Cure Cancer Mesothelioma

Cancer drugs proving worth earlier in testing

2013-02-25T15:36:00.001-08:00

By Bill Berkrot and Ransdell Pierson

NEW YORK | Mon Feb 25, 2013 9:07am EST

(Reuters) - Michael Weitz had options. The Californian had undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, but his lung cancer still spread to his bones and the brain.

With time running out, the doctor of the emergency room is entered a phase I study - the first step in human testing of a new drug - of crizotinib. The drug works for about 4 percent of patients with advanced lung cancer with a mutated form of a protein called ALK.

"Once I knew I had this mutation, I knew I had a chance of exciting," said Weitz, now 55, is cancer-free after three years of taking the drug sold by Pfizer now as Xalkori after exceptionally fast development process.

It generally took ten years and $ 1 billion to bring a new treatment on the market. But in the past two years, a handful of drugs against cancer - including Kyprolis Onyx Pharmaceutical Inc. for multiple myeloma, Roche Zelboraf for melanoma and Xalkori Pfizer - were approved in about half the time because of improved genetic testing, phase I trials more definitive and say the need for new therapies.

"We hope to be able to reduce several years time it takes to get final approval and save hundreds of millions of dollars per drug," said Robert Schneider, director of translational research in cancer the New York University Cancer Institute. "We will see this as a radical change over the next five years."

Weitz story is a striking example of how personalized medicine forward 10 years after researchers sequenced the human genome, which can target drugs to specific genetic variations. The new trend is likely to bring more effective treatments for patients desperate rapid increase in the number of annual approvals of drugs and reduce the cost of searching through older data and more reliable. It will also help drug manufacturers to identify ineffective therapies earlier, although it does not necessarily reduce the more expensive drugs.

There are concerns about the approval process faster, but most agree that the benefits of a life-saving drug outweigh the risks. "The accelerated development of new drugs may be a double-edged sword," said Mace Rothenberg, head of Pfizer Oncology. "When you move faster some questions can be answered."

He said those answers can come from tests performed after drug approval, and the FDA often requires post-marketing studies after accelerated approval

Historically, phase I trials does little more than reveal the dose of an experimental drug that could safely be tolerated before major studies determined clinically meaningful benefit. But advances in genetic testing and a better understanding of cancer biology enables researchers to identify patients most likely to benefit from specific treatment of cancer.

"You can see the positive signals much faster, and you can save clinically in patients for whom the drug is not likely to work," said Dr. Michael Davies, Assistant Professor, Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Richard Scheller, director of research and early development of the Roche unit Genentech, which produces most of the drugs the cancer society's most sold, said: "you can cut a few years on the testing process clinical principle to your right pivotal Phase I. "

Pharmaceutical companies that have received accelerated approval process has refused to discuss how much money was saved from the industry average for drug development.

NEW FDA "breakthrough" DESIGNATION

Quite impressive with preliminary results, regulators of health are more willing than ever to accept the first test or midstage as sufficient evidence of safety and effectiveness, rather than insisting on a larger, more expensive and time-consuming phase III pivotal studies that have been a standard requirement.

"The drugs are simply better," Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of the Office of Hematology and Oncology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said new drugs targeted against cancer .

With older chemotherapy drugs are highly toxic, he said, "most of the discussions we have had with the agency treated if we should approve the drug or not. With some of these new drugs, the question is how speed we can approve, not whether they should be approved, "said Pazdur.

FDA has developed a new name for breakthrough drugs he sees as a significant improvement over existing therapies. With the appointment - five have been awarded so far with 12 more drugs being studied - the agency works closely with manufacturers to identify more drug approval requirements and work on issues of commercial manufacturing .

DRAMATIC RESPONSE

The key to faster approval of drugs are more closely targeted as researchers better understand the ways of cancer - a series of biochemical steps that fuel the growth of cancer cells. The aim of these treatments is to block protein guilty, or biomarkers, in a way.

"It is much easier for us to offer patients in Phase I of the real possibility of a dramatic intervention," said Paul Sabbatini, an oncologist at Memorial Cancer Center Sloan-Kettering in New York.

Now, far fewer patients need to be tested in order to obtain the final results in early trials, as they are selected only if their tumors contain protein or gene mutations is that the experimental drug. Typically, patients learn more about their medical studies or websites such as ClinicalTrials.gov.

"What we want is many times the phase I data that we see response levels that we have not seen before in patients who have exhausted most therapies to a disease," said FDA Pazdur.

Scheller said that cancer researchers working on 50 different targets that could generate effective treatments in the future.

NYU Schneider, co-founder of the biotechnology company ImClone said in the past perhaps only 3 percent of cancer drugs that began Phase I trials continued to be approved. With new diagnostic tools and targeted drugs, he said, "it is hoped that 10 or even 15 percent of the drugs may be approved for patient populations good over the next five years."

Roche and Pfizer Xalkori Zelboraf Both were developed as well as companion diagnostic tests to identify mutations in specific genes in patients that the drugs were designed to target. They proceeded relatively fast clinical trials.

The company said the development Zelboraf, which costs $ 56,000 for a six-month course of treatment was performed faster by Genentech and Roche. The clinical trial process took less than five years.

Pfizer Xalkori took a little over four years to develop. If it had been tested in the traditional way in the general population of lung cancer rather than those specific ALK mutation, it would probably have been dismissed as a failure or required further research to try to glean any subgroup of patients have been helped by drugs that cost $ 115,000 per year.

FIND THE FASTEST NON

In the past, large pharmaceutical companies have been reluctant to develop drugs for patient groups are limited, preferring to look for drugs to treat diseases such as high cholesterol and arthritis that could be taken by a broad band of huge population and become profitable.

Pfizer CEO Ian Read has adopted the new personalized approach. Noting the recent advances in genetic understanding, Read said: "We can get clearer results previously This will clearly accelerate our development, as you saw with Xalkori.».

Recent advances may also grant a wish long drug manufacturers - the identification of drugs have failed more quickly.

"It's much better to find out in Phase I of half a billion dollars later in Phase III," Scheller said Genentech.

"If you have a targeted therapy and you do not see the activity of your first 10 or 20 patients who have particular diagnostic marker or biomarker particular you are looking for, forget it, we're through, the project ends," Scheller said.

