Mesothelioma and the Importance of Asbestos Disposal Management
Asbestos disposal is important to preventing cases of malignant mesothelioma. A review by an international team of researchers outlines three ways that asbestos can be managed safely. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found around the world. It was very popular as a manufacturing material because it is impossible to set on fire or corrode, and it can be woven into other materials. Since it is found naturally in the ground, it is also a cheap material. Despite these attractive qualities, asbestos is dangerous because it is toxic and causes cancer. It is classified as a known human carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the International Agency for … Continue reading Mesothelioma and the Importance of Asbestos Disposal Management
Creating an American Mesothelioma Patient Registry
Researchers from the University of Maryland are testing if the United States can create a mesothelioma patient registry. Other countries like Australia and Italy have created mesothelioma registries. These databases help scientists to understand how common mesothelioma is in their country. It also identifies risk factors for developing the disease. Tracking the Disease Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of organs such as the chest, lungs, heart, and abdomen. It is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that is used in construction and manufacturing industries. Despite being a rare disease, it has been a big public health issue, especially in the United States. Nearly 3,000 individuals are diagnosed each year. A mesothelioma … Continue reading Creating an American Mesothelioma Patient Registry
Humor Helps Stressed Veteran Mesothelioma Caregivers
Mesothelioma, the asbestos-caused cancer, has a high symptom burden in British military veterans. There is little research on what it is like to live with mesothelioma as a veteran. Or what it is like for veteran mesothelioma caregivers. New research has been published in the journal of Illness, Crisis & Loss on this topic. The article highlights how veterans and their families cope with the stress of the disease. Asbestos Exposure in the British Military Malignant mesothelioma is a disease linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure in the British Armed Forces has been documented. Many were exposed in damaged buildings during conflict and aid delivery. Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in older people, and survival rates are poor. Symptoms first appear … Continue reading Humor Helps Stressed Veteran Mesothelioma Caregivers
Cost Comparison of Immunotherapy vs. Traditional Chemotherapy in Mesothelioma
A new study does a cost comparison of immunotherapy over traditional chemotherapy. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy are common in the first-line treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. The news came from Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology. Traditional Chemotherapy In 2004, the FDA approved pemetrexed for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Pemetrexed is often taken together with cisplatin. It is for patients whose disease is either inoperable or who are not candidates for surgery. Pemetrexed + cisplatin/carboplatin are chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapy is a group of toxic drugs that kill cells by damaging their DNA. They target both cancerous and healthy cells. Patients with this chemo regimen also take folic acid and vitamin B12 supplements. This helps to reduce side effects from the … Continue reading Cost Comparison of Immunotherapy vs. Traditional Chemotherapy in Mesothelioma
Comparing 3 Standard Treatments for Mesothelioma
There are three standard treatments for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Patients and doctors want to know which is more effective. A new study from the Davidoff Cancer Center in Israel sought to do just that. This study compared three clinical trials of the standard treatments recommended for malignant mesothelioma. All three treatments involved different chemotherapy drugs. Treatment A was cisplatin plus pemetrexed vs cisplatin. Treatment B was cisplatin plus pemetrexed plus bevacizumab vs cisplatin plus pemetrexed. And Treatment C was nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs cisplatin plus pemetrexed. Urgent Need to Identify Effective Treatment Strategies Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the primary cancer of the pleural lining. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. It affected more than 30,000 patients globally in 2020. … Continue reading Comparing 3 Standard Treatments for Mesothelioma
Waiting for Medicare Coverage Could Impact Mesothelioma Survival
People who suspect they may have cancer but wait to get a diagnosis until they are eligible for Medicare coverage could negatively impact their ability to survive mesothelioma. That is the message from a new Stanford study. The study suggests that many people wait until they are 65 to seek cancer care. For people with a fast-growing cancer like mesothelioma, delaying diagnosis by waiting for Medicare coverage could have devastating consequences. Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis Key to Survival Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It is one of the most deadly types of cancer. Like most cancers, the chances of surviving mesothelioma are higher the earlier it is diagnosed. But mesothelioma is not … Continue reading Waiting for Medicare Coverage Could Impact Mesothelioma Survival
Cosmetic Talc Can Cause Mesothelioma, Study Finds
A new study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine appears to offer definitive evidence that repeated exposure to cosmetic talc can cause mesothelioma. It is an issue that has come up repeatedly in courtrooms in recent years. Lawyers for mesothelioma patients who have used cosmetic talc say the products are unsafe. Manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson insist they are pure. But the new study shows that may not be the case. If the product is contaminated with asbestos, as many appear to be, the study shows cosmetic talc can cause mesothelioma. How Can Cosmetic Talc Cause Mesothelioma? Talcum powder is made from talc, which contains magnesium and silicon. Because it absorbs moisture, people use it to keep skin dry … Continue reading Cosmetic Talc Can Cause Mesothelioma, Study Finds
Talcum Powder Can Cause Mesothelioma New Study Shows
A prestigious medical journal has published the strongest evidence yet that asbestos-tainted talcum powder can cause mesothelioma. The new article appears in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. It involved 33 mesothelioma patients. In every case, each patient’s only known exposure to asbestos was through talcum powder. In six cases, researchers went a step further to find asbestos fibers in the tissue samples. “Asbestos of the type found in talcum powder was found in all six cases evaluated,” reports lead researcher Jacqueline Moline, MD. Dr. Moline is a professor and researcher at Hofstra University School of Medicine in New York. Since there was no other way for these patients to have come in contact with asbestos, Moline and her … Continue reading Talcum Powder Can Cause Mesothelioma New Study Shows
Financial Stress Could Impact Mesothelioma Quality of Life
Financial stress during treatment is likely to have an impact on both quality of life and outcomes for pleural mesothelioma patients. That finding comes from a recent Johns Hopkins study of patients with newly-diagnosed lung cancer. The study found that cancer patients who were under financial strain had decreased quality of life. The report appears in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology. It includes a list of guidelines to help identify patients at risk for “financial toxicity”. The Financial Burden of Mesothelioma Treatment Cancer treatment is rarely inexpensive. Thanks to advances in mesothelioma therapies, patient outcomes are improving. But the costs of these cutting-edge mesothelioma treatments can be even higher than standard therapies. John Hopkins researchers wanted to see if … Continue reading Financial Stress Could Impact Mesothelioma Quality of Life
Mesothelioma Risk From Home Renovation in The Spotlight
The case of an Australian man is highlighting the mesothelioma risk from home renovation when asbestos is present. Forty-two year old Matthew Werfel recently won a lawsuit against Amaca, the asbestos producer previously known as James Hardie. The company manufactured the asbestos-containing cement sheets that led to Werfel’s pleural mesothelioma. The record $3 million payout is an expensive warning to other DIY homeowners about the potential mesothelioma risk from home renovation. Asbestos in Construction Products Asbestos is a mineral that has to be mined from the ground. As early as the 1930’s, companies like James Hardie recognized its potential value as a construction material. Asbestos is strong, plentiful and resistant to heat and corrosion. It was used for decades to … Continue reading Mesothelioma Risk From Home Renovation in The Spotlight
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