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[…]
From the blog
Immunotherapy May Help Extend the Lives of Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma Patients
Immunotherapy is revolutionizing the health care industry by adding extra years of life to people with lung cancer. A few years ago it was rare for patients with an advanced stage of this disease to live past two years but today it has become more common to do so. Immunotherapy[…]
Immunotherapy Treatment Durvalumab Enters Phase II Clinical Trial
While there is no cure for mesothelioma, those who are able to withstand surgery in general may have a better chance of survival, as the cancer is being physically removed. However, mesothelioma is a difficult cancer and often surgery is not an option, and the cancer is unresectable. The success[…]
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[…]
Asbestos Exposure Documentary Makes Debut At International Film Festival
Last weekend at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, a 75- minute documentary about asbestos exposure and mesothelioma made its world debut, highlighting the aggressive and often fatal diseases associated with asbestos exposure, and how it has affected so many lives. After mesothelioma claimed the life of their grandmother[…]
Biomarker CD47 as a Successful Diagnostic and Treatment Tool
Survival rates for diffuse mesothelioma are notoriously low with the median survival ranging between 12 to 22 months. A contributing factor to treatment being ineffective is that the disease if often in the advanced stages by the time it is noticed and diagnosed. Early detection may be a key factor[…]
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[…]
Asbestos Cancer Risk Measured by Fiber Length
Since asbestos was used for decades in thousands of products ranging from attic insulation to woven oven mitts, it is hard to imagine that this versatile material is actually a naturally occurring mineral, composed of chemical compounds bundled into fibers. Found in serpentine, mafic, and altered ultramafic rocks, asbestos is divided into[…]
Asbestos Regulations – National Cancer Prevention Month
Despite the known dangers of asbestos exposure, asbestos is still legal in the United States. However, it is heavily regulated within different organizations in the government. Different agencies have their own laws and regulations for asbestos control to maintain exposure levels in the workplace, home, and environment. OSHA The Occupational[…]
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[…]
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