Understanding Mesothelioma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
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Understanding Mesothelioma: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

ByHolly Zink

Understanding the global impact of occupational asbestos exposure is critical. Data is important for implementing effective prevention and control measures. A recent study assessed the burden of diseases caused by occupational asbestos exposure from 1990 to 2019, with a prediction for 2035. The study was published in BMC Public Health. Researchers show the trends in deaths and the years of life lost to disability from asbestos exposure. It highlights the need for continued efforts to address this occupational health risk. Understanding the Impact of Asbestos Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma. Asbestos is a mineral that was once commonly used in construction and manufacturing. While…

Suicide Prevention in Mesothelioma

Suicide Prevention in Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Cancer patients who receive surgery have a higher risk of suicide up to three years after their treatment. Researchers from Massachusetts and California looked at data from 1,811,397 patients between 2000 and 2016. Patients who receive cancer surgery should be closely monitored for psychological distress. Social support from family, friends, and peers can help, too. Psychological Effects of Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining of internal organs like the lungs. The current treatment options can be invasive and may not be effective. It can be a lonely disease for caregivers and patients. Only about 2,500 Americans receive a mesothelioma diagnosis each year making it one of the rarest types of cancer. In many cases,…

Preventing Malignant Mesothelioma through National Asbestos Regulation
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Preventing Malignant Mesothelioma through National Asbestos Regulation

ByHolly Zink

After almost 30 years, one key to preventing malignant mesothelioma is found. A national ban on asbestos in the Netherlands has shown positive effects. Results from a new study show the ban cut malignant mesothelioma incidence. Malignant mesothelioma incidence has peaked about 10 years earlier than predicted. This is after the Dutch national ban on asbestos. Mesothelioma treatment advances have led to somewhat better survival in the Netherlands. But the prognosis is still dismal. National Regulation Can Prevent Malignant Mesothelioma In 1993, a national ban on asbestos went into effect in the Netherlands. This ban was preventing malignant mesothelioma in future generations. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer. It arises from the pleura or peritoneum due to asbestos exposure. A…

Pleural Mesothelioma Risk Among Workers May Be Higher in Winter
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Pleural Mesothelioma Risk Among Workers May Be Higher in Winter

ByAlex Strauss

A leading authority in the occupational health and safety space is warning workers to be aware that their pleural mesothelioma risk may be higher in the winter. The website Occupational Health & Safety says winter is a prime season for exposure to toxins like asbestos that can threaten respiratory health. Asbestos is the primary cause of malignant pleural mesothelioma worldwide. In a new online article, the site says the combination of dry air, colds and allergies, closed up work spaces, and poor ventilation can increase the risk for serious respiratory diseases.  Why Winter Can Be Dangerous for Workers Although anyone can get malignant mesothelioma, it is usually considered an occupational disease. People in certain kinds of jobs face a much…

Paclitaxel May Prevent Metastatic Peritoneal Mesothelioma in High Risk People
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Paclitaxel May Prevent Metastatic Peritoneal Mesothelioma in High Risk People

ByAlex Strauss

Administering the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel directly into the abdomen of people with mesothelioma might offer a way to prevent metastatic peritoneal mesothelioma. That is the premise of a recent article by Dr. Paul Sugarbaker in the Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology. Dr. Sugarbaker is a global expert in peritoneal mesothelioma. He works at MedStar Washington Hospital in Washington, DC. Metastatic peritoneal mesothelioma is when mesothelioma cells spread. They move from their original spot to other parts of the abdomen. Paclitaxel can help prevent new tumors in people who already have some metastases. In his new article, Dr. Sugarbaker says the evidence suggests that it might also work to keep metastases from forming. Metastatic Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer…

New Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines Could Catch Some Mesotheliomas Earlier
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New Lung Cancer Screening Guidelines Could Catch Some Mesotheliomas Earlier

ByAlex Strauss

New lung cancer screening guidelines for smokers might have an unexpected benefit for people who have also been exposed to asbestos: They may catch mesothelioma earlier.  Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a lung-related cancer caused by asbestos. It develops over many years. Many mesothelioma patients do not show any symptoms until the disease is very advanced. There is currently no routine screening for mesothelioma. The new lung cancer screening guidelines apply to people ages 50 to 80. They suggest that those who have smoked the equivalent of a pack a day for 20 years should have annual low-dose CT scans.  If screening shows a tumor, doctors can dig further to determine its type. Both lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma are more…

Exercise Unlikely to Prevent Mesothelioma Development
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Exercise Unlikely to Prevent Mesothelioma Development

ByAlex Strauss

A new Australian study suggests that exercise is unlikely to prevent mesothelioma development in people who have been exposed to asbestos. The study focused on asbestos-exposed mice. Asbestos cancer can take decades to develop. Researchers thought the long latency period might offer an opportunity to prevent mesothelioma development with physical activity.   But even mice that had no mesothelioma symptoms were less likely than mice their same age to be physically active. How Mesothelioma Develops Over Time Malignant mesothelioma has one of the longest latency periods of any cancer. The latency period is the time between exposure to a carcinogen and development of the disease. Scientists know that asbestos can cause mesothelioma. But they have not found a way to prevent…

Supplement May Boost the Effectiveness of Mesothelioma Treatment
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Supplement May Boost the Effectiveness of Mesothelioma Treatment

ByAlex Strauss

A supplement that claims to increase oxygen in the tissues might boost the effectiveness of mesothelioma treatment.  That is the conclusion of researchers at Italy’s National Cancer Institute in Rome.  The group tested the supplement Cellfood (CF) on several types of cancer cells in the lab. They also gave the supplement to mice with implanted human mesothelioma tumors.  CF appeared to boost the effectiveness of mesothelioma treatment with radiation or chemoradiation.  What is Cellfood? Cellfood (Deutrosultazyme) is a nutraceutical produced by NuScience Corporation. A nutraceutical is a nutritional supplement that may function like a drug in some ways. According to NuScience, Cellfood contains colloidal minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and dissolved oxygen. Lab studies show that it has antioxidant effects and…

Can Yogurt and Fiber Reduce Mesothelioma Risk?
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Can Yogurt and Fiber Reduce Mesothelioma Risk?

ByAlex Strauss

The findings of a new lung cancer study suggest that eating yogurt and fiber might help reduce mesothelioma risk.  The study in JAMA Oncology involved more than 1.4 lung cancer patients from around the world.  Researchers assessed the results of 10 dietary studies between 2017 and 2019. They found a “synergistic association” between eating fiber and yogurt and a lower risk of lung cancer.  Pleural mesothelioma is a lung-related cancer with many of the same characteristics as lung cancer. It is possible that the same dietary habits might reduce mesothelioma risk, too.  The Yin and Yang of an Anti-Cancer Diet The lung cancer researchers did not choose to study yogurt and fiber randomly. Dietary fiber is the main source of…

Antioxidant Supplements for Mesothelioma Patients Might be Dangerous
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Antioxidant Supplements for Mesothelioma Patients Might be Dangerous

ByAlex Strauss

Two separate lung cancer studies suggest that antioxidant supplements for mesothelioma patients may not be advisable.  The studies appear in the most recent issue of the medical journal Cell.  Both focus on the role of antioxidants in the growth and spread of lung cancer. Although mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer, it affects the same area of the body and shares many of the same characteristics.  The new research suggests that, instead of fighting cancer, antioxidant supplements for mesothelioma patients, might actually help it grow.  Supplements for Cancer Patients Antioxidant vitamins like A, C, and E are plentiful in fruits and vegetables. Many people take antioxidant supplements to make up for a poor diet. These vitamins can help…