Living With Mesothelioma: One Study Participant's Story
Professor Peter Szlosarek's ATOMIC-meso trial recently made international news for its promising results in treating malignant pleural mesothelioma. The trial's drug, ADI-PEG20, has been shown to quadruple three-year survival rates of the rare, aggressive, and deadly cancer.
Szlorsarek led the pathbreaking study from the Centre for Cancer Cell and Molecular Biology at the University's Barts Cancer Institute, but the trial took place in five countries around the world—UK, United States, Australia, Italy, and Taiwan—over four years.
The positive study results reach far beyond the scientific, however, as they have already been life-changing for at least one participant known as Mick, who is profiled on the Queen Mary University of London's website.
Mick's Story
"I'm in it to win it," Mick told Szlorsarek when he was referred to the trial by his doctor. "You're not getting rid of me."
That was five years ago, and Mick, who said he "always believed in Peter," recently celebrated his 80th birthday. He is one of the drug trial's great success stories.
Mick was exposed to asbestos in the 1970s when he worked in the boiler room of a factory. He first started experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma, generally feeling unwell and unexplained weight loss, in 2018. After becoming anemic, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given four months to live.
Mick participated in the study for two years, getting injections of the new treatment in each arm with every visit. He said that he didn't experience serious side effects, but he did notice that some participants in the study "disappeared" along the way.
Mick's mesothelioma returned after two and a half years, and he received a second course of treatment, which included immunotherapy. Although he experienced side effects, his mesothelioma remains controlled.
"This trial has changed the lives of people with mesothelioma, allowing us to live longer," Mick said. "I have five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren now–I wouldn't want to miss all that."
Szlosarek and his research team look forward to studying why the drug helped some people more than others. In Part 3 of this series, we will further discuss the future of mesothelioma treatment as well as ADI-PEG20's potential to treat other types of cancer.
Get an Experienced Mesothelioma Lawyer on Your Side
If you believe that you or a loved one is a victim of asbestos exposure, Madeksho Law can help. While mesothelioma treatments are more promising than ever, it could be years until they are more widely available, and our firm can help you get the compensation you deserve now. Call us at 888-910-MESO (6376) or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. You won't pay us anything unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
