Malignant mesothelioma is an insidious neoplasm arising from the mesotelial surfaces, of the pleural and peritoneal cavities, the tunica vaginalis, or the pericardium.

From a histological standpoint there are hundreds of different cancers, which are grouped into five major categories: carcinoma, sarcoma, myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma. Most cases of cancer are carcinomas – lung cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer. And mesothelioma is also a carcinoma. Cancers that develop on the epithelial tissue, which is the lining of organs and cavities, are called carcinomas.

Individuals diagnosed with cancer are naturally concerned about their future prospects. A prognosis helps predict the probable course and outcome of a specific disease, that is, whether the patient will make a full recovery or will experience a relapse (the recurrence of cancer). More on mesothelioma prognosis.

A Pill Card for keeping track of your meds

This is a Microsoft Word document developed at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. We like it.

Cancer and bacteria

Many experts say that germs have the ability to make the body adjust and learn about the fighting back mechanism against tumors.

Access to Investigational Drugs

During the approval process, the FDA classifies as "priority" those treatments that offer significant medical advances over existing therapies. But even in non-priority cases, the FDA's goal is that no more than 10 months will pass between when a complete application is submitted and the FDA has finished its review, either approving the drug or biologic, or providing the sponsor with a complete list of the issues that need to be addressed. The process is not always smooth, however. Sometimes the FDA requests (or the FDA's advisory panel recommends) additional research or data. Some new approvals have taken as little as 42 days from the time the last part of the BLA/NDA is received; other more difficult applications have spent years in the approval process.

A Reading List for People Living With Chemotherapy

Some recommended books and websites for people undergoing chemotherapy and their families.

Off-Label Drugs for Chemotherapy

Off-label use refers to the use of an approved treatment for any purpose, or in any manner, other than what is described in the treatment's labeling.

Brown Bagging Chemotherapy Drugs

An insurance company finds an inexpensive wholesale supplier of chemotherapy drugs, has the supplier ship the drugs to pharmacies near the company's subscribers, and requires its subscribers to pick up the drugs themselves and take them to their oncologist's office in a "brown bag" for infusion.

MedlinePlus tutorial on chemotherapy

News

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This website is sponsored by Jonathan David* of The David Law Firm. The David Law Firm is located in The Woodlands, Texas (Greater Houston Area) and can be reached toll free at 1-800-998-9729 for more information on mesothelioma. Jonathan David is not a medical doctor. The information on these pages is for the education of mesothelioma patients and their families regarding potential medical and legal options. Patients are advised to consult with a medical doctor.

*  Licensed by the Supreme Court  of Texas.

The use of chemotherapy in patients with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma: a clinical practice guideline.

Advances in the systemic therapy of malignant pleural mesothelioma

Kinase Inhibitors for Mesothelioma Treatment

journal abstracts

A Clinicopathological Prognostic Index for Malignant Mesothelioma of the Pleural

The second wave in kinase cancer drugs

Modeling mesothelioma risk associated with environemntal asbestos exposure

Vinorelbine for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma