Hall of Fame football player, broadcaster and actor Merlin Olsen has died at age 69 of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of lung cancer. Olsen was a member of the “Fearsome Foursome” of the Los Angeles Rams, and was selected to 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, a tie with Bruce Matthews for the longest streak in league history. In 1992, Olsen was inducted into the Hall of Fame. As his football career ended, Olsen became an actor, with appearances on shows like “Little House on the Prairie” and “Father Murphy” as well as acting as a spokesman for FTD Group Inc.’s flower commercials. Furthermore, he was an avid college football commentator – Olsen was the voice of college football’s Rose Bowl from 1980 until 1988. Olsen began chemotherapy after his initial diagnosis in 2009. Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos that attacks the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. Although rare, mesothelioma patients often have a grim prognosis. Mesothelioma can take upwards of 30 to 40 years to manifest, which makes it difficult to ascertain when the initial exposure occur. The World Health Organization has identified asbestos as a dangerous carcinogen, in which there are no safe levels of exposure. Ban Asbestos and other organizations are currently seeking a worldwide ban of the asbestos in all capacities, however it is a popular construction material in developing countries. In the United States, it can still be found in products in quantities of less than 1 percent. Olsen claims he was exposed to asbestos as young as 10 or 11 years old in a mesothelioma lawsuit he filed in 2010. He also stated he may have been exposed while working in the construction industry while in high school and college. Many lawsuits have been filed against companies that did not warn individuals of the risks of exposure as far back as 50 years ago, including Olsen’s lawsuit. Due to the hazardous nature of the fibrous substance, a licensed contractor is required by law in the United States to remove asbestos. The often time-consuming process is necessary to prevent civilians from exposure. Because asbestos was a common construction fiber, many older buildings may be contaminated, unbeknownst to its occupants. Olsen’s fame has brought the threat of mesothelioma into the media spotlight, as many individuals may be unknowingly exposed. Contact your local health department if you suspect asbestos contamination, but do not try to remove material.
Posts Tagged ‘mesothelioma’
Football Legend Succumbs To Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
Posted in Chemotherapy Recovery 
Tags: CANCER, Football, Legend, Lung, mesothelioma, Succumbs 
Comments OffHow mesothelioma is different from lung cancer
Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that originates in the mesothelium which is the protective lining covering the internal organs of the body such as the lungs, heart and abdomen. The cells in these tissues get malignant when the individual inhales particles and fibers of asbestos over a long period of time. When these regions get affected, the areas become dry and tumours begin to grow around these organs. The most commonly detected kind of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. Of all the cases that are diagnosed with mesothelioma, 75% of them are pleural. The other two kinds are peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. The process of recovery is indeed a difficult one and requires the individual to have great will power, emotional and physical endurance, a healthy network of friends and relatives, a well experienced medical expert and the best medical facilities. Being well equipped about the disease is the basic that an individual needs to do once he is detected with mesothelioma. The disease is not easily noticeable in the earlier stages as it takes years for the symptoms to surface. The most common early symptoms are like those we associate with simpler disease like shortness of breath, abdominal pains and bowel problems. Most of the times these symptoms are not enough to diagnose mesothelioma and often patients get misdiagnosed as having a variety of respiratory problems. Once a patient has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a treatment can be suggested by the doctor and started immediately. However this recommendation depends on a number of factors – the stage of the disease, location of the tumour, physical state of the patient etc. The most commonly known reason for mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. In most cases asbestos fibers enter the body through the lungs thus causing the victim to incur lung cancer in the process. When they get inhaled via the respiratory tract, it is natural that the mesothelial cells around the lungs get infected and that is where the pleural mesothelioma begins from. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, the lungs are affected and there are usually four stages associated with the malignance. The stage can be deciphered with the help of tests and only the stage will allow the medical expert to advice with a suitable approach towards prognosis. Pain management is one of the most important things to be discussed at this stage with not only the patient but also his family. Along with the drug therapy, psychological assistance and epidural implants, sessions of self esteem have to be arranged for so the patient suffering from mesothelioma can handle with the trauma of the situation. There are many hospitals and medical experts who deal with patients of mesothelioma specially. Researchers are still trying to find solutions that are more reliable than the present ones for the purpose of curing this fatal disease. Till then, the only definite solution is to be able to rely on your self and believe that you can battle through your disease because the longer you strive to do so, the longer you will succeed.
