Debbie provided a link to a story published in November 2009 by ABC News that outlines the work of specialists at Austin Health Centre in Victoria. The treatment, spearheaded by Dr. Malcolm Feigen, a radiation oncologist at the Centre, uses high doses of radiotherapy, concentrated on specific areas of the lining of the lungs to target mesothelioma tumors.

According to the ABC report, 13 patients participated in a pilot program to test this new targeted radiotherapy treatment. Most had some surgery prior to the radiotherapy treatment, and some also had chemotherapy before or after the treatment, although Dr. Feigen believes the patients showed the most benefit primarily as a result of the radiotherapy regimen.

Participants in the U.S. clinical trial at the Mesothelioma Center receive a multi-modality therapy that incorporates surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy in combination.

Listen to the interview with Dr. Feigen about the Australian research, which was broadcast on ABC’s AM morning current affairs program.

SOURCE: myMeso › Australian doctor researching radiotherapy for treatment of pleural mesothelioma

MyMeso has a Facebook page, and I invite you to join us. You can visit our page here: http://tinyurl.com/ydl5xhd

Our good friend Debbie Brewer in the UK is online on Facebook. Just search for her name and you’ll come to her profile. She recently has started a Facebook fan page for Dr. Thomas Vogl, the groundbreaking researcher who is pioneering chemoembolization as a treatment for mesothelioma. Those familiar with Debbie’s story know that she has had great success with chemoembolization under Dr. Vogl’s care. You can visit his page here:  http://tinyurl.com/yeq5969

There also is a group set up to honor Debbie herself! You can find it by clicking this link: http://tinyurl.com/ychey9g

There is a special event planned for this Friday, Jan. 15, to celebrate Debbie, as well. “Raise a Glass to Debbie” asks everyone to raise a toast in honor of Debbie’s work as an activist for mesothelioma awareness and the fight for a cure. The event will occur between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. and it doesn’t matter where in the world you are – the UK, the U.S., Australia, or any point on the globe – just join in!

There are so many wonderful support groups on Facebook. Two of these that my regular readers know I talk about a lot are the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) (find them here: http://tinyurl.com/ybhmn9j) and the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (http://tinyurl.com/ybv2uut).

SOURCE: myMeso › Facebook spreading mesothelioma awareness

Here is a sample Facebook and Twitter message the ADAO is asking you to post. Ask your friends to re-Tweet, too!

Asbestos is a carcinogen. Ban asbestos now. Send your Congressional Representatives a letter from www.banasbestos.us. Please RT!

Mesothelioma and other asbestos-releated diseases are preventable! Raise awareness and help eliminate this deadly substance in the U.S.!

SOURCE: myMeso › Tweet for asbestos ban!

ADAO has dedictated its National Asbestos Awareness Resource to the memory of June Breit, who is well known in the mesothelioma community, and who recently lost her battle with the disease, as well as to the thousands of other victims “silenced by asbestos.”

According to the information on the resource page, “Asbestos can cause cancer and irreversible lung damage. Asbestos has no warning properties — you can’t see it smell it or taste it. Avoid asbestos exposure, and consult the CPSC, EPA, NIOSH, ILO and WHO guidelines, regulations and laws.”

The resource page also includes information from a statement issued by Acting Surgeon General Steven K. Long in April, in commemoration of Asbestos Awareness Day, which outlines the health hazards of asbestos and which urges Americans to become more aware of these dangers and to protect themselves from asbestos exposure.

The ADAO is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to serve as the united voice for all asbestos victims, to unite asbestos victims and educate the public and medical community about asbestos-related disease, to support research that leads to early detection, prevention and a cure; to ensure equitable compensation for victims and their families, and to ban the use of asbestos.

For more information and to participate in this awareness outreach effort, please visit the National Asbestos Awareness Resource page today, and make use of the many tools available there!

SOURCE: myMeso › ADAO Bulletin calls for more urgency in fight to ban asbestos