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 begin the treatment journey. Now French researchers report that they’ve created a diagnostic tool that has 100% accuracy and has the remarkable advantage of being entirely non-invasive.
French Use Three-Part Diagnostic Tool for Malignant Mesothelioma
The French researchers’ goal was to see whether they could accurately screen patients suspected of having lung cancer or mesothelioma using a more simplified, less invasive approach. Instead of putting patients through a series of diagnostic tests using imaging and samples, they instead relied heavily upon conversation, evoking essential information from patients and then inputting it into analytical software.
The process involves recording the potential mesothelioma patient’s job history, having them fill out a questionnaire, and then having them sit for an in-person interview with medical professionals. The information was then input into a specially created analytical program that ruled out mesothelioma with 76 percent accuracy and diagnosed the disease with 100 percent accuracy.
Initial Study Involved 42 Patient Participants
The study was conducted by researchers from the Raymond-Poincare Hospital in Garches, France, and though it involved just 42 patients, its results were remarkable: these three simple steps resulted in accurately diagnosing individuals as having mesothelioma, the rare asbestos-related cancer, 100% of the time. The next step for the researchers is to expand the pool involved in their research.
If you have already been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma then you are likely well on your treatment path. But if you are living with the fear that your previous exposure to asbesto has put you at risk for the disease, then word of this testing should be particularly valuable for you. For more information on mesothelioma, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