Even with all the success of recent years, many obstacles remain. Researchers have yet to understand why drugs that act by stimulating the immune system to fight cancer, as Yervoy, Bristol-Myers Squibb, have lasting effects on some patients and not others. And they need to understand why cancer often returns, even when targeted therapies worked.

"We need to know why these drugs stop working sometimes," said Sabbatini Sloan Kettering. "If we understand the cause, we may combine preventive medications, or at the first sign of (disease) progression, understand what is the most logical step as we learn more about the ways."

But as long as the United States did not control drug prices as Europe does, and the FDA does not consider the economy in its approval decisions, faster, cheaper development can not result in lower prices.

"I hope that this would reduce the cost of drugs, but the contract is that the market is going to get," says Schneider.

(Reporting by Bill Ransdell Pierson Berkrot and edited by Jilian Mincer, Claudia Parsons and Edward Tobin)

Cancer Cure Has Been Found and Is Purposely Being Ignored

2012-08-15T14:51:00.001-07:00

I couldn't believe it when I saw the headline myself: a simple cure has been found to treat cancer!

As unbelievable as that is, the more shocking news is that the treatment is not being mass-produced or even taken note of by the medical or news communities.

Horrifying, isn't it?

I'm even more devastated by this, because someone I know actually died yesterday after a battle with breast cancer for a few years. She was a wife and a mother leaving behind three young boys.

The cure was discovered by scientists at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada. The cure uses a dichloroacetate, a simple drug used to treat metabolic disorders. Because it's so simple, it had no side effects and also requires no patent. Therefore, it is relatively cheap (at least in comparison to current cancer treatments) and will actually cure cancer rather than warding it off.

Also because of the fact that it can't be patented, it's hard to make a large profit off of it. Due to this, pharmaceutical companies won't touch it, because it doesn't help their pockets.This is why this discovery isn't being celebrated and making front-page headlines.

The hope is that independent companies can perfect this cure and manufacture it for the patients that desperately need it. It will be difficult going against a a major lobbyist business interest such as the pharmaceutical industry who have their hands deep in politicians' pockets, but the more the public becomes aware of this great discovery, the less can be done against it.

So, spread the word, so this cure won't go the way of the apricot seeds cancer treatment or AIDS treatment. You also may want to rethink your position on Obamacare as pharmaceutical companies were one of the major proponents of the bill. It's sad that America is basically coming down to the people vs. major corporations as evidenced by this, Wall Street bailouts, GE getting to skip out on taxes, and so much more, while each tries to get crooked politicians to further their will.

America is at a crossroads and these next few months and years with business and government blurring lines and personal issues such as each citizen's health becoming public with Obamacare, will define which way we go. Source

USA Best Cancer Hospital Part 5

2012-08-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

9. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA is ranked nationally in 14 adult and 8 pediatric specialties. It was also high-performing in 1 adult specialty, as shown below. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a 456-bed general medical and surgical facility with 23,126 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 10,869 annual inpatient and 15,891 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 43,387 visits. Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a teaching hospital.

Contact

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

757 Westwood Plaza

Los Angeles, CA 90095-8358

(310) 825–9111

http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?id=77

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

     Admissions    (310) 267-8000
     Billing Department, Customer Service
On-line bill and payments: https://billing.uclahealth.org    (310) 825-8021
     Blood & Platelet Donor Center    (310) 825-0888
     Care Coordination Services    (310) 267-9700
     Chase Child Life Program    (310) 267-9440
     Emergency Room    (310) 825-2111
     Gift Shop    (310) 267-9522
     Home Care Liaison    (310) 794-1400
     Hospital Information/Operator    (310) 825-9111
     Hotel/Lodging Information    (310) 267-9113
     Human Resources    (310) 794-0500
     Information Desk
(310) 267-9119 West
(310) 267-9120 East
     International Relations    (310) 794-8759
     Interpreter Services    (310) 267-8001
     Medical Records    (310) 825-6021
     Nursing/Staffing Office    (310) 825-6621
     Optical Services    (310) 206-7184
     Page Operator    (310) 825-6301
     Patient Affairs (In-patient)    (310) 267-9113
     Patient Information/Location    (310) 825-8611
     Pharmacy    (310) 206-3784
     Pharmacy (outpatient)    (310) 267-8524
     Security    (310) 267-7100
     Social Work Services    (310) 267-9700
     Spiritual Care    (310) 825-7484
     Surgical Waiting Room (Maddie's Room)    (310) 267-9325
     Volunteer Services    (310) 267-8180

Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA

     Admissions    (310) 267-8000
     Billing Department, Customer Service
On-line bill and payments: https://billing.uclahealth.org    (310) 825-8021
     Blood & Platelet Donor Center    (310) 825-0888
     Care Coordination Services    (310) 267-9700
     Chase Child Life Program    (310) 267-9440
     Emergency Room    (310) 825-2111
     Gift Shop    (310) 267-9522
     Home Care Liaison    (310) 794-1400
     Hospital Information/Operator    (310) 825-9111
     Hotel/Lodging Information    (310) 267-9113
     Human Resources    (310) 794-0500
     Information Desk
(310) 267-9119 West
(310) 267-9120 East
     International Relations    (310) 794-8759
     Interpreter Services    (310) 267-8001
     Medical Records    (310) 825-6021
     Nursing/Staffing Office    (310) 825-6621
     Optical Services    (310) 206-7184
     Page Operator    (310) 825-6301
     Patient Affairs (In-patient)    (310) 267-9113
     Patient Information / Location    (310) 825-8611
     Pharmacy    (310) 206-3784
     Pharmacy (outpatient)    (310) 267-8524
     Security    (310) 267-7100
     Social Work Services    (310) 267-9700
     Spiritual Care    (310) 825-7484
     Surgical Waiting Room (Maddie's Room)    (310) 267-9325
     Volunteer Services    (310) 267-8180

UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica

     Hospital & Patient Information    (424) 259-6000
     Admissions    (424) 259-6611
     Billing Department, Customer Service
On-line bill and payments: https://billing.uclahealth.org    (310) 825-8325
     Blood & Platelet Center Appointments    (310) 206-6187
     Blood & Platelet Center General    (310) 825-0888
     Emergency Department    (424) 259-8400
     Financial Counselors    (424) 259-8010
     Information Desk    (424) 259-9915
     Interpreter Services    (424) 259-8531
     Main Operator    (424) 259-6000
     Medical Records    (424) 259-8045
     Nutritional Counseling    (424) 259-9225
     Patient Accounting    (424) 259-8012
     Patient Affairs    (424) 259-9120
     The BirthPlace    (424) 259-8250
     Volunteer Services    (424) 259-8180

Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA

     Access Center (Patient Referrals)    (800) 825-9989
(310) 825-9989
     Billing Department, Customer Service
On-line bill and payments: https://billing.uclahealth.org    (310) 825-8841
     UCLA NPH Quality Mgmt    (310) 825-6962

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

     David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Contact Information    (310) 825-6373
     David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Admissions    (310) 825-6081

Other Phone Numbers

     200 UCLA Medical Plaza Information Desk
(Peter Morton Medical Building)    (310) 267-6810
     Blood & Platelet Donor Center    (310) 825-0888
     Clinical Labs    (310) 206-8793, 100 Med Plaza
(310) 267-8100, 200 Med Plaza
(310) 206-5027, 300 Med Plaza
     UCLA Clinical Trials    (310) 794-8783
     Media Relations    (310) 794-0777
     Parking/Transportation Services    (310) 206-7275
(310) 206-PARK
     Pharmacy (multiple locations)    (310) 206-3784 Main line
     Physician Referral Service    (800) 825-2631
(800) UCLA-MD1
     Outpatient Surgery Center
(200 UCLA Medical Plaza - 6th floor)    (310) 794-1106 Reception Desk
(310) 794-1085 Recovery
     Radiology Scheduling    (310) 301-6800
     50 Plus Program    (800) 516-5323
     UCLA Medical Sciences Development Office (Giving to UCLA)    (310) 206-0500
     UCLA Tiverton House (Lodging)    (310) 794-0151

10. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University

Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University in Saint Louis, MO is ranked nationally in 15 adult specialties. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University is a 1,270-bed general medical and surgical facility with 56,600 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 18,955 annual inpatient and 19,742 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 85,965 visits. Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University is a teaching hospital.

Contact

Barnes-Jewish Hospital/Washington University

1 Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza

Saint Louis, MO 63110-1003

(314) 747–3000

http://www.barnesjewish.org/contactus/

To contact a patient at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, please call 314-362-5460. Provide the full name of the patient or the room number and an operator will connect you.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital:
(Main Telephone Number)    314-747-3000
Emergency Department:    314-362-9123
Concierge Services:     314-362-5194
Guest Services:    314-362-5196
800-451-4892 (toll-free)
Lodging:    314-362-5301
800-551-3492 (toll-free)
Barnes Lodge:    314-652-4319
800-551-3492 (toll-free)
Patient Accounts:    314-362-0710
Patient Information:    314-362-5460
Physician Referral:    314-TOP-DOCS
866-867-3627 (toll-free)
Security and Parking:    314-362-0750
Spiritual Care:    314-362-5200
Volunteer Offices:    314-362-5324
Donations:    314-286-0600
Talent Acquisition:    314-362-0700

Barnes-Jewish South    Barnes-Jewish North
Admitting:    314-747-0634    314-454-1025
Gift & Flower Shops:    314-362-4300    314-454-7125
Information:    314-362-5460    314-362-5460
Outpatient Pharmacy:    314-362-1224    314-454-7666

Addresses:
Barnes-Jewish Hospital South
One Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63110

Barnes-Jewish North / Center for Advanced Medicine
4921 Parkview Place
St. Louis, MO 63110

Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
12634 Olive Boulevard
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
314-996-8000

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4

USA Best Cancer Hospital Part 4

2012-08-15T13:36:00.003-07:00

7. Massachusetts General Hospital

Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA is ranked nationally in 16 adult and 4 pediatric specialties. Massachusetts General Hospital is a 907-bed general medical and surgical facility with 47,243 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 18,776 annual inpatient and 21,844 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 90,413 visits. Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching hospital.

Contact

Massachusetts General Hospital

55 Fruit Street

Boston, MA 02114-2696

(617) 726–2000

Massachusetts General Hospital

Main Campus Information

Massachusetts General Hospital
55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114

Phone: 617-726-2000
TDD Phone: 617-724-8800 (for the hearing impaired)

Public Transportation Access: yes
Disabled Access: yes

http://www.massgeneral.org/contact/default.aspx

8. University of Washington Medical Center

University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, WA is ranked nationally in 10 adult specialties. It was also high-performing in 4 adult specialties, as shown below. University of Washington Medical Center is a 396-bed general medical and surgical facility with 19,260 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 7,272 annual inpatient and 7,865 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 25,602 visits. University of Washington Medical Center is a teaching hospital. It is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Contact

University of Washington Medical Center

1959 NE Pacific St

Seattle, WA 98195-6151

(206) 598–3300

Harborview Medical Center

325 Ninth Ave.
Seattle, WA 98104-2499
General Information: 206.744.3000
TTY: 206.744.2800

Admitting: 206.744.3085
Clinic Information: 206.520.5000 or 877.520.5000
Billing/Patient Financial Services: 206.598.1950 or 877.780.1121
Hospital Information: 206.744.3000
Human Resources: 206.744.9220
Media Inquiries: 206.744.6397 or 206.744.NEWS
Parking Information: 206.744.3254
Patient Relations: 206.744.5000
Release of Information (Medical Records): 206.744.9000, fax 206.744.9997

UW Medical Center

1959 N.E. Pacific St.
Seattle, WA 98195
General Information: 206.598.3300
TTY: 206.598.4002

Admitting: 206.598.4310
Billing/Patient Financial Services: 206.598.1950 or 877.780.1121
Clinic Information: 206.520.5000 or 877.520.5000
Hospital Information: 206.598.3300
Human Resources: 206.598.6116
Media Inquiries: 206.543.3620
Parking Information: 206.598.5275
Patient Relations: 206.598.8382
Release of Information (Medical Records): 206.598.4344

Local Call UW Numbers

To place a toll-free call to a UW telephone number (including UWMC phone numbers) from the CALL UW service areas when a long distance charge would normally apply, use UW Automated Attendant.
Dial the appropriate local CALL UW number for your area (see numbers below.)
When the RCS system answers, dial the UW number you wish to call.
Press [#].
Wait on the line while your call is connected.

Note: If the UW telephone number you are calling is already a local call, you should not use the Call UW access numbers listed below.

Aberdeen/Grayland/Westport: 360.612.5500
Bellingham/Everson: 360.543.5500
Black Diamond/Enumclaw: 360.615.5500
Bremerton/Kitsap: 360.535.5500
Chehalis/Centralia: 360.557.5500
Coupeville/Oak Harbor: 360.544.5500
East King County: 425.519.5500
Everett: 425.262.5500
Hoodsport/Union: 360.614.5500
Mt. Vernon: 360.542.5800
Olympia: 360.252.5500
Port Angeles/Sequim/Gardner: 360.504.5500
Port Townsend: 360.554.5500
Seattle: 206.685.5500
Tacoma: 253.552.5500

UW Medicine Neighborhood Clinics: 1.800.852.8546 or visit the individual clinic web pages

UW Physicians

Appointments: 1.800.852.8546
Billing: 206.543.8606 or toll free 1.888.234.5467
General information: 206.543.6420

UW School of Medicine

1959 N.E. Pacific St.
Seattle, WA 98195

University of Washington Seattle Campus Operator
206.543.2100
TTY: 206.685.9232

Important Medical School Phone Numbers

UW Medicine Web Site

The UW Medicine web site is managed by UW Medicine Strategic Marketing and Communications. For questions or concerns regarding the web site, e-mail the help desk at mcsos@u.washington.edu.

If you have questions about specific medical conditions or treatments, please talk with your physician or health-care provider.

UW Directory Assistance

If the contact information you are looking for is not on this page or on our directory information page, please contact the campus operator for assistance.

UW Seattle Campus Operator
206.543.2100
TTY: 206.685.9232
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 5

USA Best Cancer Hospital Part 3

2012-08-15T13:27:00.002-07:00

5. Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center

Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA is ranked nationally in 13 adult specialties. It was also high-performing in 1 adult specialty, as shown below. Brigham and Women's Hospital is a 777-bed general medical and surgical facility with 45,995 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 19,195 annual inpatient and 12,331 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 58,466 visits. Brigham and Women's Hospital is a teaching hospital.

Brigham and Women's Hospital
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115 USA
(617) 732-5500
(617) 732-6458 TTY/TTD
To find a BWH doctor: Use our Find a BWH Doctor search tool.
New patients: Request an appointment at 1-800-BWH-9999 or by using our online Appointment Request Form.
Doctors' offices requesting an appointment for a patient: Please call our Physician Referral Line at 1-800-MD-to-BWH (1-800-638-6294).

Brigham and Women's Hospital
Contact
75 Francis Street

Boston, MA 02115-6110

(617) 732–5500

https://www.brighamandwomens.org/forms/contactus.aspx

6. Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH is ranked nationally in 14 adult and 10 pediatric specialties. It was also high-performing in 2 adult specialties, as shown below. It scored high in patient safety, demonstrating commitment to reducing accidents and medical mistakes. Cleveland Clinic is a 1,239-bed general medical and surgical facility with 53,410 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 27,418 annual inpatient and 53,269 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 54,138 visits. Cleveland Clinic is a teaching hospital. It is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Contact

Cleveland Clinic

9500 Euclid Avenue

Cleveland, OH 44195-5108

(216) 444–2200

Cleveland Clinic Nurse On Call:
800.801.2273

Locations
Main Campus
Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital
Northeast Ohio Family Health Centers
Northeast Ohio Community Hospitals
Northeast Ohio Specialty Centers
Florida
Canada
Nevada
Abu Dhabi

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/default.aspx

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4 Part 5

USA Best Cancer Hospital Part 2

2012-08-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

3. Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD is ranked nationally in 16 adult and 10 pediatric specialties. Johns Hopkins Hospital is a 913-bed general medical and surgical facility with 46,775 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 23,433 annual inpatient and 34,990 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 84,982 visits. Johns Hopkins Hospital is a teaching hospital. It is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Important Phone Numbers
When calling from within The Johns Hopkins medical campus, dial the last five digits only.
The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Admitting
Adult:
410-955-6190
Pediatric:
410-955-8756
Oncology:
410-955-8980

Appointments
Adult:
410-955-5464
Pediatric:
410-955-2000

Information
Main Number:
410-955-5000
Accommodations Office:
410-614-1911
Billing Coordinator:
410-955-8288
Guest Services:
410-614-5100
International Patients:
+1-410-502-7683 (Non-US citizens)
410-464-6555 (US citizens)
Lost & Found:
410-955-5588
Out-of-State Patients:
+1-410-502-7683 (Non-US citizens)
410-464-6555 (US citizens)
Parking:
410-955-5333
Pastoral Care:
410-955-5842
Patient Information:
410-502-4000
Patient Relations:
410-955-2273
Public Transportation (MTA/Metro):
410-539-5000
Security:
410-955-5585
Social Work (adults):
410-955-5885
Social Work (children):
410-955-6518
Transportation:
443-923-9200
TTY (for deaf and hearing impaired):
410-955-6217
Volunteer Services:
410-955-5924
Walking Escorts on Campus:
410-955-5585

Pharmacies
Arcade Pharmacy (Zayed Tower):
443-287-9200
Monument Street Pharmacy:
410-502-5735
Moore Clinic Pharmacy:
410-614-5611
Outpatient Center Pharmacy:
410-955-3733
Weinberg Building Pharmacy:
410-955-5747

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Bloomberg School of Public Health:
410-955-3543
Continuing Medical Education:
410-955-5880
Continuing Nursing Education:
410-614-3160
Fund for Johns Hopkins (gifts):
410-516-6800
Kennedy Krieger Institute (affiliate):
410-923-9200
School of Medicine:
410-955-3182
School of Nursing:
410-955-7548

Other Locations
Howard County General Hospital:
410-740-7890
Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center:
410-550-0100
Johns Hopkins Community Physicians:
1-888-400-4200
Sibley Memorial Hospital:
202-537-4000
Suburban Hospital:
301-896-3100

Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 North Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287-2182
(410) 955–5000
www.hopkinsmedicine.org

4. Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN is ranked nationally in 16 adult and 10 pediatric specialties. Mayo Clinic is a 1,132-bed general medical and surgical facility with 62,400 admissions in the most recent year reported. It performed 50,918 annual inpatient and 21,035 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 79,542 visits. Mayo Clinic is a teaching hospital. It is also accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

Contact:

