Скачать или смотреть The Benefits of Nurse Navigators in Mesothelioma: Lien Hua-Feng, RN, and Graciela Hoal, RN, NP

6th International Symposium on Malignant Pleural
Mesothelioma

Graciela Hoal, RN, NP
VA Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program
West Los Angeles VA Medical Center
Los Angeles, California

Lien Hua-Feng, RN, MSN, NP-C
Nurse Practitioner
Pacific Mesothelioma Center
Pacific Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute
Los Angeles, California

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an unusual cancer because it grows throughout the chest cavity as a diffuse process rather than a typical solid nodule or mass. Because of this unique characteristic, it has very specific treatment issues. MPM also is a rare tumor with less than 3000 new cases annually, and therefore, most physicians, even pulmonologists and medical oncologists, typically only see these patients infrequently. Despite this, it is critical that all physicians involved in the care of MPM patients be familiar with the important issues in this disease and possess a thorough understanding regarding the tumor itself, its evaluation process, staging, treatment and the role of multidisciplinary management of these patients. This includes the role and extent of surgery as well as radiation, chemotherapy and newer targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Robert B. Cameron, MD, the course organizer and the Director of the UCLA Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program, has had over 30 years of experience with treating patients with MPM, including pleurectomy and decortication surgical procedures and a number of complementary adjuvant therapies with the goal of treating this deadly disease like a chronic illness, similar to hypertension and diabetes.