All posts by administrator

Meso Cancer, Meso Causes, Meso Treatments, Press Releases, Stories & News

Aggressive Mesothelioma Cancer: Some Characteristics

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer currently without a cure. Exposure to free-floating asbestos dust particles is the primary cause for getting this disease.  Generally, no amount of asbestos exposure is considered safe, and the disease almost always develops in persons that have had extensive, recurring exposure.   Once the exposure has taken hold with asbestos particles stuck in the lining of the lung(s), the detection of mesothelioma cancer may take 20 to 50 years.  The type of asbestos, fiber particle size as well as the duration of recurring exposure are decisive in the development of the mesothelioma cancer.  Today, asbestos is banned in most countries from all industries, particularly the construction industry, which only a few decades ago used it in many building materials.  Asbestos is still being consumed and used by lesser developed nations, and some nations like Canada still mine the ore and ship it to these user nations.

Mesothelioma is frequently mistaken as a lung cancer, which it is not, simply because it affects the thoracic cavity (pleura) most often as well as other thin membranes that cover the body’s organs.

Body organ membranes where mesothelioma can also develop include the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum);  the fibroserous sac which encloses the heart (the pericardium); and the serous membrane that covers the testis and epididymis (the tunica vaginalis).

Generally, symptoms of having mesothelioma include: a cough, husky voice, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, difficult swallowing, chest pain, abdominal swelling with pain, fatigue, anemia, loss of appetite, weight loss, fluid in the chest or abdomen, lack of sleep, and other characteristics.  Obviously, to diagnose mesothelioma is challenging and to connect the symptoms with the cancer because so many of its symptoms are easily mistaken for more common diseases that are not life threatening such as flu, pneumonia or bronchitis.

So, there are three main types of mesothelioma cancers:

  • malignant pleural mesothelioma
  • malignant pericardial mesothelioma
  • malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

And less common types of this disease include:

  • testicular mesothelioma
  • epithelial mesothelioma
  • biphasic mesothelioma
  • cystic mesothelioma
  • liver mesothelioma
  • brain mesothelioma
  • papillary mesothelioma
  • adenocarcinoma mesothelioma
  • sarcomatoid mesothelioma
  • desmoplastic mesothelioma

There are several primary options for the treatment of mesothelioma cancer:

  • mesothelioma surgery
  • mesothelioma chemotherapy
  • mesothelioma radiation

These treatments can be combined for a best-results treatment.  During surgery, the cancer cells are removed and post-surgery mesothelioma doctors usually use radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Treating mesothelioma cancer with these methods will give the patients a possible extension of five years to their lives. Additional treatments used by mesothelioma doctors are anti-angiogenesis drugs, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy, massage therapy, acupuncture, and intraoperative photodynamic therapy.

Special research and clinical trials are being conducted by the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America on a cure for mesothelioma with good results on the early Phase I and Phase II trials.  This work is done as a collaborative effort for a mesothelioma cancer patient by a team of general practitioners, epidemiologists, pathologists, thoracic surgeons, radiation therapists, oncologists, rehabilitation specialists and psychotherapists.

Contact a mesothelioma doctor in your area with the help of our support staff.

Find out more about mesothelioma victims.

Meso Treatments, Press Releases, Stories & News

Mesothelioma FDG-PET/CT Scan Results Affected by Talc Pleurodesis

Mesothelioma patients who undergo a procedure called talc pleurodesis (TP) for excess lung fluid may be harder to monitor with FDG-PET/CT scans afterward.

Mesothelioma and FDG-PET/CT scanTalc pleurodesis is a procedure used to manage pleura effusions, the build-up of fluid around the lungs that causes many of the most uncomfortable symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma. As a mesothelioma tumor spreads across the pleural lining, the body often produces fluid in response.  As this fluid fills up the pleural cavity between the mesothelial lining and the lungs it can cause pain and make it hard for the mesothelioma patient to breath. Draining the fluid and filling the space with medical-grade talc is one way to deal with the problem.

