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Japanese Study Gives Artificial Intelligence High Marks for Understanding Mesothelioma and Other Cancers
In the quest to help physicians understand and anticipate mesothelioma, one of the most important factors is being able to forecast when the rare form of cancer will return. Though there are many protocols that have successfully stopped the growth of the cancerous tumors, predicting its return gives patients more of a fighting chance and
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Combined Immunotherapy Study Shows Significant Survival Benefit in Malignant Mesothelioma
Immunotherapy represents the newest weapon in the fight against malignant mesothelioma, and a recently completed phase III clinical trial has given researchers significant reason for optimism. According to a press release issued by Bristol Myers Squibb, a combination of Nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) provided significantly improved overall survival over chemotherapy in patients whose tumors
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Clinical Trial of Anti-Inflammatory Treatment Provided Extended Survival for Pleural Mesothelioma Patient
Most patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma are treated using a multi-modality approach that includes some combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. Whether their goals are curative or palliative, these are the tools that are most frequently used. But a recently-published case study of a 64-year-old patient who chose to follow a different path
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Mesothelioma Lawsuit Against Talc Companies Raises International Questions
A recent ruling in a talc mesothelioma lawsuit has raised important questions about who is responsible when an American company’s product affects people who buy it overseas. The case was filed by an English woman who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma after years of exposure to products manufactured and sold by The Estee Lauder Companies,
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Researchers Identify New Characteristics for Long-Term Mesothelioma Prognosis
Though malignant pleural mesothelioma is a fatal condition, some patients fare far better than others and are able to survive for extended periods of time, with some living longer than five years after diagnosis. A group of researchers from the University of Helsinki set out to determine what histopathologic factors of these patients’ tumors might
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Months After FDA Approval, Novocure Announces Brand Name for New Mesothelioma Treatment
It has been several months since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provided approval for Novocure’s Tumor Treating Fields device to be used in treating malignant mesothelioma. The innovative delivery system is in use by a growing number of cancer treatment centers across the country, and now has officially been given a brand name. The
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Michigan Researchers Investigating New Breath Test for Mesothelioma
The earlier that malignant mesothelioma is detected, the more options physicians have for treatment and the better the patient’s chance for longer survival. But because the disease has such a long latency period early diagnosis has been elusive. That may all change if physicians in Michigan find success in their new study. They are exploring
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How Accurate Are Estimates of U.S Mesothelioma Occurrence?
As clinicians on the front lines of cancer treatment become more adept at identifying patients at risk for malignant mesothelioma, there are rising suspicions that the statistics linked to the disease may fall far short of the reality on the ground. Reporting has indicated that there has been little change in the number of cases
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Widow Prevails as Missouri Court of Appeals Reverses Decision in Asbestosis Case
The widow of a man who’d worked for years on asbestos-contaminated boilers saw her wrongful death lawsuit dismissed because the boiler manufacturer she accused of responsibility argued that nobody had seen him physically touch their boilers, so there was no proof that they were the cause of his asbestosis. Upon appeal the ruling was overturned,
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Montana Supreme Court Permits Mesothelioma Case to Proceed Against W. R. Grace’s Insurer
More than 800 mine workers diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis and other asbestos-related diseases won a significant victory last month when the Montana Supreme Court gave the green light to a lawsuit against their employer’s insurer. The mine workers had been employed by W. R. Grace & Co., and the court decided that their insurance
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Mesothelioma Fears Leads Army Corps of Engineers to Nix Fairgrounds for COVID-19 Field Hospital
Fear of future mesothelioma diagnoses has led the Army Corps of Engineers to scrap plans for housing an emergency medical unit at the Big Fresno Fair in Fresno, California after an inspection revealed both asbestos and lead paint present in the facility’s walls. Exposure to either can lead to significant illnesses in the future, with
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Court Provides Mesothelioma Widow A Second Chance for Justice
When a person loses a loved one to malignant mesothelioma, their grief is exacerbated by the knowledge that the fatal illness was totally preventable — that had asbestos companies operated responsibly and ethically, their loved one would have been protected from exposure to the carcinogenic material that led to the illness. Many choose to pursue
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International Research Alliance Will Focus on Mesothelioma Progression
While people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma need to focus on the progress of their own illness, researchers from around the world are working to achieve a greater understanding of why the rare form of cancer is so difficult to treat, and what can be done to stop or slow its growth. A renowned United States
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French Researchers Create Non-Invasive, Highly Accurate Approach to Mesothelioma Diagnosis
People who have a known history of exposure to asbestos live under a cloud of fear, constantly worrying that they might eventually be diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Should concerning symptoms arise, they are put through a long series of appointments with physicians and diagnostic tests, tolerating poking and prodding until they finally get confirmation and
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Study Reveals Concerning Aftereffects of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Surgery
Mesothelioma is a rare and fatal form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. The disease is diagnosed in approximately 3,500 people per year, and among those roughly 20 to 35% have the peritoneal form of the disease which forms in the abdominal cavity. Though patients with peritoneal mesothelioma have realized significant success
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New Law Gives Virginia Mesothelioma Victims A Significant Victory
It is not at all uncommon for a person to be diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma years after an earlier diagnosis of a non-terminal asbestos-related condition. This situation can create a legal dilemma, as the patient may have agreed to a settlement with the asbestos companies for the first diagnosis, only to find themselves unable to
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French/Canadian Study Identifies Less Invasive Path to Diagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma
When a patient presents with symptoms that suggest malignant pleural mesothelioma, there is an established protocol that often involves a thoracoscopy to confirm a diagnosis. But now researchers from Universite Laval in Quebec have published a study showing that doctors can allow patients whose health is too fragile for that invasive procedure to skip it,
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Duke University Mesothelioma Study Yields Surprising News
Immediately after a patient’s mesothelioma is diagnosed, physicians work to come up with the most effective treatment approach. Many patients are treated using a multi-modality protocol that includes a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery, though the order of delivery is highly dependent upon the patient’s specific condition. It is not unusual for surgeons
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Research Shows Upsides and Downsides of Mesothelioma Clinical Trial Participation
One of the first things that a patient diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma may consider is whether or not to participate in one of the many clinical trials being conducted by major research centers and teaching hospitals. These trials each have their own specific criteria for participation, and those who do choose to get involved do
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Hopkins Study Details Impact of Financial Stress on Mesothelioma Patients
The stress of a mesothelioma diagnosis is nearly unbearable. The condition, which is caused by exposure to asbestos, is always considered fatal, and the treatments that can prolong survival time are disruptive and come with side effects. They are also extremely costly and insurance rarely pays for all of it. Now a study out of
