Support Mesothelioma Research on National Mesothelioma Awareness Day

Today, Sept. 26, has been set aside as a day to raise awareness of the relatively unknown form of asbestos-related cancer: mesothelioma. National Mesothelioma Awareness Day, designated as such by Congress, is a day to not only raise the public’s awareness of the deadly disease, but to also encourage all Americans to help raise funds to combat the disease.

Cancer research is expensive and time-consuming, and for research related to a rare disease, such as mesothelioma, the costs can be even higher. Researchers rely on funding from public and private sources to run their clinical trials and to ensure continuous funding throughout the project.

NYU Cancer Institute Dedicated to Defeating Cancer

The NYU Cancer Institute of the NYU Langone Medical Center is one of many cancer centers dedicated to “defeating cancer” and to bringing an end to the suffering it causes. In addition to offering comprehensive cancer care, the Institute offers innovative treatments for mesothelioma and lung cancer patients.

Renowned mesothelioma expert Dr. Harvey Pass, Chief division of Thoracic Surgery NYU Langone Medical Center and Chief Thoracic Oncology NYU Cancer Center, leads the team of thoracic surgeons. Services offered to mesothelioma patients include clinical trials, minimally invasive surgery, state-of-the-art chemotherapy regimens, targeted radiation therapy and radiofrequency ablation and photodynamic therapy.

The NYU Cancer Institute of the NYU Langone Medical Center depends on private donations to further its research efforts, enhance clinical services, and expand its community programs to help more people overcome cancer. To help NYU Langone in its fight against mesothelioma visit the website today.

http://cancer.med.nyu.edu/how-you-can-help

You can also “like” MesotheliomaHelp.org on its Facebook page. For every “like” it receives, Belluck & Fox, a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, will donate $1 to the NYU Langone Medical Center.

Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

According to its website, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a national non-profit dedicated to ending the suffering caused by mesothelioma by funding mesothelioma research, by providing education and support for patients and their families, and by advocating for federal funding of mesothelioma research.

Each year the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation awards grants to the “best and most promising” mesothelioma research projects. The Foundation instituted its grant funding program in 2000 and has since awarded over $7.6 million to critical research, encouraging scientists to devote their life-work to this rare, elusive cancer.

To support the efforts of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation see its Donate Now link.

The above options are suggestions, but there are a vast number of other options available for providing financial support to mesothelioma research. Select the one that calls to you and your family and help make a difference in mesothelioma research.

Quick Facts About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the lining of the lung and abdomen closely associated with inhaling microscopic asbestos dust.
Nearly 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year.
About 2,500 to 3,000 Americans die each year of mesothelioma and thousands more die of lung cancer related to asbestos.
The symptoms of the disease can take anywhere from 15-50 years to develop after exposure.
Mesothelioma is entirely preventable, but cannot be cured.

Know more about mesothelioma and how you can deal with it.

National Mesothelioma Awareness Day is September 26

September 26 has been set aside by Congress as a day to raise the public’s awareness of mesothelioma and to encourage all Americans to help raise funds to combat the deadly disease. Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the lining of the lung and abdomen closely associated with inhaling microscopic asbestos dust. About 3,000 Americans die each year of mesothelioma and thousands more die of lung cancer related to asbestos.

Recently, scientists and researchers have made great strides in discovering how genetics play into potential mesothelioma therapies, yet bringing a cure to patients is still years away. The research is expensive, and researchers and universities rely on public donations to support projects.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a national organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma and the suffering it causes by funding the highest quality mesothelioma research, advocates for mesothelioma patients and conducts, organizes and coordinates fundraising events across the country. The Foundation’s volunteers are critical for organizing Awareness Day events.

Congress recognizes the dangers of asbestos and the need for new, effective treatments for mesothelioma. In 2010, the National Mesothelioma Awareness Day declaration was developed to address the medical needs of mesothelioma patients.

Following is an excerpt from the Congressional Declaration:

Whereas mesothelioma is a terminal, asbestos-related cancer that affects the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or testicles;
Whereas workers exposed on a daily basis over a long period of time are most at risk, but even short-term exposures can cause the disease and an exposure to asbestos for as little as one month can result in mesothelioma 20-50 years later;
Whereas the National Institutes of Health reported to Congress in 2006 that mesothelioma is a difficult disease to detect, diagnose, and treat;
Whereas the National Cancer Institute recognizes a clear need for new agents to improve the outlook for patients with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases;
Whereas for decades, the need to develop treatments for mesothelioma was overlooked and today, even the best available treatments usually have only a very limited effect and the expected survival time of those diagnosed with the disease is between 8 and 14 months…

Therefore, be it resolved, that the House of Representatives– (1) supports the goals and ideals of Mesothelioma Awareness Day; and (2) urges the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States, Federal departments and agencies, States, localities, organizations, and media to annually observe a National Mesothelioma Awareness day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is sponsoring the Knowledge is Hope conference to be held in New York City on September 28 to mark National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. For more information on National Mesothelioma Awareness Day and the conference see www.curemeso.org.

Stand Up 2 Cancer Telethon Tonight – Tune In to Donate Funds for Mesothelioma Research

All of the major television networks are standing by to broadcast the Stand Up 2 Cancer (SU2C) Telethon to raise funds for the fight against cancer. The live, one-hour, commercial-free fundraising event will be simulcast at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, E!, Discovery Health, HBO, Showtime, VH1 and other cable channels. The telethon will raise funds that will accelerate innovative cancer research that is critically important for finding a cure for mesothelioma and other incurable cancers.