But a new study suggests that talc pleurodesis may interfere with the primary means doctors use to monitor a mesothelioma patient’s disease progression and treatment response. FDG-PET scanning involves injecting the patient with a radioactive tracer and then using PET/CT (positron emission tomography and computerized tomography) to measure how much of the tracer is absorbed by cancer cells. The mesothelioma cells’ ‘uptake’ of tracer can be used to determine how well chemotherapy is working.

But when a team of Italian researchers compared the radiologic and metabolic treatment responses in eight mesothelioma patients who had undergone chemotherapy and talc pleurodesis, they found a problem. Eight patients were evaluated – 7 who had the epithelioid subtype of mesothelioma and 1 who had biphasic. After their TP treatment, they underwent FDG-PET/CT scans twice, once around 14 days and a second time around 125 days. The researchers found that, by increasing the amount of tracer absorbed by cancer cells, TP treatment can make it look as though a patient’s disease is progressing more rapidly than it is.

“TP produces an increased FDG-PET uptake which may interfere with the post-chemotherapy disease evaluation,” observe the researchers. To compensate, they recommend a slightly modified way of interpreting the FDG-PET scan results in these patients.

Sources:

Genestreti, G et al, “FDG PET/CT Response Evaluation in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Patients Treated with Talc Pleurodesis and Chemotherapy”, June 1, 2012, Journal of Cancer, Epub head of print.
Meso Cancer

The Ten-Steps After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Mesothelioma Prognosis & Life Expectancy

Mesothelioma Prognosis & Life Expectancy

.

Click on the e-Book to get the 10-step guide about choosing a Mesothelioma Treatment and Clinical Trial

.

On this page:

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers, which imbed themselves in the mesothelia, or lining, of the lungs, abdomen, heart and/or testicles.  Mesothelioma symptoms typically arise decades after initial exposure to asbestos, and even once they appear they are often mistaken for symptoms of another condition.  Consequently, mesothelioma is usually diagnosed in the latter stages of its progression, and for most patients this translates to a very poor prognosis.  The majority of case studies indicate the life expectancy for a person diagnosed with mesothelioma is less than a year.

In rare cases, mesothelioma patients have survived for up to a decade or more, and the search for new mesothelioma treatments is ongoing. This is small consolation to patients and their families who are suffering from the effects of this horrible disease. If you believe you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos due to the negligence of a former employer or other party, you are advised to speak with a mesothelioma attorney.  By filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit you may be able to recover compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and other factors.

.

Statistics Relating to Mesothelioma Prognosis

On the whole, statistics relating to mesothelioma are very inconsistent. For example, some studies show only 5 percent of mesothelioma patients surviving more than five years, while others show 10 percent surviving. The American Cancer Society estimates the average survival time of a mesothelioma patient after diagnosis is four to 18 months.

Much of the discrepancy in statistics comes down to the fact that mesothelioma — particularly peritoneal mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the abdomen and or testicle lining) and pericardial mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the heart lining) — is so rare. It is caused solely by long-term asbestos exposure, and those who worked in industries such as shipping, mining and construction make up the vast majority of mesothelioma cases.

Another reason for the variance in mesothelioma statistics is that many of the studies on which they are based looked at people in the past, and treatment methods have since changed and improved.  For instance, researchers and oncologists now know that the prognosis for patients with mesothelioma tumors comprised of sarcomatoid or mixed mesothelioma cell types is grimmer than for patients with tumors comprised of other cell types.

The inconsistency in mesothelioma statistics can be frustrating for patients and their families.  However, when certain factors exist the prognosis on a patient may be much better than the average.  Some mesothelioma experts believe that prognosis of the disease depends much on individual differences and less on the success of conventional mesothelioma treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The factors that determine a mesothelioma patient’s prognosis and life expectancy are covered below.

.

Factors Associated with Mesothelioma Life Expectancy

A mesothelioma patient’s prognosis and life expectancy is very much dependent on various factors such as the following:

Overall health. Patients who are physically fit and follow certain dietary guidelines have a better change of surviving longer.

Age. For many reasons, older patients are less-likely than young patients to survive a long time.

