Radiation Therapy Options for Mesothelioma Patients

Houston, Texas (Vocus/PRWEB ) November 9, 2009 -- Mesothelioma lecture on Tuesday November 10th, 2009, 5:30 pm CST, MesoCare.org is sponsoring a lecture by Veronica Garza of MD Anderson Medical Center on Radiation Therapy Options For Patients Suffering From Mesothelioma. Her lecture will be held at the International Rotary House on the MD Anderson main campus in Houston, Texas.

The meeting is open to family members, patients and health care providers currently affected by asbestos related disease such as Mesothelioma and Asbestos lung cancer. Free parking available. For those that can not attend in person, the lecture will also be available online and via teleconference. For additional information call (800) 877-6000. MesoCare.org is an advocacy group focused on assisting in the treatment and prevention of Mesothelioma patients, their family members and health care providers.

To learn more about our past lectures, you may view them at http://mesocare.org/video.html.

Radiation Therapy Options for Mesothelioma Patients

Screening for Malignant Pleural Mesothel

Recently Dr. Harvey Pass of NYU Langone Medical Center in New York and Dr. Michelle Carbone of John A. Burns School of Medicine in Honolulu of published an update on screening for malignant pleural mesothelioma found on the Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery web site. The report stated that early detection of mesothelioma could find patients at a more treatable stage, resulting in prolonged survival over the present median of 12 months.

Past studies frequently used chest X-rays for screening patients. However, X-rays are not sensitive enough to effectively screen patients with mesothelioma. With the help of computerized tomography, more recent studies stress the importance of detailing suspicious changes which could provide an earlier diagnosis.

The most recent studies use serum biomarkers. These biomarkers may have the ability to distinguish people exposed to asbestos that do not have cancer from those with mesothelioma before the onset of the disease. The biomarker types include:

• Soluble, mesothelin-related protein
• Osteopontin
• Megakaryocyte potentiating factor

These markers may be included in screening trials to monitor individuals exposed to asbestos and considered high-risk. Continued improvement in screening for asbestos diseases, particularly mesothelioma, is critical to the patient’s ability to receive proper treatment and care. More information on clinical trials can be found on our web site, or you may contact us to answer your questions.

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Screening for Malignant Pleural Mesothel