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Mesothelioma and Tile Production Linked by New Case Studies
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Mesothelioma and Tile Production Linked by New Case Studies

ByAlex Strauss

Two newly published case studies have drawn a link between malignant mesothelioma and tile production.  The authors of the new report analyzed the cases of two people who contracted mesothelioma after working for a tile manufacturer.  Both people were exposed to talc in their work. This is likely where they encountered the asbestos that may have triggered mesothelioma. Understanding the Different Types of Tile Malignant mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Before the 1990s, many homes and businesses were built with asphalt or vinyl ‘tiles’ made with asbestos. These types of tiles are still in many older buildings. Disturbing or removing them can pose a risk for mesothelioma.  But the current report focuses on ceramic tile workers. Mesothelioma and…

Asbestos and Lung Cancer: Study Highlights the Link
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Asbestos and Lung Cancer: Study Highlights the Link

ByAlex Strauss

A new report on asbestos and lung cancer says asbestos could be to blame for the cancer, even if the patient is a heavy smoker.  In smokers, lung cancer is usually attributed to tobacco use. But cancer researchers in Australia and Finland say that is not always right, especially if the patient has been exposed to asbestos. They propose new criteria for establishing the cause of lung cancer in asbestos-exposed people. The criteria would apply to both smokers and non-smokers. Mesothelioma is Not the Only Cancer Linked to Exposure Malignant mesothelioma is the cancer most often associated with asbestos exposure.  Mesothelioma is a rare but fast-growing and treatment-resistant cancer. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Smoking increases…

Five New Year’s Resolutions All Mesothelioma Patients Should Make
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Five New Year’s Resolutions All Mesothelioma Patients Should Make

ByAlex Strauss

For people who received a mesothelioma diagnosis in recent years, making new year’s resolutions can seem like a futile thing to do.  But mental health experts say healthy resolutions can help us focus on the future and stay positive. Positive mesothelioma patients may experience less pain and enjoy a higher quality of life. In light of that, here are five new year’s resolutions for mesothelioma patients to consider. New Year’s Resolution #1 – Look for clinical trials There is no cure for malignant mesothelioma. Even the best standard treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, are often only minimally effective.  One of the best ways for mesothelioma patients to connect with new and emerging treatments is to participate in a mesothelioma clinical…

Anti-Inflammatory Treatment for Mesothelioma Shows Long-Term Benefit
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Anti-Inflammatory Treatment for Mesothelioma Shows Long-Term Benefit

ByAlex Strauss

Doctors in London are reporting a case of long-term mesothelioma survival with anti-inflammatory treatment for mesothelioma. The 64-year-old pleural mesothelioma patient had been a heating engineer. When he was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, he elected not to have standard cancer treatments.  His doctors advised him to start on a regimen of aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs. On just the anti-inflammatory treatment for mesothelioma, the man was still alive four years after his diagnosis.  Mesothelioma and Inflammation Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the membrane around the lungs. It is most common in people who have worked or lived around asbestos.  When asbestos fibers get into the lungs, they stay there permanently. Studies suggest that the inflammation caused by these…

9/11 Mesothelioma Death May be Tip of the Iceberg
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9/11 Mesothelioma Death May be Tip of the Iceberg

ByAlex Strauss

The recent 9/11 mesothelioma death of a Pennsylvania man is probably just the tip of the iceberg of asbestos cancer cases related to the World Trade Center. The World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001 created massive clouds of toxins across Manhattan. Asbestos was one of 2,500 contaminants in that cloud. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural mesothelioma, and other conditions.  Now, an EMT from Versailles, Pennsylvania has become one of the first to be labeled a 9/11 mesothelioma death. His death from pleural mesothelioma was recorded by the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Why the First 9/11 Mesothelioma Death Now? Asbestos was a popular insulator and construction product additive at the time…

Asbestos Ban Moves One Step Closer to Reality in Congress
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Asbestos Ban Moves One Step Closer to Reality in Congress

ByAlex Strauss

A congressional committee has granted bipartisan approval to a bill that would establish an asbestos ban in the US. The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 47 to 1 to approve the bill. The vote took place on November 19th. Mesothelioma advocacy groups like the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization are praising the move. ADAO president Linda Reinstein is the widow of the mesothelioma patient for whom the bill is named. “This comprehensive bill will protect workers, consumers, and children from being exposed to the deadly threat of asbestos and stop hundreds of tons of asbestos from entering the United States,” said Reinstein.  Doesn’t the US Have an Asbestos Ban? Asbestos is a recognized toxin and carcinogen. It causes many serious…

Study Evaluates Breath Test to Detect Early Mesothelioma
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Study Evaluates Breath Test to Detect Early Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Doctors in Michigan have launched a study to determine if volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath can detect early mesothelioma. They are also looking for a correlation between participants’ VOCs and biomarkers in the blood. VOCs can give doctors vital information about cellular metabolism. Previous studies of VOCs show that they can sometimes indicate the presence of mesothelioma.  But no one knows yet if VOCs can really detect early mesothelioma. None of the previous studies have been big enough for the technique to be universally recommended.  How VOCs Can Detect Early Mesothelioma Cancer causes biochemical changes in the body. These biochemical changes produce VOCs that a person exhales. Different types of cancer produce different combinations of VOCs. Breath testing…

US Mesothelioma Cases from Asbestos Likely Underreported
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US Mesothelioma Cases from Asbestos Likely Underreported

ByAlex Strauss

New research shows that the number of US mesothelioma cases has not changed much in the last 50 years. It is likely that even more of those cases are related to asbestos exposure than current reports indicate.  Epidemiologists had predicted that the number of mesothelioma cases would decline after the government put asbestos regulations in place in the 1970s. But that has not happened. US mesothelioma cases have stayed steady at about 0.3 percent of all cancers.  At the same time, doctors do not always make the connection between the symptoms of mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, especially among women. Some patients may not even realize they were ever exposed.  As a result, some experts say the number of cases blamed…

Mesothelioma Linked to Shipbuilding Finally Falling in the UK
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Mesothelioma Linked to Shipbuilding Finally Falling in the UK

ByAlex Strauss

After decades of higher-than-normal rates of mesothelioma near dockyards, cases of mesothelioma linked to shipbuilding appear to be falling in the UK. The UK has one of the highest per capita rates of malignant mesothelioma in the world. A big part of that comes from the shipbuilding industry where asbestos was used extensively. Now, a new report suggests the scourge of mesothelioma linked to shipbuilding is finally beginning to taper off, even though deaths from mesothelioma have not.  Why is Mesothelioma Linked to Shipbuilding? Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that is strong and impervious to heat and corrosion. That made it a good insulator and a choice building material for many decades. Unfortunately, asbestos is also highly toxic.  Before scientists…

History of Asbestos Mining Blamed for Mesothelioma Epidemic
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History of Asbestos Mining Blamed for Mesothelioma Epidemic

ByAlex Strauss

Residents of Western Australia are still paying the price for the history of asbestos mining in the region. A new report from the University of Western Australia focuses on people in the region of the now-closed Wittenoom asbestos mine.  The report blames the mine and its products for an “ongoing epidemic of mortality from lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma”.  Australia’s Sad History of Asbestos Mining Asbestos is a mineral once prized for its strength and abundance. It was used around the world in thousands of products, including many construction materials.  Australia has a long history of asbestos mining and exportation. The country was once one of the world’s top producers of asbestos. The Australian Blue Asbestos Company in Wittenoom was…