Symptoms. Mesothelioma symptoms are a strong indicator of a patient’s prognosis. For example, patients who have not experienced chest pain may have a better prognosis. On the flip side, those who have chest pain or shows signs of cancer cachexia (“wasting syndrome”), which is characterized by the inability to maintain weight, typically have a poor prognosis.

Smoking. While smoking does not cause mesothelioma, it can cause lung cancer, and patients who smoke are less likely to be physically fit and more likely to have compromised immune systems.

Type of mesothelioma. Prognosis also depends on whether the patient has pleural mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma. By taking biopsies and imaging tests, your doctor will be able to give you a better idea of how long you or your loved one can expect to survive.

Size of the tumor. Patients with smaller tumors have a better chance of exceeding the median survival time.

Location of the tumor. The life expectancy of a mesothelioma patient can be further determined by the location of the tumor and the degree to which is has spread. For example, patients with pleural mesothelioma that has spread from the lungs’ lining to the organ itself typically have a poor prognosis.

Resectability of the tumor. Resectable tumors are those that can be seen and removed via surgery. The resectability of a mesothelioma tumor depends on its size, stage, cell subtype and location. Though many (but not all) stage 1, stage 2 and stage 3 tumors are resectable, most experts agree that only epithelioid tumors should be resected. Tumor removal is often accompanied by chemotherapy or radiation treatment to kill cells that cannot be seen, and to prevent “seeding,” whereby cancerous cells left behind in surgery imbed in adjacent tissues and lead to cancer in these areas.

Factors relating to blood. Patients with normal levels of red cells (hemoglobin), white cells, platelets and LDH typically fare better than patients with lower amounts of these blood components.

Mesothelioma cell type. Tumors comprised of sarcomatoid or biphasic (mixed) cell types usually lead to a poorer prognosis than tumors comprised of epithelioid cells.

.

Pleural Mesothelioma Staging and Models

A patient’s prognosis, or outlook, is based on the stage of his or her mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma — by far the most common form of the disease — is the only type of mesothelioma for which official “staging” systems exist.

In the United States, the most common system used for staging is the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging system, which takes into account the original tumor (T), how much it has spread to nearby lymph nodes (N) and whether it has metastasized (M) to other areas such as the lungs or peritoneum.

Cases of pleural mesothelioma are classified into four stages, with stage 4 being the most advanced stage.  To determine the stage of a patient’s mesothelioma, doctors will:

  1. perform a physical exam
  2. run imaging tests (FDG-PET/CT scans)
  3. take biopsies

Nodal status. Mesothelioma cancer cells that spread to the lymph nodes are especially lethal.  Nodal status is one of the most important indicators of a patient’s prognosis.

.

Mesothelioma Attorneys

Researchers around the world are engaged in a concerted and noble race to develop effective treatments for mesothelioma, but currently little can be done to improve a patient’s prognosis once mesothelioma has been diagnosed. Some patients are able to stave off some of the more unpleasant effects of the disease through dietary changes, but ultimately mesothelioma overwhelms the body’s defenses and leads to death.

In order to develop new treatments to combat the disease at its earlier stages, and to improve treatments currently used, researchers are attempting to identify biological markers in patients who are likely to develop the disease.  Meanwhile, existing patients’ only recourse to pay for their medical bills is to take legal action against those responsible for their exposure to asbestos.  Generally, mesothelioma lawsuits have a far better chance of ending in a settlement or court award than other kinds of civil lawsuits.  If you or a loved one has suffered from the effects of malignant mesothelioma or asbestosis, contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Meso Cancer, Meso Causes

Genetic Predisposition and Susceptibility: How to Get Mesothelioma Cancer?

 

Recent researchers studying mesothelioma cancer are proposing a genetic component to this aggressive cancer long associated with asbestos.  Dr. Jill Ohar MD at Wake Forest School of Medicine reported in 2010 at an International Symposium about her research that supported the possibility that people who develop mesothelioma may have a genetic predisposition and susceptibility.

