Understanding Cancer in Women: Why It Matters and What We Can Do
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Understanding Cancer in Women: Why It Matters and What We Can Do

ByHolly Zink

Lung cancer and mesothelioma are a big worry for women worldwide. Many things like our bodies, the environment, and how we live can make this disease more likely. It’s the main cause of cancer deaths in women in some countries. But when we talk about lung cancer and mesothelioma, we often think more about men. This makes it hard to learn about, treat, and help women who have it. A new study in Clinical Lung Cancer looks at the history and future of lung cancer in women. Decoding Women’s Unique Risks Researchers say it’s hard for women with lung cancer or mesothelioma to get the right help. Not enough women are part of studies to learn about cancer treatments. There…

The Mesothelioma Threat in Nevada’s Soil
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The Mesothelioma Threat in Nevada’s Soil

ByAlex Strauss

Environmental asbestos may be to blame for higher-than-expected numbers of mesothelioma cases among younger people and women in Nevada. That conclusion comes from a newly-published report from top cancer researchers. Malignant mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by the mineral asbestos and affects the membrane that surrounds the lungs, heart, or abdominal organs. Although it is extremely rare, it is also highly lethal.  Since the regulation of asbestos in industries like construction and manufacturing in the 1970s, most mesothelioma cases now occur in older men who were exposed on the job decades ago. But the story is different in Nevada. Whereas occupational asbestos exposure typically causes mesothelioma at a rate four to eight times greater in men than in women, mortality…