Researchers have linked chronic nanoparticle exposure to an increased risk of pleural effusion and lung damage in humans, according to the results of a recent study conducted at the Capital University of Medical Sciences in Beijing.
The study, which was published in the European Respiratory Journal, evaluated severe lung disease in seven female factory workers whose daily job entailed application of polyacrylic coatings to polystyrene boards. Pathological findings indicated the lung and pleural tissues of these women contained tiny nanoparticles. Analysis of the polyacrylic coatings revealed these materials were the source of the nanoparticles, which had been inhaled or ingested during application.
The women, who were between 18 and 47 years of age, all displayed shortness of breath as well as pleural effusions or bleeding. Researchers followed their conditions for five to 13 months, and evaluating them using video-assisted surgery and other diagnostic techniques. Two of the women between 18 and 47 years of age died as a result of their lung injuries.
Using a technique called transmission electron microscopy, researchers were able to observe nanoparticles that had lodged in the pulmonary epithelial and mesothelial cells of the women, as well as in the chest fluid. According to the published report, researchers indicated that “these cases arouse concern that long-term exposure to some nanoparticles without protective measures may be related to serious damage to human lungs.”
Animal and in vitro studies have previously linked nanoparticle exposure to lung damage and toxicity. This study marks the first evaluation of nanoparticle toxicity in humans.
Nanoparticles are defined as any particle that measures between 1 and 100 nanometers. A nanometer is one billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology is an emerging scientific field that relies on the specific properties of these tiny particles, derived from a variety of substances, to confer special properties to manufactured and other products. The use of nanoparticles is especially widespread in medicine, where these microscopic structures have been used to achieve more targeted and effective drug delivery in cancer and other health conditions.
Nanoparticles of different substances are found in numerous products, from clothing to cosmetics. While these particles can be useful, their widespread use is not without concern. Scientists and other researchers have long feared that exposure to airborne nanoparticles, most specifically, carbon nanotubes [or CNTs] can cause respiratory illness, and there is some concern that nanoparticles in sunscreens and cosmetics may be absorbed directly through the skin.
Carbon nanotubes, typically used in clothing, coatings, and other materials, have come under scrutiny in the last year, as a result of potential health risks. Many researchers have likened the risks associated with these materials to those of asbestos particles, which have long been recognized as causing lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the membrane covering the body’s internal organs. The link between mesothelioma and carbon nanotubes is at the center of several current ongoing studies.
Mesothelioma causes symptoms that may not appear until years or decades after exposure. Currently, there is no cure for mesothelioma, and following mesothelioma diagnosis, treatment is concentrated on reducing or alleviating symptoms.
Source
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
New Test Gives Earlier Detection of Mesothelioma
A research team out of Oxford University says they have created a test that could allow earlier detection of mesothelioma in patients, giving their doctors useful time to treat the rare asbestos-related cancer.
By looking at the pleural fluid samples from more than 200 patients of a respiratory clinic, the research team discovered that mesothelioma patients had meothelin levels that were six times higher than patients with secondary lung cancers and 10 times higher than patients with benign conditions. Presently, doctors use a diagnostic test known as pleural fluid cytology, a lab test that looks for cancer cells; however, the test is not very sensitive.
According to a report issued in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, the test examines amounts of a protein closely associated to mesothlelioma that is found in fluid around the lungs. Several conditions could cause extra fluid in the lining of the lungs. However, nine out of 10 people with mesothelioma suffer from the condition, which cause difficult breathing as well as chest pain.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and breathing asbestos fibers. It is a very dangerous disease, which is frequently at a very advanced stage when a mesothelioma diagnosis is made. Early symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest wall pain or significant weight loss. Since the mesothelioma symptoms are not always realized, by the time the cancer is diagnosed, the average survival time is often under a year.
Source
By looking at the pleural fluid samples from more than 200 patients of a respiratory clinic, the research team discovered that mesothelioma patients had meothelin levels that were six times higher than patients with secondary lung cancers and 10 times higher than patients with benign conditions. Presently, doctors use a diagnostic test known as pleural fluid cytology, a lab test that looks for cancer cells; however, the test is not very sensitive.
According to a report issued in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine, the test examines amounts of a protein closely associated to mesothlelioma that is found in fluid around the lungs. Several conditions could cause extra fluid in the lining of the lungs. However, nine out of 10 people with mesothelioma suffer from the condition, which cause difficult breathing as well as chest pain.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and breathing asbestos fibers. It is a very dangerous disease, which is frequently at a very advanced stage when a mesothelioma diagnosis is made. Early symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest wall pain or significant weight loss. Since the mesothelioma symptoms are not always realized, by the time the cancer is diagnosed, the average survival time is often under a year.
Source
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Asbestos Exposure Side Effects and Mesothelioma Symptoms
Asbestos is often found in older buildings, but it is also in thousands of household items, including children’s toys. The side effects of asbestos exposure usually do not show symptoms until years after exposure; typically 20 to 30 years.
Asbestos exposure usually affects the lungs, but can affect other parts of the body. Below is a list of diseases and conditions, such as breathing problems, asbestosis and mesothelioma / cancer, associated with asbestos exposure. Although there is no cure for asbestos exposure side effects, there are treatments that can extend your life if the problem is caught early. Please contact your doctor if you suspect that you are suffering from any of the side effects of asbestos exposure.