Between 1940 and 1980, asbestos was commonly used as a material in the construction, particularly in shipbuilding, aircraft fabrication, plumbing, insulation, railroad and automotive brakes and clutches, ceiling tile, floor tile, drywall, fireproofing materials, cement, and many, many other uses.  It is estimated that 40% of U.S. employees or nearly 27 million Americans , have been unknowingly exposed to asbestos in their place of work; even when employers and manufacturers of asbestos products knew the danger.  Fortunately, many of the persons exposed to asbestos have not developed mesothelioma cancer.  So, the frequency of new mesothelioma cases identified in recent years has stabilized at a constant of approximately 3,000 per year.

Because so few persons who have been exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma cancer leads researchers to wonder why and ask what could differ among workers who have experienced equal exposure to asbestos?  Why does a majority of asbestos exposed workers not develop mesothelioma cancer, and the remainder do?

Dr. Ohar and fellow researchers studied a database of 5,000 people who have been exposed to asbestos in which only 6.5% or 327 incurred the mesothelioma cancer.  The researchers questioned all 5,000 individuals regarding their exposure to asbestos at work and at home, and about the status of their health.  The answers reveal some interesting patterns:

  • Age of first exposure: those workers who developed mesothelioma tended to be younger at their first exposure to asbestos. In the 1940’s, they were the young men and women who volunteered out of high school, at age 17 or 18 to join the military, or work in defense industries. Cells in younger people tend to be more vulnerable to carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents.  Even a few years’ delay, time spent in college or in work that did not involve exposure to asbestos, seems to have had a protective effect.
  • Military service: Mesothelioma patients were more likely to have served in the military.  Service in the military increased the odds of exposure to asbestos.
  • Other cancer diagnoses: Mesothelioma patients were three times more likely than other workers exposed to asbestos to have had another cancer diagnosis at the time of diagnosis of their mesothelioma.  This suggests a greater vulnerability, probably genetically mediated, to carcinogenic agents.
  • Cancer in first-order relatives: People diagnosed with mesothelioma were also three times more likely than other workers exposed to asbestos to have a first-order relative (a parent, a brother or a sister, or a child) who had a cancer diagnosis.  Children of people with a mesothelioma diagnosis were seven times more likely to have a cancer diagnosis.

The conclusion, based on Dr. Ohar’s study, is that getting mesothelioma cancer caused by exposure to asbestos could possibly be attributed to a genetic predisposition and susceptibility to cancer-causing agents.  Genetic susceptibility alone does not determine a diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer; and exposure to asbestos does not always assure that a person will get mesothelioma cancer.  However, the combination of asbestos exposure, especially at a young age, with genetic predisposition and susceptibility increases the likelihood of a person developing mesothelioma cancer.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos fibers, especially in the workplace, and has received a diagnosis of mesothelioma, you need to consult with an experienced asbestos mesothelioma lawyer to determine whether you may have an actionable case against the employer.

Related Mesothelioma Articles

Meso Cancer

Mesorfa Family Support Group provides care for US Navy Veterans or Individuals Diagnosed with Mesothelioma

MesoRFA Family Support GroupThe Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America (Mesorfa) Family Support Group is an advocate for all victims  in the United States of mesothelioma, an uncommon form of cancer.  This support group is known for offering free services for US Navy Veterans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.  The Mesorfa Family Support Group is also extending its  mesothelioma victims initiative to encompass chemical plant, shipyard, oil refinery, and power plant workers who are now diagnosed with or living with mesothelioma.   According to the US Centers for Disease Control about 2500 US citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma this year, and about thirty percent of these people are going to be Veterans of the US Navy.   Also, another thirty percent of all victims diagnosed with mesothelioma will be persons retired from oil refineries, or electricians, or chemical plant workers, or plumbers pipe-fitters.   We also want diagnosed victims of mesothelioma or their family members to understand we are unlike any other group in the nation because our focus is entirely on coping with a life style based on having mesothelioma.   Retired US Navy Veterans, oil refinery workers, chemical plant workers, plumbers, electricians, or any other US citizen, or their family members are strongly encouraged to call the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America Family Support Group at (800) 909-Meso (6376), because they are dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis.   http://support.mesorfa.org

The Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America and its Family Support Group are a non-profit, donor sponsored group (mostly from Labor Unions of Workers around Asbestos), and our research and support staff  are objective, they are honest, and when they say it is most important to have the most current cancer research and family support coordinators, they are serious.

