Blog: Mesothelioma
- How science is helping those with mesothelioma
Mar 24, 2020
Traditionally, mesothelioma patients have been treated with some combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. However, mesothelioma patients in Pennsylvania and throughout the country may have additional options to help them treat or overcome their conditions. Researchers are looking into ways to use immunotherapy in combination with surgery to help individuals who have pleural mesothelioma. The goal is to block the connection between PD-1 proteins found on T-cells and PD-L1 proteins that are found in mesothelioma...Read More - Causes and treatment for mesothelioma
Mar 7, 2020
Pleural mesothelioma is a deadly form of lung cancer that’s most commonly caused by inhaling asbestos particles. This chemical was commonly used for insulation materials in older buildings. Since Pennsylvania has long had a strong construction industry, many local residents are aware of mesothelioma. In fact, 1.3 million workers in the general industry and construction fields are still at risk for job-related asbestos exposure, according to recent studies. Asbestos is not the only cause of...Read More - New tool may more accurately predict mesothelioma survival
Oct 29, 2019
Chinese researchers may have discovered a more accurate way to predict how long a patient will likely survive following pleural mesothelioma surgery. It could help answer the question that people ask the most following a diagnosis. How much time do I have left? The current system is called the TNM staging system. TNM stands for Tumor Node Metastasis, and the system is used universally for classifying how far the disease has spread, referring to cancer...Read More - Johnson & Johnson recalls baby powder tainted with asbestos
Oct 29, 2019
Johnson & Johnson announced Oct. 18 that the company is initiating a recall of its popular baby powder product after U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testing uncovered the presence of asbestos, which can cause mesothelioma. Just before that announcement, TIME magazine published a story on talc products, citing a study which states chrysotile asbestos, found in many talc products, causes mesothelioma. The recall comes after the company vigorously defended its baby powder for months...Read More - Are the number of mesothelioma cases dropping?
Aug 28, 2019
As someone who is now dealing with mesothelioma, one question may be on your mind: Are the number of cases dropping since asbestos is used less often? It’s long been said that after those who were exposed in the past were diagnosed, the number of cases would decline. It was claimed that pleural mesothelioma cases would peak between 2000 and 2005, since the majority of workers who were exposed would have symptoms by this point...Read More - Patients with mesothelioma may benefit from high-calorie diet
Aug 16, 2019
Mesothelioma is a serious form of cancer that develops as a result of asbestos exposure in the majority of patients with this condition. While there are a number of therapies that can be used to help address the pain and issues associated with the spread of this cancer, the majority of treatments are focused on improving a patient’s quality of life and not on curing the condition. As of 2019, there is no cure for...Read More - Diagnosing mesothelioma is vital to recovery and treatment
Aug 1, 2019
Mesothelioma is not easy to detect, and it can spread throughout the body long before treatment begins. For many, a diagnosis is essentially a death sentence, and they’re left only able to use medication or techniques to cope with pain and the dysfunction within their bodies. In some lucky cases, individuals are able to seek chemotherapy or surgery to remove the cancer. There is no guarantee that it can be cured, but if caught at...Read More - Understand five-year survival rates with mesothelioma
Jul 18, 2019
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops as a result of asbestos exposure in most people. Sadly, due to the type of injuries the asbestos causes over time, scar tissues build and cancer is likely to form. Mesothelioma is rare, but it is a devastating diagnosis. The survival rate for those with diagnosed mesothelioma is not going to be the same for all people, but averages have shown that localized mesothelioma has a five-year...Read More - How do medical providers diagnose mesothelioma?
Jul 1, 2019
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that’s linked to exposure to asbestos. It usually takes several decades to be recognized, so patients are often in later stages of the disease by the time they seek treatment. There is another issue with diagnosing mesothelioma, which is that it appears similar to many other illnesses. Someone may seem to have pneumonia or asthma, for instance, but actually be in the early stages of mesothelioma. One of the...Read More - Mesothelioma: Identify it early for your best chance of survival
Jun 18, 2019
Mesothelioma is a difficult diagnosis to live with. Depending on the stage you’ve been diagnosed with, the goal might be to begin chemotherapy or to help you cope with the symptoms and make you more comfortable. Mesothelioma is not typically considered to be a curable form of cancer, though catching it early may give you the chance of having it surgically removed. If not caught early, mesothelioma is aggressive and can attack the lining of...Read More