Chemotherapy and other treatments for mesothelioma can lead to debilitating side effects such as pain, nausea and fatigue. But patients often suffer in silence with their symptoms which, when left untreated, can lead to severe complications, and even death. Now, researchers say it does not need to be that way, and, in fact, by opening up to their physicians, patients can improve their quality of life and their survival.
Researchers from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center followed 766 advanced cancer patients undergoing care at the Center, according to a June 4 report from ABC News. Hoping to catch issues before they became severe, researchers gave some of the patients access to an online tool to report to their medical team weekly, or more often if they experienced unusual or severe symptoms. The patients self-reported information on 12 common symptoms including appetite loss, diarrhea, shortness of breath, fatigue and pain.
After just six months, the patients in the online reporting group had an improved health-related quality of life and fewer trips to the emergency room. In addition, overall, they stuck with the chemotherapy treatment two months longer, eight months as opposed to six months in the non-online group.
Surprising even the researchers, median survival of the patients in the online group was nearly six months longer at 31 months versus 26 months for the control group. Researchers believe the survival was tied to early responsiveness to patients symptoms that prevented adverse downstream consequences and increased tolerance to chemotherapy allowing them to continue on the treatment beyond usual care.
I was floored by the results, said the study lead, Dr. Ethan Basch, a researcher at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. We are proactively catching things early.
When a patient reported a concerning health issue, a nurse responded immediately almost 80 percent of the time. They would get the patient prescription medications, or appropriate care, to handle their specific issues. The tool gave the patients an easy way to report issues without struggling to get through to their doctor or wait for their next appointment.
The researchers concluded, Electronic patient-reported symptom monitoring may be considered for implementation as a part of high-quality cancer care. They now plan to launch a larger study to test the online reporting system nationwide.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed in approximately 3,000 Americans each year. Although treatments increase survival, countless mesothelioma patients have said the treatment is worse than the disease. That is not necessarily the case, and patients should not hesitate to reach out to their medical team to help alleviate some of their side effects.
Results of the study were presented at the 2017 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago. Find the full study in the June 4 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association.
Nancy is a blog and content writer with more than 20 years of professional experience. Nancy has been writing about mesothelioma and cancer for close to eight years.
Originally posted here:
- Diagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma with Lung Fluid: The Battle of the Biomarkers - Surviving Mesothelioma - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Republican Health Care Bill Includes Asbestos Exposure Funding for Libby Residents - Mesothelioma.com - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Pembrolizumab shows promise in treatment of mesothelioma - Science Daily - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Veterans with Mesothelioma Benefit from Telephone Triage - Asbestos.com - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Survival Rates Slowly Improving - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Understanding Mesothelioma Caregiver Styles - Asbestos.com (blog) - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients Turn to Cannabis - AlterNet - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma | Overview, Treatment Options and Survivor Stories - March 24th, 2017 [March 24th, 2017]
- Accelerated Approval Granted to Drug in Mesothelioma Research Pipeline - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- New Study Affirms Mesothelioma Survival Benefit with Post-Surgical IMRT, According to Surviving Mesothelioma - Benzinga - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- The Key to Mesothelioma Treatment Success with Immunotherapy - Surviving Mesothelioma - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- New Evidence Supports Post-Surgical IMRT for Mesothelioma Treatment - Surviving Mesothelioma - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Shorter Mesothelioma Survival Linked to High Platelet Count - Asbestos.com - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Appeals to All Diagnosed ... - Yahoo Finance - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Early research suggests first immunotherapy for mesothelioma on the horizon - Medical Xpress - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo, Yervoy put the brakes on mesothelioma in phase 2 - FiercePharma - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Methanol from African Plants Kills Mesothelioma Cells - Asbestos.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients to be Celebrated on National Cancer Survivor's Day - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- IO Strategy In Mesothelioma Finally Gets Mapped Out | Seeking Alpha - Seeking Alpha - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- New Blood Test Could Mean Earlier Mesothelioma Diagnosis - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Using Viruses to Boost Mesothelioma Immunotherapy - Asbestos.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Resilience Can Help Mesothelioma Patients and Their Families ... - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Janet Stanton Schnitzer Remembers Her Father's Mesothelioma Battle - Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center (blog) - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Treating Mesothelioma: A rare, aggressive caner - ABC2 News - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawsuits: What to Expect | Nolo.com - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Roofer/Insulator With Mesothelioma to Call About Why It Is Necessary to ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients May Have Another Treatment Option With FDA Expanded-Use Approval of Lung Cancer Drug - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- A Breath Test for Mesothelioma? - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Cancer: 12 Essential Facts - Asbestos News - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma - NHS Choices - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- 15-year Mesothelioma Survivor Living Life By Design - Asbestos.com (blog) - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Cancer Overview | Experienced Lawyers Here to Help - June 11th, 2017 [June 11th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Diagnosed Machinist to Call for Direct Access to Journeyman-Level ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- Honeywell Fails in Appeal Against Mesothelioma Verdict - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 12th, 2017 [June 12th, 2017]
