Mesothelioma Non-Profit Research Institute Launches Informative Web Site

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (PHLBI), a medical research non-profit focusing on mesothelioma cancer, recently launched a new patient resource Web site to help mesothelioma patients and their families.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive and rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Because of the aggressive nature of the cancer, treating it with just one mode of therapy typically results in a poor response. However, when doctors combine therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, an improvement in survival is commonly recorded.

The recently launched Web site offers information for mesothelioma patients and details the research efforts and accomplishments of Dr. Robert Cameron, a world renowned mesothelioma surgeon. Dr. Cameron is the scientific advisor of the PHLBI, in addition to his roles as the director of the mesothelioma program at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the chief of thoracic surgery at the West Los Angeles Veterans’ Administration Medical Center.

PHLBI’s medical research is under the direction of Dr. Cameron, innovator of the lung-sparing pleurectomy/decortication (PD) surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma and has performed the procedure on more than 300 patients. Research programs at PHLBI currently focus on immunotherapy, screening, early detection and prevention of mesothelioma.

Utilizing Dr. Cameron’s more than 20 years of experience in treating mesothelioma patients, PHLBI is supported by a leading mesothelioma expert and dedicated to the advancement of mesothelioma research and treatment.

Additional information on mesothelioma and current treatment options may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

Mesothelioma Screening Techniques May Improve Detection

Thursday, August 26th, 2010

Researchers from the University of Western Australia and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital have further confirmed that higher levels of a particular protein, serum mesothelin, are found in patients with asbestos-related cancer.

Their research has encouraged the use of screening tests such as the MESOMARK

Mesothelioma Risk being Reduced by Florida Mayor Determined to Protect the Public

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Davie, Florida Mayor Judy Paul is pushing for the removal of asbestos-contaminated piping at a mobile home complex that is slated to be redeveloped into a public park.

The asbestos-cement pipes previously functioned as drinking water and sewer lines for the old mobile home park. Some town staffers formerly claimed the contaminated pipes were safe enough to provide drinking water for the planned park. However, Mayor Judy Paul contends that safe enough should not be the standard when it comes to protecting the public from asbestos exposure.

Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma cancer. Exposure occurs by either inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. These fibers have the potential to become lodged in the lining of the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity, where they can cause damage that leads to cancer. Due to the latency period of mesothelioma symptoms, which can range between 20 and 50 years after exposure, the average mesothelioma life expectancy for patients upon diagnosis is four to 18 months.

Mayor Paul stated at a recent town council meeting in August,

Mesothelioma Claims the Life of 18-Year-Old Girl

Monday, August 23rd, 2010

After a five-year battle with mesothelioma cancer, 18-year-old Sophie Ellis passed away a little over a week ago. She was Britain’s youngest person to pass away from the asbestos-related disease.

Sophie was only 13 years old when she was first diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare age for mesothelioma patients. With a latency period typically ranging between 20 and 50 years after asbestos exposure, most patients are diagnosed around the age of 60.

Being exposed to asbestos as a young child can significantly influence the early development of mesothelioma cancer. Although there is no recollection as to how Sophie may have been exposed, it is assumed that asbestos was the culprit since the disease is almost exclusively caused by the toxic mineral.

The majority of mesothelioma patients are males who have previously worked in the shipyard, construction, manufacturing or automotive industry. Other occupations that present an increased risk of contracting mesothelioma include plumbers, electricians, roofers and painters.

While doctors told Sophie she only had months to live, she defied the average mesothelioma life expectancy of most patients by living another five years.

During her battle with the cancer, Sophie always spoke in support of the Mirror’s Asbestos Timebomb campaign. She said,

Mesothelioma Immunotherapy in Combination with Traditional Therapies May Improve Prognosis in Some Patients

Thursday, August 19th, 2010

Although there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma, headway is being made in extending the life span of mesothelioma patients by combining traditional therapy with unique treatments such as immunotherapy.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. The cancer rarely responds positively to one mode of treatment. Medical professionals have learned that combating the cancer requires more than one mode of treatment. Known as multimodality therapy, this approach combines treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy or some unique form of treatment like immunotherapy to improve mesothelioma life expectancy.

In most cases, the patients who qualify for this aggressive treatment approach are those diagnosed in an early stage of cancer development. Since there is no cure for mesothelioma, researchers have been turning to novel treatments like immunotherapy to improve multimodality therapy.

According to mesothelioma researchers Dr. Sutapa Mukherjee and Dr. Bruce W. S. Robinson (authors of the chapter