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.
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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
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.
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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.
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