Diagnosising Desmoplastic Mesothelioma

If an X-ray or CT scan indicates signs that you indeed may have abdominal cancer, a biopsy is conducted, allowing the physician to determine the malignancy level.

To detect a desmoplastic variant of mesothelioma of the pleura and its association with asbestos exposure, autopsy analyses of fibrous pleurisy is necessary.

Although desmoplastic mesothelioma is a very rare form of mesothelioma, it is very aggressive compared to the basic form of the disease – epithelial mesothelioma. Not only can it infect tissue and organs, but it also has the ability attack parts of the body that are difficult to treat such as bone, muscle, cartilage, and fat.Thus it can be very difficult to diagnose, and is often misdiagnosed as benign fibrous tissue. Due to the aggressiveness and common misdiagnosis of desmoplastic mesothelioma, it is a very lethal and dangerous disease.

Survival Rates of Desmoplastic Mesothelioma

Desmoplastic mesothelioma survival rates are some of the worst, partly due to the problems associated with diagnosing the disease, but also the number of patients diagnosed with the disease each year is one of the smallest. Doctors advise to use the same mesothelioma diet programs in order to allow the immune system to help the drugs and other treatment methods towards curing the disease.

Treatments

Any Desmoplastic Mesothelioma cancer treatment is dependent of the stage of the cancer, location and sizes of any tumors and age and health of the patient. Desmoplastic mesothelioma patients respond to the same treatment methods that are used to cure the most common types of the disease:

1. Chemotherapy
2. Surgery
3. Radiation Therapy

Desmoplastic Malignant Mesothelioma is also known as a form of diffuse mesothelioma, and is only found in ten percent of diffuse mesothelioma cases. Because of the asbestos fibers, the pleura is affected, thickening itself and causing pleural effusion. This issue causes a lot of pain in the chest area for the desmoplastic mesothelioma patient. The build-up of fluid can be stopped by draining the excess liquid and treating the are with talc.

The primary purpose of filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is for compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of wages and injuries resulting from exposure to asbestos fibers and the development of mesothelioma. The situation in which you came in contact with asbestos is also important. Your employer will not be liable if he acted responsibly as your employer.

Attorneys taking mesothelioma cases often do so on a contingency basis. This means that they will collect their fees based on a percentage of any amount awarded as a result of the lawsuit. If there is no award, then they do not collect any fees. As a result, an attorney taking a mesothelioma case must feel strongly that there is a good chance of winning in order to invest the time and effort to file the lawsuit.

In the effort to obtain a favorable jury judgment for mesothelioma settlement, plaintiff attorneys must undertake exhausting and detailed investigation into the employment and health history records of every person included in the class action brief. Meanwhile, attorneys representing the defendant firm seek to eliminate any mesothelioma settlement financial liability by arguing that at the time of asbestos exposure there were no legal or environmental standards in effect, therefore there is no basis for “retroactive” punishment.

Jury awarded mesothelioma settlement typically reflects the rights and interests of American men and women who contributed to the World War II war production effort during the 1940s. As mesothelioma lawyer briefs argue, these workers typically performed construction and industrial jobs such as in shipbuilding or drywall where asbestos was regularly used in bonded form to piping and insulation materials. As asbestos related case law has moved forward, additional at-risk population segments are now participating in mesothelioma settlement awards

The amount recovered in a mesothelioma settlement is dependant on a number of factors, including the state in which you are filing suit

Studies of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients show that important prognostic factors include stage of cancer, age, and histology. Surgery improves the lifespan of the patient, even though it does not cure the disease. For patients treated with surgery, factors associated with improved long-term survival include epithelial histology, negative lymph nodes, and negative surgical margins. Nodal status is an important prognostic factor. Studies have shown the median survival of patients with malignant pleural disease is 16 months.

Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Surgery to remove a diseased lung, part of the pericardium (membrane covering the heart), part of the diaphragm (muscle between the lungs and the abdomen), and part of the parietal pleura (membrane lining the chest). Extrapleural pneumonectomy may improve survival, but its impact on long-term survival is unknown. Aggressive treatment help some people, but even experienced oncologists still aren’t sure which treatments provide the best benefits. It is likely that different patients do better with different therapies, which is why treatment plans are individualized. Combinations of treatments (e.g. surgery plus combination chemotherapy) are often employed.

Pleural mesothelioma Prognosis

Currently, the prognosis for those diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma is not good. Many patients die within six months of diagnosis, some last up to a year, but few survive much beyond that length of time. Clinical trials are constantly underway in hopes that a cure for the disease or a way to further prolong the life of a pleural mesothelioma sufferer will be discovered.

A mesothelioma lawyer can review additional expenses that could be covered under each claim, as each case varies. It is important to save all medical and financial records relating to asbestos-induced illness for this purpose. Aside from providing these types of documents and answering questions about how you may have been exposed to asbestos, you will not have to be involved with other stages of the case. Mesothelioma lawyers understand their clients may be too tired to deal with the details of filing a lawsuit or attending trial. For this reason, mesothelioma lawyers handle every aspect of the case.