SU2C announced last week the impressive lineup of actors supporting the event including Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, Michael Douglas, Jessica Biel, Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Renner, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone and SU2C Co-founder Katie Couric. In addition, Taylor Swift, Coldplay, Alicia Keys and Tim McGraw will deliver “one-of-a-kind show performances” as they join celebrities from film, television and sports to engage viewers with powerful stories and a moving call-to-action.

100% of the monies raised during the telethon go directly to grants supporting cancer research.

According to SU2C, more than $180 million has been raised for innovative cancer research. Since 2008, SU2C has made grants to seven multidisciplinary “Dream Teams” of researchers as well as to 26 young innovative scientists who are undertaking the fight to end cancer. Eighty-five institutions are currently involved.

One of the ‘dream teams’ funded in 2008, the Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) Chip Dream Team, developed a chip to allow physicians to identify the genetic “fingerprint” of a patient’s cancer cells. This discovery promotes the use of targeted and personalized treatments for cancer patients. As personalized treatment gains popularity, mesothelioma patients can benefit greatly as the disease symptoms, and thus the necessary treatment, can differ dramatically across patients.

More Hospitals Offer Mesothelioma Patients Palliative Care Options

Palliative care has been gaining momentum in the medical community as a critical step for many terminally ill patients. For mesothelioma patients in the advanced stage of their cancer, turning to palliative care, which focuses on relieving symptoms and keeping the patient comfortable, offers them an opportunity to spend more time with their loved ones during their end of life.

Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive and deadliest forms of cancer, with limited treatment options. Symptoms may not appear until up to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos, the only known cause of the disease. However, once symptoms become apparent, mesothelioma may rapidly progress to cause life-threatening complications. The prognosis for mesothelioma patients is grim with the average survival time varying from 4 – 18 months after diagnosis.

Now, according to a new study from the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC), mesothelioma patients may have more palliative care options available to them. CAPC reports the number of U.S. hospitals with palliative care teams increased for the 10th consecutive year. In 2010, there were 1,635 palliative care teams in hospitals in the United States, for an increase of 4.3% over 2009. CAPC reports palliative care has been one of the fastest growing trends in health care over the last ten years, growing nearly 150% since 2000.

66% of American hospitals now have palliative care teams. Hospitals in the northeast region of the U.S. have the highest percentage at 75.8%. The southern region of the U.S. offers the fewest palliative care options with just 52.7% of the hospitals reporting palliative care teams.

CAPC attributes the growth of palliative care “to the increasing number of Americans living with serious and chronic illnesses and to the caregiving realities faced by their families.”

In a separate study, Massachusetts General Hospital researchers attributed palliative care to increased survival rate among advanced lung cancer patients. The researchers cited improved mood and quality of life, as well as appropriate end-of-life care, for the improved survival rates.

MGH employs palliative care teams consisting of physicians, nurses, social workers and chaplains trained to help patients and their families facing terminal illness cope with the psychological and spiritual aspects of their disease, as well as managing symptoms.

Mesothelioma Patients Can Direct Friends to MedGift.com for Support

Diem Brown was just 22-years-old when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Now seven years later and suffering a relapse, she understands firsthand the issues cancer patients deal with on a day-to-day basis. Much like mesothelioma patients, Diem was not only overwhelmed by the disease, but also by the outpouring of support from friends and loved ones. Now when friends ask her “How can I help?” she can direct them to the patient registry website she developed – MedGift.com.

When a friend or loved one is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, an asbestos-caused pulmonary cancer, the first question asked of the patient is “What can I do for you?” Brown realized that answering this could be challenging and even awkward at times. But realizing that brides and mothers-to-be have the ability to ask for gifts and support from friends through gift registries, Brown was inspired to establish a registry for patients.

MedGift allows mesothelioma patients to separate their help into three sections: needs, wants and wishes. In the “needs” section patients can request financial support for paying bills. Some hospitals are directly linked to MedGift allowing friends to make payments directly against a patient’s bill. Under the “wants” section patients can request tangible gifts such as a blanket for warmth when receiving chemotherapy to fight mesothelioma. In addition, patients can request “wishes” such as babysitting, transportation to appointments or simply a prayer.

“It’s the first ever Patient Gift Registry,” according to Brown. “Any patient, from cancer to car accidents to wounded warriors, can list their hospital bills, ask for wigs, wheelchairs, certain foods or cosmetics. Their friends, family and co-workers can then go on and select an item from their patient gift registry, without even having to ask.”

In addition to the gift registry functionality, MedGift offers an online community through social media capabilities. MedGift is a secure site and it offers patients the ability to personalize their registry with photos, journal entries and to connect to Facebook and Twitter. With so many surgeries, treatments and appointments, many mesothelioma patients and their families find keeping a journal of their progress is an easy way to keep friends and families apprised of their progress without having to contact everyone individually.

If someone you know is battling mesothelioma, offering them some words of encouragement through a card and visiting them lets them know they are not alone. But being able to provide tangible support through their MedGift registry can offer them support that can help alleviate the stress they may be feeling when trying to deal with all aspects of their cancer.

Diem Brown is an entertainment reporter for Sky Living and a recurring cast member on MTV’s reality television series The Challenge. Brown, now 30-years-old, just learned that her ovarian cancer has returned.

Learn more about mesothelioma.

Category: For Your Family