- What is Mesothelioma? | Surviving Mesothelioma - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- Cases of Pleural Mesothelioma - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 13th, 2017 [June 13th, 2017]
- The Importance of Cancer Research in Immunotherapy - Mesothelioma.com (blog) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Hopes High for Mesothelioma Immunotherapy Treatment ... - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Asbestos Sprayers Face Higher Lifetime Mesothelioma Risk ... - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Remembering Loved Ones Lost to Mesothelioma, Looking Forward to Progress in Treatment - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 14th, 2017 [June 14th, 2017]
- Chicago Public Schools Ignoring Asbestos Problem - Mesothelioma.com - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Length of Time Between Surgeries a Marker for Mesothelioma Survival - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Survivor Deals with Pain 15 Years After Surgery - Asbestos.com (blog) - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Nivolumab and Ipillimumab Show Promise in Treating Mesothelioma Recurrence - Mesothelioma.com - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients Should Heed FDA Warnings Regarding Miracle Cures - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 16th, 2017 [June 16th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Patients May Benefit from Marijuana Research - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- The Challenges of Research in Immunotherapy - Mesothelioma.com (blog) - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Despite Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Dad Loved Father's Day - Asbestos.com (blog) - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- I Want to Keep Writing About Mesothelioma and My Family's Journey Because It Matters - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Opens with High Expectations - Asbestos.com - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- Cediranib May be Safe Supplement to Mesothelioma Treatment - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 17th, 2017 [June 17th, 2017]
- New Trial Finds VEGF-Inhibitor May Safely Boost Mesothelioma ... - Benzinga - June 18th, 2017 [June 18th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Symptoms - Identify Early Warning Signs - June 18th, 2017 [June 18th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Diagnosed Construction Worker or Plumber to Call for Instant Access to the ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Treatment May Benefit From New Discovery ... - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- The Influence of BAP1 on Mesothelioma Survival - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Clinical Trial to Assess If Radiation Therapy Can Bring Effective Relief from Mesothelioma Pain - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Asbestos Exposure Attorneys - Mesothelioma Lawsuits ... - June 20th, 2017 [June 20th, 2017]
- Can a Breath Test Diagnose Mesothelioma in the Early Stages? - Asbestos.com - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Compensation Center Now Urges an Electric Utility Worker or Electrician with Mesothelioma to Aim High ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Nurse Explains Mesothelioma Staging - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- 5 Questions: Treatment options exist for mesothelioma - Las Vegas Review-Journal - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Steve McQueen's Wife Pushes for Asbestos Ban - Mesothelioma.com - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Remembering Mesothelioma Victims in the UK - Mesothelioma.com (blog) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Peritoneal Cancer Index: What it Means for Mesothelioma Patients - Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center (blog) - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Risk Continues to Rise for Decades After Asbestos Exposure - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 21st, 2017 [June 21st, 2017]
- Nintedanib Combination Delayed Progression in Malignant Mesothelioma - Cancer Network - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Polish Study Confirms That Mesothelioma Risk Only Increases With ... - Mesothelioma.net Blog (blog) - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- The Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Diagnosed Navy ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 22nd, 2017 [June 22nd, 2017]
- Targeted Therapy May Soon be Primary Approach for Mesothelioma Treatment - MesotheliomaHelp.org (blog) - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Time Between Surgeries Helps Predict Mesothelioma Survival - Asbestos.com - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Testicular and Cardiac Mesothelioma - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Veterans Center - Access Benefits & VA Claims - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Malignant Mesothelioma (Asbestos Cancer) > The Mesothelioma ... - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Law Firm | Sokolove Law - June 23rd, 2017 [June 23rd, 2017]
- MicroRNAs May Be Key to Better Immunotherapy for Mesothelioma - Surviving Mesothelioma - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Survival Rate | Factors Affecting Survivorship - June 24th, 2017 [June 24th, 2017]
- Scientists "Turn Off" Tumor-Protecting Protein in New Mesothelioma Study, According to Surviving Mesothelioma - Benzinga - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Symptoms of Mesothelioma - Critical Signs to Watch For - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]
- Mesothelioma Victims Center Now Urges a Coal Miner with ... - PR Newswire (press release) - June 26th, 2017 [June 26th, 2017]