Mayo Clinic

200 S. W. First Street

Rochester, MN 55905-0002

(507) 284–2511

www.mayoclinic.org

The best way to contact Mayo Clinic about a medical concern is by phone

Arizona — Scottsdale / Phoenix
Mayo Clinic
13400 E. Shea Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
General number    480-301-8000
Appointment Office    800-446-2279 (toll-free)
Insurance and billing     480-301-7033
800-603-0558 (toll-free outside Phoenix)
International Patients Center    480-301-7101
International Patients Center fax    480-301-9310
Medical records requests fax for Arizona    480-301-7282
Records request form — Arizona patients only (PDF)
Mayo Clinic Hospital
5777 E. Mayo Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ 85054
General number    480-515-6296
Hearing impaired (TDD)    480-342-2660
480-342-1882
Back to Top
Florida — Jacksonville
Mayo Clinic
4500 San Pablo Road
Jacksonville, FL 32224
General number    904-953-2000
Hearing impaired (TDD)    904-953-2300
Appointment Office    904-953-0853
Appointment Office fax    904-953-2898
Insurance and billing    904-953-7058
International Services    904-953-7000
International Services fax    904-953-7329
Medical records requests for Florida    904-953-2242
Radiology imaging records requests for Florida, call 904-953-7201
Records request form — Florida patients only (PDF)
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Minnesota — Rochester
Mayo Clinic
200 First Street SW
Rochester, MN 55905
General number    507-284-2511
Hearing impaired (TDD)    507-284-9786
Appointment Office    507-538-3270
Insurance and billing    507-266-5670
800-660-4582 (toll-free)
International Center    507-284-8884
International Center fax    507-538-7802
Medical records requests fax for Rochester    507-284-0161
Records request form — Rochester patients only (PDF)
Rochester Methodist Hospital
201 W. Center St.
Rochester, MN 55902
General number    507-266-7890
Saint Marys Hospital including
Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital
1216 Second St. SW
Rochester, MN 55902
General number    507-255-5123

Part 1 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

USA Best Cancer Hospital Part 1

2012-08-15T12:49:00.001-07:00

Top Ten USA Best Cancer Hospital That Can Save Your Life

1. University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

MD Anderson has many convenient locations. Whether seeking treatment or visiting a loved one, the following pages provide directions, resources and information about each of our locations.
Texas Medical Center

1515 Holcombe Blvd.
Houston, TX 77030
1-877-MDA-6789
Regional Care Centers

MD Anderson provides cancer care at convenient locations in the greater Houston area. Services at regional care centers vary and include radiation treatment, medical oncology and surgical oncology, along with a range of supportive services.
http://www.mdanderson.org/locations/index.html

2.Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Find out how to reach our staff or our patients on the phone, online, or by mail.
Main Telephone Number

212-639-2000
Mailing Address

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10065
Our Physicians

See our Find a Doctor directory.
Making an Appointment
Adult Patients:
800-525-2225
Pediatric Patients:
212-639-5954
International Patients:
From outside the United States, call 212-639-4900. Or, to use AT&T Direct Access, first dial the access number for the country you are in, then 888-675-7722. From within the United States, call 212-639-4900 or toll-free 888-675-7722.
Contacting a Hospitalized Patient

Call our Patient Information Desk at 212-639-7081. You can send cards or gifts to our mailing address above. Please include the patient's name and room number.
Cards and Gifts for Patients

Cards and gifts can be sent to our mailing address, above. Please include the patient's name and room number.
Gift Shop

Gifts can be purchased by calling 212-639-8035. Items from the Gift Shop are available for delivery to patients receiving care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering's inpatient hospital, located at 1275 York Avenue. Visit the Gift Shop's webpage for more information.
Requesting Medical Records

Call our Clinical Information Department at 646-227-2089.
Our Scientists

See our See our Find Faculty and Laboratory Staff directory.
Gerstner Sloan-Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences

Visit our graduate school website. http://www.mskcc.org/contact-us
Questions?

Send an e-mail to the Public Affairs Department at publicaffairs@mskcc.org.

Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

How Is Colorectal Cancer Treated

2009-02-21T03:52:00.000-08:00

This information represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society's Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience.

The treatment information in this document is not official policy of the Society and is not intended as medical advice to replace the expertise and judgment of your cancer care team. It is intended to help you and your family make informed decisions, together with your doctor.

Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don't hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

The 4 main types of treatment for colorectal cancer are
surgery
radiation therapy
chemotherapy (often called just "chemo")
targeted therapies (called monoclonal antibodies)

Depending on the stage of your cancer, 2 or more types of treatment may be used at the same time, or used one after the other.

Take your time and think about all of your treatment choices. You may want to get a second opinion. This can give you more information and help you feel better about the treatment plan you choose. Your chances of having a good outcome are highest in the hands of a medical team that has experience in treating colorectal cancer.

Surgery

The types of surgery used to treat colon and rectal cancers are slightly different and are described separately.

Colon surgery

Surgery is often the main treatment for earlier stage colon cancer. The surgery is called a colectomy or a segmental resection. Usually the cancer and a length of normal colon on either side of the cancer (as well as nearby lymph nodes) are removed. The 2 ends of the colon are then sewn back together. For colon cancer, a colostomy (an opening in the abdomen for getting rid of body wastes) is not usually needed, although sometimes a short-term colostomy may be done to allow the colon to heal.

Most often, surgery is done through an incision in the abdomen, but for some earlier stage cancers a different approach might be an option. In laparoscopic-assisted colectomy, instead of 1 long incision in the abdomen, the surgeon makes several small ones. Special long instruments are put into these small openings and used to remove part of the colon and lymph nodes. This method appears to be about as likely to cure the cancer as the standard approach for earlier stage cancers and patients usually recover faster than they do after the usual operations. But the surgery calls for special skill. If you are thinking about this approach, be sure to look for a skilled surgeon who has done a lot of these operations.

Some very early colon cancers (stage 0 and some early stage I tumors) or polyps can be removed using a colonoscope. When this is done, the surgeon does not have to cut into the abdomen. Early stage cancers that are only on the surface of the colon lining can be removed along with a small amount of nearby tissue. For a polypectomy, the cancer is cut out across the base of the polyp's stalk, the area that looks like the stem of a mushroom.

Rectal surgery

Surgery is usually the main treatment for rectal cancer, too, although radiation and chemotherapy will often be given before surgery. There are several types of surgery for rectal cancer.

Some operations (such as polypectomy, local excision, and local transanal resection) can be done with instruments placed into the anus, without having to cut through the skin. One of these methods might be used to remove some stage I cancers that are fairly small and not too far from the anus.

