Catching a Killer - New Steps Taken in Treating Mesothelioma
By Maggie Kay
There's a silent killer out there. It creeps up on
its victims, attacks them quietly and unsuspectingly, and initiates
a wound that develops over many years before it eventually causes
pain. This unstoppable murderer is known as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that develops on
the mesothelial cells of either the lungs, heart or abdominal organs,
and plagues those who have been exposed to asbestos for a prolonged
period of time.
Many who fall victim to this disease are people who
have worked in specific trades or fields prior to the 1970s, such
as blacksmiths, electricians, millwrights, and oil refinery workers.
Since it can take up to forty years for symptoms to
surface, mesothelioma-related deaths are higher than ever in the 21st
century. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that
1,493 people died from asbestos in 2000, compared to 77 people in
1968.
Mesothelioma treatment methods differ depending on
the stage of the cancer upon detection, as well as the patient's age
and personal choice of treatment. The four distinct stages of the
disease are a factor in determining the type of mesothelioma treatment
that can be carried out.
The first stage is when the tumor has had limited
growth on the pleural lining (the lining of the lungs). At this stage,
an attempt can be made to surgically remove the entire tumor. However,
if the tumor is detected at a later stage when it has invaded surrounding
areas, it is considered incurable.
Traditionally, the later stages of mesothelioma have
been treated with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy
uses drugs to kill cancer cells while radiation therapy uses high-energy
x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
Although mesothelioma treatment methods have been
proven to prolong patients' lives, they cannot cure the disease. Ongoing
clinical trials are dedicated to overcoming this debilitating illness.
Current experimental treatments include the following:
Drug Therapy: A drug called Alimta,
developed by Eli Lilly, has been shown to significantly increase the
life expectancy of patients and decrease symptoms of the disease.
It is the only chemotherapy drug to be approved by the Food and Drug
Administration for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural
mesothelioma.
Gene Therapy: This mesothelioma treatment
is currently in the experimental stages. The process involves inserting
a "suicide gene" directly into the tumor. This gene makes
the cells sensitive to a normally ineffective drug called glanciclovir
which destroys all the cancer cells and leaves the healthy cells unharmed.
Photodynamic Therapy: Still in its
experimental stage, photodynamic therapy uses light to kill cancerous
cells. The patient first receives a photosensitizer that only collects
in cancerous cells. Fiberoptic cables are then placed in the body
in order to focus the right frequency of light on the tumor. The photosensitizer
is then caused to produce a toxic oxygen molecule that kills the cancer
cell.
Immunotherapy: Also referred to as
biological therapy, this mesothelioma treatment uses the body's personal
immune system to defend itself against mesothelioma. It has been discovered
that the immune system is capable of deciphering healthy cells from
cancerous cells, and can thus eradicate those cells that cause cancer.
While treatment methods are still in the developmental
or experimental stages, there is hope that one day all mesothelioma
victims will be freed from the murderous hands of this fearsome disease.
Maggie Kay is a freelance writer from Montreal
and is the head researcher and content manager of Mesothelioma
Attorney Advice Center
