First Mesothelioma Patient Begins Newly Approved Treatment

A mesothelioma patient at West Cancer Center in Memphis, Tennessee, is the first in the country to use NovoTTF-100L, a noninvasive electric therapy treatment, since its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May. The FDA’s approval of Novocure’s Tumor Treating Fields device for the treatment of mesothelioma marked the first new FDA-approved treatment option for the rare asbestos-related cancer in more than 15 years. NovoTTF-100L uses a low-voltage electrical field that is distributed with three pads attached to the front and back of a person’s chest. The electrical current is designed to disrupt the inner components of a cancer cell when it divides. It is now approved to treat mesothelioma in addition to chemotherapy, the most used treatment option for the rare cancer. The patient at West Cancer Center will wear the device for 18 hours a day. His doctors are expecting promising results. “We are looking at 97% disease control at year one,” Dr. Moon Fenton, a hematologist at West Cancer Center, told WMC 5 Action News. “So, patients who are using this technology in addition to the chemotherapy actually have stable disease or great response to treatment.” Free Mesothelioma Information Guide, Tailored to You Select the diagnosis you or your loved one is facing and receive a free guide with the right information for you. ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news