间皮瘤社万博专业版区哀悼最近失去了一个真正的战士，路易斯“娄”威廉姆斯。娄是A.survivor of peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma。她于2003年首次被诊断出患有腹膜间皮瘤，并在2009年再次面临胸膜间皮瘤。经过万博专业版近15年的战斗，不幸的是赢得了侵略性癌症。
娄是A.huge advocate beyond her home country of Australia. She worked with many advocacy organizations, including theAsbestos Disease Foundation of Australia（ADFA）和Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization（ADAO），并帮助无数间皮瘤患者及其家庭。万博安装app万博专业版
Heather Von St. James一位11年幸存者，记得她的朋友是一个真正的灵感。“娄威廉姆斯是我不断尊重的人。一个真正的全球抗石棉倡导者，一个女人咆哮着温柔的声音。她不知疲倦地在争取意识的同时造成这种疾病，从不放弃治疗的希望。她激发了她安静的力量，她的倾向和尊严。一个真正的战士，谁将哀悼世界。“
A Long Battle with Mesothelioma
Lou’s first exposure to asbestos came as a child in Australia. Her father worked in the building trade and worked with asbestos often. Lou helped clean the asbestos dust from his car and the home. Her father was later diagnosed with mesothelioma and died from the disease in 1985.
Lou’s exposure didn’t end there, as she also worked in an office contaminated with asbestos for three years in Melbourne. The impact of inhaling asbestos fibers can take decades to first show. Even then, the early symptoms are nonspecific and frequently cause misdiagnoses for even common ailments like the flu.
After eight years of chronic pain and 18 months of misdiagnoses, Lou learned she hadperitoneal mesothelioma2003年。娄接受了手术，以消除肿瘤，然后是一个强烈的化疗课程。
在腹膜间皮瘤痉挛后，娄再次在2009年诊断出来。这万博专业版次她面临胸膜间皮瘤，需要更具侵略性的治疗方法。娄再次不得不接受手术，但这次需要三个主要的作业来试图去除肿瘤，然后再逐渐进行化疗。
到2015年1月，娄说，她的身体正在关闭。她的肿瘤科医生解释了对抗这种疾病的其他选择。当时，娄必须在氧气24/7，吗啡，并均仔细融为血液融合。她患有极端恶心，体重低于100磅。她的生活质量在向下螺旋，但娄永远不会放弃。
从来没有，永远不会放弃
2015年4月，娄被给予了一些希望。她知道她在疾病的最终阶段，不得不采取她给出的任何机会。她的肿瘤科医生推荐Keytruda®（Pembrozumab），一种干扰癌细胞生长和扩散的免疫疗法药物。她的肿瘤科医生表示，这种药物可以给予她的生活质量，并且可能会给娄另一个12 - 18个月的生活。
Keytruda®has provided some hope in the mesothelioma community and proven effective in some cases. Lou’s friend and fellow warrior in the U.K.,Mavis NYE.，能够加入药物的临床试验，并看到有希望的结果。然而，在澳大利亚，娄只能以自己的费用接受治疗。每次输液都花费了数千美元，每三个星期都需要输注。
Despite the heavy cost, Lou jumped on the opportunity. After her third fusion, her CT scans showed shrinkage, and by the fifth transfusion she no longer relied on oxygen or morphine. Lou stayed on these infusions for 11 months and had quality of life back.
The hope she saw with Keytruda®led Lou toadvocate for the drug to be fast tracked在the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. She strongly believed if the treatment could be offered at a more affordable price, oncologists could offer patients this option before they were already advanced to an end-of-life stage.
“娄争夺它去免费清单，我们都级联她的请愿书，”Mavis回忆起她的长期朋友。“如果她成功了，那就太好了。药物曾经努力过一段时间并将她的免疫系统转回，但只有一年。娄说，它帮助她留在她的家庭中那么长。“
Sadly, in March 2016 Lou had a setback and her tumors showed growth and some spreading in her lungs. Lou was taken off Keytruda®and instead had weekly chemotherapy treatments. But Lou still credited Keytruda®for giving her quality and quantity of life, and continued to advocate for its benefits for other mesothelioma patients. Even in the face of such devastating news, Lou vowed to never give up and continued to fight.
“Lou has really fought mesothelioma for 15 hard long years, but worked for asbestos awareness around the world,” Mavis said. “So many mesothelioma warriors will miss her and we will all live by her words, ‘never, never, never give up.’”
Lou’s Legacy in Advocacy
除了为患有间皮瘤的人提供Keytruda®More的宣传工作之外，娄也不知疲倦地致力于帮助达到石棉的全球禁令。万博专业版娄曾在澳大利亚和世界各地的许多宣传组织致力于借给她的声音，即使她在她疾病中遇到特别努力时期。
Her passion and commitment resonated throughout the mesothelioma community and inspired those who worked with her. Linda Reinstein, the co-founder and president of the ADAO, expressed how getting to know and work with Lou had a profound influence on her own efforts.
“ADAO grieves with Lou’s husband Keith, her daughters Deborah and Jo, her dearly loved grandchildren and friends. I am so very honored to have known Lou for 7 years … we all are … and her spirit will continue to inspire,”Linda said。“The impact Lou had on the world is unquestionable. She was a much-loved friend to many of us and an inspiring voice in raising asbestos awareness and fighting for a worldwide asbestos ban. My love for Lou will fuel my work forever.”
Lou is already greatly missed, but she will never be forgotten.
