-
Study Suggests Limitations of CT in Pre-Surgical Mesothelioma Patients
People diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma have limited options for treatment. When deciding whether to pursue surgery they need as much information as possible about their own condition and how far the cancerous cells have spread within their bodies. A recent study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania has revealed that one of the
-
After Contentious Trial, Woman with Mesothelioma Awarded $23 Million
Cynthia B. Cowger blames her malignant mesothelioma on exposure to asbestos suffered over years of working for F.W. Means/Aramark. Her duties there involved handling laundry press pads and other commercial laundry equipment that her employer had sourced from Qualitex Company, and she filed a personal injury lawsuit against that organization seeking compensation for the damages
-
Mesothelioma Victims Win First Round in Johnson & Johnson Bankruptcy Battle
Facing tens of thousands of lawsuits filed by victims of malignant mesothelioma and ovarian cancer, Johnson & Johnson recently attempted to evade legal responsibility by moving its talc business to a newly formed company and then having that company immediately file for bankruptcy. Though the battles over the legality of this maneuver are anticipated to
-
Cholesterol Drugs Provide Longer Survival for Mesothelioma Patients
Researchers in Italy and the Netherlands identified a remarkable result when analyzing survival outcomes of mesothelioma patients in a recent study of PD-1 inhibitors. They found that the positive impact of the promising treatment was elevated among patients taking statin drugs for the treatment of high cholesterol.
-
Asbestos Company’s Name Change Can’t Mask Responsibility for Mesothelioma
Following the mesothelioma death of her husband, a widow and her children sought justice from the companies responsible for having exposed him to asbestos. One of those companies had been sold and renamed, and its legal place of business changed. The company claimed it had no liability for its predecessor’s negligence and a lower court
-
Johns Hopkins’ Researchers Achieve Remarkable Results With New Mesothelioma Treatment
The introduction of immunotherapy has opened a whole new world in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, and researchers testing the protocol to see how best to use it are making remarkable breakthroughs. A Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center study that was just published in the journal Nature Medicine is one of the most notable of these, as
-
Mesothelioma Expert Sees Hope with New Treatments
In preparation for her presentation at the PER New York Lung Cancer Symposium, Marjorie G. Zauderer, M.D., co-director of the MSK Mesothelioma Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, provided an interview to the journal OncLive. Her responses gave a glimpse into the future of the disease’s treatment options, as well
-
New York Congressman Urges National Mesothelioma Registry
It’s been more than six years since Republican representative John Katko of New York first introduced the Mary Jo Lawyer-Spano Mesothelioma Patient Registry Act. Despite bipartisan sponsorship the bill has yet to pass, but that has not dampened the congressman’s dedication to the cause. This week he reintroduced the legislation with the help of U.S.
-
CAR-T Continues to Show Promise for Pleural Mesothelioma Patients
A recently completed phase I trial conducted by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer center has shown a safe and positive response in mesothelioma patients, according to a report published in the journal Cancer Discovery. After scientists administered chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy followed by Keytruda, 83 percent of patients were alive one year later.
-
South Carolina Appeals Court Eases Burden of Proof in Mesothelioma Cases
A recent ruling by the South Carolina Court of Appeals both confirmed victory for a mesothelioma victim and his wife and eased the burden of proof for future victims of asbestos exposure.
-
Court of Appeals Allows $1.9 Million Mesothelioma Award to Stand in Bowling Ball Case
When Barbara Vanni and her sons filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against Honeywell International, Inc., the details of their case garnered a great deal of attention because it was so unusual. Unlike the majority of asbestos lawsuits which involve workplace exposure in factories, plants, or construction sites, Donald Vanni owned and operated a bowling alley, and
-
Age Must Be Considered When Making Mesothelioma Surgery Decision
Patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma are immediately confronted with a host of important decisions. While some are highly personal, those involving medical care are made in concert with patients’ physicians, who provide essential information about the risks and potential outcomes of their choices. Among the decisions to be made is whether or not to undergo
-
Innovative Mesothelioma Protocol to Begin Phase I Trials
Researchers from the University of Vermont’s Cancer Center have developed an innovative approach to killing malignant mesothelioma cells, and its success in the laboratory has led to a scheduled Phase I clinical trial being scheduled to launch later this year. Led by Dr. Brian Cunniff, a team funded by pharmaceutical company RS Oncology and collaborating
-
Cancer Care Report Details Hardships Experienced by Many Mesothelioma Patients
A report on the cost of cancer care confirms what many mesothelioma patients already know: Both out-of-pocket and time costs are rising significantly, and the combination of the two creates substantial hardship and adds to the stress and grief they are already feeling.
-
Mesothelioma Research Group Appoints New Director
The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a non-profit organization that has been dedicated to the cure of mesothelioma since 1999. Following the announced retirement of their longtime Patient Services Director, Mary Hesdorffer, the organization conducted a nationwide search for an expert with the qualifications needed to assume the role. Yesterday the foundation’s Executive Director, Julie Powers
-
Airborne Asbestos at Issue in Mesothelioma Appeal
When Navy veteran Michael Harris was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, he and his wife Beth filed negligence lawsuits against the companies he blamed for exposing him to asbestos. After his death his widow and their children continued their pursuit of justice but saw their claim against Thomas Dee Engineering Company dismissed when crucial testimony was
-
European Study Confirms That Nivolumab Extends Mesothelioma Survival
Nivolumab is one of several promising protocols used in the fight against malignant mesothelioma. The relatively new drug was recently approved in combination with ipilimumab by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of the rare, asbestos-related disease, and with good cause: Clinical tests have repeatedly demonstrated that it extends patient survival. The
-
Johnson & Johnson Uses Legal Maneuver to Evade Mesothelioma and Ovarian Cancer Liability
Following multiple losses in court and facing thousands of product liability claims from mesothelioma and ovarian cancer victims, consumer giant Johnson & Johnson has used a controversial legal maneuver to limit its liabilities. The company has created a new subsidiary responsible for all future asbestos claims, and then filed for bankruptcy protection on its behalf
-
Court Returns Mesothelioma Case to State Court, Awards Attorneys’ Fees to Victim
Asbestos companies accused of negligence in mesothelioma cases use a variety of legal arguments to evade responsibility or minimize their financial risk. A common strategy involves removing a case from a state court to a federal court, where they are less likely to be assessed substantial damages. A recent claim involving a Washington man diagnosed
-
Researchers Show that Laparoscopy is Key to Accurate Mesothelioma Staging
One of the most important things that happen after a patient is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma — or any form of cancer — is a process known as staging. Doctors need to know how far the cancer has spread in order to determine the best treatment protocol, and do so through diagnostic testing. In most
