about for half of his waking hours.

Another clinical trial involves the use of Everolimus (RAD 001).  Everolimus inhibits the molecule mTOR which helps cancer cells grow.  Even if a mesothelioma patient has had prior chemotherapy treatment, he or she can still participate in this study.  The patient will need to have adequate pulmonary function however.

Finally, another trial is a toxicity study utilizing chemotherapy followed by Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), which is targeted radiation.  To participate, the mesothelioma patient must have an unresectable tumor and not have had any prior chemotherapy or radiation treatment.  Usually standard radiation therapy does not work well for mesothelioma patients.  Some radiation oncologists liken it to attempting radiation on the apple peel without radiating the apple itself.  IMRT obviates this problem of standard radiation therapy.

Of course eligibility for any of these mesothelioma clinical trials will be decided in close consultation with the multi-disciplinary team who will review each individual mesothelioma patient’s medical records, test results and situation very carefully.

Be Proactive – Explore Sloan-Kettering’s Mesothelioma Program

As you can see, if you intend to explore the possibility of participating in any of these mesothelioma clinical trials, the sooner you contact the Sloan-Kettering Mesothelioma Program, the better it is for you.  More options may be available.

Attorney Gary Galiher, who has represented many mesothelioma clients over the last 32 years, remarks that, “from a scientific point of view, what is happening at Memorial Sloan-Kettering is exciting and encouraging.  But more importantly, from seeing what my clients and their families have gone through over the years, I encourage anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma to be proactive and explore what is available at leading cancer centers such as Sloan-Kettering.”

Fortunately for these out-of-state patients, there is a full-service hotel which is dedicated to M. D. Anderson patients and their families.  This is the Jessie H. Jones Rotary House International.  While this hotel is managed by Marriott International, it is actually owned by M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Many rooms at the Rotary House

The Rotary House has 322 rooms, all of which have wheelchair access. Seven new executive suites offer 10-foot high ceilings with a private floor and lounge as well as other amenities.  Most of the 322 rooms offer kitchenettes for those who do not wish to dine out for every meal.   Cancer support groups meet regularly at the Rotary House and are conducted both informally and formally.

The Rotary House provides many benefits for mesothelioma patients and their families.  First, because the Rotary House is dedicated to M. D. Anderson patients, the cancer center itself can help with a patient’s bookings.  Second, there is a spirit of camaraderie among the many patients and their family members, who all can understand and relate to each others’ medical situations.  Third, the Rotary House actually provides entertainment for the patients and their caregivers, whether it’s salsa dancers, musicians, or St. Patrick’s Day parties.

A Walk Away in the Best Place to Stay

The Rotary House is merely a walkway away from the M. D. Anderson Clinics and Hospital.  Thus, there is no more convenient place in which to stay if you are an outpatient at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.  There is no extra charge for parking and there are a variety of restaurants and shops within the Rotary House.  Most importantly, however, cancer patients are almost guaranteed to have an instant support system with the other “house guests”.  A number of clients of the law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono have gone to  M. D. Anderson for mesothelioma treatment and therapy.  As Gary Galiher said,

“When a person has been diagnosed with any cancer, but especially a cancer with a difficult prognosis such as malignant mesothelioma, quality of life is crucial.  Even with this diagnosis, you still have many options, including the choice of your medical team and where you will live during your medical treatment.  Finding accommodations that provide an instant support mechanism have been crucial to our clients.  As the treatment options become greater and more widely available, patients with mesothelioma can take back control of their lives from this disease.”

Today, mesothelioma patients’ quality of life is greatly improving.  The institutions that specialize in the treatment of mesothelioma are not  focused on just the disease itself.  Medical professionals today are increasingly focused on trying to maximize the patients’ overall well-being through a comprehensive approach to treatment.

Comprehensive Care of Mesothelioma Patients

Among the many impressive mesothelioma treatment institutions is Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a treatment center that believes “treating the whole person, not just the disease, is the best approach.”  Sloan-Kettering has a team of specialists, including surgeons, scientists, medical oncologist, pathologists and radiation oncologists who aim to provide “experienced, up-to-date, and thoughtful care” of mesothelioma patients.

In addition to great medical care, Sloan-Kettering offers its patients and their families a wide base of support.  Sloan-Kettering understands that the emotional toll mesothelioma can have on patients and their family members can be as traumatic as the disease itself.

Support Services at Sloan-Kettering

Sloan-Kettering offers a significant array of support for its patients.  The following are some services that are provided for mesothelioma patients at Sloan-Kettering:

• Inpatient Counseling & Support Groups

Sloan-Kettering understands that there is no “one-size-fits-all coping style” when it comes to dealing with cancer.  Therefore, there are experienced counselors at Sloan-Kettering that are made available to all patients to help them handle any distress they may develop.

• Outpatient Counseling

Outpatient counseling at Sloan-Kettering is offered to cancer patients regardless of whether or not they are receiving care at Sloan-Kettering.

