Author: Holly Zink

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    Extremely Rare Case of Multicystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    A 47-year-old woman was diagnosed with rare multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma at a cancer hospital in China. 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 develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, it is called malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). Most doctors believe MPM is caused from ingestion of asbestos fibers and that microscopic asbestos fibers become embedded in the abdomen. After a few decades, these fibers can cause inflammation and mutations in healthy cells and these mutations ultimately cause these cells to become cancerous. Patients who are diagnosed with MPM may survive several or more years after diagnosis and there are long term…

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    Is Mesothelioma Still A Big Problem Worldwide?

    ByHolly Zink

    Even though the number of people getting mesothelioma and dying from it has gone down in recent years, it is still a big problem in many parts of the world. This is the finding of an international team of scientists. The authors of this study are from South Korea, Sweden, Spain, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These scientists wanted to find out how many people get mesothelioma and how many people die from it. They also wanted to know how it affects different groups of people based on things like age and where they live. Harmful Use of Asbestos Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by asbestos, a harmful material that was used a lot after World War…

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    Scientists Find New Way To Treat Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    Scientists Find New Way To Treat Mesothelioma Scientists think they can find new ways to treat mesothelioma by looking at its genetic makeup. The genetic changes and interactions between cancer cells and their environment could hold the key to new therapies. This is the hope of a group of scientists from Italy who published their ideas in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Mesothelioma Tumor and Cancer Genetics Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. One reason it is hard to treat is because it doesn’t have specific genetic targets like other types of cancer. The area around the mesothelioma tumor also makes it hard to treat. The environment around the tumor affects how the tumor…

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    High-Energy Radiotherapy Treatment for Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    A new Italian study found that accelerated hypofractionated radiotherapy was an effective and safe treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The patients in this study lived longer and had a lower risk of MPM coming back. Treatment Approaches MPM is a rare cancer that is difficult to treat. It develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. MPM is caused by exposure to asbestos. Since MPM is a rare disease, the standard therapies are limited. The treatment plan for MPM depends on a few different factors. The stage of cancer, cell type of the cancer, and the health of the patient all affect what treatments will work the best. The most common treatment approach…

  • Improving Mental Health and Quality of Life for Cancer Patients

    ByHolly Zink

    A study out of Greece suggests that recognizing and addressing demoralization early can help improve cancer patients’ mental health. The goal of the study was to look at how anxiety and depression affect cancer patients’ lives and health services. Measuring Anxiety and Depression The researchers in this study talked to 150 cancer patients from two cancer centers. They used survey tools to measure anxiety, depression, and demoralization. Demoralization is when someone feels like they have lost hope and are discouraged about their situation. Someone who is experiencing demoralization might have a hard time finding meaning in their life. People with mesothelioma often struggle with anxiety, depression, and demoralization. Mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the lining of organs like…

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    Largest Study Shows HIPEC Treatment Effective for Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS-HIPEC) could be an effective treatment for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM). This is the finding of one of the largest and longest studies on the use of CRS-HIPEC to treat MPM. Researchers from the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center looked at data from 111 patients over 28 years. Diagnosed with MPM MPM is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos. Symptoms of MPM are usually noticed first in the abdomen or the gastrointestinal system. People might feel abdominal pain or swelling, fever, and night sweats. MPM occurs in less than 1,000 people in the United States every year and accounts for about 20-25% of all mesothelioma cases. Patients diagnosed with MPM have longer life expectancy…

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    Using Artificial Intelligence to Diagnose Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    Scientists from India are working on building a computer program to help diagnose mesothelioma using artificial intelligence. Diagnosing mesothelioma can be challenging for doctors because it is so rare. Mesothelioma symptoms can also look like symptoms of more common diseases like the flu. The scientists in this study are hoping to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to help doctors reach an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis more quickly. Diagnosis and Showing Symptoms Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It is usually diagnosed after a person goes to a doctor because they are experiencing symptoms. These symptoms depend on the type of mesothelioma. For mesothelioma in the lungs, these symptoms could include shortness of breath, pain in chest,…

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    Understanding the Rare Testicular Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    Testicular mesothelioma is a rare type of mesothelioma that occurs in fewer than 50 people each year. Researchers in Australia compared the qualities of testicular mesothelioma with more common types of this cancer. Asbestos Exposure and Treatment Most cases of mesothelioma occur around the lungs (pleural) or around the abdomen (peritoneal). However, there are two rare subtypes that can occur. One is found around the testis and the other can be found around the heart. Testicular mesothelioma is also called paratesticular or mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis. The most common symptom is a mass or hydrocele (buildup of fluid) inside the scrotum. Like the other types of mesothelioma, testicular mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. There is usually…

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    New and More Objective Way to Diagnose Mesothelioma

    ByHolly Zink

    A study published in Cancers looked at a new way to diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The usual way to diagnose MPM is through a biopsy or looking at fluid in the chest, but these methods are not very accurate. The researchers in this study used mass spectrometry-based proteomics to look for biomarkers that can pinpoint MPM in the body. Identifying Cancer MPM is a serious cancer that is linked to exposure to asbestos and is usually found late, making it hard to treat. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. The prognosis is poor, with a median survival rate of 12 months. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Improving the…

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    Worldwide Mesothelioma Rates Decline

    ByHolly Zink

    A new study looked at the worldwide rates of mesothelioma over the past decade. The international team of researchers hailed from China, Sweden, Australia, the Philippines, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The researchers used information from three different databases to learn about the number of cases and what might cause the disease. The Global Cancer Observatory, Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Plus, and Global Burden of Disease provided data for this study. Banning Asbestos Worldwide Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops from cells of the mesothelium, the lining that covers many of the internal organs of the body. Sites of mesothelioma are typically the outer lining of the lungs and chest wall and the abdomen….