Source
Asbestos exposure usually affects the lungs, but can affect other parts of the body. Below is a list of diseases and conditions, such as breathing problems, asbestosis and mesothelioma / cancer, associated with asbestos exposure. Although there is no cure for asbestos exposure side effects, there are treatments that can extend your life if the problem is caught early. Please contact your doctor if you suspect that you are suffering from any of the side effects of asbestos exposure.
Source
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Researchers Create Better Test for Diagnosing Mesothelioma Cancer
Oxford University medical researchers say they have developed a more sensitive test for diagnosing mesothelioma, the rare but deadly form of lung cancer that is caused by exposure to the toxic material asbestos.
By measuring levels of the protein mesothelin in fluid around the lungs, the research team determined it could more accurately diagnose mesothelioma compared to patients with metastatic cancers. The breakthrough could provide a valuable tool in the fight against mesothelioma, a disease which can be very difficult to diagnose and can take decades for symptoms to develop.
In many cases, patients are not diagnosed with mesothelioma until it is too late and the cancer has advanced to such a stage that there are few viable treatment options available. As many as 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is most often diagnosed in men between the ages of 50 and 70 years, although some women and people of both sexes outside that age range also may be afflicted.
Protein in Lung Fluid is Key
The Oxford study involved 209 patients who were referred to the university’s specialty respiratory clinic for treatment. The analysis of more than 400 fluid samples found that mesothelin levels were more than six times higher in mesothelioma patients compared to patients with forms of metastatic cancer and nearly 11 times greater than found in patients with benign, non-cancerous fluids in the lungs.
Using current methods, mesothelioma is most often diagnosed by looking for cancerous cells in the fluid surrounding the lungs, a practice also called cytology. The new test developed by the Oxford University researchers is said to be more sensitive than cytology, which does not readily distinguish between mesothelioma and other cancers. Researchers said by using both cytology and their newly developed test, more cases of mesothelioma could be diagnosed.
Improving on Currently Used Diagnostic Methods
Compared to using fluid cytology on its own, using the test for mesothelin levels dramatically improved the rates of finding mesothelioma in the study subjects, researchers said. Only 35 percent of mesothelioma cancers were diagnosed using cytology alone, but when combined with the newly developed mesothelin-based test, that rate more than doubled to 71 percent.
Being able to better diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage is a crucial step in reducing deaths and improving treatment options for mesothelioma patients. The average survival time for people diagnosed with mesothelioma is just 12 months, so catching the disease as early as possible has been a focus of researchers.
Asbestos Still a Public Health Risk
While the use of asbestos has been greatly reduced in recent years, it still presents a huge public health hazard. The naturally occurring mineral was used in thousands of consumer products, including insulation and construction materials. Workers in the asbestos mining or manufacturing industries, ship and automotive repair, construction, and industrial careers are most at risk of developing mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos on the job.
The Oxford University study findings are published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Mesothelioma is a devastating disease that is not widely understood. Many victims of this cancer are totally unaware they have the disease for decades after they have first been exposed to asbestos. Also, children, spouses, and other close family members of exposed workers may contract mesothelioma after inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers brought home on work clothes or tools. If you suspect you have been exposed to asbestos and may be at risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer, an experienced attorney can fully evaluate your case and advise you of your legal rights. Fill out our contact form on the right side of this page to find a qualified mesothelioma attorney.
Source
By measuring levels of the protein mesothelin in fluid around the lungs, the research team determined it could more accurately diagnose mesothelioma compared to patients with metastatic cancers. The breakthrough could provide a valuable tool in the fight against mesothelioma, a disease which can be very difficult to diagnose and can take decades for symptoms to develop.
In many cases, patients are not diagnosed with mesothelioma until it is too late and the cancer has advanced to such a stage that there are few viable treatment options available. As many as 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is most often diagnosed in men between the ages of 50 and 70 years, although some women and people of both sexes outside that age range also may be afflicted.
Protein in Lung Fluid is Key
The Oxford study involved 209 patients who were referred to the university’s specialty respiratory clinic for treatment. The analysis of more than 400 fluid samples found that mesothelin levels were more than six times higher in mesothelioma patients compared to patients with forms of metastatic cancer and nearly 11 times greater than found in patients with benign, non-cancerous fluids in the lungs.
Using current methods, mesothelioma is most often diagnosed by looking for cancerous cells in the fluid surrounding the lungs, a practice also called cytology. The new test developed by the Oxford University researchers is said to be more sensitive than cytology, which does not readily distinguish between mesothelioma and other cancers. Researchers said by using both cytology and their newly developed test, more cases of mesothelioma could be diagnosed.
Improving on Currently Used Diagnostic Methods
Compared to using fluid cytology on its own, using the test for mesothelin levels dramatically improved the rates of finding mesothelioma in the study subjects, researchers said. Only 35 percent of mesothelioma cancers were diagnosed using cytology alone, but when combined with the newly developed mesothelin-based test, that rate more than doubled to 71 percent.
Being able to better diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage is a crucial step in reducing deaths and improving treatment options for mesothelioma patients. The average survival time for people diagnosed with mesothelioma is just 12 months, so catching the disease as early as possible has been a focus of researchers.