Mesothelioma and Bidimensionally Measureable Lesions
Another interesting study is called, “Modified RECIST criteria for assessment of response in malignant pleural Mesothelioma” by M. J. Byrne and A. K. Nowak – Ann Oncol (2004) 15 (2): 257-260. Here is an excerpt: “Abstract – Background: The growth pattern of malignant pleural mesothelioma makes the use of RECIST (response evaluation criteria in solid tumours) response criteria difficult. We have developed and validated Modified RECIST criteria adapted to the growth pattern of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Patients and methods: We evaluated 73 patients from two clinical trials of cisplatin/gemcitabine chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Tumour thickness perpendicular to the chest wall or mediastinum was measured in two positions at three separate levels on thoracic CT scans. The sum of the six measurements defined a pleural unidimensional measure. Bidimensionally measureable lesions were measured unidimensionally as for RECIST. All measurements were added to obtain the total tumour measurement. A reduction of at least 30% on two occasions 4 weeks apart defined a partial response; an increase of 20% over the nadir measurement, progressive disease. The validity of the modified criteria was gauged by evaluating survival and pulmonary function. Results: Response according to these criteria predicted for superior survival (15.1 versus 8.9 months; P = 0.03) and forced vital capacity (FVC) increase during treatment (P <0.0001). A significant correlation between change in linear tumour measurement and FVC was seen (R = 0.63; P = 0.0001). Conclusion: These Modified RECIST criteria for tumour response correlate with survival and lung function and can be used to measure outcome in pleural mesothelioma.” Another interesting study is called, “Malignant mesothelioma: Ultrastructural distinction from adenocarcinoma” by Warhol, Michael J. M.D.; Hickey, William F. M.D.; Corson, Joseph M. M.D. – American Journal of Surgical Pathology June 1982 – Volume 6 – Issue 4. Here is an excerpt: “Abstract – Mesotheliomas and metastatic adenocarcinomas involving the pleura are frequently difficult to distinguish by light-microscopic and histochemical methods. In a double-blind study, we have compared ultrastructural features of 10 mesotheliomas of epithelial type and 10 adenocarcinomas from the lung, breast, and upper GI tract, i.e., sites known to give rise to metastases which mimic mesothelioma. Mesotheliomas were observed to have a significantly greater microvillus length/diameter ratio (LDR) than adenocarcinomas (p < 0.01) and more abundant intermediate filaments (p < 0.001). Mesotheliomas had more complex microvilli than adenocarcinomas, whereas adenocarcinomas had rootlets (2/10 cases) and lamellar inclusion bodies (2/10 cases), both of which were absent in the mesotheliomas. This study provides quantitative and qualitative ultrastructural features of potential utility in the differential diagnosis of pleural mesotheliomas and adenocarcinomas.” Another interesting study is called, “Randomized Phase III Study of Cisplatin With or Without Raltitrexed in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: An Intergroup Study of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Group and the National Cancer Institute of Canada” – Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 23, No 28 (October 1), 2005: pp. 6881-6889 – 2005 American Society of Clinical Oncology by Jan P. van Meerbeeck, Rabab Gaafar, Christian Manegold, Rob J. Van Klaveren, Eric A. Van Marck, Mark Vincent, Catherine Legrand, Andrew Bottomley, Channa Debruyne, Giuseppe Giaccone. Here is an excerpt: “ABSTRACT – PURPOSE: We conducted a phase III trial to determine whether first-line treatment with raltitrexed, a thymidine synthase inhibitor, and cisplatin results in superior outcome compared with cisplatin alone in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients with histologically proven advanced MPM, not pretreated with chemotherapy, WHO performance status (PS) 0 to 2, and adequate hematological, renal, and hepatic function were randomly assigned to receive cisplatin 80 mg/m2 IV on day 1, alone (arm A) or combined with raltitrexed 3 mg/m2 (arm B). In patients with measurable disease, response was monitored using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. Health related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and Lung Module (QLQ-LC13). RESULTS: Two hundred fifty patients were randomized: 80% male; median age, 58 years; and WHO PS, 0, 1, 2 in 25, 62, and 13% of cases, respectively. There were no toxic deaths. The main grade 3 or 4 toxicities observed were neutropenia and emesis, reported twice as often in the combination arm. Among 213 patients with measurable disease, response rate was 13.6% (arm A) versus 23.6% (arm B; P = .056). No difference in HRQOL was observed on any of the scales. Median overall and 1-year survival in arms A and B were 8.8 (95% CI, 7.8 to 10.8) v 11.4 months (95% CI, 10.1 to 15), respectively, and 40% v 46%, respectively (P = .048). CONCLUSION: A combination of raltitrexed and cisplatin improves overall survival compared with cisplatin alone. This study confirms that a combination of cisplatin and an antifolate is superior to cisplatin alone in patients with MPM, without harmful effect on HRQOL.” We all owe a debt of gratitude to these fine researchers. If you found any of these excerpts interesting, please read the studies in their entirety.
Posted in Chemotherapy Recovery Tags: Bidimensionally, lesions, Measureable, mesothelioma Comments Off