Diagnosing mesothelioma in the early stages of the disease has proven to be a difficult task, and to better improve chances of survival from this aggressive cancer, the cancer needs to be found and treated quickly. Typical first steps in diagnosing mesothelioma are imaging techniques such as an x-ray, CT[…]
New Study
Updated Modified RECIST to Better Evaluate Treatment Response in Mesothelioma
The Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) was established nearly two decades ago by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and the National Cancer Institute of the United States. The purpose of these published rules was to universally define when cancerous tumors stabilize, progress, or just[…]
Aerosol Chemotherapy – Targeting Peritoneal Mesothelioma Through Pressurized Medicine
Peritoneal mesothelioma is an incredibly rare form of cancer that affects the peritoneum, or abdominal lining. It is not entirely understood how exposure to asbestos causes this type of cancer, but scientists and researchers theorize that ingested asbestos fibers work themselves into the peritoneal cavity, or if inhaled, are transported[…]
New Surgical Technique Could Be Ideal for Patients with Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that has been notoriously difficult to treat. Caused by asbestos exposure, the latency period between the time of initial exposure and disease spans decades and generally by the time the cancer is detected, it is highly advanced. Surgical treatments for those with[…]
Understanding Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma
Exposure to asbestos does not always mean that the individual exposed will develop an asbestos-caused disease or cancer. However, there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and if you have encountered friable asbestos fibers unprotected, you are at risk of developing lung cancer, asbestosis, or mesothelioma. While we know[…]
Epithelioid Mesothelioma And Reactive Mesothelial Hyperplasia
The type of mesothelioma can be based upon where the cancer is located in the body, but it can also be based upon cell type – meaning, which cell has turned cancerous. The body has many different types of cells including epithelial, which make up the lining of the mesothelium[…]
Clinical Trial Investigates Multimodality Treatment for Pleural and Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Researchers at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are collaborating with Pfizer to study the effects of immunotherapy treatment Avelumab when combined with stereotactic body radiation therapy, or SBRT, for those suffering from mesothelioma. SBRT treatments use a device called a linear accelerator that delivers precise and intense doses of[…]
Effective Chemotherapy May Rest Upon Reducing Overactive Enzyme
Chemotherapy for mesothelioma patients has been notoriously difficult and the cancer continues to be overwhelmingly unresponsive to such treatment in many cases. However, researchers and scientists have been continually investigating new techniques that involve adjusting how chemotherapy reacts on a cellular level. A study published in the Frontiers in Pharmacology[…]
Multimodality Therapy in Pleural Mesothelioma
Even though there is no cure for mesothelioma, there are many different treatment options for those suffering from this almost always fatal cancer. Palliative therapy has been successful in lessening symptoms and making the patient more comfortable. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery are treatment methods that can be successful on[…]
An Inaccurate Mesothelioma Prognosis Can Result in Wrong Treatment
Mesothelioma is not easy to diagnose. Symptoms often mimic other ailments and patients often do not make the connection between asbestos exposure and their illness. Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, patients are often given a poor prognosis – typically less than one year. However, with recent advancements in treatments and immunotherapies,[…]
