Discovering the Link to Mesothelioma Growth

Discovering the Link to Mesothelioma Growth

Italian researchers have found that a molecule called cycle adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is involved in the growth of mesothelioma. cAMP acts as a messenger in our cells and affects different processes in the body. When the cAMP pathway is too active, it can contribute to the growth and spread of tumors. In this study, researchers looked at the levels of cAMP in mesothelioma tumors caused by toxic fibers like asbestos. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that grows on the lining of internal organs like the lungs and abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is toxic to humans. Mesothelioma is a rare disease, so we do not know very much about how … Continue reading Discovering the Link to Mesothelioma Growth »

Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Breakthrough Blood Test Method

Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Breakthrough Blood Test Method

A study conducted by researchers from China is the first to use a new method to analyze blood samples of people with mesothelioma. The method is called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The researchers were hoping that this method would help them find mesothelioma biomarkers in blood samples. A Promising Step Forward Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. Pleural mesothelioma grows in the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the abdomen. This cancer is caused by exposure to a toxic material called asbestos. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person goes to a doctor because they are experiencing symptoms. These symptoms depend on the type of … Continue reading Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Breakthrough Blood Test Method »

Hope and Resilience: A Case of Mesothelioma Long-Term Survival

Hope and Resilience: A Case of Mesothelioma Long-Term Survival

A new study highlights how important early diagnosis and effective treatment are to long-term survival. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by asbestos. It develops in the abdominal cavity. This cancer occurs in less than 1,000 people in the United States every year. The Importance of Early Detection Symptoms of mesothelioma may take decades after asbestos exposure to appear in the affected person. Most of the common symptoms occur around the abdomen, like pain and swelling. Other symptoms could be night sweats and fever. To diagnose mesothelioma, doctors will usually use a combination of scans and biopsies. Treatment for mesothelioma can include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. A Japanese Case Study on Long-Term Survival In this case, a … Continue reading Hope and Resilience: A Case of Mesothelioma Long-Term Survival »

Genetic Counseling for Mesothelioma: What You Need to Know

Genetic Counseling for Mesothelioma: What You Need to Know

People with a family history of thoracic cancers like mesothelioma should think about getting genetic counseling. This is the recommendation of researchers from the United States and the United Kingdom. They explored what we know about how changes in a person’s genes passed down through their family can increase their chances of developing cancer. The Power of Genetic Knowledge Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. It most often occurs in the lungs or in the abdominal cavity. With the best conventional treatments, people with this cancer typically have a median survival of a little over a year for mesothelioma in the lungs and about five years for mesothelioma in the abdomen. There is … Continue reading Genetic Counseling for Mesothelioma: What You Need to Know »

Identifying Mesothelioma: How Extracellular Vesicles Could Be the Key

Identifying Mesothelioma: How Extracellular Vesicles Could Be the Key

Scientists believe that particles called extracellular vesicles could be used as biomarkers to identify malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, usually at work. It has a low survival rate, so it is important to find ways to diagnose it early. It is also important for doctors to be able to predict how it will develop in patients. How Mesothelioma is Diagnosed Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person goes to a doctor because they are experiencing symptoms. For MPM, a person might feel shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and … Continue reading Identifying Mesothelioma: How Extracellular Vesicles Could Be the Key »

Predicting Outcomes for People with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Predicting Outcomes for People with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

A new study has found that a prognostic score based on the activity of just two genes could be useful in predicting outcomes for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The study was published the journal Diagnostics and was conducted by scientists from Bulgaria. Early Detection is Key for Better Outcomes Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest called the pleura. It usually happens when a person has been exposed to asbestos. This is a harmful mineral that can be used in buildings and other materials. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can get trapped in the pleura and over time, cause cancer to develop. The cancer cells in … Continue reading Predicting Outcomes for People with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma »

The Lungs: Asbestos, Smoking, and Mesothelioma

Collapsed Lung: A Potential Early Indicator of Mesothelioma

Scientists in Japan published a study about how asbestos fibers interact with the lungs when they are inhaled by someone. This study, published in Particle and Fibre Toxicology, explored “asbestos ferruginous bodies” (AFBs). When asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs, the body forms an iron-rich coat around the fibers. These coated asbestos fibers become AFBs. Mesothelioma after Asbestos Exposure When people inhale asbestos fibers, they can develop an aggressive cancer called malignant pleural mesothelioma. This cancer grows in the lining of the lungs and chest wall. It can often take around 40 years for malignant pleural mesothelioma to begin to grow after asbestos exposure. Imaging studies such as X-rays or CT scans may help in the diagnosis, but the … Continue reading The Lungs: Asbestos, Smoking, and Mesothelioma »

Mesothelioma, A Most Difficult Diagnosis

Mesothelioma, A Most Difficult Diagnosis

A case published in the International Journal of Surgical Pathology is another example of how hard it can be to reach a mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs and chest wall. Signs and symptoms may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and fatigue. A Difficult Diagnosis In this case, a 93-year-old man went to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. A CT scan showed doctors that the man had a hole in his lung that was causing air to leak out into the chest cavity. This is not a typical symptom of pleural mesothelioma. To … Continue reading Mesothelioma, A Most Difficult Diagnosis »

Rare Mesothelioma of the Liver

Rare Mesothelioma of the Liver

Doctors in China recently came across a rare case of primary sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma of the liver. This disease is a type of malignant mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Primary sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma is hard for doctors to diagnose because it is so rare. Doctors also don’t know very much about how it develops or how to treat it. When a person goes to the hospital with symptoms that could be caused by mesothelioma, there are a few different ways to get a diagnosis. Doctors will usually use imaging tests, tissue biopsies, and fluid tests to reach a diagnosis. Diagnosing a Rare Case In this case, a 69-year-old man went to the hospital because he had been having … Continue reading Rare Mesothelioma of the Liver »

Mesothelioma Caregivers at Risk for Depression

Mesothelioma Caregivers at Risk for Depression

People who care for someone with malignant pleural mesothelioma are at risk for depression and trouble attending work. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Most patients with mesothelioma are elderly and male. Treatment for mesothelioma is difficult and the five-year survival rate is poor. A MPM diagnosis is extremely difficult for a family. Both the patient and their caregivers can feel hopelessness and uncertainty. Mesothelioma Caregivers at Risk Researchers from the United Kingdom wanted to find out how taking care of someone with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) affects the person who takes care of them. The researchers wanted to know things like who the … Continue reading Mesothelioma Caregivers at Risk for Depression »

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