Mesothelioma treatment: A case for optimism

Mesothelioma Awareness Day is an annual reminder that over 700 Australians are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year – an incurable condition caused by asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma often comes with a bleak prognosis but over the past two years there have been increasing developments in the area of mesothelioma treatment. Specifically, immunotherapy has been used to help the immune system of patients with mesothelioma fight the condition. Clinical data has shown that immunotherapy can increase survival time by up to four months when compared to standard chemotherapy treatment.

For Victorians, immunotherapy is now available on the PBS for up to two years. There is also a clinical trial accepting patients at a number of teaching hospitals around Victoria.

At Brave Legal, we have the privilege of seeing how access to immunotherapy has assisted improve the quality and duration of our client’s lives. We only hope that in time, the prognosis for this condition also improves.