For some stage I, and most stage II or III rectal cancers, other types of surgery may be done. These are described here:

Low anterior resection: This approach is used for cancers near the upper part of the rectum, close to where it connects with the colon. The surgeon makes the incision only in the abdomen. Then he removes the cancer and a small amount of normal tissue on either side of the cancer, along with nearby lymph nodes and a large amount of fatty and fibrous tissue around the rectum. The anus is not affected. After the surgery, the colon is reattached to the anus and waste leaves the body in the usual way.

Abdominoperineal (AP) resection: For cancers in the lower part of the rectum, close to its outer connection to the anus, an abdominoperineal (AP) resection is done. For this the surgeon makes 1 incision in the abdomen, and another in the area around the anus. Because the anus is removed, a colostomy is needed. A colostomy is an opening of the colon in the front of the abdomen. It is used for the body to get rid of solid body waste (feces or stool).

Pelvic exenteration: If the rectal cancer is growing into nearby organs, more extensive surgery is needed. In a pelvic exenteration the surgeon removes the rectum as well as nearby organs such as the bladder, prostate, or uterus if the cancer has spread to these organs. A colostomy is needed after this operation. If the bladder is removed, a urostomy (an opening to collect urine) is also needed.

Side effects of colorectal surgery

Side effects of surgery depend on several things, such as the extent of the operation and a person's general health before surgery. Most people will have at least some pain after the operation, but this can usually be controlled with medicines if needed. Eating problems usually inprove within a few days of surgery.

Possible side effects of surgery include bleeding from the surgery, blood clots in the legs, and damage to nearby organs during the operation. Rarely, the connections between the ends of the intestine may not hold together completely and leak. If an infection occurs, it is possible that the incision might open up, causing an open wound. Later, after the surgery, you might develop scar tissue in your abdomen (called adhesions) that could cause the bowel to become blocked.

If you have a colostomy or a urostomy, you will need help in learning how to manage it. This can be done by specially trained nurses. They will usually see you before your operation and again afterwards for more training.

Colorectal surgery and sex

If you are a man, an AP resection can cause you to have "dry" orgasms. That is, the feeling of pleasure will most likely still be there, but no semen comes out. In some cases an AP resection may make you unable to have erections or reach orgasm. In other cases your pleasure at orgasm may become less intense. Normal aging may cause some of these changes, but surgery can increase them.

For some men, the surgery causes the semen to go backward into the bladder. This is not harmful. But if you still want to father a child, you should talk to your doctor about how the surgery will affect you and what might be done to achieve a pregnancy.

If you are a woman having colorectal surgery, you should not normally find any loss of sexual function. Scar tissue may sometimes cause pain or discomfort during intercourse. And if the uterus is removed, pregnancy will not be possible.

For men and women, a colostomy can affect your body image and your sexual comfort level. While you may need to make some adjustments, it should not keep you from having an enjoyable sex life.

The American Cancer Society has more information for both men and women about sexuality and cancer. Please see the list of booklets at the end of this article.

Surgery for colorectal cancer that has spread

Sometimes, surgery for cancer that has spread to other organs can help you to live longer or, depending on the extent of the disease, may even cure you. If the colorectal cancer has spread to a few areas in liver or lungs (and nowhere else), the cancer can sometimes be removed by surgery.

For spread to the liver, there are other methods besides surgery which might be used to destroy the cancer. These include methods to block the blood supply to the tumor or to destroy the cancer through freezing or by heating with microwaves. These methods are not meant to cure the cancer.

Radiation therapy for colon and rectal cancer

Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy rays (such as x-rays) to kill or shrink cancer cells. The radiation may come from outside the body (external radiation) or from radioactive materials placed directly in the tumor (brachytherapy or internal or implant radiation).

After surgery, radiation can kill small areas of cancer that may not be removed during surgery. If the size or location of a tumor makes surgery hard, radiation may be used before the surgery to shrink the tumor. Radiation can also be used to ease symptoms of advanced cancer such as intestinal blockage, bleeding, or pain.

The main use for radiation therapy in people with colon cancer is when the cancer has attached to an internal organ or the lining of the abdomen. If this happens, the doctor can't be sure that all the cancer has been removed, and radiation therapy is used to kill the cancer cells left behind after surgery. For rectal cancer, radiation is also given to prevent the cancer from coming back in the place where it started and to treat local recurrences that are causing symptoms such as pain. Radiation is seldom used to treat metastatic colon cancer.

External-beam radiation therapy: In this method, radiation is focused on the cancer from a machine outside the body. This approach is most often used for people with colon or rectal cancer. Treatments are given 5 days a week for several weeks. Each treatment lasts only a few minutes although the setup time -- getting you into place for treatment -- usually takes longer.

A different approach may be used for some cases of rectal cancer with small tumors. The radiation can be aimed through the anus and reaches the rectum without passing through the skin of the abdomen. This means it is less likely to damage nearby tissues and cause side effects.

Brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy): In this method, small pellets or seeds of radioactive material are placed next to or directly into the cancer. The radiation travels only a short distance, limiting the effects on nearby healthy tissues. This method is sometimes used in treating people with rectal cancer, particularly sick or older people who would not be able to withstand surgery.

Side effects of radiation therapy

Side effects of radiation therapy for colon or rectal cancer include mild skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea, trouble controlling your bowel, rectal or bladder irritation, or tiredness. Sexual problems may also occur. Side effects often go away after treatment is over. If you have these or other side effects, talk to your doctor. There are often ways to reduce or relieve many of these problems.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy (often called simply "chemo") is the use of drugs to fight cancer. The drugs may be injected into a vein or given by mouth. These drugs enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, making the treatment useful for cancers that have spread to distant organs.

Chemo after surgery can increase the survival rate for patients with some stages of colorectal cancer. Chemo can also help relieve symptoms of advanced cancer.

In some cases, chemo drugs can be injected into an artery leading to the part of the body with the tumor. This approach is called regional chemotherapy. Since the drugs go straight to the cancer cells, there may be fewer side effects.

Side effects of chemotherapy

While chemo kills cancer cells, it also damages some normal cells and this can cause side effects. These side effects will depend on the type of drugs given, the amount given, and how long treatment lasts. Side effects could include the following:
diarrhea
nausea and vomiting
loss of appetite
hair loss
hand and foot rashes and swelling
mouth sores
increased chance of infection
easy bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries
severe tiredness (fatigue)

Most of the side effects go away when treatment is over. For example, hair will grow back after treatment ends, though it may look different. Anyone who has problems with side effects should talk with their doctor or nurse, as there are often ways to help.

