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Your message to us will be held in strict confidence. All requests for information by mesothelioma patients and their family members will be answered within 24 hours. Mesothelioma Treatment and Care Guides are sent to mesothelioma patients and families by overnight delivery.

National Cancer Survivors Day: Celebrating Mesothelioma Survivors

cancer survivorAs summer approaches, we are reminded that the first Sunday in June is the official National Cancer Survivor Day. This year the 29th annual day is scheduled for Sunday June 5th. According to the website National Cancer Survivors Day, www.ncsd.org, a “‘survivor’ is anyone living with a history of cancer- from moment of diagnosis through the remainder of life.” The number of people who have had cancer has risen from 3 million in 1971 to 14.5 million today according to the American Cancer Society and National Cancer Society.  In the United States 86% of all cancers are diagnosed in people 50 years of age or older. Approximately 15% all cancers were diagnosed 20 years ago and more than half of cancer survivors are older than 65 years of age. The 5 year survival rate for all cancers diagnosed during 2005-2011 was 69% up from 49% during 1975- 1977, according to www.cancer.org. The great news according to the American Cancer Society is that cancer rates are dropping and survivorship is growing. This statistic is based upon better treatments, along with better and quicker detection.

National Cancer Survivor is designed to be a day to celebrate life. “National Cancer Survivors Day is a celebration for those who have survived, an inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and an outreach to the community.” www.ncsd.org

Surviving mesothelioma is a big challenge. If you have been diagnosed or living with mesothelioma, this is your day to recognize all that you and your family have been through. You have worked hard to get to this point. If you look around you can find people who are living and going on with life after this diagnosis. There will be celebrations throughout communities, hospitals and local medical centers. This is a celebration to let people know how rewarding life can be after battling a cancer diagnosis.

As much as we study the cancer diagnosis we are aware that cancer has its effects on patients physically and mentally. As cancer survivorship increases so does the support and education to obtain a healthy lifestyle. There are many support groups that help with living life after cancer and its treatment.

Celebrate how far mesothelioma research has come and how nice it is to be a survivor on the first Sunday of June!

– Lisa

Mesothelioma Recurrence: Continuing to Fight and Finding Hope

“We cannot wait two months, it will be too late.”

I was taken aback when I heard my patient tell me that was what the oncologist told her.   She was supposed to be cancer-free and now her lymph nodes are positive.

Mesothelioma recurrence is very difficult to avoid even after the most aggressive surgery. Recurrence happens because the mesothelioma tumor is located so close to vital organs.

At this time, physicians can only offer hope by delaying mesothelioma recurrence and keeping the mesothelioma under control.

My patient, Mary, thought she would have to have chemo, but so quick? Some days she felt like she was going to beat this and other days she felt like she got hit with a brick. After a month of chemo, she says her appetite is improving but not where it is supposed to be.

The part that is so scary is what if she waited or was not up to it. Will that god-awful tumor grow back? She just got rid of a large tumor that encapsulated her left chest. Her surgeon removed her lung diaphragm and reconstructed her pericardium. It really does not seem fair. Chemotherapy once every 3 weeks for 12 weeks- a total of 4 cycles.

Another issue is what will the chemo do to her body. She is a young woman of childbearing age. The oncologist explained that she may want to freeze her eggs for a later date when she would like to possibly have a child. So much to think about!

She is not thinking about children but now she is forced to consider this and other issues.

It makes her reflect upon her life.

Where is this all going to go? When is the treatment going to end? When will she be back to herself?

Fortunately, she has goals and would like to go school. It is good to have a focus about what lays ahead. Yes, we know any kind of treatment is not easy but the flipside is treatment will allow her to live her life.

Although this is a difficult disease to treat, as professionals, we remain hopeful. Nothing is more rewarding than having a group of patients come to clinic for follow up and not one patient has evidence of recurrence. Another reward is when we visit someone after discharge and see them living their life.

It is the little things that give hope. The idea that patients are able to move forward with their life is inspiring for us to fight this disease.

– Lisa

Mesothelioma Specialist Spotlight – Dr. Raphael Bueno

Dr. Raphael Bueno, Boston, BWH

bueno-2014If you go on the Internet and “Google” Dr. Raphael Bueno of Boston, you will find a host of bios and accomplishments. But Since Ellie and I have worked with him for years we would like to give an informal perspective prior to you reading all that he has established and accomplished. We both knew him as a young resident. As I remember he was always on top of his patients’ needs and their issues. He could remember the smallest details about his patients and always tried to provide the best medical care he could. These qualities are not easy in the stressful life of a young intern in a very competitive environment. He stood out as one of the brightest, interested, and, most importantly, compassionate resident.   As he progressed through his career as a young doctor he was very patient with other patients and professionals. He gave patients time to speak to him about their worries and concerns. About ten years ago I remember him caring for a particular patient who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. It was a particularly busy time on the thoracic service, many sick patients and concerned family members. He would sit at his bedside and talk about life. Sometimes it was about the disease or just whatever the patient wanted to talk about. These are qualities that cannot be taught.

As a member of the medical team he is very well respected and offers the same to others. His colleagues know how committed he is to treating this disease and helping patient outcomes improve. If he is in Boston it usually is part of his routine to stop by and see each of his patients daily. If he is traveling there are usually phone calls from his fellow giving updates as needed. He checks with the patient and the nurses and listens openly. If there are issues to be resolved then he tries to offer solutions. If you need surgery and were to pick a surgeon this would be a great choice.   He is very invested and will work to give you the best care and outcome possible.

Dr. Bueno is the chief of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and Harvard University. His residency was also done at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His thoracic fellowship was done across town at Mass General Hospital. After completing his fellowship he returned back to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in 1996 as an attending physician in the thoracic division. His most recent studies of mesothelioma involve the genetics of the tumor and the makeup of the disease. He has a wide variety of interests in the thoracic field, which include mesothelioma, lung cancer and esophageal disorders and minimally invasive surgery. He is very involved with the research of mesothelioma and how we can treat this disease. Dr. Bueno was awarded Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School in 2011. He also is board certified as a surgeon and critical care. Along with his many accomplishments he continues to passionately pursue better treatment option leading ultimately to a cure for mesothelioma.

 

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Your message to us will be held in strict confidence. All requests for information by mesothelioma patients and their family members will be answered within 24 hours. Mesothelioma Treatment and Care Guides are sent to mesothelioma patients and families by overnight delivery.

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