Executive Director, Elizabeth Paul says:

“A mesothelioma diagnosis is not anyone’s desire, but when this worse case happens to someone’s life, we want Mesorfa  to be recognized nationally as the main place to go for free consultation and report about mesothelioma treatments options (which includes  every mesothelioma cancer treatment possible) and where to find medical treatment  locally or by region with consideration for the specific mesothelioma victim, and their family.  Moreover,  we wish to be the main group for how to live with mesothelioma, and teaching the importance of rallying around the loved one who is a victim of mesothelioma.”

There are very few groups in the United States who do research specifically for mesothelioma cancer, and who offer the finest quality, or the most honesty service.  When you or a family member are coping with a mesothelioma diagnosis, we are hoping the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America and the Mesorfa Family Support Group will be the first call you make to find help.   Our anytime, toll free phone number for mesothelioma victims and their family members is:

(800) 909-Meso (6376)

http://support.mesorfa.org

More Mesothelioma Cancer Press Releases:

Meso Cancer

Introduction to Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.  People who are exposed to asbestos can inhale the tiny fibers that float in the atmosphere where asbestos is found.  The Mesothelium is a protective lining on internal organs of the body.  This lining on the lungs is called “pleura”, the lining on the heart it is called “pericardium”,  and on the abdominal cavity it is called “peritoneum.”

When Mesothelium is exposed and infected with asbestos particles, the cells start dividing uncontrollably as a condition called Cancer.  So, this cancer condition caused on Mesothelium tissue is called “Mesothelioma”.   Mesothelioma is also  categorized into three types: Epithelial, which is the most common type;  Sarcomatoid, which is the rarest type; and finally Biphasic, which is the combination of both Epithelial and Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma.

Introduction to Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

This type of cancer is most rare as well as the most serious form of cancer because it responds very slowly to treatment.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma cancer is found only in 10% to 20% of the patients.  With this cancer, the cells transform as spindle-shaped pattern that overlap each other and occurs from support tissues of the body such as cartilage, bone, fat and muscle.  In advanced stages, it spreads to other parts of the body such as abdominal organs, lymph nodes, lungs, or chest wall.  Cancer in these areas is very painful and difficult to treat and therefore patients suffering with this disease hardly live as long as six months after diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Symptoms of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

Diagnosis of this disease is very difficult because its symptoms are similar to those of other respiratory diseases.  It is usually diagnosed during biopsy by the extraction of affected tissue.  Symptoms of this disease appear 30 to 40 years after being exposed to asbestos.   Therefore, people usually come to know about their disease during advanced stages because it responds so poorly to early treatment.   The common symptoms of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma are pain because of fluid retention in the pleural area, spinal swelling and cough, accumulation of fluid in the  abdominal cavity and weight loss.  Fever, anemia, and blood clotting abnormality are also common symptoms.

More Mesothelioma Articles

Press Releases

The JOHNS Donate $5,000 For Mesothelioma Cancer Research

Press Release
March 14, 2012

The entire staff at the Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America stops and takes a deliberate moment to recognize and send a sincere thanks to the JOHNS for their donation of $5,000 designated for mesothelioma cancer research. The JOHNS event is held annually to honor a dear deceased friend, John S. Lyons, by acknowledging today’s Labor Leader of the Year as well as raise money for cancer research and other local charities. As always, 100% of the donation received by the Foundation will go toward research into treatment options for mesothelioma cancer. We also give a special thank you to our friends at the JOHNS who made this possible. Our relationship with medical research facilities in San Diego has been made possible by the help of the San Diego County Building Trades Business Manager and JOHNS Co-Chairman, Tom Lemmon and his fellow JOHNS award recipients, Retired U.A. Local 230 Business Manager, Nico Ferrarro, and current U.A. Local 230 Business Manager Kirk Crosswhite. These good allies are at the forefront of encouraging Dr. Parkash Gill and this Foundation to continue having a nexus in San Diego, CA where Dr. Gill is actively working with a lab of researchers furthering his research into better treatment options for Mesothelioma cancer, as well as other cancers that demonstrate a response to anti-angiogenesis treatments. More about anti-angiogenesis treatments (non-chemotherapy drugs) and Dr. Gill’s research can be found at:

