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
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
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
There are many types of cancer that, like malignant mesothelioma, are caused by exposure to some type of carcinogenic material. Benzene exposure can lead to leukemia; BPA exposure can lead to breast cancer; and obviously, nicotine and tobacco products can lead to lung cancer. In most cases, the more time has elapsed since last exposure,
It’s long been known that asbestos is a carcinogenic material, and that it has caused countless deaths from malignant mesothelioma, as well as other serious illnesses including asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer. While efforts have been made internationally to reduce the use of the mineral, a recent study conducted in Thailand revealed just how difficult
In a notable development for patients diagnosed with unresectable malignant mesothelioma, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has given its approval for a new version of the chemotherapy drug pemetrexed to be used in the treatment of the rare and fatal form of cancer. Pemetrexed, which is sold under the brand name Alimta and manufactured
Patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma have access to numerous therapies that can both extend their survival and improve their quality of life. One of the most effective of these is talc pleurodesis, a procedure that involves draining lung fluid — called pleural effusions — that has accumulated in the layers of the pleura and
A study published in a recent issue of the medical journal Lung Cancer reports that Italian cancer researchers have reported that use of immune checkpoint inhibitors yielded successful antitumor activity in a patient diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
An Israeli company has developed a new type of liquid biopsy that could confirm a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma in a matter of hours. Much of the challenge of treating mesothelioma lies in the fact that it is most often diagnosed when it is very far advanced, and the promise of a fast and simple blood
Construction workers, factory and shipyard workers, veterans and untold numbers of others are at risk for malignant mesothelioma as a result of having been exposed to asbestos. Because the rare and deadly form of cancer has such a long latency period, these men and women are forced to live with a cloud of anxiety, worrying