Support for Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patients
We’re delighted to launch, in collaboration with Mesothelioma UK, the a new ‘Your Health Companion’ to support patients living with peritoneal mesothelioma within the UK and across the world. Your Health Companion is the first real-world data collection tool, designed specifically to support patients diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer (representing no more than 7-10% of all mesotheliomas) that affects the peritoneum, a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and organs. Like other types of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be related to prior exposure to asbestos.
Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma can prolong life, and the disease can go through periods of remission. By enabling people to keep an accurate record in one place, across time in Your Health Companion, they are better equipped to monitor changes in their health and wellbeing. This allows patients to share their information with their team of cancer specialists to help improve treatment outcomes and quality of life.
Created in response to feedback from patients needing a specific tool to help them, Your Health Companion for peritoneal mesothelioma has been co-developed with specialist peritoneal nurses, clinicians, and patient advocacy groups to ensure it meets the needs of the user and empowers patients to take an active part in their care.
Sam Westbrook, Meso UK’s lead Peritoneal Meso Nurse Specialist, who sits on the national Peritoneal Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) at Basingstoke Hospital with peritoneal malignancy consultant surgeons, radiologists, pathologists and oncologists says:
“Our mission has always been to improve the quality of life of patients living with peritoneal mesothelioma. As this disease is so rare, it is often difficult for patients to access targeted support directly for them and their condition. This tool will help them to live well, share their current condition with us, and help inform research in to this condition.”
As patients use Your Health Companion to track their condition, the platform captures real-world evidence using validated Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs) and Patient Reported Experience Measures (PREMs). These represent the patients view and opinions of how they are feeling and the care they receive. By collecting data from a large (anonymous) population that, when used together with treatment data and clinical trials, provides opportunities for dramatically improving research into new cancer medicines, treatments and NHS care services for this specific group of patients.
“Being able to gain continuous, accurate feedback directly from Peritoneal Mesothelioma patients will give us a more complete view of how this rare disease is impacting a population. We will be able to look in to the disease better to help us drive improvements in the treatments and support we can offer.” Liz Darlison, MBE EN RN BSc MSc, Chief Executive Officer, Mesothelioma UK.
We encourage patients to sign up for Your Health Companion today:
It is easy to get started and each month, it takes just 10 minutes to complete. Either download from your App store – search for ‘Your Health Companion’ - or go to: www.health-companion.me