Asbestos Still a Public Health Risk
While the use of asbestos has been greatly reduced in recent years, it still presents a huge public health hazard. The naturally occurring mineral was used in thousands of consumer products, including insulation and construction materials. Workers in the asbestos mining or manufacturing industries, ship and automotive repair, construction, and industrial careers are most at risk of developing mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos on the job.
The Oxford University study findings are published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Mesothelioma is a devastating disease that is not widely understood. Many victims of this cancer are totally unaware they have the disease for decades after they have first been exposed to asbestos. Also, children, spouses, and other close family members of exposed workers may contract mesothelioma after inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers brought home on work clothes or tools. If you suspect you have been exposed to asbestos and may be at risk of contracting mesothelioma cancer, an experienced attorney can fully evaluate your case and advise you of your legal rights. Fill out our contact form on the right side of this page to find a qualified mesothelioma attorney.
Source
Monday, September 28, 2009
Mesothelioma Diagnosis May Come Earlier With New Testing: Study
Oxford scientists believe they have developed a new way to test for mesothelioma cancer that could lead to earlier diagnosis, more timely treatment and improved quality of life for people suffering from the asbestos-related ailment.
A report published in the September 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine indicates that the Oxford team has found a way to detect proteins most commonly associated with mesothelioma in fluid build-up in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. They believe their new testing method will be more sensitive and result in earlier diagnosis than current testing methods, which consist of looking for cancerous cells within the fluid.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and breathing asbestos fibers. It is a very serious disease, which is often at a very advanced stage when a mesothelioma diagnosis is made. Early symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest wall pain or substantial weight loss. Because the mesothelioma symptoms are not always recognized, by the time the cancer is diagnosed, the median survival time is often under a year.
Fluid build-up in the lung lining and chest cavity surrounding the lungs, also known as the pleural cavity, is a symptom associated with many lung ailments, including other types of lung cancer. However, the researchers have found that levels of the protein mesothelin were almost six times higher in patients with mesothelioma than in patients with other cancers, and 10 times higher than in patients with non-cancerous lung conditions.
Researchers suggest that detecting the protein can allow for rapid diagnosis well ahead of other methods. A more timely diagnosis could increase standard of living for those suffering from mesothelioma through the use of early, more effective and less invasive treatments. It could also have other benefits, including giving victims more advanced warning to file for worker compensation or asbestos injury lawsuits.
Mesothelioma is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos was widely used in a variety of manufacturing and construction applications throughout the last century, and more than 600,000 people diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related diseases have filed lawsuits against more than 6,000 defendants who manufactured, sold or worked with the toxic substance.
Source
A report published in the September 1 issue of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine indicates that the Oxford team has found a way to detect proteins most commonly associated with mesothelioma in fluid build-up in the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. They believe their new testing method will be more sensitive and result in earlier diagnosis than current testing methods, which consist of looking for cancerous cells within the fluid.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and breathing asbestos fibers. It is a very serious disease, which is often at a very advanced stage when a mesothelioma diagnosis is made. Early symptoms can include shortness of breath, chest wall pain or substantial weight loss. Because the mesothelioma symptoms are not always recognized, by the time the cancer is diagnosed, the median survival time is often under a year.
Fluid build-up in the lung lining and chest cavity surrounding the lungs, also known as the pleural cavity, is a symptom associated with many lung ailments, including other types of lung cancer. However, the researchers have found that levels of the protein mesothelin were almost six times higher in patients with mesothelioma than in patients with other cancers, and 10 times higher than in patients with non-cancerous lung conditions.
Researchers suggest that detecting the protein can allow for rapid diagnosis well ahead of other methods. A more timely diagnosis could increase standard of living for those suffering from mesothelioma through the use of early, more effective and less invasive treatments. It could also have other benefits, including giving victims more advanced warning to file for worker compensation or asbestos injury lawsuits.
Mesothelioma is almost exclusively related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos was widely used in a variety of manufacturing and construction applications throughout the last century, and more than 600,000 people diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related diseases have filed lawsuits against more than 6,000 defendants who manufactured, sold or worked with the toxic substance.
Source
Monday, July 27, 2009
NIOSH Says Maine Highest in Mesothelioma
According to recently released research from the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, or NIOSH - an arm of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) - Maine has the nation's highest death rate from mesothelioma.
The CDC describes mesothelioma as a fatal cancer primarily associated with exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral found in rock formations. The latency period between exposure and clinical manifestations of the disease, or recognizable symptoms and subsequent diagnosis, is commonly 20 to 40 years, though it may be longer.
Mesothelioma, which attacks the mesothelial linings in the lungs and abdomen, is the result of miniscule asbestos fibers that, when inhaled or ingested, irritate mesothelial tissues. This irritation, or inflammation, leads to mesothelioma, which has no known cure. Most patients die within a year to 18 months of diagnosis.
Before 1970, asbestos was used in a wide range of products, from insulation to floor tiles, tile adhesives, acoustical ceiling tiles, plaster and acoustical or insulative sprays on walls or ceilings.
Asbestos is no longer mined in the United States, and manufacturing processes limit it to one percent or less under 1989 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rulings, but imported products still contain asbestos in unregulated amounts.
Because of this failure to regulate, the CDC estimates that 1.3 million construction and industrial workers are currently being exposed to potentially lethal asbestos. This is in addition to the millions of workers already exposed. CDC calculates that, between 1999 and 2005, 18,068 individuals died from mesothelioma, with the rate remaining relatively stable at about 14.1 individuals per million per year.
