In almost all cases, initial therapy should be a state of the art plan including one or several of the following options: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation. There are some research protocols which are available right up front, and you should inquire about this. However, in most cases,depending upon the tumor type, research medicines or therapies may be considered after the initial therapy and/or therapy after first recurrence fails. Research protocols are VERY specific about what types of tumors are included, their stage and what type of therapy has been given to date. It is never too early to inquire about research protocols and to look into where the options might take you. On the other hand you should know that research protocols open and close regularly when the desired number of patients on protocol has been reached. Therefore, a trial which is open today, may not be open tomorrow.

INVESTIGATIONAL TREATMENT or CLINICAL TRIALS
There are thousands of clinical trials available on any given day for various forms of cancer. For gynecologic cancers alone, there are hundreds across the country, usually, but not always, at designated larger research centers. They are further broken down by type of trial and type of cancer that is targeted. These studies can be divided into three general types.

In a Phase I trial a new treatment is being studied for the first time in humans, which has good laboratory and animal study evidence for efficacy. The primary purpose is to determine the dose levels that can be tolerated safely and side effects. Usually these are best suited for patients who have progression of their cancer despite use of all available standard therapy.

The next step is a Phase II trial, in which the treatment is offered to patients who have a variety of cancer types. These patients also have cancer which is progressing despite all standard therapies. Phase II trials are used to determine if the treatment has any benefit for each particular type of cancer.

If an agent/drug shows some good effect against a particular type of cancer, a Phase III study is initiated to see if the agent/drug is better than the known best treatment against that particular cancer. This requires something called “randomization”, which means that the patient will get either the standard therapy or the experimental therapy determined by chance. This is equivalent to the flip of a coin, but more sophisticated techniques are used. The goal for randomization is to have each treatment arm (experimental and standard) contain the same number and sort of patients with respect to extent of disease, age, past treatment, etc. This is crucial, because if this scientifically rigorous study method shows that the experimental treatment is better, it becomes the new standard therapy. Thus good scientific practice and study design is absolutely essential so that we have the best possible therapy available to patients.

So should you participate and when? Phase I trials have the most potential toxicity and side effects associated with them. But if everything else has failed, and you still want to give it a try, this offers a shot at the very newest drugs available. Phase II trials are the next in line and are a very reasonable alternative if standard therapy is not working very well, and you do not wish to risk the unknown levels of side effects inherent in Phase I trials. Phase III trials are made available when a very promising therapy (based on Phase I and Phase II information) is felt to be possibly better than the standard therapy. At the very least, when offered, it is felt that the Phase I and Phase II evidence suggests that the new agent/drug is not worse than the standard therapy. However, there is a risk that it might be worse. On the other hand, there is a good possibility that it might be better. It comes down to personal choice and a long risk/benefit discussion with your treating physician.

The best compendium of research trials can be found on the National Cancer Institute’s and the American Cancer Society’s websites. For additional information regarding Gynecologic Cancers be sure to also visit gyncancerdoctor.com/” target=”_blank www.gyncancerdoctor.com

Steven A. Vasilev MD,MBA,FACOG,FACS is a fellowship trained and board certified gynecologic oncologist, which means he is specially trained and certified to take care of women with gynecologic cancers. He has practiced at academic as well as private centers, has been on the faculty of three universities and continues to be involved in research and education. You can visit gyncancerdoctor.com gyncancerdoctor.com to learn more about screening, prevention and treatment of gynecologic cancers.

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Tags: chemotherapy, gynecologic cancer

For people with cancer, one has to undergo a series of treatment for their condition. And treatment such as chemotherapy can have side effect on one’s body. For women with issues such as breast cancer, chemotherapy drugs can cause hair to grow thin, and for more serious cases, hair can fall off completely. And for women, hair loss can be a distressing thing to happen. The harsh impact on body, health, and image for a women suffering from cancer can be a big blow to handle with.

Hair loss for women with cancer may be inevitable, hence one should not let it be a burden on one’s shoulder. Rather we should look at ways to improve on the condition. One thing we must understand is that hair loss may be just temporary. For some people, hair starts to grow back 3 weeks after chemotherapy. Hair can grow back when we improve on our condition, that is why one should not fall into depression just because of hair loss but foster the energy on recovery and improvement to the condition.

