Posts by Steven Chervenick
Pain Shows the Success or Failure of a Pleurodesis
Mesothelioma is a painful cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. Patients who are diagnosed must live with multiple uncomfortable symptoms, but thankfully there are some treatments available to help improve a patient’s quality of life. One of these procedures is a pleurodesis, which helps to drain fluid surrounding the lungs. A common and uncomfortable…
Read MoreShorter Survival for Mesothelioma Patients Linked to Specific Biomarker
Mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. When diagnosed, patients can sometimes be given just a few months to live. Doctors and researchers are continuing to find treatment options to help cure, extend, or at least make patients’ lives better. Some researchers are looking at biomarkers, which can help show doctors what…
Read MoreUpcoming Mesothelioma Events in 2020
If you are interested in learning more about mesothelioma, we have a curated list of different events coming up in 2020. If you live near or are able to travel to these events, they can help you and your loved ones understand the disease better. Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology: Current Practice and Future Direction This…
Read MoreExtrapleural Pneumonectomy vs Pleurectomy and Decortication
There are different procedures to help those suffering from mesothelioma, including the extrapleural pneumonectomy and the combination of pleurectomy and decortication. Both procedures have their benefits and drawbacks, but doctors have not tested to see which procedure has a better outcome for patients. Both surgeries remove tumors from the patients’ bodies, but what is removed…
Read MoreNew Clinical Trial Testing Effectiveness of Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy Before Surgery
Mesothelioma, the cancer of the linings of different organs, but primarily the lungs, has a poor prognosis and survival rate for those who are diagnosed. Since there is no cure, treatments helping to extend people’s lives need to be tested. Clinical trials help doctors find new ways to treat mesothelioma and other cancers, possibly extending…
Read MorePembrolizumab and Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MESO-PRIME)
This is a multi-centre non-randomised open-label phase 1 trial of pembrolizumab given in combination with SBRT to part of a pleural-based lesion in patients with unresectable MPM. This study will recruit up to 18 patients whose MPM has progressed beyond first-line of palliative chemotherapy, with a platinum-based doublet, and now requires further palliative systemic treatment, or have declined first-line palliative chemotherapy, however must have been considered suitable for a platinum doublet chemotherapy.
Read MoreCRISPR Could be used on Mesothelioma Patients Soon
Using CRISPR, scientists may be able to treat mesothelioma patients. They are testing the safety of CRISPR on cancer patients, and this could have large effects on future patients including those suffering from mesothelioma. CRISPR gene editing is a technique created by scientists that mimics the way bacteria cells defend against viruses. It is not…
Read MoreA Study of Nivolumab and Chemotherapy Followed by Surgery for Mesothelioma
This study will test whether giving nivolumab in combination with pemetrexed and either cisplatin or carboplatin before surgery is a safe and effective approach to treating resectable mesothelioma without delaying surgery.
Read MoreA Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Cisplatin and Pemetrexed in Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) (MK-3475-A17)
Primary Outcome Measures Number of Participants Who Experience a Dose-limiting Toxicity (DLT) Per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (AEs), Version 5.0 (CTCAE) [ Time Frame: Up to 3 weeks ] DLTs will be assessed during the first cycle (21 days) and are defined as Grade (Gr) 4 hematologic toxicities (any period), except neutropenia and febrile neutropenia. Gr 4…
Read MoreThere is a Possible New Way to Diagnose Pleural Mesothelioma
Researchers have possibly found a less invasive way to diagnose pleural mesothelioma. By looking at the patient’s medical history and using CT scans, researchers at the Universite Laval in Quebec have found that imaging technology can be used potentially to benefit very sick patients. Doctors have never been able to diagnose people with mesothelioma based…
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