Targeted therapies

Targeted therapies are drugs that attack a part of cancer cells that makes them different from normal cells. Because these drugs affect only cancer cells, they often cause fewer side effects than chemo. Man-made proteins called monoclonal antibodies have been approved for use, along with chemo, against colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer survival rates

The 5-year survival rate is the percentage of patients who are alive 5 years after their cancer is found (leaving out those who die of other causes). Many of these patients live much longer than 5 years. While the numbers below are among the most current we have, they are from people who were first treated many years ago. Because cancer treatment continues to improve, the survival rates for people now may be higher.

Survival rates for colon cancer by stage
Stage I 93%
Stage IIA 72%
Stage IIB 72%
Stage IIIA 83%*
Stage IIIB 64%
Stage IIIC 44%
Stage IV 8%

*In this study, survival was better for stage IIIA than for stage IIB. The reasons for this are not clear, and it is not known if this is still the case.

Relative survival rates for rectal cancer by stage
Stage Relative 5-year Survival Rate
Stage I 92%
Stage II 73%
Stage III 56%
Stage IV 8%

These numbers provide an overall picture, but keep in mind that every person is unique and statistics can’t predict exactly what will happen in your case. Talk with your cancer care team if you have questions about your own chances of a cure, or how long you might survive your cancer. They know your situation best.

Symptoms & Types of Colorectal Cancer

2009-02-21T03:46:00.000-08:00

Understanding Colorectal Cancer - Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?

In its early stage, colorectal cancer usually produces no symptoms. The most likely warning signs include:
Changes in bowel movements, including persistent constipation or diarrhea, a feeling of not being able to empty the bowel completely, or rectal bleeding
Dark patches of blood in or on stool; or long, thin, "pencil stools"
Abdominal discomfort or bloating
Unexplained fatigue, or loss of appetite or weight

Call Your Doctor About Colorectal Cancer If:
You notice a change in your bowel movements, experience bleeding from the rectum, or notice blood in or on your stool. Don't assume you have hemorrhoids; your doctor will most likely perform a rectal examination and possibly a sigmoidoscopy or schedule a colonoscopy -- an examination that involves a long flexible tube inserted in your rectum.
You experience persistent abdominal pain, unusual weight loss, or fatigue. These symptoms may be due to other causes, but they could also be linked to cancer.
You are diagnosed with anemia. In determining its cause, your doctor should check for bleeding from the digestive tract because of colorectal cancer.
Often times, colon cancer has no symptoms, but this quick, handy guide to the main symptoms of colon cancer can help you know what to look for.
Types:
Staging Colon and Rectal Cancer

After undergoing many tests, you have finally been given your diagnosis. But, what does it mean when your doctor says you have stage I colon cancer or stage III rectal cancer? The following information will help you understand your diagnosis better.
Stages of Colorectal Cancer

Colon and rectal cancer are staged according to how far they have spread through the walls of the colon and rectum and whether they have spread to other parts of the body. This staging process allows doctors to determine the best treatments for the particular cancer. It also allows them to determine if the cancer is getting better with treatment or not responding.
Staging Colon Cancer
Stage 0
Stage 0 cancer of the colon is very early cancer. The cancer is found only in the innermost lining of the colon.

Learn more about treatments for stage 0 colon cancer.

Stage I
Also called Dukes A colon cancer, the cancer has spread beyond the innermost lining of the colon to the second and third layers and involves the inside wall of the colon. The cancer has not spread to the outer wall of the colon or outside the colon.

Learn more about treatments for stage I colon cancer.

Stage II
Also called Dukes B colon cancer, the tumor extends through the muscular wall of the colon, but there is no cancer in the lymph nodes (small structures that are found throughout the body that produce and store cells that fight infection).

Learn more about treatments for stage II colon cancer.

Stage III
Also called Dukes C colon cancer, the cancer has spread outside the colon to one or more lymph nodes (small structures that are found throughout the body that produce and store cells that fight infection).

Learn more about treatments for stage III colon cancer.

Stage IV
Also called Dukes D colon cancer, the cancer has spread outside the colon to other parts of the body, such as the liver or the lungs. The tumor can be any size and may or may not include affected lymph nodes (small structures that are found throughout the body that produce and store cells that fight infection).

What Is Colorectal Cancer?

2009-02-21T03:25:00.000-08:00

In order to understand colon and rectal cancer, collectively known as colorectal cancer, it might first help to understand what parts of the body are affected and how they work.
The Colon

The colon is a 6-foot long muscular tube connecting the small intestine to the rectum. The colon, which along with the rectum is called the large intestine, is a highly specialized organ that is responsible for processing waste so that emptying the bowels is easy and convenient. The colon removes water from the stool, and stores the solid stool. Once or twice a day it empties its contents into the rectum to begin the process of elimination.
The Rectum

The rectum is an 8-inch chamber that connects the colon to the anus. It is the rectum's job to receive stool from the colon, to let you know that there is stool to be evacuated, and to hold the stool until evacuation happens.

What Is Colorectal Cancer?

Cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer, and cancer that begins in the rectum is called rectal cancer. Cancers affecting either of these organs also may be called colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer occurs when some of the cells that line the colon or the rectum become abnormal and grow out of control. The abnormal growing cells create a tumor, which is the cancer.

How mesothelioma is diagnosed

2009-02-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

Most people begin by seeing their GP when they have symptoms. Your GP will examine you and may arrange for you to have some tests or x-rays. You may be referred to hospital for these tests and for specialist advice and treatment. At the hospital, the doctor will take your medical history and occupational history before doing a physical examination.

Chest x-ray
CT scan
Pleural or peritoneal aspiration
Biopsy
Waiting for your test results

Chest x-ray

A chest x-ray will be taken to check for any abnormalities in your lungs, such as thickening of the pleura or fluid around the lungs. However, there can be other causes of thickening of the pleura and peritoneum (and fluid around the lungs or in the abdomen) apart from mesothelioma.

The following tests may also be needed to diagnose mesothelioma, and your doctor may arrange for you to have one or more of them at the hospital.