Maine's rate, on the other hand, stands at 27.5 individuals per million during the same period. This is the highest death rate from mesothelioma in the entire country. Second in mortality was Wyoming, with 22.2 deaths per million, followed by West Virginia with 21; Pennsylvania with 20.8; New Jersey with 20.2; and Washington with 20.1. Males accounted for more than 80 percent of those deaths, and Caucasians for more than 95 percent.
From 2000 to 2004, two counties - Sagadahoc in Maine, and Koochiching in Minnesota - had age-adjusted malignant mesothelioma death rates that exceeded the national average by 500 percent. During that same period, nearly 20 percent of victims were female, and more than 30 percent lived in one of five states: California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Construction work accounts for 15 percent of mesothelioma deaths. Other venues with a high rate of mesothelioma include ship (and boat) building and repair, chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, and the utility industry. Trades or occupations most at risk include pipefitters, steamfitters, plumbers, mechanical engineers, electricians and elementary school teachers.
Mesothelioma commonly strikes older individuals. For example, there were only 311 deaths in the under-45 age group during the 1999-2005 period, but 8,858 deaths among those 75 and older. Thanks to legislation and increasing oversight during demolition of older buildings, mesothelioma deaths are expected to peak next year and then gradually decline to pre-1999 levels.
According to NIOSH, Maine's higher rate of mesothelioma is due to the state's smaller population, blue-collar worker-based economy, and the large number of purpose-built older buildings which were rehabbed for additional use (as residences, for example) rather than being demolished.
Ki Moon Bang, a senior epidemiologist for NIOSH, speaking to Maine Public Broadcasting, noted that, historically, Maine employers like textile mills, paper mills and ship builders used significant amounts of asbestos in structures that date from the early 1900s or earlier. To make his point, Bang cited the Bath Iron Works shipyard, located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine and built in 1826.
Source
The CDC describes mesothelioma as a fatal cancer primarily associated with exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral found in rock formations. The latency period between exposure and clinical manifestations of the disease, or recognizable symptoms and subsequent diagnosis, is commonly 20 to 40 years, though it may be longer.
Mesothelioma, which attacks the mesothelial linings in the lungs and abdomen, is the result of miniscule asbestos fibers that, when inhaled or ingested, irritate mesothelial tissues. This irritation, or inflammation, leads to mesothelioma, which has no known cure. Most patients die within a year to 18 months of diagnosis.
Before 1970, asbestos was used in a wide range of products, from insulation to floor tiles, tile adhesives, acoustical ceiling tiles, plaster and acoustical or insulative sprays on walls or ceilings.
Asbestos is no longer mined in the United States, and manufacturing processes limit it to one percent or less under 1989 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rulings, but imported products still contain asbestos in unregulated amounts.
Because of this failure to regulate, the CDC estimates that 1.3 million construction and industrial workers are currently being exposed to potentially lethal asbestos. This is in addition to the millions of workers already exposed. CDC calculates that, between 1999 and 2005, 18,068 individuals died from mesothelioma, with the rate remaining relatively stable at about 14.1 individuals per million per year.
Maine's rate, on the other hand, stands at 27.5 individuals per million during the same period. This is the highest death rate from mesothelioma in the entire country. Second in mortality was Wyoming, with 22.2 deaths per million, followed by West Virginia with 21; Pennsylvania with 20.8; New Jersey with 20.2; and Washington with 20.1. Males accounted for more than 80 percent of those deaths, and Caucasians for more than 95 percent.
From 2000 to 2004, two counties - Sagadahoc in Maine, and Koochiching in Minnesota - had age-adjusted malignant mesothelioma death rates that exceeded the national average by 500 percent. During that same period, nearly 20 percent of victims were female, and more than 30 percent lived in one of five states: California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
Construction work accounts for 15 percent of mesothelioma deaths. Other venues with a high rate of mesothelioma include ship (and boat) building and repair, chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, and the utility industry. Trades or occupations most at risk include pipefitters, steamfitters, plumbers, mechanical engineers, electricians and elementary school teachers.
Mesothelioma commonly strikes older individuals. For example, there were only 311 deaths in the under-45 age group during the 1999-2005 period, but 8,858 deaths among those 75 and older. Thanks to legislation and increasing oversight during demolition of older buildings, mesothelioma deaths are expected to peak next year and then gradually decline to pre-1999 levels.
According to NIOSH, Maine's higher rate of mesothelioma is due to the state's smaller population, blue-collar worker-based economy, and the large number of purpose-built older buildings which were rehabbed for additional use (as residences, for example) rather than being demolished.
Ki Moon Bang, a senior epidemiologist for NIOSH, speaking to Maine Public Broadcasting, noted that, historically, Maine employers like textile mills, paper mills and ship builders used significant amounts of asbestos in structures that date from the early 1900s or earlier. To make his point, Bang cited the Bath Iron Works shipyard, located on the Kennebec River in Bath, Maine and built in 1826.
Source
Monday, July 20, 2009
Mesothelioma and Early Lung Cancer Identified by Screening
Using computed tomography scans to screen former asbestos workers can detect both early and late-stage lung cancer and late-stage mesothelioma, according to a study in the May Journal of Thoracic Oncology. However, it’s still not clear whether screening for these cancers might improve patients’ prognoses.
