Author: Holly Zink

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    Predicting Mesothelioma Survival with Advanced Techniques

    ByHolly Zink

    A team of scientists is working on developing a way to predict the survival of mesothelioma patients. In particular, those who are treated with a specific type of surgery and chemotherapy. The prediction tool would work for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma. This is a type of mesothelioma that grows in the lining of the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in less than 1,000 people in the United States every year. Most of these people are over the age of 65, but it can also develop in people who are much younger. Symptoms associated with peritoneal mesothelioma may take decades after asbestos exposure to appear. They are usually noticed first in the stomach or intestinal…

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    Challenges and Hope: Mesothelioma in Children

    ByHolly Zink

    Mesothelioma is most often found in older adults, but in a very small number of cases, this cancer is diagnosed in children. There is not much research on mesothelioma in children. An international team of researchers looked at all mesothelioma cases occurring in children, teenagers and young adults diagnosed and treated in Europe. The team is called the European Cooperative Study Group on Pediatric Rare Tumors. Understanding the Unique Challenges in Pediatric Cases Mesothelioma is an aggressive and rare cancer. It develops in the lining of internal organs like the lungs and abdominal cavity. Reaching a diagnosis of this disease can be hard, and treatment can be even more difficult. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. This is a…

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    New Potential Blood Biomarker for Pleural Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    A team of researchers just published a study looking at whether a gene called FGF18 can be used as a biomarker for pleural mesothelioma. The study was published in the journal Thoracic Cancer. Signs and Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. When it grows in the lining of the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma. Signs and symptoms may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and fatigue. This cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and. The median survival with conventional treatment is little more…

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    A Noninvasive Breakthrough in Diagnosing Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    Researchers from Sweden think that noninvasive immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis can correctly diagnose mesothelioma. This could be helpful to doctors who want to look for mesothelioma in their patients. It can be hard to diagnose mesothelioma and doctors often need to use invasive methods to reach a diagnosis. An Accurate Mesothelioma Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and the symptoms usually look like other, more common, diseases. Because of this, doctors struggle to identify mesothelioma in their patients. Symptoms typically include fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and coughing. The symptoms are caused by cancerous cells that develop due to a person’s exposure to asbestos. To diagnose mesothelioma, a doctor will first perform a history and physical. The history involves learning…

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    Promising Drugs for Controlling Mesothelioma Growth

    ByHolly Zink

    A team of researchers are looking for ways to see if they could slow down the growth of mesothelioma cells. They tested two drugs called auranofin and palbociclib to stop mesothelioma from spreading in a patient’s body. The team is from the Minneapolis VA Health Care System and the University of Minnesota. Advancing Treatment Options for Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Most cases of mesothelioma are pleural (about 2,000 cases a year in the U.S.) and peritoneal (less than 1,000 cases a year in the U.S.). Pleural mesothelioma is found in the lungs while peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the abdominal cavity. The usual treatment involves a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Immunotherapy…

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    Italy’s Battle Against Mesothelioma: National Case Tracking

    ByHolly Zink

    A study by Italian researchers shows how tracking mesothelioma cases at a national level can help to measure the impact of asbestos exposure. Unveiling the Toll of Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer, and it is also rare. The cancer grows in the lining of internal organs like the lungs. It is hard to diagnose and treat, and the outlook for patients is usually poor. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been found throughout the world. It used to be widely used in construction and manufacturing before its toxic effects were discovered. Many countries banned the use of asbestos, but other countries continue to use this dangerous material. How…

  • Exploring the Effectiveness of PIPAC for Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    A type of treatment called PIPAC has shown promising results in treating mesothelioma in the abdomen. PIPAC is short for pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy. But, some patients stop the treatment before finishing the recommended number of sessions. This limits how effective PIPAC can be in treating the cancer. Researchers in France decided to find out why patients might stop PIPAC treatment early. Treatment for Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos. It develops in the lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. Signs of mesothelioma might include shortness of breath, chest pain, and weight loss. Treating mesothelioma can…

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    Socioeconomic Factors Shape Mesothelioma Outcomes

    ByHolly Zink

    Socioeconomic and racial factors can play a role in the survival rates of patients with mesothelioma. This finding was presented by a team of researchers at the 2023 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Mesothelioma Survival Rates Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It mostly affects the lining of the lungs, but also occurs in the abdomen. It is diagnosed in around 2,000 people in the United States each year, which is a very small percentage of all cancer cases. The outlook for people with mesothelioma is not good, with only 7 to 10% of patients surviving for five years. The disease is usually diagnosed when people are older because…

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    Mesothelioma Care: Why Academic Centers Hold the Key to Improved Survival

    ByHolly Zink

    Researchers from the Mayo Clinic found out that people with mesothelioma who were treated at academic centers had a better chance of living longer than those treated at community centers. They shared their discoveries at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is tough to treat, and there aren’t many options for therapy. It happens when someone is exposed to a harmful mineral called asbestos. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are common treatments. The Difference Between Academic and Community Centers Medical centers with expert doctors and more resources are called academic centers. They often see more cases of rare cancers like mesothelioma. But until now, we didn’t know if getting…

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    Mesothelioma: Unraveling the Impact of Asbestos Exposure and Predicting Future Trends

    ByHolly Zink

    Mesothelioma cases have been decreasing around the world over the past 30 years, finds researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The Changing Landscape of Mesothelioma Their goal was to look at how the burden of mesothelioma has changed over time and make predictions about future trends. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is hard to diagnose and treat. It is caused by exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. There are different types of mesotheliomas depending on where in the body it develops. Mesothelioma that grows in the lining of the lungs is called pleural mesothelioma. When it grows in the lining of the abdominal cavity, it is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has also been found around…