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
Caution in Mesothelioma Pain Medicine Use
A newly published case study shows how important it is for doctors to be careful when giving pain medicine to patients with mesothelioma. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer that grows in the lining of the lungs. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. MPM is also the most common form of mesothelioma. It accounts for over 90,000 deaths per year around the world. Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Symptoms It takes a very long time to diagnose mesothelioma. Usually, it takes almost 40 years after asbestos exposure to reach a diagnosis. Prognosis is poor with an average survival of 8 to 14 months from diagnosis. The 5-year survival rate is currently 10%. The symptoms of MPM can include shortness … Continue reading Caution in Mesothelioma Pain Medicine Use
Mesothelioma Patient Data and Treatment Decisions
A group of scientists published a study on mesothelioma data to find trends on how patients are being treated, and how long they survive. Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have published a study on malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in the journal Cancer Medicine. They looked at data from the National Cancer Database to find trends in who is getting MPM, how they are being treated, and how long they survive after diagnosis. Conventional Treatment Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer that grows in the cells lining the lungs. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos at work or at home. MPM occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. Rates of pleural mesothelioma … Continue reading Mesothelioma Patient Data and Treatment Decisions
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
Involving Patients in Mesothelioma Research
Involving patients and the public in mesothelioma research can help scientists to make meaningful breakthroughs. A group of researchers from the United Kingdom spoke with twenty-three mesothelioma researchers. They wanted to get their opinions on how helpful it would be to involve patients and the public in their mesothelioma research. The researchers also ran online workshops and interviews to get the thoughts of patients and members of the public. Doing Meaningful Mesothelioma Research Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It develops on the lining of internal organs like the lungs or abdominal cavity. There are about 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States each year. Doing research on mesothelioma and effective treatments can … Continue reading Involving Patients in Mesothelioma Research
Extremely Rare Case of Multicystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma
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 … Continue reading Extremely Rare Case of Multicystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Worldwide Mesothelioma Rates Decline
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. … Continue reading Worldwide Mesothelioma Rates Decline
Role of Mesothelioma Tumor Thickness
A group of researchers from the University of Texas have found a connection between mesothelioma tumor thickness and patients’ response to therapy and survival. This study looked at 143 patients who had malignant pleural mesothelioma and received treatment before having surgery. The researchers wanted to see if the thickness of the tumor before and after treatment could predict how well the patient would respond to the therapy and how long they would survive. Conventional Treatment Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy … Continue reading Role of Mesothelioma Tumor Thickness
Tracking Local Mesothelioma Trends
A Canadian study found that tracking trends in mesothelioma at the local level can help officials predict future mesothelioma cases. Most mesothelioma tracking efforts focus on the national scale and monitor cases across a country or region. This study, published in Cancer Causes and Control, looked at mesothelioma cases based on industrial sources of asbestos in Ontario and British Columbia. Growing Number of Cases Asbestos is a toxic material that is used in many commercial and industrial products. It’s durability and heat resistance made it very popular in products like construction materials, textiles, and vehicles. Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It was first identified as a cancer-causing material in 1977 by the International Agency for … Continue reading Tracking Local Mesothelioma Trends
New Resource on Mesothelioma Genomics
The MESOMICS project is the most comprehensive dataset of mesothelioma genomics to date. The data in this resource can help researchers to design precision treatments for mesothelioma patients This project was created by an international collaboration between scientists from France, Chile, and the United States. Understanding Diagnosis Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States alone every year. Because it is so rare, the treatment options are very limited compared to other types of cancer. The limited treatment options combined with the cancer’s ability to spread without being noticed makes mesothelioma a deadly disease. Median overall survival for mesothelioma patients is a little over a … Continue reading New Resource on Mesothelioma Genomics
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