medical
Surviving with Mesothelioma
A new study published this month in the Journal of Surgical Oncology looked at survival rates for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma. It is important to note that the study covers the period from 1992 to 2015, before treatment with immunotherapy started to become available. It also looked at patients in the US, whose access…
Read MoreIntroducing “Your Health Companion”
Catherine Fensom, Integration Director, Your Health Companion My name is Catherine Fensom. I am a senior oncology nurse, with a wealth of experience delivering first-class cancer services. Having qualified as a nurse in 1997, I have held several different oncology roles working for both East Cheshire NHS Trust and The Christie Foundation NHS Trust. Through…
Read MoreNew Carers and Friends’ Support Group
We are pleased to announce our new Mesothelioma Support Group for Carers, relatives and friends. This will start on Monday 23 January. It will meet from 11 – 12.30 in Birmingham. Previously we have run some on-line support but this is our first venture into face-to-face meetings. Please note, the new group is ONLY for carers,/relatives…
Read MoreMesothelioma Support Group January 2023
The Central England Mesothelioma Support Group, which we run jointly with Mesothelioma UK, will meet next on Monday 9 January 2023 from 11 – 12.30. If you are a patient or carer you can join us face to face at the fabulously warm offices of Irwin Mitchell. You can also join us virtually via Microsoft…
Read MoreWhat the focus group said about pleural thickening and asbestosis
Feedback from the regional meeting for people with pleural thickening and asbestosis Patients feel their questions, about how their disease might progress, are often left unanswered. Patients would like to see more research into whether or not there is a significant risk that people with other asbestos related diseases will go on to develop mesothelioma.…
Read MoreCoughs in Mesothelioma
Kate Slaven, the Mesothelioma Nurse based at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, is conducting a study on Cough in Mesothelioma. Kate is looking for patients or carers to help her with this. To volunteer you have to be a patient yourself, or someone who has cared for a patient, who is age 18 or above has…
Read MoreBusting the myths about palliative care
The Mesothelioma UK Research Centre at the University of Sheffield has produced an animation aimed at people with mesothelioma and their families. It will also be of interest to anyone who is becoming progressively disabled by an asbestos related disease. It looks at common misconceptions about palliative care. In particular, it aims to dispel the…
Read MoreIpi/Nivo Immunotherpay Approved by NICE
A year on from its first committee meeting to consider this, NICE has finally approved immunotherapy combining Nivolumab and Ipilimumab for the first line treatment of mesothelioma by the NHS. This treatment is commonly known as Ipi/Nivo. NICE is the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. What’s the best treatment? Patients often regard immunotherapy…
Read MoreIf you have asbestosis , pleural thickening or pleural plaques, we want to hear from you!
Dr Gareth Walters, Clinical Director of the Birmingham Regional NHS Occupational Lung Disease Service (hosted by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust) is looking for patients with the following asbestos related conditions: Pleural plaques Visceral Pleural thickening Asbestos pleurisy Asbestosis to talk about their thoughts, beliefs and experiences on living with asbestos related disease, and…
Read MoreMy journey with mesothelioma
I first went to my doctors’ in October 2018. I was told that my breathlessness on walking uphill was normal for my age. But in February 2019 an x-ray revealed fluid on my left lung. Three months later I had the fluid removed in the Royal Stoke Hospital. A biopsy confirmed my diagnosis of mesothelioma.…
Read More