Major Effect of COVID-19 on Mesothelioma Patient Survival in Italy
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Major Effect of COVID-19 on Mesothelioma Patient Survival in Italy

ByHolly Zink

The COVID‐19 pandemic had a major effect on some mesothelioma patients in Italy. A new study in Medical & Clinical Research shows how the pandemic harmed new diagnoses and survival. Malignant mesothelioma is one of the rarest types of cancer. Many people have never even heard of ‘asbestos cancer’ until they are diagnosed. Most do not know anyone else who has it. Social distancing to protect themselves against COVID-19 compounds the problem. The timely diagnosis of mesothelioma is important. Although it may not change the prognosis of the disease, it can help in treatment strategies. Treatment delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic had a major effect on survival rates for some patients. Survival Rate during Pandemic During the COVID-19 pandemic,…

Earlier Mesothelioma Diagnosis with Machine Learning Model
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Earlier Mesothelioma Diagnosis with Machine Learning Model

ByHolly Zink

A new machine learning model can diagnose mesothelioma better than any current model. The model provides new hope for early diagnosis and better treatment of malignant mesothelioma. A machine learning tool is a computer program that gets “smarter” the more it runs. One challenge in predicting mesothelioma is that mesothelioma is very rare. With the exception of mesothelioma specialists, most doctors never even see a single case. The same is true for pathologists. If they do not see mesothelioma patients, they are less likely to see differences that may influence the diagnosis. Doctors trained the new machine learning tool to recognize and diagnose malignant mesothelioma. It works more quickly and accurately. Earlier mesothelioma diagnosis would allow for earlier intervention. This…

Mesothelioma and MRI Scans: Using an Old Tool in a New Way
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Mesothelioma and MRI Scans: Using an Old Tool in a New Way

ByHolly Zink

Imaging scans are an important tool in helping clinicians diagnose mesothelioma. These scans include X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, and PET scans. These tools help clinicians to see tumors inside a patient’s body. The results of the scan cannot diagnose mesothelioma, but it is an important tool for arriving at the correct diagnosis. Unlike X-rays and CT’s, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans use a completely different type of radiation. An MRI applies a very strong magnetic field to change the spin of protons. The scanner also produces a radio frequency. This process produces a signal that can be made into an image. Until now, the role of MRIs has been limited in mesothelioma. However, new evidence suggests MRIs can be…

Mesothelioma Mimics Ovarian Cancer: Lessons from a Case Report
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Mesothelioma Mimics Ovarian Cancer: Lessons from a Case Report

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma mimics ovarian cancer in a new report by Radiology Case Reports. Mesothelioma is a rare and very aggressive tumor of the peritoneum. Similar clinical and imaging presentations mean mesothelioma mimics ovarian cancer at times. Yet, a history of asbestosis exposure is key as the main risk factor for mesothelioma. Imaging plays a key role in getting the diagnosis correct. It narrows down the diagnosis possibilities. Ultrasound-guided biopsy with histological study can confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. Case Report Misdiagnosis The Bangladesh National Institute of Oncology recently published a case report. A 42-year-old woman reported pelvic pain and progressive abdominal distension. An abdominal ultrasound revealed a high volume anechoic peritoneal effusion. Further investigation showed extensive peritoneal disease and bilateral ovarian tissue…

Research Advancements Audit by Asbestos Diseases Research Institute
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Research Advancements Audit by Asbestos Diseases Research Institute

ByHolly Zink

Research advancements provide a brighter future for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the lung lining. Mesothelioma is associated with asbestos exposure. Australian researchers from the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute and the University of Sydney have reviewed the basic research advancements. Their new publication covers mesothelioma biomarkers and treatment strategies. There is a long latency period from asbestos exposure to cancer development. A lack of genetic biomarkers makes early diagnosis difficult. The prognosis of pleural mesothelioma is poor. There is an average survival of eight to fourteen months following diagnosis. Diagnostic Biomarkers Biomarkers are limited in the clinic to diagnose pleural mesothelioma. A biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood or other body fluids…

Detecting Mesothelioma by Smell: A Promising Future
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Detecting Mesothelioma by Smell: A Promising Future

ByHolly Zink

Early cancer detection can be difficult, but there is a promising history of research on detecting mesothelioma by smell. A new study suggests that a change in a patient’s body odor may be used for early malignant pleural mesothelioma detection. This holds tremendous hope for early treatment. Right now, pleural mesothelioma detection relies heavily on various clinical tests. These tests often include radiography, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and biopsy. All of these technologies and methods are effective. However, several are invasive, expensive, time-consuming, or limited to large hospital settings. In an article in BBA – Reviews on Cancer, researchers explore how body odor can detect malignant pleural mesothelioma. The team says the research on detecting mesothelioma by smell is promising. Nevertheless,…

Cancer Biomarker Test Could Detect Mesothelioma Earlier
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Cancer Biomarker Test Could Detect Mesothelioma Earlier

ByAlex Strauss

A new cancer biomarker test that promises to identify cancer in patients with “non-specific symptoms” could be the key to detecting mesothelioma earlier.  Malignant mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by asbestos. The early symptoms of mesothelioma are usually vague and similar to other conditions. As a result, mesothelioma is frequently diagnosed in a late stage. But a cancer biomarker test developed in the UK could change that. The test looks for small molecules called metabolites in the blood. Its developers say it has the potential to find cancer earlier than other blood-based cancer tests.  Non-Specific Symptoms Make Mesothelioma a Diagnostic Challenge Mesothelioma is a rare cancer. It is most common in people who worked or lived around asbestos in…

Could Lipids Hold the Key to Improving the Mesothelioma Diagnostic Process?
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Could Lipids Hold the Key to Improving the Mesothelioma Diagnostic Process?

ByAlex Strauss

A new Chinese report suggests that molecules called lipids could hold the key to improving the mesothelioma diagnostic process. Mesothelioma is rare and hard to treat. It is critical to diagnose it accurately and as early as possible for the best outcomes. But the mesothelioma diagnostic process can be complex and difficult.  The Chinese researchers compared the amounts and types of lipids in the blood of mesothelioma patients to those in the blood of healthy people. They discovered five lipids that were higher in the mesothelioma patients and 29 that were lower.  The information could help doctors refine the mesothelioma diagnostic process. It could also help them determine how a patient is doing on a particular treatment.  Lipids and the…

New Cancer Blood Test: Could it Find Early Mesothelioma?
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New Cancer Blood Test: Could it Find Early Mesothelioma?

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers in England are testing a new cancer blood test that promises to reveal the presence of hard-to-find cancers like mesothelioma earlier. The country’s National Health Service will offer the test to 165,000 UK residents next year as part of a clinical trial.  “Early detection, particularly for hard to treat conditions like ovarian and pancreatic cancer, has the potential to save many lives,” NHS England’s’ chief executive Simon Stevens told The Guardian newspaper. “This promising blood test could therefore be a gamechanger in cancer care, helping thousands more people to get successful treatment.” If the trial of the new cancer blood test is successful, it could be available to help detect mesothelioma within a few years.  The Challenge of Identifying…

Scientists Say Machine Learning Could Help Diagnose Mesothelioma Earlier
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Scientists Say Machine Learning Could Help Diagnose Mesothelioma Earlier

ByAlex Strauss

Researchers in Toronto say machine learning could help doctors diagnose mesothelioma earlier. Molecular geneticists at the University of Toronto teamed up with cancer and heart doctors to conduct the new research. The team collected data from hundreds of suspected mesothelioma cases and ran it through different statistical analysis programs. The goal was to see which one was best at determining who had pleural mesothelioma and who did not. The results revealed some important information – both about the machine learning tools and about how doctors might diagnose mesothelioma earlier, even without them. Why Doctors Need to Diagnose Mesothelioma Earlier Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. In the first few years of the disease, there may be no mesothelioma…