http://mesorfa.org/treatments/non-chemo-drugs.php

Press Releases

Cancer Monthly Journal and Database for Mesothelioma Research

Raleigh, NC (PRWEB) March 08, 2012

Cancer Monthly is proud to announce that it now provides treatment results for Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and Bladder Cancer. Cancer Monthly is the only centralized source of cancer treatment results. Founded more than seven years ago, Cancer Monthly now provides information on the actual performance for nearly 1,000 different treatments for Bladder, Brain (anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma), Breast, Colon, Kidney, Liver, Lung (non small cell), Melanoma, Mesothelioma, Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, Ovarian, Prostate, and Rectal Cancer.

For each individual treatment the data includes: actual survival rates, quality of life indicators, drug information, and more. The purpose of the Cancer Monthly is to provide patients with better tools to have more effective discussions with their doctors, explains Michael Horwin the President of Cancer Monthly. Most of the data focuses on cancers in the more advanced stages because in those situations time is at a premium and Cancer Monthly can help patients save research time.

Cancer Monthly has been used by several million patients and doctors over the last seven years. This internet database is free and easy to use. Visitors simply select the kind of cancer they are researching, the types of treatments they are interested in, and where they are located. Treatment types include: Alternative, Biologic therapy, Chemotherapy, Gene Therapy, Hormone, Immunotherapy, Radiation, and Surgery. The database then provides the various treatments that meet these requirements. The data is sorted by the highest survival rate but the user can also sort by hospital, country, date, and toxicity of the treatment. Once a treatment of interest is identified the user can print out an abstract describing the therapy and share it with their doctor. Users can also email the doctor responsible for the therapy if they would like to obtain further details. All of the data comes from the peer reviewed oncology literature medical articles written by physicians and researchers.

Cancer Monthly is just one time-saving tool to help patients perform research on cancer treatments, says Horwin. Because the data comes from the medical journals it can help patients make more informed treatment decisions with their doctors.

To visit Cancer Monthly go to http://www.cancermonthly.com

More Mesothelioma Press Releases

Meso Causes

EPA Inspector General says Asbestos at All Levels Causes Mesothelioma

Beware of Asbestos Exposure Causes Mesothelioma Cancer

 

The Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in response to allegations that the Agency has authorized the use of unapproved methods to demolish buildings containing asbestos, has issued a warning reiterating previous findings that “asbestos is a human carcinogen with no safe level of exposure.”  Inspector General Arthur A. Elkins Jr. adds, “Asbestos exposure can lead to serious diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.”

Mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases result when asbestos is improperly managed. When asbestos fibers and dust become airborne they can put pedestrians and residents occupying areas near a demolition project at high risk of contracting a deadly, asbestos-related illnesses.  For that reason, experienced and certified contractors should always be hired to carry-out any asbestos abatement projects.

The EPA in 1974  issued asbestos management standards to protect human health from the adverse effects of exposure to asbestos, particularly when demolition of buildings is removing asbestos.  These standards demand that special trained technicians remove materials that contain asbestos prior to demolition except when a building is structurally unsafe to enter.  This is to mitigate the possibility that asbestos material will become dust particles being airborne and breathed by humans.  Inhalation of asbestos particles causes mesothelioma cancer 20 to 50 years after exposure.

But according to the recent December 2011 report, even the EPA has not complied with the guidelines it produced in 1974.  The EPA has allowed unapproved asbestos removal methods to be used or considered at multiple demolition sites.  These construction sites including the Hanford Superfund Site (near Richland, Washington) and a gaseous diffusion plant in Paducah, Kentucky are examples of two locations where questionable removal methods have been used, or are proposed to be used.

The EPA report states:

The current and proposed use of unapproved methods may jeopardize the health and safety of the public.

EPA Inspector General, Mr. Elkins says:

The use of unapproved methods is counter to EPA regulations, and the EPA should retract any approval for the use of alternative asbestos removal methods that deviate from the recognized standards.

