We are proud to announce that we have the pleasure of a new partnership with The Mesothelioma UK Research Centre.
The Mesothelioma UK Research Centre (MURC) at the University of Sheffield has begun a new partnership with London Asbestos Support Awareness Group.
In October London Asbestos Support Awareness Group provided some financial support to Caitlin Lusted. Caitlin is doing a PHD as part of MURC. Her study focuses on the anxiety experienced by people with mesothelioma as a result of having routine scans – often called Scanxiety. As Caitlin is self funding her PhD and has no financial support for her research costs. London Asbestos Support Awareness Group came to the rescue.
To visit Caitlin's page please visit: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/murc/our-research/scanxiety
In this article below The Mesothelioma UK Research Centre provide a brief overview of the Mesothelioma UK Research Centre and Caitlin's research study.
The Mesothelioma UK Research Centre
The Mesothelioma UK Research Centre at the University of Sheffield was established in 2020 and is funded by Mesothelioma UK. MURC is now in its fifth year as a research centre, focusing on the experience of living with mesothelioma from the perspective of people with mesothelioma and their family. Our aim is to capture peoples experience in order to feed this back to services and improve care and support that is provided.
Since its creation the Research Centre has continued to expand its programme of research to benefit the care of people diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families.
We have completed 17 research studies and have published 30 papers in peer review journals. We have presented over 130 papers and posters at national and international conferences, 40 of which were invited presentations. Our Current research is focused on the support needs of family carers and people with mesothelioma and the family experiences of the coroners services. All our research activities and outputs are accessible on our website here.
All our research is underpinned by advice from people living with mesothelioma or their families, through a Patient and Public Involvement Panel. We are always keen to recruit new members to our panel. If you would like more information, please look on our website here. You will also find a short video explaining the benefits of a PPI panel and being a member.
Our goal is to use our research to develop tools and resources that are of use to people with mesothelioma, their families and the services that exist to support them. Examples include an animation to explain the benefits of accessing palliative care as early as possible (available here), and a tips for health professionals to improve the way a diagnosis of mesothelioma is communicated (see here).
We also have an interest in conducting experience-based research embedded within clinical trials of new treatments. We are currently conducting research like this within the HIT-Meso study. See here for more information.
If you would like to keep updated on the work of MURC please sign up for our regular email updates here.
Research study on ‘Scanxiety’
The experiences of ongoing surveillance scans for people with mesothelioma has been identified as a source of anxiety. This issue has emerged from previous research conducted by MURC. Motivated by this finding Caitlin has devised a study to explore these experiences and develop recommendations on how to improve support and care provided regarding scans.
Caitlin started her studies in October 2024. She is currently conducting a systematic review of the literature regarding scan related anxiety. Following this she will commence her primary research. This will be a mixed method study comprising a survey and interviews with people with mesothelioma regarding their scan experience. This will identify the associated care and support needs, and what may help to prevent/ alleviate scanxiety. Caitlin will also run some stakeholder consultation events with people with mesothelioma, family members and health professionals to identify any interventions that could be developed to prevent or alleviate scanxiety. The study will also include data from people with pancreatic, liver and brain cancer in order to compare the similarities and differences to those of people with mesothelioma.
Caitlin will keep London Asbestos Support Awareness Group updated on her progress throughout her study and will be presenting some finding at the Mesothelioma Day Event in London on 2nd July 2025.
Conclusion
MURC is reliant on partnerships with organisations such as Mesothelioma UK and asbestos support groups. We look forward to continuing our partnership with London Asbestos Support Awareness Group in the future.
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