Mesothelioma clinical trials play a vital role in improving medical treatments for patients

Your prognosis is dependent on the clinical trials being conducted today. Directly they represent the best hope we have for new information on how to fight mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. For decades, companies exposed people to asbestos knowing that in time it would make them sick. In the United States, 43,073 people have died from asbestos exposure (ewg.org).

Mesothelioma begins to develop at least 20 years after asbestos exposure. It is usually detected in the late stages, and the survival time is an average of 1 year. This is why the United States is continuously funding clinical trials of new treatments and medication in an attempt to ease the suffering of so many patients, and perhaps, one day, find a cure.

Weitz & Luxenberg would like to provide you with helpful information and resources concerning clinical trials for mesothelioma. We would also like to let you know that you do have legal options concerning financial compensation for your losses. There are funds available that can cover your medical expenses, pain and suffering, clinical trials, and costs not covered by insurance such as relocation. For a free consultation on your legal options, simply fill out the form on this page.

What are “clinical trials”?

Clinical trials test new treatments—often referred to as “investigational” or “experimental” drugs because they have not yet been approved by the FDA—for people with a specific illness. All potential medications and protocols go through clinical trials before they are considered safe or effective for the general public.

Mesothelioma clinical trials can offer enormous benefits since the cancer is aggressive and patients cannot afford to wait until the approval of a drug is complete. In these trials, mesothelioma patients gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available. They also obtain expert medical care at leading health care facilities. Patients can personally benefit from their participation and, at the same time, help contribute to more effective mesothelioma treatment for future patients.

There are three phases to mesothelioma clinical trials:

• Phase I trials enroll a limited number of people and normally seek to determine the correct dosage and relative safety of a particular drug therapy.
• Phase II trials enroll more people and are used to determine if the new drug actually works against the existing health problem.
• Phase III trials are the final phase before a drug is approved for use in the general public. During this phase, the new drug is compared against the traditional “gold standard” treatment. The goal during this phase is to prove that the new drug is more effective.

Where can I find clinical trials?

Those interested in participating in mesothelioma clinical trials should consult their doctor as soon as possible after receiving a diagnosis. Top mesothelioma doctors have access to all upcoming and current clinical trials, and can also help determine if a patient qualifies.

Your physician may be affiliated with one of the large metropolitan hospitals where mesothelioma clinical trials typically take place. If travel expenses are an issue, it will be important to know if the program involves in-patient or out-patient procedures. It is important to note that financial compensation through a lawsuit can help cover travel expenses necessary in your treatment.

A great resource to check with periodically is the website ClinicalTrials.gov. This service is funded by the US National Institutes of Health, and they can provide you with helpful information about the latest clinical trials including:

• What they are looking for
• Who to contact
• What is involved in the trial
• The status of the trial – this is indicated, for example, by the word “Recruiting” in green, which means that they are currently accepting patients to participate in the study. The trial may also say “Completed,” which indicates that the trial is over and is not looking for people; or the status may be “Active, not recruiting,” which means that the trial is still being conducted, but they already have the people they need.

Click on this link for more information on the current mesothelioma clinical trials: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=%22malignant+mesothelioma%22&pg=2

There are a variety of other resources online, as well. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has a comprehensive listing at www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials with over 8,000 clinical trials currently accepting participants.

Weitz & Luxenberg can help you with the financial aspect

Weitz & Luxenberg is a highly skilled and experienced law firm with a history of successful verdicts concerning asbestos-related illnesses. We understand that fighting mesothelioma is a huge burden, but financial compensation can help ease some of that burden. Weitz & Luxenberg has been helping men and women with mesothelioma receive monetary compensation for over two decades, and we may be able to help you, as well.

To get started, fill out the form on this page. This will help us understand your case better. After submitting the form, a representative of Weitz & Luxenberg will be in touch with you within 24 hours to provide you with a free, no obligation, legal consultation.

Sources:

http://www.ewg.org/sites/asbestos/maps/government_data.php

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=%22malignant+mesothelioma%22&pg=2

www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials