One in Three Mesothelioma Deaths Go Unreported in Brazil
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One in Three Mesothelioma Deaths Go Unreported in Brazil

ByAlex Strauss

Brazil has a history of underreporting mesothelioma deaths and the trend is not improving.  That is the word from Brazilian public health experts. Their new report appears in a recent issue of Occupational Medicine.  Researchers from the Institute of Collective Health in Salvador examined electronic medical records from across the country. They compared them with the official record of asbestos related diseases (ARDs) in Brazil’s Mortality Information System.  They discovered that more than 300 mesothelioma deaths were missing from the roughly 1000 deaths reported between 2008 and 2014. The researchers say such underreporting makes it harder to evaluate “remedial policies” that could help prevent asbestos-linked illnesses. Asbestos in Brazil Asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma deaths worldwide. Mesothelioma is a…

Predicting the Risk of Death from Mesothelioma
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Predicting the Risk of Death from Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

New research suggests that the risk of death from mesothelioma does not always hinge on disease type or overall health. Researchers in Brazil and at Mayo Clinic have identified some subtle mesothelioma risk factors that only pathologists can see. These factors go beyond the characteristics of the mesothelioma cells themselves. The study shows the environment around the tumor, the number and type of immune system cells at the tumor site, and even how many cells are in the tumor can all impact the risk of death from mesothelioma.  Understanding the Risk Factors for Mesothelioma Asbestos exposure causes most cases of mesothelioma. But not everyone who encounters asbestos gets cancer. Genes and certain lifestyle factors may influence whether an exposed person…

Risk of Dying from Mesothelioma Varies by Type, Study Shows
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Risk of Dying from Mesothelioma Varies by Type, Study Shows

ByAlex Strauss

The risk of dying from mesothelioma rises and gradually falls  in the decades after exposure for most, but not all, types of asbestos cancer. New research shows those peaks and valleys can vary based on a number of factors. Public health researchers from across Italy recently published their findings on asbestos workers’ risk of dying from mesothelioma. They suggest that the lifetime risk of dying from peritoneal mesothelioma stays high, even after the risk of death from pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer begins to drop off. Quantifying the Risk of Dying from Mesothelioma Asbestos is the primary cause of all three types of mesothelioma: pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common asbestos-related cancer. Pleural tumors start on…