Asbestos & Mesothelioma Studies
Understanding malignant mesothelioma and the way it develops is significant when discovering prevention, development control, and the eventual lead to a cure. Cancer researchers at the Mayo Clinic have been researching the genetic composition of the disease in hopes to find a connection between the development of mesothelioma and mutations in DNA. To find these…
Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, is rare, aggressive and fatal. Researches are discovering more and more about this disease daily, and with that, they are one step closer to finding more effective treatments. In a most recent study, scientists looked into why, after initial treatments, the cancer cells become immune to the chemotherapy,…
Asbestos has been a threat for centuries more than people realize. Modern use didn’t expand until the Industrial Revolution, but its discovery dates back to 2500 B.C. as a way to strengthen ceramic pots and utensils. Since then, it’s been used in many products, including tiles, insulation, crayons and clothing. Because most asbestos poisoning cases…
Because the Environmental Protection Agency began limiting the use of asbestos in the 1970s, many believe it is a disease of generations past. Unfortunately, it’s common use and the lack of a worldwide ban means it still poses significant risks. In fact, many predict resurgence. In 1990, a convention met to examine the threat of…
Chemotherapy remains one of the most effective treatments for mesothelioma. Because there is no cure, it works to prolong the lives of patients. Unfortunately, even the most effective methods can become inadequate as treatments continue. A current clinical trial is attempting to extend the usefulness period of chemotherapy and in turn extend the lives of…
The Mayo Clinic exists to provide the latest technology and different treatment options to those suffering from many ailments and diseases. Clinical trials are done to determine new and improved methods to make sure patients are receiving the most effective care. The Rochester, Minnesota, location is currently running several mesothelioma clinical trials, including one using…
A recent mesothelioma study found the addition of bevacizumab to the chemotherapy treatment of pemetrexed plus cisplatin may increase the survival rate in patients. From 2008 to 2014, patients were given the standard treatment in 21-day increments for six cycles, with some receiving bevacizumab. The addition of bevacizumab increased survival to a median of 19.8…
There was a time when asbestos was seemingly in everything. Among other things, it was used in building materials such as pipe covering, cements, gaskets, pumps, clothing, gloves, and shipbuilding materials. This was due to its durability and high resistance to heat and corrosion as well as the fact it could be so easily processed.…
As it currently stands, mesothelioma is an incurable form of cancer that affects the lining of organs. Caused only by asbestos, mesothelioma takes decades to develop and once symptoms present themselves, has typically progressed to a Stage 4 cancer. Those diagnosed typically survive less than two years. Current treatments involve surgery and chemotherapy, but they…
Many years have passed since asbestos use became limited in the United States, yet the effects are still felt by workers and families alike. Those employed by steel mills, paper mills, shipyards and more put their lives in danger every day simply by going to work. Unlike other substances, overall evidence suggests there isn’t a…
