Fresh hope for people with mesothelioma

Home » News & Knowledge » Mesothelioma: Fresh hope for people with asbestos-related cancer as clinical trial launched

People with asbestos-related cancers could be offered new hope after the launch of a clinical trial which aims to cure the disease.

Sponsored by RS Oncology, the MITOPE trial could lead to a new treatment for mesothelioma – a cancer which is usually caused after inhaling asbestos fibres and can take more than 40 years to develop.

Fresh Hope

At present, there is no cure readily available for people living with mesothelioma, but this clinical trial provides hope for those living with this debilitating condition. The new treatment will use RSO-021, which is a targeted drug to selectively kill malignant cells while sparing healthy ones.

Professor Kevin Blyth, of the University of Glasgow, who leads the Predict-Meso network which aims to develop treatments for mesothelioma, said:

“The dark legacy of asbestos has had a long and painful impact on the people of Glasgow and the west coast of Scotland where incidence rates of mesothelioma are significantly higher than the Scottish average.

“Mesothelioma is a particularly difficult cancer to treat so we are hopeful that this trial, if successful, could offer a new effective treatment option for patients here in Scotland and across the UK

“We are also hoping to develop similar trials involving direct treatment into the pleural space through our Cancer Research UK-funded network.”

According to statistics from Public Health England, only around four in 10 people (44.3%) who are diagnosed with mesothelioma in Scotland survive their disease for one year or more.

RS Oncology CEO Jarrett Duncan said:

“RSO-021 is an exciting, novel, anti-cancer treatment that can potentially help a global population of cancer patients who are left with little to no options.

“Commencing the phase two portion of our trial presents a major milestone for patients and their caregivers.”

Many people contract mesothelioma years after unknowingly inhaling asbestos fibres at work. However, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos-related illness due to your past or present employment, you may be entitled to claim compensation.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of asbestos-related cancer affecting the pleura (lining of the lung) but can also be found in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneal) or the lining around the heart (pericardial).

Statistics show that more than 2,700 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the UK and most cases are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over.

What causes Mesothelioma?

Asbestos exposure is almost always the cause of Mesothelioma. Asbestos was used as a common building material in the UK between the 1930s and the 1980s and was often mixed into cement, roofing felt, texture walls, ceiling coverings and floor tiles, and used on roofs, gutters and window seals and to lag or insulate boilers and pipes.

However, it was later found that if inhaled, the tiny particles can cause cancers. However, asbestos remains in many buildings today, and if disturbed – for example, during DIY or when it is damaged, it can pose a huge risk.

People working in industries such as construction, painters or building inspectors may be at highest risk if they come into contact with asbestos.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

It usually takes many years for symptoms of mesothelioma to develop – with it commonly taking up to two decades after exposure. Some common symptoms include the following:

Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
A high temperature and sweating, particularly at night
A persistent cough
Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
Clubbed (swollen) fingertips

Symptoms of mesothelioma in the lining of the stomach include:

Stomach pain or swelling
Feeling or being sick
Loss of appetite and unexplained weight loss
Diarrhoea or constipation

Mesothelioma how long after exposure will symptoms develop?

It usually takes around 20 years after exposure for symptoms to develop.

How to get tested for Mesothelioma

If you have signs and symptoms of mesothelioma, you should contact your healthcare provider.

A doctor will conduct a physical exam to check for any lumps or other unusual signs and may order imaging scans, such as a chest X-ray and a computerized tomography (CT) scan of your chest or abdomen, to look for abnormalities.

What jobs are at the highest risk of Mesothelioma?

People working in industries such as construction, building, demolition, painting and decorating, factory workers, firefighters and ship workers may be at risk.

How much compensation for Mesothelioma?

If you have developed Mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at work, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the damages.

Employers have had a legal duty to reduce and prevent exposure to asbestos since the early 1900s, and employers are under a duty of care to ensure their employees are not put at any foreseeable risk as far as practicable.

The amount of compensation you are awarded will solely be depending on the issues which are medically associated with your asbestos exposure at work.

The claims range for these types of cases can be from a few thousand pounds to hundreds of thousands of pounds.

How to make a Mesothelioma claim

If you have read the above and feel that you may be suffering from any of the symptoms whilst exposed to substances at work, call Oakwood Solicitors to speak to a member of our dedicated Industrial Disease team.

To run the majority of personal injury claims, you have to have started the claim within three years of the injury. However, with industrial disease claims it may be that the injury started over some time and was only diagnosed within the last three years. We will be able to clarify this for you.

Mesothelioma: Fresh hope for people with asbestos-related cancer as clinical trial launched