Following a significant and troubling rise in mesothelioma deaths among women in their late 40s to mid-60s, trade unions in the United Kingdom have ordered a study of the presence of asbestos in the country’s school buildings. There is concern that the increase may be statistically significant among teachers who were exposed to the material.
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. The disease is characterized by tumors that form in the lining of the lungs or the abdomen. Treatment focuses on removing or minimizing the tumors that are identified and preventing their return or spread. New research has provided greater understanding of how cancer cells metastasize, and may
Malignant mesothelioma is notoriously resistant to traditional treatment protocols and is always considered fatal. Still, many patients live beyond statistical expectations after submitting to surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy treatments. A recent study conducted at Hyogo College of Medicine found that pleural mesothelioma patients can both feel better subjectively and be in objectively better condition a
If you or someone you love has a known exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma is a constant fear. The rare, asbestos-related disease has a latency period that extends to decades, and the slightest cough can give rise to terror. Physicians treating patients suspected of having the disease go through a process called differential diagnosis. Differential diagnosis
In considering their patients’ options after a mesothelioma diagnosis, oncologists weigh many factors. A patient’s age is important, but so too is the type of mesothelioma they have and how far it has advanced within their body. Now a new study out of the University of Maryland has expanded this list, indicating that a patient’s
Just as mesothelioma patients are taking a collective sigh of relief at the fading of COVID-19, health officials are sounding the alarm about this year’s flu. Those warnings are particularly important for those diagnosed with the rare and deadly form of cancer.
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
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
When you’ve been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, your instinct may be to take your time and weigh your medical options. Unfortunately, the aggressive nature of the asbestos-related disease means decisions need to be made quickly, including regarding the type of surgery to have. With both available approaches that each offer advantages and disadvantages, the
Paul Hotard died of malignant mesothelioma despite never having worked directly with asbestos. The shipyard worker spent years working for Avondale Shipyards, where he handed pipe to pipefitters and tacked pipe together for a welder to weld. He blamed SeaRiver Maritime, the owner of the vessels on which he worked, for failing to warn him