Blog
- Asbestos exposure and who runs the risk for it
Aug 28, 2020
Six naturally occurring minerals go by the name of asbestos, but you don’t want to be exposed to any of them. Unfortunately, many people in Pennsylvania have been exposed and continue to be. Asbestos mining began in the late 1800s and peaked during World War II before the use of this mineral, which was sought after for its durability and heat-resistant qualities, became limited in the 1970s. It has not been banned outright, though. Workers...Read More - Asbestos, and who may be exposed to it
Aug 25, 2020
Asbestos is a mineral once widely used in building materials due to its flexibility and resistance to heat and electricity. Since the 1970s, the government has curbed its use due to health concerns. It is no longer mined and processed, and the EPA has banned it in products like paper and flooring felt. If you own an old home in Pennsylvania or work as an auto mechanic, though, there’s still a danger of being exposed...Read More - Signs mesothelioma spread to the brain and what happens next
Aug 13, 2020
The American Cancer Institute estimates that there are 3,000 new mesothelioma cases diagnosed annually. This is a disease that impacts older American men who worked in conditions where asbestos was present including Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The disease begins in the lungs, heart and abdomen. This cancer can metastasize, but medical professionals have found that mesothelioma metastasis in the brain is not very common. Medical professionals have found that brain metastasis only occurs in 3%...Read More - Asbestos still found in old homes, work materials
Jul 23, 2020
Pennsylvania residents may have heard about the dangers of asbestos. This mineral was once widely used for its durability and resistance to heat, but in the 1960s, it became linked to deadly conditions like mesothelioma. In 1989, the U.S. banned any new use of asbestos, but it can still be found here and there, first of all in old homes. Asbestos may be contained, for instance, in roofing shingles, siding, the coating around water pipes,...Read More - Several causes for malignant mesothelioma
Jul 21, 2020
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer affecting millions of Americans. While some people are affected by this disease because of their age and family history, others develop it because of variable risk factors. It might surprise Pennsylvania residents that some malignant mesothelioma patients have little to no known risk factors. Here are some of the risk factors that could lead to mesothelioma. Risk factors that lead to peritoneal and plural mesothelioma Exposure to...Read More - Innovative mesothelioma treatment offers new hope
Jul 15, 2020
Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that affects the thin membranes surrounding organs inside the human body. It is a rare cancer that often affects the heart or lungs when it does manifest itself. A new study shows hope for reducing the size of mesothelioma tumors by using the drug LMB-100 in combination with immunotherapy. This could help patients in Pennsylvania who have advanced cases and face less than ideal outcomes for mesothelioma treatment. A study...Read More - Five signs that one has an asbestos-related condition
Jul 10, 2020
Pennsylvania residents should be aware that asbestos is a mineral once widely used in building materials and still used in automotive equipment like brakes and clutches. While the U.K. banned asbestos outright in 1999, the U.S. has no ban in place, though it is no longer mined. Workers, especially shipyard workers, construction workers and auto mechanics, should know what the signs of asbestos poisoning are. The first symptom will be shortness of breath because, when...Read More - New treatment shows promise for advanced mesothelioma
Jul 10, 2020
Pennsylvanians who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and their loved ones might be interested in learning about a promising new treatment for patients with advanced stages of the disease. The treatment is for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma, and it causes minimal side effects. Research about the novel treatment was presented during a virtual session of the 2020 scientific meeting of the Society of Interventional Radiology on June 14. The treatment involves arterial chemoperfusion of...Read More - Mesothelioma difficult to detect early
Jun 23, 2020
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer for which there are no screening tests recommended for people who are not at an increased level of risk. For people in Pennsylvania who have had exposure to asbestos, it is common for doctors to suggest undergoing imaging tests regularly. These may include computed tomography scans and chest x-rays. Such screenings examine the lungs for changes that may indicate the presence of lung cancer or mesothelioma in the...Read More - Miners file asbestos suit against workers’ comp insurer
Jun 11, 2020
Pennsylvania residents may have heard that the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine in the town of Libby, Montana, closed in the 1990s but not before hundreds of workers contracted asbestos-related diseases. The affected workers filed a lawsuit against Maryland Casualty Company, the company that provided Grace with workers’ compensation insurance from 1963 to 1973. Plaintiffs alleged that Maryland Casualty knew about the danger of asbestos exposure when mining vermiculite, a mineral that naturally occurs in asbestos-laden...Read More