CT scan

A CT scan (computerised tomography scan) takes a series of x-rays, which build up a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body. The scan is painless but takes from 10 to 30 minutes. CT scans use a small amount of radiation, which will be very unlikely to harm you and will not harm anyone you come into contact with. You will be asked not to eat or drink for at least four hours before the scan.

CT scans of the chest and of the abdomen will show the size and position of the mesothelioma and whether it has spread to other parts of the body.

You may be given a drink or injection of a dye that allows particular areas of your body to be seen more clearly. For a few minutes, this may make you feel hot all over. If you are allergic to iodine, or have asthma, you could have a more serious reaction to the injection, so it is important to let your doctor know beforehand.
You will probably be able to go home as soon as the scan is over.

Pleural or peritoneal aspiration

If there is fluid in your chest or abdomen, the doctor can take a sample by using a local anaesthetic and passing a needle through the skin into the fluid. Some of the fluid is then drawn off into a syringe and can be analysed in the laboratory to look for mesothelioma cells.

Taking fluid from between the pleura is known as a pleural aspiration and taking fluid from the abdomen is known as drainage of ascites (or peritoneal aspiration).

Biopsy

If you need a biopsy, your doctor will take a sample of tissue from the thickened pleura or peritoneum. A local anaesthetic is used to numb the area and a special type of needle is passed through the skin into the tumour. The needle has a tip that can cut out a sample of the tumour. The doctor may use ultrasound or a CT scanner to position the needle accurately. An ultrasound uses sound waves to build up a picture of the organs in a part of the body. A small device is passed over the skin to show the doctor where the tumour is and guide the needle into the right place.

Sometimes the doctor will want to look at the area of the pleura or the peritoneum directly to get a sample of tissue from the right area. This is done by using a thin flexible tube with a light and camera at the end. The tube (endoscope) can be passed through the skin of the chest, where it is called thoracoscopy, or the abdomen, where it is called laparoscopy. The procedure is done under a general anaesthetic by a surgeon. You will usually be able to go home the same day.

Your doctors may want to check for any signs of spread of the cancer to the nearby lymph glands in the centre of the chest. This central area, around the lower part of the windpipe, is called the mediastinum and the lymph glands which are found there are the mediastinal lymph nodes. This test is called a mediastinoscopy. The test is done under a general anaesthetic and will mean a short stay in hospital. A small cut is made through the skin at the base of the neck. A tube, like a small telescope, is passed into the chest through the hole created by the cut. The doctor can use this tube to examine the area. Samples can be taken for examination under a microscope.

Analysing the biopsy in the laboratory is the only way your doctors can make the diagnosis of mesothelioma. Sometimes, even after taking a biopsy, the doctors may not be sure of the diagnosis, because mesothelioma can be very difficult to distinguish from other illnesses. In this situation, the biopsy samples may be sent to other laboratories to confirm the diagnosis, some of your tests may need to be repeated or you may be referred to another hospital for a second opinion.

Waiting for your test results

It will probably take several days for the results of your tests to be ready and a follow-up appointment will be arranged for you before you go home. This waiting period is likely to be an anxious time for you and it may help to talk things over with a close friend or relative. You may want to ring our cancer support service to ask any questions you may have.

Symptoms of mesothelioma

2009-02-20T09:44:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma often starts as a lot of tiny lumps (nodules) in the pleura, which may not show up on scans or x-rays until they are quite large. The main symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are breathlessness and chest pain. Some people find that their voice becomes hoarse and they have a cough that does not go away.

Peritoneal mesothelioma often causes swelling and pain in the abdomen.

General symptoms

Both types of mesothelioma can cause other general symptoms, such as loss of appetite, sweating (especially at night), weight loss and tiredness. As many of these symptoms can also be caused by other illnesses, your doctor will need to do a series of tests before a diagnosis can be made.

Causes of Mesothelioma

2009-02-20T09:13:00.001-08:00

Causes of Cancer

Asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. Up to nine out of ten cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral, mined from rock found in many countries. It is made up of tiny fibres that are as strong as steel but can be woven like cotton and are highly resistant to heat and chemicals.

During the 1960s the first definite link between mesothelioma and asbestos was made. In the past asbestos was imported to the UK in large quantities. It was used in construction, ship-building and in household appliances. Asbestos was very widely used in insulation materials, such as amosite insulation board, and building materials, including asbestos cement.

When asbestos is disturbed or damaged, it releases tiny fibres that can be breathed into the lungs. Asbestos fibres are very fine and, when breathed in, they can make their way into the smallest airways of the lung, so they cannot be breathed or coughed out. Once the fibres are in the lungs, the body's defence mechanism tries to break them down and remove them, which leads to inflammation in the lung tissue.

The asbestos fibres can also penetrate through the lung tissue to settle in the pleura (the membrane around the lung). Over many years they can cause mesothelioma or other lung diseases to develop.

Asbestos fibres can also be swallowed, and some of the fibres can stick in the digestive system. They can then move into the membrane that lines the abdomen (the peritoneum), where they cause inflammation.

The people most likely to have been exposed to asbestos include:
construction workers
plumbers
electricians
boilermakers
shipbuilders
demolition workers
people who worked in other places where asbestos was present and
people who lived near to asbestos factories.

Family members of people who worked with asbestos and brought the dust home on their clothes have also sometimes developed mesothelioma.

There are three types of asbestos: blue, brown and white. Blue and brown asbestos are the types most commonly linked with mesothelioma. They are now very rarely used and cannot be imported into the UK. Originally, white asbestos was thought not to be dangerous but recent studies have now shown that it is also harmful.

In the 1980s, imports of blue and brown asbestos into the UK were stopped, and in 1999 the importation and use of all asbestos was banned. However, as mesothelioma develops so slowly, it is estimated that by 2015 approximately 3000 people will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. The number of people who develop mesothelioma will then start to reduce each year.

Mesothelioma does not usually develop until many years after exposure to asbestos. It can take any time from 10 to 60 years, although the average is about 30 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos.

Occasionally, mesothelioma develops in people who have never been exposed to asbestos. The other causes of the disease are not fully understood, but in rare cases the development of mesothelioma has been linked to exposure to radiation.

Research has not found any evidence that smoking increases a person's risk of developing mesothelioma. It is also thought that exposure to other building materials such as fibreglass does not increase the risk.

Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be passed on to other people. It is not caused by inherited faulty genes and so family members do not have an increased risk of developing it, unless they have been in contact with asbestos.