Exposure to asbestos fibers is a known risk factor for lung cancer and the cause of mesothelioma. Although asbestos is still not completely banned in the U.S., it was phased out of American industry to a large degree beginning in the 1970s. However because asbestos-related diseases can take 20 to 40 years to emerge after people have been exposed, former asbestos workers and those exposed to products containing this carcinogen continue to be diagnosed with asbestos caused cancers.
As researchers search for better treatments and even a cure for these diseases, they are also focusing on new diagnostic methods that might identify the cancers earlier. Early diagnosis is particularly crucial with mesothelioma, because many patients survive only one year after they first start to show signs, and symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from those of other lung diseases.
One potential screening method uses low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to evaluate the lungs and their lining (pleura). LDCT can locate plaques in the lungs, which are a sign of asbestos exposure and have been linked to an increased cancer risk.
Currently, there are no recommendations about using LDCT or any other method to screen people who have been exposed to asbestos, and screening isn’t routinely done. “There are currently no methods for the early detection of mesothelioma available,” says lead author Heidi Roberts, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Toronto. “This is why we are doing the research.”
To determine the effectiveness of LDCT as a screening tool for asbestos-related lung cancers, Dr. Roberts and her colleagues recruited 516 people (most of them men) who had been exposed to asbestos at least 20 years before, or who had known plaques. Participants were given LDCT scans of the chest. Patients who had abnormal scans were given follow-up tests. Those with normal test results were invited to have an annual LDCT scan.
Of the 516 participants, 357 had evidence of plaques. Based on the results of the first scan and annual scans, six of the patients were diagnosed with lung cancers and four were diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Although LDCT was able to detect advanced mesothelioma, as well as early- and late-stage lung cancers, it was not able to diagnose early mesothelioma. The study authors say they need to continue screening patients to help them get a better idea of what early mesothelioma looks like. Also, they say adding biomarkers (substances in the blood that indicate the presence of cancer) to the screening process may provide greater sensitivity to help diagnose those at very high risk for mesothelioma.
Even as techniques are fine-tuned, screening is just one step of a three-tiered effort to combat these cancers, according to Dr. Roberts. “The second step is the parallel development of biomarkers, and the third step is the parallel development of treatment strategies,” she says. “These have to be developed hand-in-hand in order to make this a useful and meaningful tool.”
Source
Exposure to asbestos fibers is a known risk factor for lung cancer and the cause of mesothelioma. Although asbestos is still not completely banned in the U.S., it was phased out of American industry to a large degree beginning in the 1970s. However because asbestos-related diseases can take 20 to 40 years to emerge after people have been exposed, former asbestos workers and those exposed to products containing this carcinogen continue to be diagnosed with asbestos caused cancers.
As researchers search for better treatments and even a cure for these diseases, they are also focusing on new diagnostic methods that might identify the cancers earlier. Early diagnosis is particularly crucial with mesothelioma, because many patients survive only one year after they first start to show signs, and symptoms are often difficult to distinguish from those of other lung diseases.
One potential screening method uses low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) to evaluate the lungs and their lining (pleura). LDCT can locate plaques in the lungs, which are a sign of asbestos exposure and have been linked to an increased cancer risk.
Currently, there are no recommendations about using LDCT or any other method to screen people who have been exposed to asbestos, and screening isn’t routinely done. “There are currently no methods for the early detection of mesothelioma available,” says lead author Heidi Roberts, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology at the University of Toronto. “This is why we are doing the research.”
To determine the effectiveness of LDCT as a screening tool for asbestos-related lung cancers, Dr. Roberts and her colleagues recruited 516 people (most of them men) who had been exposed to asbestos at least 20 years before, or who had known plaques. Participants were given LDCT scans of the chest. Patients who had abnormal scans were given follow-up tests. Those with normal test results were invited to have an annual LDCT scan.
Of the 516 participants, 357 had evidence of plaques. Based on the results of the first scan and annual scans, six of the patients were diagnosed with lung cancers and four were diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Although LDCT was able to detect advanced mesothelioma, as well as early- and late-stage lung cancers, it was not able to diagnose early mesothelioma. The study authors say they need to continue screening patients to help them get a better idea of what early mesothelioma looks like. Also, they say adding biomarkers (substances in the blood that indicate the presence of cancer) to the screening process may provide greater sensitivity to help diagnose those at very high risk for mesothelioma.
Even as techniques are fine-tuned, screening is just one step of a three-tiered effort to combat these cancers, according to Dr. Roberts. “The second step is the parallel development of biomarkers, and the third step is the parallel development of treatment strategies,” she says. “These have to be developed hand-in-hand in order to make this a useful and meaningful tool.”
Source
Monday, July 13, 2009
Surgery portion of new mesothelioma treatment plan found effective
Pleurectomy/decortication, a type of surgery involving the removal of the outermost lining surrounding the lungs, was assessed in a study presented at the 2009 European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic Oncology.
A particular kind of surgery performed as a part of a treatment plan intended for patients with malignant mesothelioma was considered successful preceding chemotherapy treatment in a study presented May 3 at the 2009 European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic Oncology.
The surgical method known as a pleurectomy/decortication (a type of surgery involving the removal of the outermost lining surrounding the lungs) was assessed in the study. The study observed the procedure in combination with chemotherapy and radiation in a three-fold treatment approach.