• Nutrition

At Sloan-Kettering you can request to meet with a certified dietitian-nutritionist who can help you assess certain diets and who can help you eat properly while undergoing treatment.  If loss of appetite is a problem, the dietitian can make suggestions of foods necessary for nourishment and energy.

• Symptom Management and Support

Sloan-Kettering is dedicated to ensuring that all its patients do not suffer from avoidable discomfort.  If a patient is experiencing pain or other symptoms from treatment, Sloan-Kettering has created a Pain and Palliative Care Service that offers help with physical symptoms such as shortness of breath or nausea but also non-physical symptoms such as sadness, anxiety or depression that can lead to pain.

• Extra Help At Home

Sloan-Kettering recognizes that after a patient is released, they may need further assistance or they may need certain equipment at home.  Therefore, Sloan-Kettering has case managers who are available on each floor that will help patients get the care and supplies they need.

• Complementary Therapies

Therapists in the Integrated Medicine Service create services that complement your treatment and are targeted to help the spirit, mind, and body.

• Patient-to-Patient Volunteers

Sometimes nothing can be more comforting to a mesothelioma patient than talking with someone who has been through what you are currently experiencing.  Sloan-Kettering attempts to match patients with other patients who have been through a similar experience.

• Patient Representatives

Patient Representatives are available at Sloan-Kettering.  They can help you with any complaints or concerns you may have.  They act as your advocate to ensure that your rights are respected and any concerns you may have are addressed.

Better Treatment for Mesothelioma Patients

Over the years, the law firm of Galiher DeRobertis Ono has worked with many researchers and medical professionals who have made great progress in their search for better treatments and, ultimately, a cure for mesothelioma.  Attorney Gary Galiher says, “we are pleased to see institutions such as Sloan-Kettering focusing on improving the quality of life of mesothelioma patients, not just focusing on treating the disease.  These relatively new approaches to treating the entire patient will no doubt continue to expand and will allow mesothelioma patients to have a higher quality of life while dealing with this disease.”

International Mesothelioma Program Shares Tissue Samples to Advance Research

The International Mesothelioma Program, under the leadership of Dr. David Sugarbaker, sees approximately 300 mesothelioma patients for consultation each year.  Last year, over 160 of these patients also underwent surgery.  The IMP maintains a patient data registry as well as a tumor bank of all patients who are seen at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for mesothelioma treatment.  Because the International Mesothelioma Program works collaboratively with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, mesothelioma patients treated at any of these facilities become part of this important patient data registry.  If surgery is performed, their pathology material is preserved in the International Mesothelioma Program’s tumor bank as well.

There is significant research underway at the International Mesothelioma Program using the tissue samples and the data from the patient registry.  However, the IMP also recognizes the importance of advancing  mesothelioma research in other hospitals and cancer institutes.  Accordingly, the IMP readily shares the information in the patient data registry and the tissue samples from the mesothelioma tumor bank with researchers at other cancer centers to advance the study of the development of mesothelioma and how to treat this disease.

One such researcher is Dr. V. Courtney Broaddus, a professor of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco.  Dr. Broaddus is studying the role played by other cells such as immune cells around the mesothelioma cells.  She studies macrophages to understand the role they play in assisting the mesothelioma tumor’s growth.  To do this research, the IMP sends tumor tissue to Dr. Broaddus via Federal Express from tumors that are resected from patients.  After the overnight flight from Boston to San Francisco, the tumor cells are still alive when they arrive.  Dr. Broaddus commented that this just shows how tough and hardy these mesothelioma cells are.  She grows these cells in vitro to observe the growth of the macrophages.  Growing these cell lines also enables her to test various treatments on mesothelioma cells.

Research Comparing Surgical Results Based On Patient Age

Although the International Mesothelioma Program was officially formed in 2002,  a patient data registry has been maintained for many years because patients have been treated at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital for mesothelioma since the 1980s.  The database has 400 fields, so all kinds of information has been captured and recorded for 2,000 patients.

One example of the type of research that has been conducted involves a study done by Dr. Andrea Wolfe of the IMP and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.  Dr. Wolfe compared the outcomes for mesothelioma patients having either an extrapleural pneumonectomy or a pleurectomy with decortication and were 65 years old and older.  She found that older patients fared less well immediately after the extrapleural pneumonectomy, but in terms of longer term outcomes of those who survived the surgery, both surgeries produced similar results.  She was able to do this research retrospectively looking back at 227 patients who were in the patient data registry.

Attorneys Recognize Valuable Resource for Mesothelioma Research

Attorney Gary Galiher, who has successfully represented hundreds of mesothelioma clients, remarked that the IMP’s patient data registry and tumor bank are, “an incredibly valuable resource for scientists so they can do cutting edge research that will eventually lead to a cure for this devastating disease.”   While Galiher and his law firm Galiher DeRobertis Ono have been able to obtain fair compensation for their mesothelioma clients and their families, the untold suffering caused by mesothelioma can only be addressed by medical research being done by Dr. Sugarbaker, the IMP and other scientists.