Why?  Because asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a disease that kills between 2,500 and 3,000 people in the U.S. each year. Symptoms of mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath and chest pains, may take as many as 20 to 50 years to develop which is frequently a stage three or later.  Once diagnosed, mesothelioma progresses rapidly.

The Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America was founded in 2001 with a mission: fund research that leads to the quickest and surest cure for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure. This cancer disease had few treatment options until this MesoRFA.org and Dr. Parkash Gill’s work created better treatment options. Today, the future looks more hopeful for additional improved treatment options available to those stricken by this cancer.

Submit your mesothelioma questions to Ask Dr. Parkash Gill to receive the oncologist’s Free response and opinion.

 

 

 

Meso Causes, Stories & News

Mesothelioma Risk Increases Along With Consumption of Asbestos Products

Asbestos is proven to cause deadly respiratory illnesses including mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis and countless other pulmonary diseases. For years, medical professionals, environmentalists, private interest groups, and others affected by the tragedy of mesothelioma have  tracked the continued use of asbestos products known to cause this disease.

The United States Geological Survey

The United States Geological Survey’s (USGS) has released its findings in their report Mineral Commodity Summaries 2012 and the results has caused mesothelioma advocates to be shocked.  This report indicates that the U.S. continues to increase the quantity of asbestos imported into the country.  An increase to importing this mineral is a serious offense because Asbestos is renown and proven to cause deadly respiratory illnesses including many pulmonary diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

For years there has been an outcry from the public calling for a ban on asbestos.  Many people understand that the only way to eliminate mesothelioma as well as other deadly diseases caused by asbestos is to eliminate exposure to this mineral.  On December 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a warning saying, “asbestos is a human carcinogen with no safe level of exposure.”

Linda Reinstein, co-founder and president of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), has prepared a  statement in which she states she “was appalled and shocked to discover”  a 34 percent increase in asbestos consumption from the years 2010 to 2011.  The Geological Survey Report states that industries in the United States consumed 820 metric tons of asbestos in 2010 from January through July, and then consumed 1,100 metric tons of asbestos for the same period in 2011 . This clearly a 34 percent increase in asbestos consumption.

The U.S.G.S. report indicates that the use of asbestos in 2011 and the preceding 5 years is the lowest it has been in the United States since 1909.  Additionally, the report shows that in 2011, U.S. apparent consumption increased by 6%, but it is unlikely to represent any resurgence in the asbestos industry.  According to the report and based on current trends, the consumption of asbestos within the United States is scheduled to remain near the 1,000-ton level into the future.

The U.S. depends 100% on asbestos imports rather than mining locally, with the primary sources coming from Canada (92%) and Zimbabwe (6%).  This means that miners in these countries also must be exposed to the deadly mineral in order to service the U.S. demand for asbestos import!

Reinstein issued an appeal to Congress and President Obama, saying:

On behalf of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), I am calling on Congress and the President to immediately prohibit the importation of raw asbestos and asbestos-containing products from crossing our borders to protect public health. I have lost my husband, Alan, to Mesothelioma, a disease caused from asbestos exposure. Nothing can bring him or the hundreds of thousands of other victims back to life, but we can begin by aggressively preventing exposure thus eliminating deadly diseases.

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease caused by exposure to asbestos dust and fibers.  The Symptoms of mesothelioma often do not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos and include shortness of breath, pain in the chest, and a persistent cough.  Most cases of mesothelioma are not diagnosed until symptoms appear and the disease has progressed to an advanced stage leaving the patient with life-threatening complications.  Once the disease has reached an advanced stage, median survival is often less than one year.

ADAO was founded by asbestos victims and their families in 2004.   ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure. ADAO is the largest independent organization dedicated to preventing asbestos-related diseases.

The Mesothelioma Research Foundation of America was founded in 2001 with a mission: fund research that leads to the quickest and surest cure for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure. This cancer disease had few treatment options until this MesoRFA.org and Dr. Parkash Gill’s work created better treatment options. Today, the future looks more hopeful for additional improved treatment options available to those stricken by this cancer.

Submit your mesothelioma questions to Ask Dr. Parkash Gill to receive the oncologist’s Free response and opinion.