A group of experts, including Dr. Servet Bölükbas and Dr. Horst Schmidt Kliniken, devised the study to check the efficiency of pleurectomy/decortication as the surgical component in malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment rather than pneumonectomy (removal of a lung).
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Patients usually exhibit mesothelioma symptoms several decades following initial exposure, permitting the cancer to progress to later developmental stages. A multimodal therapy method using two or more methods of treatment is frequently suggested for mesothelioma patients.
Thirty-five patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were enrolled in the study over a five-year period from November 2002 through October 2007. Patients underwent the pleurectomy/decortications procedure prior to four chemotherapy sessions (using cisplatin and pemetrexed) and radiation to the chest wall and mediastinum (a group of structures in the thorax) roughly four to six weeks following the surgery. Approximately 94 percent of the patients finished the treatment regimen.
The one year survival rate was 75 percent with a median survival rate of 33.2 months. The two year survival rate was 61 percent with the three year survival rate reported at 43 percent.
The researchers concluded that the use of pleurectomy/decortication as the surgical component in a multimodal treatment plan using chemotherapy and radiation demonstrated positive survival results and morbidity calls for extra testing.
Source
A particular kind of surgery performed as a part of a treatment plan intended for patients with malignant mesothelioma was considered successful preceding chemotherapy treatment in a study presented May 3 at the 2009 European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic Oncology.
The surgical method known as a pleurectomy/decortication (a type of surgery involving the removal of the outermost lining surrounding the lungs) was assessed in the study. The study observed the procedure in combination with chemotherapy and radiation in a three-fold treatment approach.
A group of experts, including Dr. Servet Bölükbas and Dr. Horst Schmidt Kliniken, devised the study to check the efficiency of pleurectomy/decortication as the surgical component in malignant pleural mesothelioma treatment rather than pneumonectomy (removal of a lung).
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Patients usually exhibit mesothelioma symptoms several decades following initial exposure, permitting the cancer to progress to later developmental stages. A multimodal therapy method using two or more methods of treatment is frequently suggested for mesothelioma patients.
Thirty-five patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were enrolled in the study over a five-year period from November 2002 through October 2007. Patients underwent the pleurectomy/decortications procedure prior to four chemotherapy sessions (using cisplatin and pemetrexed) and radiation to the chest wall and mediastinum (a group of structures in the thorax) roughly four to six weeks following the surgery. Approximately 94 percent of the patients finished the treatment regimen.
The one year survival rate was 75 percent with a median survival rate of 33.2 months. The two year survival rate was 61 percent with the three year survival rate reported at 43 percent.
The researchers concluded that the use of pleurectomy/decortication as the surgical component in a multimodal treatment plan using chemotherapy and radiation demonstrated positive survival results and morbidity calls for extra testing.
Source
Monday, July 6, 2009
Mesothelioma Treatment Option Found Effective
A treatment option for mesothelioma cancer patients has recently been evaluated at a European medical conference. A surgical procedure known as a pleurectomy/decortication, which involves the removal of the outermost lining of the lungs, is intended for patients suffering from malignant mesothelioma.
According to a study presented at the 2009 European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic Oncology, the surgery was considered successful when it preceded chemotherapy treatment and was used as part of a three-fold treatment approach along with radiation therapy.
The study was devised by a group of mesothelioma treatment experts to validate the efficiency of the pleurectomy/decortication procedure another type of surgery: pneumonectomy, the medical term for the removal of a lung.
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Due to a long latency period, patients often develop mesothelioma symptoms several decades after the initial exposure.
Mesothelioma patients are often advised by doctors to undertake multiple forms of treatment at once in order to have the highest chance of survival. One popular treatment combination involves Alimta, a type of chemotherapy, following resectable surgery.
For this study, thirty-five patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were observed over a five-year period from November 2002 through October 2007. Patients underwent the pleurectomy/decortications procedure prior to four chemotherapy sessions and radiation to the chest wall and thorax.
Approximately 94 percent of the patients finished the treatment regimen. The one year survival rate was 75 percent, the two year survival rate was 61 percent, and the three year survival rate reported at 43 percent.
The researchers believe that further study is needed, but pleurectomy/decortication did demonstrate positive survival results. Here in the United States, leading oncologists, such as Dr. Carrie Redlich of Yale University, are working to find a cure for this devastating disease.
Source
According to a study presented at the 2009 European Multidisciplinary Conference in Thoracic Oncology, the surgery was considered successful when it preceded chemotherapy treatment and was used as part of a three-fold treatment approach along with radiation therapy.
The study was devised by a group of mesothelioma treatment experts to validate the efficiency of the pleurectomy/decortication procedure another type of surgery: pneumonectomy, the medical term for the removal of a lung.
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Due to a long latency period, patients often develop mesothelioma symptoms several decades after the initial exposure.
Mesothelioma patients are often advised by doctors to undertake multiple forms of treatment at once in order to have the highest chance of survival. One popular treatment combination involves Alimta, a type of chemotherapy, following resectable surgery.
For this study, thirty-five patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were observed over a five-year period from November 2002 through October 2007. Patients underwent the pleurectomy/decortications procedure prior to four chemotherapy sessions and radiation to the chest wall and thorax.
