Every breakthrough in cancer treatment represents new hope for patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, the rare and fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos. But even with breakthroughs, patients diagnosed with all types of cancer are vulnerable to disease progression or death from treatment-related side effects. An Australian researcher hopes that a simple computer program can address this issue.
Personalized Cancer Treatment is at the Heart of Mesothelioma Care
Health care professionals who specialize in mesothelioma have long known that the most effective treatments are those that are based on the patient’s unique genetics and medical profile. Associate Professor Stephanie Reuter Lange of UniSa is examining elements surrounding dose individualization for the specific purpose of delivering personalized care. She hopes to develop a computer program to make the process simple and straightforward.
Addressing the issue that mesothelioma specialists know well, Lange says, “Cancer medicines must be administered at a dose that is strong enough to treat the cancer, but not too strong to cause toxic side effects. While this is well known, most cancer treatments are given as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ amount. Given that everyone is unique, it makes sense that patients will react differently when given the same treatment, resulting in some patients being under-treated and others being over-treated.”
Mesothelioma Treatments Depend on History, Health, and More
The most successful and effective mesothelioma treatments have been those that consider a patient’s overall health, as well as their mesothelioma cell type and the presence or absence of unique genetic biomarkers. Lange’s aim is to create a computer program that incorporates all known information about specific medications and combine it with the patient’s unique attributes to make the best treatment immediately available to physicians.
Lange explains, “Approximately half of patients receiving chemotherapy have an unplanned visit to the emergency department within one month of receiving treatment, and one in eight of these cases is related to drug therapy. However, studies show that up to 50 per cent are actually preventable. Through our research, we hope to make that statistic a reality.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, knowing your best options is essential. For access to knowledgeable resources, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