At the Mesothelioma Program at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas, a team of multidisciplinary scientists and physicians have made significant strides in developing more accurate methods of surgical staging for malignant pleural mesothelioma.  “Staging” is the medical term for the process of determining the extent to which a tumor has spread through the body.

Proper Staging of Mesothelioma Essential to Treatment

M. D. Anderson’s team of more than 30 physicians have worked together to develop an innovative surgical staging process that helps them properly assess and describe the extent of the disease.  This is crucially important, because mesothelioma must be properly staged before a patient begins treatment in order to provide the most effective therapy.  For example, surgical procedures such as extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) are can be very effective for a patient in the early stages, but are generally not recommended for patients in the later stages.

Initially, staging is usually done through radiographic imaging, such as a CT scan, an MRI, and/or a PET scan.  Doctors may also use serum mesothelin blood tests to measure certain proteins that are secreted by mesothelioma tumors.  These tests may also be confirmed by biopsy or thoracentesis.

Surgical Staging Also Required Before Surgery

However, these methods are not entirely accurate.  As a result, all patients who undergo surgery at M. D. Anderson also undergo a thorough surgical staging to ensure the mesothelioma has not spread to the lymph glands or abdomen.  This is done through a minimally invasive laparoscopic procedure, usually on an outpatient basis.

According to Dr. Anne Tsao, Director of the Mesothelioma Program, this surgical staging is crucially important to make sure that the patient is a viable candidate for surgery.  Dr. Tsao explained that, “the reason why it’s so hard to treat is often times people have more extensive disease than what we initially realize from the radiographic imaging.  So here at M. D. Anderson before we make the patient undergo a very large surgical procedure, we have to do a smaller surgery that stages the patient to be sure that they’re a correct candidate for that surgery.”

Attorneys Recognize Important Strides Toward Improved Treatment

Attorney Gary Galiher and the law firm Galiher DeRobertis Ono have represented clients with mesothelioma for more than 30 years.  Our attorneys and staff have seen firsthand the devastating effect of this disease on patients and their families.  Gary Galiher says, “We salute the physicians and researchers at M. D. Anderson who are making important strides toward improving the treatments for mesothelioma and giving patients real hope for a cure.”

Quality of Life Issues Addressed by IMP

Just as importantly, the clinicians and researchers at the IMP are working on ways to enhance the quality of life for mesothelioma patients and their families.  Despite all the improvements in treatment, mesothelioma is still a difficult disease, and the treatments themselves can be grueling.   Even with the best care, the disease can take a heavy toll on mesothelioma patients and their loved ones.  Members of the IMP team are well aware of this fact, and are working to find ways to help patients cope with their disease, and to ease the burden on their caregivers.  Some of the concerns raised by patients include fatigue, feeling anxious or afraid, depression, pain and cognitive problems sometimes called “chemo brain”.  A mesothelioma patient will need to find a new balance or equilibrium to his life.  One’s personal goals and needs will change so that quality of life is redefined by the patient as he journeys through his treatment.

Having represented hundreds of mesothelioma clients over the last 32 years, attorney Gary Galiher commends the IMP for making the mesothelioma patient’s quality of life issues an integral part of their multidisciplinary team approach to patient care.

IMP Study Focuses on Mesothelioma Patients’ Quality of Life

In order to take a more focused look at the quality-of-life needs of mesothelioma patients, the IMP has recently reopened a new study which seeks to identify the factors that make the biggest difference in a mesothelioma patient’s quality of life.  The study is being conducted by Alice Kornblith, a senior research scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and is funded by the International Mesothelioma Program. Kornblith hopes to enroll up to 400 IMP patients in this effort to compile a database of information about mesothelioma symptoms and quality of life.

The patients who enroll in the study will be asked to complete special questionnaires every three weeks for a period of 36 weeks.  The questionnaires will collect information about their ongoing symptoms, their pain, their physical functioning, and their emotional and psychological concerns.  This will allow researchers to get a better understanding of the factors that affect a patient’s quality of life, and will help them assess the impact of various different treatment regimens on the patient’s overall sense of well-being.

One sub-set of the study will focus on mesothelioma survivors who are cancer-free for one year or more after completing treatment.   According to Kornblith, “Little is known about this group of patients, but as therapy improves and more patients survive longer, it is important to understand how survivors adjust to their disease, how their quality of life is affected, and what supports might be beneficial for them.”

This research will be used at the IMP and other mesothelioma treatment facilities to better address the quality-of-life needs of mesothelioma patients.  Clinicians will be able to use the study’s data to identify the greatest needs of mesothelioma patients, and create new treatment protocols and support services to enhance patients’ health and well-being.