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…

Misleading Symptoms: The Complex Path to Diagnosing Mesothelioma
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Misleading Symptoms: The Complex Path to Diagnosing Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Patients with symptoms that look like mesothelioma take longer to get an accurate diagnosis, finds a study out of the United Kingdom. The Complex Path to Diagnosing Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops from the cells in the lining of many of the internal organs in the body. There are about 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States each year. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma may include shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss, and fatigue. These are so like many other diseases that only a proper work-up, including scans and even a biopsy, can determine if the cause is mesothelioma. Because the disease is so rare, it can…

Empowering Mesothelioma Patients with Patient-Reported Symptom Monitoring
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Empowering Mesothelioma Patients with Patient-Reported Symptom Monitoring

ByHolly Zink

New data shows that patient-reported symptom monitoring improves the quality of life in lung cancer patients. The study was published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Enhancing Life Quality for Lung Cancer Patients Pleural mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that affects the lungs. Mesothelioma patients have many of the same symptoms as lung cancer patients. Among other things, they tend to suffer from breathing problems, chest pain, cough, weakness, and fatigue. One recent study focused on how patients’ lives can be improved during and after lung cancer treatment. Researchers were interested in using “patient-reported outcomes measures.” Or PROMs for short. PROMS can monitor how patients are feeling. These PROMs would help keep track of symptoms and make sure that…

Caring for a Loved One with Mesothelioma: Your Guide to the First Steps

New Tool to Measure Mesothelioma Stress

ByHolly Zink

Researchers from Italy have created a tool to measure psychological distress in patients with malignant mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It is unique among cancers because of the combination of medical, psychological, social, and legal factors. The clinical characteristics of mesothelioma can make this disease especially difficult for patients and families. It can take decades for symptoms to appear, and they are often difficult to treat. Because of this, the prognosis usually is not very good for patients. The fact that asbestos exposure typically occurs at work is also difficult for patients to deal with. Unlike other cancers, mesothelioma patients can blame governments or companies for their disease. This can lead to feelings of…

signs of pleural mesothelioma
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LA Woman’s Story is a Sobering Reminder to Watch for Signs of Pleural Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

The plight of an LA actress who found out she had lung cancer because of a COVID test is a sobering reminder to be aware of the early signs of pleural mesothelioma. The woman’s story was recently featured on the Today Show website. Fifty-nine year old Annabelle Gurwitch is a non-smoker with no known lung cancer risk factors. She and her 23-year-old child decided to get COVID tests after her child came home from college.  Although the COVID test was negative, Gurwitch writes that doctors were concerned about her persistent cough. Ongoing cough can be a one of the early signs of pleural mesothelioma, too. An X-ray revealed that Gurwitch was suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer, the most common…

Manage Mesothelioma Symptoms
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Smartphone Monitoring System Helps Manage Mesothelioma Symptoms

ByAlex Strauss

A new study shows a system that connects doctors and patients via smartphone may make it easier to manage mesothelioma symptoms.  Mesothelioma tumors grow quickly on the membrane around the lungs. Mesothelioma patients tend to have many physical symptoms.  Researchers in the UK tested a mesothelioma-specific version of a symptom management system. Their study shows patients felt better with easier access to a doctor to help them manage mesothelioma symptoms.  Symptoms of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of asbestos cancer. As tumors grow, the pleural membrane becomes less pliable. This makes it harder for the lungs to expand. The space around the lungs can also fill up with fluid (pleural effusions) as the body tries…

COVID-19 in Mesothelioma Patients
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COVID-19 in Mesothelioma Patients: Case Highlights Unusual Symptoms

ByAlex Strauss

There’s evidence that the symptoms of COVID-19 in mesothelioma patients may sometimes be different than in other people.  Pakistani doctors say one of their mesothelioma patients developed stomach distension as a result of the coronavirus. The man also complained of severe abdominal pain. The case highlights the need for doctors and patients to watch for unusual symptoms of COVID-19 in mesothelioma patients. The Danger of Coronavirus for Asbestos Cancer Patients SARS-CoV2 is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. In most symptomatic people, COVID-19 causes respiratory symptoms. Some people just get the sniffles while others develop severe breathing problems.  People with pleural mesothelioma may be at special risk from the virus. Their lungs are already compromised by the cancer. Breathing problems are…

COPD Drug Might Help with Drooling in Pleural Mesothelioma Patients
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COPD Drug Might Help with Drooling in Pleural Mesothelioma Patients

ByAlex Strauss

A UK doctor says a drug used to treat COPD can help with drooling in pleural mesothelioma patients on palliative care.  Dr. Claire Plunkett recently published the case report of a mesothelioma patient receiving palliative care. The patient developed a problem with drooling and swallowing. The medical term for drooling is sialorrhoea. It can happen in people with certain conditions or on certain drugs. Doctors at Farleigh Hospice in Chelmsford, UK treated the man with a glycopyrronium bromide inhaler. Glycopyrronium is normally used for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD).  The treatment cured the problem in just a few days. Plunkett says this is evidence that glycopyrronium is a good option to treat drooling in pleural mesothelioma patients. What…

Palliative Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma
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Palliative Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma Faster with New Technology

ByAlex Strauss

A new type of linear accelerator could make palliative radiotherapy for mesothelioma faster and safer.  That news comes from researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Perelman is the site of some of the world’s foremost mesothelioma research.  Their new report on palliative radiotherapy for mesothelioma focuses on the Halcyon multileaf collimator. This machine delivers radiotherapy to relieve mesothelioma symptoms.  The report shows patients were in and out of treatment within minutes. This could make Halcyon an option for fragile mesothelioma patients who could not tolerate a longer treatment. What is Palliative Radiotherapy for Mesothelioma? Palliative medicine is a branch of medicine focused on symptom management. Many mesothelioma patients have no symptoms for many years….

Quality of Life with Mesothelioma
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Quality of Life with Mesothelioma: Too Many Symptoms, Not Enough Support

ByAlex Strauss

A new study suggests that even the healthiest patients have a lower quality of life with mesothelioma than they should. That is because they tend to have many symptoms and needs that are not being met.  Researchers at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Western Australia ran the study. They used data from the RESPECT-Meso trial. RESPECT-Meso was a multicenter, randomized study to measure the impact of early palliative care on quality of life with mesothelioma. Australia has one of the highest per capita rates of malignant mesothelioma in the world.  Researchers found that the high symptom burden of this cancer is a big problem for patients. Many also said they were not getting the information they need from their doctors. …