If you feel that your hair starts to grow thin when you begin on chemotherapy treatment, you can try the following to prevent excessive hair loss. Try using gentle or mild shampoo and conditioner for your hair. You should also use a cool hair dryer instead of hot air and comb your hair more gently to avoid breakage. You can also cut your hair short to give the appearance of thicker volume. Also, avoid direct sunlight or heated rollers on your hair or perming your hair as it is very fragile during these times.

Hair may start falling out 3 weeks after the first chemotherapy treatment, and it usually happens quite quickly. Usually for some women, they realized they are having hair loss when the hair starts clogging the drain after shower, or for others, they might notice a lot of hair around the pillow when they woke up. For some people, they would rather shave off the rest of the hair and for others, one may try to wear a cloth around the head to cover up the signs of hair loss.

As image can be important for one, one can try getting a wig during the period of hair loss. Wig can help to boost one’s confidence by giving a person a better image during the time of illness. But if you are not ready for a wig or find it to hot for you in a warm climate, you can also use a hat or scarf instead. They are equally useful to help a woman with imaging.

Hair is an important part of our identity and image. But it does not mean you do not look good without your hair. With make up and dressing, you can still look equally beautiful. So do not stress yourself too much if you are losing hair, and just whatever that makes you feel good. If you feel down or sad during such times, just talk with your family members or seek a support group for comfort. With support from others, you will definitely have the confidence to face the challenges. With this positive mindset, you are well on your way to recovery from your condition and gaining your hair back.

Want to find out more on hair loss? Need more hair loss advice? Click for more top and latest info on

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Tags: breast cancer, chemotherapy

Mesothelioma prognosis and mesothelioma treatment options depend on the size of the tumor, the stage of cancer, potential surgical removal of any tumor, amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen, overall health and age of patient, specific type of mesothelioma cancer cell and whether cancerous cells are found anywhere else in the body.

The mesothelioma prognosis is determined through physical examination and the results of a number of medical tests designed to evaluate the rare asbestos cancer. Once a mesothelioma prognosis is finally determined, then treating this aggressive and rare cancer can begin. Early diagnosis and treatment are most important in looking for a favorable mesothelioma prognosis.

Since mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, the statistics for one to five year survival are usually unreliable.

The two most common types of mesothelioma are peritoneal (abdominal) mesothelioma and pleural (lung) mesothelioma, with pleural mesothelioma being the most common. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be difficult to stage because of its rarity. The initial symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are subtle and often ignored resulting in the cancer being more advanced when it is finally diagnosed causing it to be difficult to stage. However, because it is the most common of the mesothelioma cancers, pleural mesothelioma has multiple staging systems.

Unfortunately, patients who have been diagnosed with peritoneal or pleural mesothelioma are often advised of a grim mesothelioma prognosis, one which can often be less than one year survival expectancy from the time of diagnosis. Of course every patient is so different requires a different mesothelioma treatment plan and as a result of the individuality of each patient, an accurate mesothelioma prognosis must be individualized by your physician.

The mesothelioma prognosis has several important factors such as the patient’s overall health at the time of diagnosis, exact type of mesothelioma tumor, size of the mesothelioma tumor and precise location of the mesothelioma tumor. Normally mesothelioma is located near the vital organs such as the heart and lungs which can cause severe consequences if the cancerous tumors begin to press on these vital organs. It is important to remember that the healthier a patient is going in to treatment for malignant mesothelioma then the patient generally responds better to treatment and has a greater chance of a prolonged survival.

After properly being diagnosed with mesothelioma and a mesothelioma prognosis is made, the doctor and patient will discuss treatment options. Because there is currently no known cure for mesothelioma, treatment options are designed to relieve symptoms, try to prevent metastasis and to prolong life while maintaining an acceptable quality of life.

