Breaking New Ground in Mesothelioma Research and Treatment

Each year, malignant pleural mesothelioma affects over 3,000 people in the United States. Without therapy, most patients will die within 4 to 12 months following diagnosis. But thanks to the dedication of physicians like David Sugarbaker, M.D., mesothelioma victims are living longer and more comfortably—and a cure for the deadly cancer moves closer each day.

Dr. Sugarbaker is Director of Thoracic Surgery at the Dana Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center in Boston and the founder of the International Mesothelioma Program (IMP), a clinical and research initiative focused on advancing mesothelioma treatment. In clinical trials, Dr. Sugarbaker’s multi-modality treatment approach—one that combines surgery, chemotherapy and radiation—has added years onto the lives of patients with pleural mesothelioma.

“The groundbreaking work of Dr. Sugarbaker has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of malignant mesothelioma,” says Attorney Jim Sokolove, founder and principal of the Law Offices of James Sokolove (www.jimsokolove.com). “His dedication, and that of other pioneers in this field, is in part what inspired us to create the Mesothelioma Resource Center.”

The Mesothelioma Resource Center is a new national resource designed to help serve the needs of mesothelioma cancer victims and their families. The website offers information on the latest mesothelioma treatments as well as a discussion forum where victims can reach out to others who have been affected by the disease. Dr. Sugarbaker and other leaders in mesothelioma research contributed their time and expertise to the site’s development.

“We’re keeping our finger on the pulse of modern mesothelioma research, and translating new discoveries into useable information for victims and their families,” Sokolove says. “Our hope for the Mesothelioma Resource Center is that it becomes a leading resource for information on this aggressive illness.”

Basis

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Asbestos killed factory worker

A PENSIONER died from asbestos-related cancer more than 40 years after working in a factory that stored the potentially deadly material in its basement.

An inquest heard that Dorothy Thornley, aged 68, of Bransdale Close, Lostock, worked for 10 years as a separator and cutter at the Porvic factory in Darcy Lever, starting in 1955.

Bolton Coroner's Court heard that she was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in 2005 and died at home on May 10 this year.

Her sister, who had worked at the same factory, died of the same disease two years ago.

Mrs Thornley's husband, George, said his wife did not work with asbestos, but it was stored in the building, under the canteen, for use at another factory in Little Lever.

Mr Thornley said his wife had not worked since leaving her job at the factory in the mid 1960s. He added that although she smoked about 10 cigarettes a day, she had kept in good health, until 2005.

Alan Walsh, the deputy coroner said: "I am satisfied from all the evidence I have heard that the underlying cause of the malignant mesothelioma was the industrial exposure during the period she spent in that factory. I conclude that Mrs Thornley died as the result of an industrial disease."

Reference

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