Mesothelioma: Unraveling the Impact of Asbestos Exposure and Predicting Future Trends
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Mesothelioma: Unraveling the Impact of Asbestos Exposure and Predicting Future Trends

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma cases have been decreasing around the world over the past 30 years, finds researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The Changing Landscape of Mesothelioma Their goal was to look at how the burden of mesothelioma has changed over time and make predictions about future trends. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is hard to diagnose and treat. It is caused by exposure to a toxic mineral called asbestos. There are different types of mesotheliomas depending on where in the body it develops. Mesothelioma that grows in the lining of the lungs is called pleural mesothelioma. When it grows in the lining of the abdominal cavity, it is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has also been found around…

Mesothelioma, A Most Difficult Diagnosis
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Mesothelioma, A Most Difficult Diagnosis

ByHolly Zink

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…

Tracking Local Mesothelioma Trends
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Tracking Local Mesothelioma Trends

ByHolly Zink

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…

International Mesothelioma Registry
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International Mesothelioma Registry

ByHolly Zink

An international group of researchers have provided recommendations for countries to create a mesothelioma registry. Mesothelioma registries are great tools to monitor the negative effects of asbestos. It can help to identify clusters of asbestos exposure. Registries can also track the impact of asbestos reduction programs. Asbestos Health Risks Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that has been found throughout the world. Even though it is toxic, it is used in manufacturing and construction in many countries around the world. Mesothelioma is a cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. It grows in the lining of organs like the lungs. Generally, those who develop mesothelioma show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It…

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…

Annual Report on Cancer Death Rates: Good and Bad News for Mesothelioma Patients
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Annual Report on Cancer Death Rates: Good and Bad News for Mesothelioma Patients

ByAlex Strauss

The latest report on cancer death rates in the US is both good and bad news for people with malignant mesothelioma.  The good news is that the rate of death from all types of cancer has declined in recent years. This is true for both men and women of all races. Better drugs and improved screening tools are some of the reasons.  The bad news for people with mesothelioma is that the likelihood of dying from it is not declining as rapidly as overall cancer death rates. Asbestos cancer continues to confound cancer researchers around the world.  Mesothelioma: A Rare Cancer with High Mortality Malignant mesothelioma is one of the rarest cancers in the US. That is fortunate because the…

Research Shows Location Impacts Mesothelioma Therapy in Italy
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Research Shows Location Impacts Mesothelioma Therapy in Italy

ByAlex Strauss

Italian cancer researchers have released new data on how patient location impacts mesothelioma therapy in the country.  Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer. Most doctors see very few cases in the course of their careers. This lack of expertise may explain why the preferred treatments vary from one region to the next.  Italy’s Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare led the new research. They analyzed pleural mesothelioma outcomes across the country. The conclusion is that location impacts mesothelioma therapy in Italy because there is not enough sharing of information. Choosing a Mesothelioma Treatment Approach Pleural mesothelioma is challenging to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Even experienced mesothelioma doctors often struggle to know the best way to approach…

Odds of Surviving Mesothelioma Equal in Rural and Urban Australia
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Odds of Surviving Mesothelioma Equal in Rural and Urban Australia

ByAlex Strauss

Living in a city and having a better socioeconomic status does not necessarily increase the odds of surviving mesothelioma.  That is the message from a 15-year Australian study of more than 300,000 cancer patients.  Some studies suggest cancer survival rates are lower in rural areas. But that does not appear to be the case for mesothelioma in Australia.  Unfortunately, the odds of surviving mesothelioma remain low no matter where a person lives. The Legacy of Asbestos in Australia Australia used to mine and export more asbestos than any other country. The mineral has been banned there since 2003, but Australian mesothelioma rates are still among the highest in the world.  Asbestos fibers are biopersistent. Once they are embedded in the…

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…

Study Highlights Link Between Mesothelioma Incidence and Ovarian Cancer
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Study Highlights Link Between Mesothelioma Incidence and Ovarian Cancer

ByAlex Strauss

New research shows ovarian cancer rates are highest in states with the highest mesothelioma incidence. Researchers say it is because both are linked to the carcinogen asbestos. Scientists have known since as early as the 1950s that asbestos causes cancer. Malignant mesothelioma is the cancer most commonly associated with asbestos exposure. But women with a history of asbestos exposure face a higher risk of ovarian cancer, too.  The new CDC study is a reminder that a higher mesothelioma incidence is not the only threat from asbestos. Asbestos and Mesothelioma Incidence Before asbestos was linked to mesothelioma, it was a popular insulator and building product additive. Most US buildings constructed before the 1980s contain some asbestos. The asbestos in these buildings…