A new era of understanding – why early diagnosis can bring hope for mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs or abdomen and is linked to breathing in or ingesting dangerous asbestos fibres.

There’s currently no cure. The disease only causes symptoms when it’s already very advanced, by which point it becomes exceptionally difficult to treat. Only 5% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma will survive for five years or more. In patients where initial treatment is unsuccessful and the cancer comes back, there are very few further options. Most patients will therefore only receive treatment to control their symptoms, rather than cure the disease.

Delayed diagnosis slashes survival rates

Early diagnosis means that people can start to receive treatment sooner. It’s an accelerating disease so it gets worse faster. Six months can make a huge difference. A late diagnosis means that the cancer will have progressed and people might be too unwell. This means that they won’t be eligible for clinical trials, which means they’re missing out on the latest treatments. For some it’s possible that they’re not eligible for standard of care treatment. Even with treatment, the average survival rate is only 18 months. So any delay in diagnosis cuts down the time that people have left to live. And the long path to diagnosis can be torturous for some people.

Early diagnosis gives us crucial understanding

We're going into an era now where we’re able to use the important information that early and robust diagnosis brings, to personalise cancer treatment. We’re just now uncovering significant differences in biology in early disease compared to later disease. So an early diagnosis means we can get a better understanding of the disease and develop better treatments.

Our breakthroughs can transform lives

In one of my clinical trials funded by Asthma + Lung UK, I tested a potential new drug, abemaciclib, on a group of people with a particularly aggressive form of mesothelioma. After 12 weeks, the tumours of more than half of the participants had shrunk or stopped growing. This breakthrough could be extremely promising, benefitting up to half of all people diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.

Now, I’m building on this previous work with a clinical trial that focuses on a new drug called MRTX1719.

I’ll be working with people whose mesothelioma has returned and who have no other treatment options, offering them a better chance of longer life. And it will increase our understanding of how we can stop the cancer from returning. With 2,700 people being diagnosed with mesothelioma every year in the UK, this could transform the lives of thousands of families across the country.

People are alive today because of your donations

It's the most amazing thing that through donations and support we get from Asthma + Lung UK we can actually help people with mesothelioma.

The fact is that there are people alive today who simply wouldn't be without these donations. We’ve been able to give people the opportunity to continue to live their life. I've had patients go on to get married or become grandparents. And that’s all because of donations from Asthma + Lung UK supporters. I'm indebted.