Approximately 94 percent of the patients finished the treatment regimen. The one year survival rate was 75 percent, the two year survival rate was 61 percent, and the three year survival rate reported at 43 percent.
The researchers believe that further study is needed, but pleurectomy/decortication did demonstrate positive survival results. Here in the United States, leading oncologists, such as Dr. Carrie Redlich of Yale University, are working to find a cure for this devastating disease.
Source
Monday, June 29, 2009
Kin of Worker Killed by Mesothelioma File Lawsuit
Relatives of a Texas man who died from the deadly form of lung cancer mesothelioma after being exposed to toxic asbestos on the job have filed a lawsuit accusing his former employers of negligently failing to warn or protect him from the risks of exposure to asbestos.
Lewis Ayala died in September 2008 after working for years in shipyards, refineries, paper mills, chemical plants, and steel mills. Ayala developed mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of liver and lung cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos, the toxic material used in insulation and other products.
Ayala’s suit, filed June 2, 2009 in Jefferson County District Court, names 37 defendants, including A.O. Smith Corp., A.W. Chesterton Co., Afton Pumps, Alcoa, American Biltrite, BNSF Railway Company, Beazer East, Bird Corporation, CBS Corporation, Crane Co., Fairbanks Morse Pump Company, FMC Corporation, GE, IMO Industries, Tamko Roofing Products, and Zurn Industries, according to a report in the Southeast Texas Record.
In addition to negligently exposing Ayala to asbestos at work, the suit accuses the employers of failing to properly test products they made for possible health hazards and failing to remove dangerous products from the market.
Ayala’s relatives claim the case of mesothelioma caused their loved one to suffer extreme physical pain, suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, disfigurement, and physical impairment. The relatives also are seeking unspecified financial punitive and exemplary damages and other costs for Ayala’s medical bills, funeral costs, and other losses caused by his death.
Mesothelioma is caused when tiny asbestos fibers are inhaled or otherwise ingested into the body, where they can cause irritation and encourage the growth of cancerous tumors in the tissues lining the heart, lungs, liver, and abdomen.
There is no cure for mesothelioma, which may not show symptoms for decades after the victim has first been exposed to asbestos. Most people stricken with mesothelioma are workers who were in close contact with asbestos on the job, however, some relatives who washed work clothes carrying asbestos fibers and others close to exposed workers also have developed the deadly form of cancer.
Source
Lewis Ayala died in September 2008 after working for years in shipyards, refineries, paper mills, chemical plants, and steel mills. Ayala developed mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of liver and lung cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos, the toxic material used in insulation and other products.
Ayala’s suit, filed June 2, 2009 in Jefferson County District Court, names 37 defendants, including A.O. Smith Corp., A.W. Chesterton Co., Afton Pumps, Alcoa, American Biltrite, BNSF Railway Company, Beazer East, Bird Corporation, CBS Corporation, Crane Co., Fairbanks Morse Pump Company, FMC Corporation, GE, IMO Industries, Tamko Roofing Products, and Zurn Industries, according to a report in the Southeast Texas Record.
In addition to negligently exposing Ayala to asbestos at work, the suit accuses the employers of failing to properly test products they made for possible health hazards and failing to remove dangerous products from the market.
Ayala’s relatives claim the case of mesothelioma caused their loved one to suffer extreme physical pain, suffering, mental anguish, lost wages, disfigurement, and physical impairment. The relatives also are seeking unspecified financial punitive and exemplary damages and other costs for Ayala’s medical bills, funeral costs, and other losses caused by his death.
Mesothelioma is caused when tiny asbestos fibers are inhaled or otherwise ingested into the body, where they can cause irritation and encourage the growth of cancerous tumors in the tissues lining the heart, lungs, liver, and abdomen.
There is no cure for mesothelioma, which may not show symptoms for decades after the victim has first been exposed to asbestos. Most people stricken with mesothelioma are workers who were in close contact with asbestos on the job, however, some relatives who washed work clothes carrying asbestos fibers and others close to exposed workers also have developed the deadly form of cancer.
Source
Monday, June 22, 2009
The second most common type of mesothelioma cancer - The Peritoneal cancer
Dallas, TX: The peritoneal type of cancer is found in 10% to 20% of the total Mesothelioma patients. The disease attacks the organs, protected by the mesothelium of the abdominal organs and the abdominal cavity.
Like all other cancers, peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by the exposure to asbestos. Similarly, its latency period is very long, ranging from 20 to 40 years, after which the symptoms appear.
The following is the description from the onset of the asbestos to the development of the symptoms ,the treatment and the prognosis of the peritoneal cancer.
The appearance of its symptoms: After the inhaling or the swallowing of asbestos, this mineral follows the tract of the abdominal cavity, and sticks to the related organs or tissues, for the development of cancer.
After crossing the dormant period of two to four decades, the disease activates. The common normal cells of the abdominal cavity stop their growth and development, and start dividing, without any control. This additional cell grows uncontrollable, and the peritoneum thickens, resulting in the growth of cancerous tumors. The abdominal fluid also starts producing. The organs of the cavity now keep floating in this fluid.
Lumps appear on the skin under the abdomen, weight loss, constant abdominal and back pain, fever, fatigue and nausea are the main features.
