June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund

The Thoracic Oncology research group in Leicester
The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund has recently donated £20,000 to the Thoracic Oncology Research Fund, based at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, and the Leicester Royal Infirmary. This is a very important research project into malignant mesothelioma, with two specific areas of interest

If you would like more information, write to Dr Ken O’Byrne, The Thoracic Oncology Research Group, c/o Thoracic Surgery Office, Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9QP

Lottery bid from Ridings group
With support from Macmillan and the Fund, this recently established support group provides a base from which there is a telephone helpline offering advice for mesothelioma sufferers and their families. Run by trained volunteers, it offers guidance on a whole range of topics including legal, benefits, welfare and healthcare advice. Feedback from those using RASAG is sought too, ensuring that they are providing the very best service.

The Armley (Leeds) premises were set up with a grant of £4,500 from the Fund, and the cheque was received by Mavis Robinson on behalf of RASAG at a presentation at Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.
Although retired (!) Mavis Robinson continues to work closely with the Ridings Asbestos Support and Awareness Group, volunteering her advice on a part time basis.

As well as applying for charitable status, the Group is preparing a bid to the Lottery Commission for £130,000, and so hopefully this invaluable service will continue for many years to come.

RASAG contacts:
Telephone: 0113 231 1010
E-mail: info@asbestos-action.org.uk
Address: 50b Town Street, Armley, Leeds, LS12 3AA

Chemotherapy - a pilot trial funded by the June Hancock Fund
Mesothelioma is a painful disease, and patients are usually helped to manage the symptoms through a combination of painkillers, diet, oxygen and physiotherapy. There have been a small number of inconclusive trials involving chemotherapy.

It is widely acknowledged that mesothelioma is a condition for which there is no recognised specific treatment (with very rare exceptions). For the majority of sufferers, it is a case of managing their symptoms rather than treating them.

There is, however, emerging evidence that modern chemotherapy drugs may offer some patients a benefit either in terms of reducing their symptoms or occasionally increasing their life expectancy. Such benefits are small.

Two recent trials have shown that chemotherapy in patients with mesothelioma can have some short acting symptomatic relief. There is though no evidence yet that this is associated with a cure or extension of life.

Because it is extremely important that patients are not treated uselessly with chemotherapy, the British Thoracic Society (BTS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) designed a pilot study for a future national trial. The objective was to compare, in a random fashion, the strategies of conventional symptom management versus conventional management PLUS chemotherapy.

This is the largest mesothelioma trial in this country to date, and it has already involved over 250 patients in the pilot trial. The major trial will involve over 800 patients.

The crucial pilot trial was given a £20,000 donation from the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund, and the main project has received £40,000 from Cancer Research UK.

This is a study unique to the world, and there is intense international interest in its outcome.

No national funding has been received for this work, and the June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund has been the major donor to support the initiative. Without this funding the pilot trial and therefore the main trial could not have been started.

“This is an example of how a dedicated research fund can have a major impact in the way that a particular disease is managed in the UK”, said Fund trustee Dr. Martin Muers.

This is a really important study because it is the benchmark and the only one in the world that will provide important information about the benefits of chemotherapy in mesothelioma patients. It has been strongly supported in the UK by approximately 150 chest physicians and oncologists from over 50 centres throughout the UK. It has the full backing of the Medical Research Council’s clinical trials review board, and of Cancer Research UK.

The June Hancock Research Fund was, to say the least, instrumental in getting this trial underway, and details about the Fund are sent to participating doctors and patients.

If you would like more information about the trials contact the MRC on 0207 670 4735.

June's fund pays for more booklets
The June Hancock Mesothelioma Research Fund has again financed the updating and printing Information for people with Mesothelioma and their carers. Already over 100,000 copies of Mavis Robinson’s booklet have been distributed to hospitals, hospices and specialist nurse teams, providing them with an invaluable wealth of experience and information. Surprisingly, this is the only available booklet written specifically for mesothelioma sufferers and their carers, and is distributed nationally.

This is a vital part of the Fund’s aims and the June Hancock Fund is happy to support it. Keeping the booklet free of charge enables healthcare workers to pass them on to patients quickly and easily.

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