For more important information on a-mesothelioma-guide.com mesothelioma be sure to visit a-mesothelioma-guide.com where you will find key information such as the a-mesothelioma-guide.com symptoms of mesothelioma, risks, and other articles that you can view at a-mesothelioma-guide.com a-mesothelioma-guide.com

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Tags: mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma

Asbestos is a substance found naturally. It is made of strong flexible fibres. It was used extensively in industry because the fibres are not affected by heat or chemicals and a poor conductor of electricity. It is estimated that over 5,000 products have or had asbestos in them.

Of the six types of asbestos, only four are used commercially. These are chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite and anthrophyllite. Of these, crysotile or white asbestos accounts for 99% used in USA. In it natural state or well contained and maintained in products, asbestos do not pose a real hazard. It is when asbestos is broken down and fibres are released that there is concern.

Asbestos fibres are very thin and sharp. The fibre is 2,000 times thinner than a human hair. It measures under 0.3 microns or one millionth of a millimetre in diameter and five microns in length. It is not visible with the naked eye or through a microscope.
When released, the fibres remain in the atmosphere for a long time and can be carried great distances. When the fibres are inhaled, they stick to the lung tissue and are not expelled by breathing out or coughing. Some remain in the lungs, others gravitate into the pleural lining.

Asbestos exposure can lead to disease and develops over a long period of time. Asbestos related diseases are asbestosis, pleural plaques and lung cancers. The lung cancer can be either cancer of the lung itself or mesothelioma, a cancer of the lung lining. These cancers can take between 20 and 50 years to develop.
A recent article in a UK Newspaper highlighted the case of a Hospital Consultant who developed mesothelioma. He cannot recall any exposure to asbestos. It may well be that he was inadvertently exposed to asbestos without his knowledge i.e. such as living in the vicinity of a factory that leaked asbestos into the atmosphere.

Professor Peto has shown that new cases of mesothelioma will continue to increase in the early part of the twenty first century. He also said, “Every single person in the UK has asbestos in their lungs. It is the level of exposure that is important.”

We also know that people who has a history of asbestos exposure has a greater risk of lung cancer if they smoked. In a survey in 1992, 2602 individuals with lung cancer were interviewed. One in eight was exposed to asbestos and of these a third still smoked. A US study suggested that non-smokers exposed to asbestos have a five times greater risk of lung cancer. If they smoked, then the risk increased by a factor of 11. Smoking and asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing lung cancer to 52 times that of the general population.

At present no one knows how many lung cancers are due to asbestos exposure because of the long latency period and that cigarette smoking remains the major cause. Mesothelioma, however, is caused by asbestos exposure and this has been the basis of numerous high value legal claims.

As for the future, in the USA and Europe, asbestos related diseases will gradually increase to a peak. Of concern, however, are areas of conflict. In the Middle East, when a building was bombed, or when numerous buildings were bombed during the invasion of Iraq, do we have any idea how much asbestos was released into the atmosphere?

We are, however, certain that during the 9/11 disaster, asbestos fibres were released. When the Twin Tower collapsed, there were 400 tons of asbestos in the structure. The toxic cloud that hung over Manhattan, contained high level of asbestos. It is estimated that over 100,000 people suffered asbestos exposure. The greatest exposure was amongst first responders. Deborah Reeve was the first to die from asbestos related disease after 9/11. She was a first responder and paramedic. She died in March 2005 from mesothelioma. This concerned experts because mesothelioma takes a very long time to develop. They concluded that her exposure must have been excessive.

A study result showed that 70% of recovery and rescue workers who were active during and after the World Trade Centre collapse had some form of respiratory problem. A six year follow up study showed that sufferers with respiratory problems continue to have the same ailments.
“In the six years since the attacks,” Nadler said, “We have accumulated a mountain of evidence that thousands of those exposed are suffering from chronic respiratory disease and, increasingly, a variety of rare cancers.”

Hopefully, as experts predict, within the next few years asbestos related diseases will peak and the annual new cases will drop. If not, could it be a sleeping dragon about to wake up?

Dr. Phil Hariram is retired General Practitioner. His website themesothelioma-info.com themesothelioma-info.com has cutting edge info.on Mesothelioma and the latest news release on Asbestos related diseases.

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Tags: lung cancer, mesothelioma