Man with Mesothelioma Possibly Cured Through Early Detection

In an effort to survive for himself, his children, and his wife, Stephen Bolon has fought mesothelioma cancer for the last two years even with all odds against him.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos. Exposure most often occurs when asbestos-containing materials become damaged or disturbed and the small, toxic fibers of asbestos break off and are inhaled or ingested.

When this happens, the fibers typically lodge themselves in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, causing pleural mesothelioma. However, other areas that are susceptible to contract the disease include the lining of the heart and abdomen.

Unfortunately with mesothelioma, the majority of patients are diagnosed when the disease has already reached an advanced stage of development. This often presents many challenges for doctors trying to treat and remove the cancer because treatment options are very limited with.

Though patients are usually relieved after receiving mesothelioma treatment, many of them are also saddened because they know the therapy they received is more palliative than it is curative. However, Bolon has good reason to be happy, as he may be the first person in Australia to be cured of malignant mesothelioma.

According to Deborah Yates, who is a respiratory physician at Sydney’s St. Vincent’s Hospital, mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, and once it’s discovered, it’s usually too late for meaningful treatment. But with the latest breakthrough in treatment, Bolon, at the age of 54, has so far defeated the cancer.

A biopsy originally reported cancer wasn’t present in his lungs at all, but a soluble mesothelin-related peptide that measured raised levels in his body told doctors otherwise.

Bolon immediately entered the hospital for surgery to remove his right lung, pleura, part of his pericardium, and part of his diaphragm. After radiotherapy and a waiting period of two years, Bolon is still healthy and cancer free.

Dr. Yates says, “We are very cautiously excited. We see so many people dying from mesothelioma and it would be wonderful if this works, it really would.”

Australia is currently at the forefront of research into mesothelioma because the country has the highest rates of asbestos-related disease in the world.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 24th, 2008 at 3:33 pm and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.