The analysis and diagnosis of these symptoms: After the study of these symptoms, the examination of the patient’s physical condition, his medical history, pathological tests with emphasis on the fluid and the cancerous tissues, are conducted,
CT Scans, x-rays and biopsy tests are performed to confirm the cancerous growth, its localization, its spread, and its advancement. After the study of these tests, the line of treatment is determined.
The line of treatment: If the cancerous growth is localized, the tumor cells or the infected organ are removed surgically. The therapy of radiation and chemotherapy are usually combined together for the treatments where the growth has spread to the neighboring areas,
Sometimes, the patients, on their own will and desire, undergo some new therapies and clinical trial for the reduction of pain and other miseries, and find comfort and relaxation. Yet, there are others, who are too weak to have surgery, take the choice of the palliative system of treatment, and get relief from pain and physical stress .
Prognosis for the peritoneal cancer: Factors like the advancement of the disease, the age of the patient, location of the tumors and the development of the other symptoms, help the doctors to suggest a prognosis,
10% of such patients, with a comparative better physique and controlled cell growth, can survive for five years, after diagnosis. 40% of the total peritoneal patients have a survival chance of 6-12 months.
Till 1990 the mesothelioma cancer prognosis was very low, and it was rare for a patient to survive for more than one year. The new treatments are increasing the survival rate, although at present the average prognosis is about a year.
Source
Like all other cancers, peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by the exposure to asbestos. Similarly, its latency period is very long, ranging from 20 to 40 years, after which the symptoms appear.
The following is the description from the onset of the asbestos to the development of the symptoms ,the treatment and the prognosis of the peritoneal cancer.
The appearance of its symptoms: After the inhaling or the swallowing of asbestos, this mineral follows the tract of the abdominal cavity, and sticks to the related organs or tissues, for the development of cancer.
After crossing the dormant period of two to four decades, the disease activates. The common normal cells of the abdominal cavity stop their growth and development, and start dividing, without any control. This additional cell grows uncontrollable, and the peritoneum thickens, resulting in the growth of cancerous tumors. The abdominal fluid also starts producing. The organs of the cavity now keep floating in this fluid.
Lumps appear on the skin under the abdomen, weight loss, constant abdominal and back pain, fever, fatigue and nausea are the main features.
The analysis and diagnosis of these symptoms: After the study of these symptoms, the examination of the patient’s physical condition, his medical history, pathological tests with emphasis on the fluid and the cancerous tissues, are conducted,
CT Scans, x-rays and biopsy tests are performed to confirm the cancerous growth, its localization, its spread, and its advancement. After the study of these tests, the line of treatment is determined.
The line of treatment: If the cancerous growth is localized, the tumor cells or the infected organ are removed surgically. The therapy of radiation and chemotherapy are usually combined together for the treatments where the growth has spread to the neighboring areas,
Sometimes, the patients, on their own will and desire, undergo some new therapies and clinical trial for the reduction of pain and other miseries, and find comfort and relaxation. Yet, there are others, who are too weak to have surgery, take the choice of the palliative system of treatment, and get relief from pain and physical stress .
Prognosis for the peritoneal cancer: Factors like the advancement of the disease, the age of the patient, location of the tumors and the development of the other symptoms, help the doctors to suggest a prognosis,
10% of such patients, with a comparative better physique and controlled cell growth, can survive for five years, after diagnosis. 40% of the total peritoneal patients have a survival chance of 6-12 months.
Till 1990 the mesothelioma cancer prognosis was very low, and it was rare for a patient to survive for more than one year. The new treatments are increasing the survival rate, although at present the average prognosis is about a year.
Source
Monday, June 8, 2009
Mesothelioma and the Effects of Asbestos Exposure
With the recent trial involving W.R. Grace & Company, the federal government and the citizens of Libby, Montana, the topic of asbestos-related illness is receiving additional national attention. There are approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year in the United States and those numbers are expected to climb in the near future.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. In some cases though, reports have documented a small number of patients that have contracted the disease without ever being exposed to asbestos fibers.
Exposure occurs when the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos are either inhaled or ingested into the body. This typically happens after asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed and release asbestos fibers into the air.
In the past, some of the more common locations for asbestos exposure (predominantly for men) have included the construction, shipyard, railroad, power plant, chemical plant, manufacturing, mining and automotive industries.
However, other indirect cases of asbestos exposure, known as secondary exposure, have affected the lives of women and children. Many of the men who worked with asbestos would unknowingly carry home asbestos fibers on their skin and clothes, exposing their wives, children and friends to the toxic mineral. To date, secondary exposure has been responsible for an impactful portion of malignant mesotheliomacases.
Diagnosing this disease can be an extremely difficult task, as many of the symptoms patients often experience will resemble those of minor and more common health conditions. In addition, the severe latency period associated with mesothelioma (usually ranging anywhere from 20 to 50 years) can allow the disease to progress to later stages of development by the time diagnosis occurs.
Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency and Consumer Product Safety Commission have instilled strict regulations concerning asbestos, even though not all asbestos material is banned. Products that contain 1 percent or more asbestos fiber are considered to be asbestos-containing.
Those who suspect asbestos in their home or workplace should speak with an asbestos consultant. Approximately 80 percent of homes built before 1980 are likely to contain some amount of asbestos. It is important to note that if intact and stable, asbestos-containing materials generally do not pose a health threat as long as they are routinely checked for potential damage.
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