You had a right to know that asbestos causes deadly diseases such as mesothelioma. Everyday, the mesothelioma attorneys defend the rights of mesothelioma victims in the courtroom and hold asbestos manufacturers and employers responsible for the overwhelming damage they have caused families such as yours. If you need help paying your medical bills and other losses, finding an attorney with trial experience is important to the outcome of your case. Throughout this site there are tips for choosing a mesothelioma lawyer.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. External beam
radiation therapy uses radiation delivered from outside the body that is focused
on the cancer. This type of radiation therapy is often used to treat mesothelioma.
These treatments are much like getting a diagnostic x-ray except for a longer time.

Brachytherapy involves radioactive material being placed directly into the chest or the abdomen at the site of the mesothelioma. Radiation therapy is sometimes used as the main treatment of mesothelioma in some patients, especially those whose general health is too poor to undergo surgery. Adjuvant radiation therapy can be used in addition to surgery to kill small deposits of cancer that cannot be seen and removed during surgery. Palliative radiation therapy can also be used to ease symptoms of mesothelioma such as shortness of breath, pain, bleeding, and difficulty swallowing.

Side effects of radiation therapy may include fatigue and mild skin changes that resemble a sunburn. Often these side effects are temporary. Radiation may also make the side effects of chemotherapy worse. Chest radiation therapy may cause lung damage and lead to difficulty breathing and shortness of breath. Abdominal radiation therapy may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you are having any of these side effects of radiation therapy, talk with your doctor since there are ways to help control these symptoms.

Surgery

Depending on the stage of a mesothelioma, surgery may be used to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue.
Often, however, an operation is not appropriate and the patient may have only
minimally invasive procedures to relieve symptoms. A thoracentesis, where fluid in
the chest is removed by placing a needle into the chest cavity, may be done to make
a patient more comfortable. Sometimes talc or an antibiotic may be injected into the
chest cavity to try to prevent the fluid from returning. These techniques are
successful in controlling the fluid, at least temporarily, in as many as 90% of
patients. Because pleural fluid can compress the lung and cause shortness of breath,
these procedures can help patients breathe more easily, however, they do not cure
the cancer. In the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, a needle may be inserted into
the abdomen to drain the fluid. Similarly, a needle inserted into the pericardium
(sac around the heart) can drain pericardial fluid and help relieve circulatory
problems. However, draining this fluid may result in complications. Sometimes the
cancer cells spread along the needle path, and a tumor nodule may form under the
skin of that area.

Surgery for mesothelioma may be performed for one of two reasons: for palliation
(to relieve pain and discomfort caused by the tumor), or to cure. Palliative
surgery is typically done in cases where the tumor has already spread beyond the
mesothelium and is difficult to completely remove, or in cases where the patient
is too ill to tolerate a more extensive operation. Curative surgery is offered when the patient is in otherwise good health and the tumor is thought to be localized and can be completely removed. Unfortunately, microscopic spread of cancer cells into the chest wall and diaphragm are common even when such spread cannot be detected by routine tests. Therefore, given the extent of these operations and their very limited success, the exact role of surgery in treating mesothelioma is often debated.

There are two types of operations that may be offered to patients with pleural mesothelioma: pleurectomy/decortication and extrapleural pneumonectomy. Pleurectomy/decortication is usually a palliative (relieves symptoms without curing the cancer) operation in cases where the entire tumor cannot be removed. It involves removal of the pleura, where the majority of the tumor is located. It is effective in controlling effusions (fluid accumulation) and decreasing the pain caused by the cancer.

Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a far more extensive operation and most often used in cases of localized mesothelioma. The operation is technically difficult and performed only by surgeons in large specialized medical centers. It involves removing the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium, and the whole lung on the side of the tumor. The patient must be in overall good health with no other serious illnesses in order to tolerate the large operation. This operation is intended to remove all or most of the cancer and some surrounding tissues as well.

Surgical treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma is often performed either to help relieve symptoms or to attempt to remove the tumor from the wall of the abdomen and other digestive organs. As with pleural mesothelioma, these tumors are often too extensive to remove completely. Similar operations can be performed to remove a mesothelioma from the pericardium (the sac around the heart).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of drugs for treating cancer. The drugs can be swallowed in pill form or they can be injected by a needle into a vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is systemic therapy. This means that the drug enters the bloodstream and circulates throughout the body (through the whole system) to reach and destroy the cancer cells.

In treating mesothelioma, these drugs may also be given intrapleurally (directly into the chest cavity), or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Depending on the type and stage of mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be given as the primary (main) treatment or as an adjuvant (addition) to surgery.

Several anticancer drugs have been used to treat mesothelioma. The drug most effective when given alone is doxorubicin (Adriamycin). Other drugs that may be given alone include cisplatin and methotrexate. These anticancer drugs are often given in combination to try to increase their effectiveness. Combinations of drugs used in the treatment of mesothelioma include methotrexate and vincristine; cisplatin, vinblastine and mitomycin; cisplatin and doxorubicin; and doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide (or ifosfamide) and cisplatin. Other drugs such as paclitaxel and irinotecan are currently being studied to determine their effectiveness in treating mesothelioma.

Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells but also damage some normal cells. Therefore, careful attention must be given to avoiding or minimizing side effects, which depend on the specific drugs, the amount taken, and the length of treatment. Temporary side effects might include nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, loss of hair, and mouth sores. Because chemotherapy can damage the blood-producing cells of the bone marrow, patients may have low blood cell counts. This can result in an increased risk of infection (due to a shortage of white blood cells), bleeding or bruising after minor cuts or injuries (due to a shortage of blood platelets), and fatigue or shortness of breath (due to low red blood cell counts).

Most side effects disappear once treatment is stopped. There are remedies for many of the temporary side effects of chemotherapy. For example, antiemetic drugs can be given to prevent or reduce nausea and vomiting. If you experience any side effects, be sure to talk with your doctor.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare disease affecting between 100 and 500 people in
the US. Its only known cause in the U.S. is previous exposure to asbestos, but
it can be many years after exposure before the disease appears. Peritoneal
mesotheliomas account for about one-fifth of all mesotheliomas.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to
asbestos. Early symptoms of mesotheliomas are not specific to the disease.
People often ignore them or mistake them for common, minor ailments.

When the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include
abdominal pains, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and
abdominal swelling. Fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space, a
condition known as ascites. Over time the wasting symptoms can become more and
more severe

Diagnosis

As with all mesotheliomas, the diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma can be
challenging. CT findings may help differentiate between the two clinical types
of peritoneal mesothelioma, termed “dry” or “wet”, since their appearances are
very different upon imaging. In the “dry” type, CT may reveal multiple small
masses or a single dominant localized mass. There is normally little or no
ascites. In the “wet” type, CT may reveal widespread small nodules, but no
dominant mass. Ascites is usually present.

Treating Peritoneal Mesothelioma

multimodality treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma has become more common
for a select patient population, since surgery alone and/or intraperitoneal
chemotherapy alone have proven to be similarly ineffective. Cytoreductive
(debulking) surgery involves the removal of all or nearly all visible tumor,
and, depending on the physician’s choice, may be combined with Intra-Peritoneal
Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC), intraperitoneal chemotherapy and/or radiation

The disease affects men 3 to 5 times more often than women. Mesothelioma is
less common in African Americans than in Caucasians. The average survival time
is about one year.
However early detection and aggressive treatment can increase this survival time.
50% of patients whose cancer was detected early reach 2 years. 20% reach 5 years.
Treatment is being improved and often results in a better outlook for newly
diagnosed patients. The 5-year survival rate refers to the percent of patients
who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed

What is Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of lung cancer that arises in the mesothelium.
Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon, but no longer rare, cancer that is difficult
to diagnose and poorly responsive to therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is the most
serious of all asbestos-related diseases.

What is the mesothelium

The mesothelium helps protect the organs by producing a special lubricating
fluid that allows organs to move around. For example, this fluid makes it
easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing.

Symptoms of mesothelioma cancer

Since mesothelioma takes a long time to develop inside a human body it is often
difficult to identify the symptoms. In the early stages there may not even be
any symptoms at all. When they do appear the most common early mesothelioma
symptoms are shortness of breath and chest pains. These symptoms on their own
will not usually identify the disease and are often misdiagnosed as asthma or
other respiratory problems like pneumonia.

Stages of malignant mesothelioma

Once malignant mesothelioma is found, more tests will be done to find out if
cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging.
A doctor needs to know the stage of the cancer to plan treatment. The following
stages are used for malignant mesothelioma.

Localized malignant mesothelioma

Stage I: The cancer is found in the lining of the chest cavity near the lung
and heart or in the diaphragm or the lung.

Advanced malignant mesothelioma

Stage II: The cancer has spread beyond the lining of the chest to lymph nodes in the chest.

Stage III: Cancer has spread into the chest wall, center of the chest, heart, through the diaphragm, or abdominal lining, and in some cases into nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues.

Recurrent malignant mesothelioma

Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back (recurred) after it
has been treated. It may come back in the lining of the chest or abdomen or in
another part of the body.

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the
mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can
invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.

Risk factors for Mesothelioma

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of
asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of
all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without
any known exposure to asbestos.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to
asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief
exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who
are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure
to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation
of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of
peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling
due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma Cancer

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon
or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating
cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a
pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the
abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a
thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest
wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between
two ribs.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of
the disease, and the patient’s age and general health.
The common treatments are

• Surgery
• Radiation Therapy
• Chemotherapy

What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

How common is mesothelioma?

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

How is mesothelioma treated?

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

• Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
• Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
• Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?

Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER. Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ®, NCI’s cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own. The clinical trials page on the NCI’s Cancer.gov Web site, located at http://www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ.

People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI Publications Locator Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.