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Caring for a Mesothelioma Patient Creates Significant Stress. A New Tool Can Help
Whether the mesothelioma patient you’re caring for is a family member, friend, neighbor, or client, the responsibility creates intense levels of stress. Now a group of occupational medicine researchers in Rome has developed a new tool to gauge the extent of that psychological pain, facilitating faster relief for those who need it.
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Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survival Extended by Academic Medical Center Care
Once diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, patients must make an important decision about where to seek care. For many, the natural choice is the hospital closest to their home and the comfort provided by family and friends. Others seek the state-of-the-art care that’s only available at academic medical centers. A recent study shows that though
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Navy Captain’s Expert Witness Testimony at Issue in Mesothelioma Lawsuit
When Arnold Pritt was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, he and his wife Ruth filed product liability claims against multiple defendants, including John Crane, Inc. They blame each for having exposed him to asbestos when he served in the Navy aboard the USS Purdy from December 1961 to August 1964. When expert witnesses for both sides
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Two Studies Confirm Usefulness of CT Technology in Mesothelioma Diagnosis
When evaluating treatment options for malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma, physicians rely on several different diagnostic tests to guide their decisions. The more they know about the type and extent of tumor infiltration, the better they can assess how best to help their patient. Two recent studies conducted in the United States and Switzerland assessed
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Asbestos Company Fails in Effort to Try Mesothelioma Case in Federal Court
When a mesothelioma victim pursues legal justice against the companies that exposed them to asbestos, they know the battle will be long and hard. Asbestos companies use every possible legal argument to have cases dismissed or heard in industry-friendly courts, and that is what happened to Ethel Tabor, a victim whose exposure to asbestos on
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Study on Current Mesothelioma Patients Shows Effectiveness of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy/Surgery Combination
The challenges of treating malignant mesothelioma are well known. The rare and fatal form of cancer is notoriously resistant to traditional protocols, and historically most patients die within a year of their diagnosis. But a recent study conducted by researchers in Japan has shown that administering chemotherapy prior to surgery is an extremely effective option
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Popular Diagnostic Tool for Mesothelioma Falls Short on Capturing Pain and Common Symptoms
A pilot study investigating the use of multiple assessment tools for diagnosing malignant pleural mesothelioma has found that one of the commonly used tests fell short when reflecting patients’ actual experience of pain. It also did not include many of the symptoms that patients brought up most frequently. The study concluded that a mixed methods
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Judge Tells Shipyard that Mesothelioma Liability Can’t be Blamed on Government Contract
Before it was known that asbestos exposure could lead to malignant mesothelioma, the U.S. government required that the toxic mineral be used in many of its military applications. As a result, countless shipyard workers, as well as members of the U.S. Armed Forces, were sickened by the rare and fatal disease. Today many of those
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Asbestos Company Loses Argument Against Punitive Damages in Mesothelioma Case
Mesothelioma victims are eligible to file lawsuits seeking both economic damages for their actual monetary losses and punitive damages that punish asbestos companies for their reckless disregard for human wellbeing. In a recent case, a New York judge ordered an asbestos company to comply with a victim’s request for testimony after the company repeatedly attempted
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Negligent Management of Asbestos-Contaminated Site Puts UK Workers at Risk for Mesothelioma
Though asbestos is no longer used in construction in the United States or the United Kingdom, there is still significant danger posed by legacy asbestos in existing structures and in areas where asbestos-contaminated buildings previously stood. Companies doing demolition and excavation in these areas are required to exercise great care to protect against the carcinogenic
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Making the Thanksgiving Feast Enjoyable for Mesothelioma Patients
Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, but feeling grateful can be hard when a loved one is battling malignant mesothelioma. By focusing on the joy of being together and building memories, you can upend sorrow and enjoy the holiday. The holiday feast at the center of Thanksgiving can be very difficult for a mesothelioma patient
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Mesothelioma Researchers Report ‘Remarkable Results’ from Combining Surgery with Heated Chemotherapy
Though mesothelioma researchers are far from finding a cure for the rare and fatal asbestos-related disease, they’ve found that combining existing therapies can significantly extend patient survival. A recent study shows that by combining heated chemotherapy with a surgical procedure known as extended pleurectomy with decortication, patients were able to live far longer than what
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Judge Resolves Long-Standing Question for New York Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cases
Though mesothelioma victims seeking justice through the New York City court systems have successfully pursued lawsuits against asbestos companies, a 1996 deferral created a frustrating situation that stymied their ability to pursue punitive damages. Now, after decades of conflicting decisions, New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL) Judge Adam Silvera has lifted the deferral and ruled
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Kansas Developer Faces Prison and Fines After Putting Countless at Risk for Mesothelioma
Federal and state laws surrounding the proper handling and disposal of asbestos were specifically created to protect people against mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Companies and individuals who put profits over people — ignoring or evading these rules — do so at their own peril, as guilty verdicts come with stiff penalties. A Kansas-based developer
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Drug Shown to Stop Nerve Sheath Tumors Is Same Class as Drug That Slows Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of cancer that strikes just 3,000 patients in the United States each year. As a result, research and resources aimed at finding a treatment can be sparse. Fortunately, mesothelioma shares many characteristics with other challenging diseases, and research into treatments for those illnesses has contributed to the pool
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Ship Owner Denies Role in Man’s Mesothelioma Death
Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. When a mesothelioma patient decides to seek justice from those responsible, the first step is to identify all of the companies involved. In a recent case, shipping company SeaRiver Maritime objected to being named as a defendant following a victim’s death. Despite their
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Texas Researchers Reveal Real-World Outcomes of Immunotherapy Treatment in Patients with Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Whether for malignant mesothelioma or any of a number of other challenging cancers, immunotherapy is generating tremendous excitement among patients and physicians alike. Rather than killing or removing cancer cells, the approach leverages the body’s own immune system, enlisting it to attack tumor cells in a way that is both effective and largely non-toxic. Still,
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Mesothelioma Victim’s Heirs Win Right to Continue Quest for Justice
Only three months passed between James Gooding’s diagnosis with diagnosis and the rare, asbestos-related disease claiming his life. In that short amount of time, he filed claims against several companies he blamed for his shipyard exposure, and after his death, his heirs continued the case. When several of the companies asked to have the case
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Penn Study Finds Immunotherapy Superior to Chemotherapy as Second-Line Treatment
The challenges of treating malignant mesothelioma are undeniable: those diagnosed with the rare and deadly form of cancer are immediately told that their condition is terminal. Still, many patients are extending their survival time by taking advantage of innovative treatment options. A recent study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania made clear that immunotherapy
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Auto Parts Retailer Fails in Attempt to Dismiss Mesothelioma Claim
Can a retail operation that sold asbestos-contaminated parts be held responsible for a customer’s mesothelioma? The family of Gail Chandler is exploring that question. They won a recent court decision that allowed their case against Parts Warehouse and its alternate entity Lamus-Lundlee to move forward.
