-
UK Study Points to Need for Greater Focus on Palliative Care for Mesothelioma Patients
When patients are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, they are quickly scheduled for meetings with a wide range of specialists and support personnel. They have appointments with oncologists and surgeons, social workers and pulmonologists. They also set aside time to meet with family and friends to break the news, and may seek guidance from their spiritual
-
Japanese Study Shows P/D Surgery for Mesothelioma Offers Survival Advantage Over EPP
When a patient is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, they almost immediately sit down with their care team to create a care plan. With the treatments currently available, that plan is likely to include chemotherapy, and if possible it will include either extra pleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery or pleurectomy with decortication (P/D) surgery, with the latter
-
Asbestos Uniquely Found in Cosmetic Talc Identified in Mesothelioma Victim’s Lung
A jury sitting on a mesothelioma lawsuit accusing both Johnson & Johnson and Colgate Palmolive of responsibility for the death of a Kentucky woman heard riveting testimony on Thursday that the woman’s lungs contained a mix of talc and asbestos that is unique to cosmetic talcum powder. Donna Hayes died of the rare and fatal
-
Researchers Ready to Abandon Nintedanib for Mesothelioma Treatment
After several years of hopeful research, scientists have concluded that it is time to move on from investigating nintedanib as a potential cure for malignant mesothelioma. Writing in an article in The Lancet Respiratory Journal titled, “The Future of Mesothelioma Treatment: Time to Shift Gears,” authors Michele Maio, MD, PhD, and Luana Calabrò, MD, PhD, both
-
Judge Rules Against Boiler Maker in Case Regarding Mesothelioma Death
A New York Supreme Court judge called a boiler maker’s evidence “hearsay” in ruling in favor of the family of a boiler technician who died of mesothelioma in 2017. The case revolved around the death of Solomon Serrano, who was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in July of 2016 after years of working on Superior Boiler
-
How State-of-the-Art Medicine Can Best Serve Patients With Mesothelioma
As soon as a patient is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, they get bombarded with information from their physician. In the face of so much data, many go home and start doing their own research, and that can lead to even more confusion. What is the best way to ensure that you are getting the best
-
Shipyard Worker’s Mesothelioma Claim Reinstated After Family Appeals to Judges
It was only a matter of months between the time that Michael Harris was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and the time that he died. Harris had been a hull maintenance technician onboard the USS San Jose in the early 1970s, and after his death his wife and children filed a wrongful death claim and survival
-
Testimony in J&J Mesothelioma Trial Focuses on Internal Documents
The jury in an ongoing mesothelioma trial against Johnson & Johnson heard direct quotes from internal company documents that indicated the company was well aware of the presence of asbestos in the talc that they were purchasing for their iconic baby powder product. The testimony came from environmental health scientist Dr. James Webber, who spoke
-
Mesothelioma & Ovarian Cancer Claims Spur Justice Department Criminal Investigation of J&J
Asbestos watchdogs and mesothelioma advocates have been watching closely as jurors and courts across America address claims accusing Johnson & Johnson of knowingly exposing consumers to asbestos in their talc powder products. Now things are escalating, as it was revealed that the civil litigation is not only coinciding with a federal regulatory investigation, but also
-
Researchers Launch Viruses Against Mesothelioma Tumors
One of the most exciting areas of study in the fight against malignant mesothelioma is the use of viruses to fight the rare form of cancer at the cellular level. Referred to as virotherapy, the protocol involves infecting malignant cells with a virus meant to kill them: the viruses are injected directly into the tumor,
-
Judge Accuses Johnson & Johnson of “Forum Shopping,” Sides With Mesothelioma Victim
Mesothelioma victims all over the country have filed personal injury lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, saying that the company’s iconic Baby Powder product was contaminated with asbestos and led to their fatal illness. In denying responsibility, Johnson & Johnson has acted extremely aggressively against plaintiffs. One example can be seen in the case of Dana
-
Baltimore Man’s $7.3 Million Mesothelioma Verdict Upheld by Appeals Court
In the face of unquestionable scientific proof that exposure to asbestos causes malignant mesothelioma, it would seem like common sense that companies that sold and installed asbestos-containing materials would take responsibility when confronted by those who were sickened by their actions or products. Unfortunately that is not the case, and countless victims diagnosed with asbestos-related
-
Direct Injection of CAR-T Cells Into Chest Cavity Yields Promising Results for Mesothelioma Patients
A researcher who has devoted ten years to finding the right target for cancer-fighting CAR-T cells has announced extremely positive results from a Phase 1 clinical trial focused on patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The study injected the treatment directly into the chest cavity of 27 patients rather than delivering the medication intravenously, and delivered
-
Study Identifies Nonexpandable Lung As Predictor of Mortality in Mesothelioma
Nonexpandable lung is a symptom that is commonly experienced by patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. The condition is characterized by the patient being unable to expand their lung to the chest wall, and therefore to breathe in and out normally, and it can be caused by both inflammation and by fibrotic changes within the chest
-
Discovery of Mesothelioma-Promoting Molecule Announced by Italian Researchers
There are many different approaches being taken by scientists searching for a cure for malignant mesothelioma. While some pursue more effective uses of surgery, radiation or chemotherapy, others are looking to target mechanisms within the cell, robbing the rare form of cancer of its ability to grow and spread. This is exactly what Pierluigi Scalia,
-
Chinese Researchers Identify Three Genes With Key Role In Mesothelioma Survival
All around the world, scientists are working hard to gain a greater understanding of malignant mesothelioma, including how it develops, how it progresses, and (most importantly), how to treat it most effectively. Researchers in China led by Zunyi Medical University’s Jian-Guo Zhou recently made a discovery that may have far-reaching impact for predicting the overall
-
Fearing Mesothelioma and Other Illnesses, San Diego Firefighters Sue
Following revelations that the city of San Diego had put them at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, hundreds of firefighters and other fire department employees have filed a negligence claim holding the city responsible for their potential medical damages. The issue was raised after an investigation showed that the city had known that
-
Longshoreman With Mesothelioma Wins Fight for Medical Expenses
Jerry Craft’s long battle with the companies that caused his malignant mesothelioma has finally been resolved after an appeals court ruled in his favor and granted him the funds for his future medical expenses. The 84-year-old Craft was first diagnosed with the rare and fatal form of cancer in 2017 after a long career as
-
BDNF Protein Linked to Poor Mesothelioma Prognosis
A protein that is found in the brain and other tissues has been linked directly to malignant mesothelioma, making it easier for physicians to diagnose the condition, as well as to craft a tailored course of treatment and set expectations for patients as to their prognosis. The protein is a biomarker known as BDNF, or
-
Washington State Appeals Court Rejects Argument Against Mesothelioma Liability
Two years after a state trial court decided that a company that had purchased another was responsible for the mesothelioma caused by that company’s negligence, the purchasing company appealed their verdict. The successor company, Elementis, also tried to deny the victim’s stepdaughter the right to a portion of the damages assessed based upon the fact
