Tag Archives: Meso Cancer

North Ireland Deaths From Mesothelioma and Asbestosis in 2012

Asbestosis Big Problem in Northern Ireland

Asbestosis Lung

The Northern Ireland General Register Office, the province’s record keeper, said that mesothelioma and asbestosis were the primary or secondary causes of some 75 deaths annually.

In little more than five years, there have been more than 300 estimated deaths in Northern Ireland from asbestos exposure, according to a U.TV article, citing a recent government report.

This government report also suggests there were possibly another 40 lung cancer deaths each year where asbestosis or mesothelioma were contributing factors. Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly disease that destroys the linings of the heart, lungs or abdomen. Exposure to asbestos is nearly always the cause of mesothelioma. And asbestosis is specifically a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos.

The situation is serious were unlike the United States which phased out asbestos in building materials in the 1980s, asbestos continued to be used in Northern Ireland until about 2000. The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) organization predicts the current number of deaths to rise. It has organized free training called “Asbestos Training Pledge NI” as a response to help local construction workers protect themselves from asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral once used extensively in building materials because of its high tensile strength, durability, high availability, and low cost. Given its’ early widespread adoption in the United States, asbestos continues to be a problem there as well. Since the 1970s, research has linked asbestos exposure definitively to multiple painful and deadly diseases, such as mesothelioma.

Many manufacturers knew their asbestos products posed serious health risks, but some hid this information from both their workers and the public. Have you or a loved one developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos while at a workplace? If so, then call a Lawyer who is an expert in Mesothelioma and Asbestosis, and ask them for a free legal consultation about a potential mesothelioma lawsuit.

More Mesothelioma and Asbestosis Information

Stories & News

Fighting the Asbestos fibrous hazard

administrator

Asbestos fibrous hazard

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified asbestos as a “carcinogen” which causes lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis.

“Instead of going about it in phases, India needs to completely ban mining, trade, manufacturing and use of all forms of asbestos-based products,” …

Asbestos banning

Given the health hazards that asbestos poses and the fact that International Maritime Organisation (IMO), of which India is a member state since 1959, has banned installation of all types of asbestos-containing materials as of January 1, 2011, activists have expressed “shock and surprise” over India’s willingness to accept use of asbestos in the aircraft carrier’s insulation in the boiler section.

“Though India has banned mining of asbestos, its use has not been completely stopped. Chrysotile, the most common form of asbestos, is a fibrous substance which is mixed with cement to create a fire-retardant mixture that is applied to corrugated sheets and pipes.”

Read more on The Hindu

Asbestos World Health Organization

More about asbestos products:

https://www.mesorfa.info/mesothelioma-risk-increases-along-with-consumption-of-asbestos-products/

Most Dangerous Type of Asbestos that Causes Mesothelioma

Meso Cancer

Three Studies in Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer – August 2012

administrator

Mesothelioma Cancer Research and Clinical Studies

Mesothelioma Cancer Research Study #1:

“Solitary (localized) pleural mesothelioma: A light- and electron-microscopic study”

in American Journal of Surgical Pathology

Abstract – Six solitary (localized) pleural mesotheliomas were studied by light and electron microscopy. All the lesions were benign and were composed mainly of fibrous tissue of variable cellularity with or without cystic spaces lined by round cells. The lining cells of the cysts and the adjoining round plump cells were interpreted as true neoplastic cells of the fibroblast type. Results of light- and electron-microscopic study of human mesothelial cells and fetal mesothelial cells of rats were compared. The cytoplasmic organelles of the tumor cells were generally scanty, though rough endoplasmic reticulum, sparse mitochondria, intracellular bundles of fibrils, and numerous polysomes were seen.

Some tumor cells had junctional apparatus and basement membranes and showed inter-digitation of the plasma membrane. These cells lined the cystic spaces irregularly and also proliferated into the surrounding fibrous tissue, where they assumed a spindle shape and resembled fibroblasts. Ultra structurally, the tumor cells were similar to mesothelial and stromal cells of fetal rat pleura. We speculated that the solitary (localized) mesotheliomas were probably derived from coelomic epithelium and that tumor cells remained un-differentiated or revealed minimal differentiation toward mesothelial cells.

Mesothelioma Cancer Research Study #2

“Reactivity of six antibodies in effusions of mesothelioma, adenocarcinoma and mesotheliosis: stepwise logistic regression analysis”

in Cytopathology Volume 11, Issue 1, Feb 2000

Abstract – Anti-CEA, anti-vimentin, CAM5.2, BerEp4, Leu-M1 and anti-EMA were applied to effusions from 36 mesotheliomas, 53 adenocarcinomas and 24 reactive mesothelial proliferations.

Stepwise logistic regression analysis selected three criteria of major importance for distinguishing between adenocarcinoma and mesothelioma: BerEp4, CEA and EMA accentuated at the cell membrane (mEMA), these three being of similar diagnostic value. The pattern BerEp4−, CEA− and mEMA+ was fully predictive for mesothelioma (sensitivity 47%), whereas the opposite pattern was fully predictive for adenocarcinoma (sensitivity 80%). Only EMA seemed to distinguish between mesotheliosis and mesothelioma. Comparison of reactivity in cytological and histological material from the same mesotheliomas showed similar staining frequencies for CEA and CAM5.2, with some random variation for Leu-M1 and EMA, whereas vimentin and BerEp4 reactivity was more frequent in cytological specimens.

Mesothelioma Cancer Research Study #3

“A pilot study of systemic corticosteroid administration in conjunction with intrapleural adenoviral vector administration in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma”

– Sterman DH, Molnar-Kimber K, Iyengar T, Chang M, Lanuti M, Amin KM, Pierce BK, Kang E, Treat J, Recio A, Litzky L, Wilson JM, Kaiser LR, Albelda SM. – Cancer Gene Ther. 2000 Dec;7(12):1511-8.

Abstract – One of the primary limitations of adenoviral (Ad) -mediated gene therapy is the generation of anti-Ad inflammatory responses that can induce clinical toxicity and impair gene transfer efficacy. The effects of immunosuppression on these inflammatory responses, transgene expression, and toxicity have not yet been systematically examined in humans undergoing Ad-based gene therapy trials. We therefore conducted a pilot study investigating the use of systemic corticosteroids to mitigate antivector immune responses. In a previous phase I clinical trial, we demonstrated that Ad-mediated intrapleural delivery of the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (HSVtk) to patients with mesothelioma resulted in significant, but relatively superficial, HSVtk gene transfer and marked anti-Ad humoral and cellular immune responses. When a similar group of patients was treated with Ad.HSVtk and a brief course of corticosteroids, decreased clinical inflammatory responses were seen, but there was no demonstrable inhibition of anti -Ad antibody production or Ad-induced peripheral blood mononuclear cell activation. Corticosteroid administration also had no apparent effect on the presence of intratumoral gene transfer. Although limited by the small numbers of patients studied, our data suggest that systemic administration of steroids in the context of Ad-based gene delivery may limit acute clinical toxicity, but may not inhibit cellular and humoral responses to Ad vectors.

Meso Cancer

What is Mesothelioma and Who is Responsible?

administrator

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is usually caused from exposure to harmful and inextinguishable asbestos fibers. It severely affects the protective lining of the internal organs (mesothelium). Weakness, anemia, abdominal pain, chest pain and weight loss are some of the symptoms of this cancer.

While modern day medical science has achieved significant advancement in curing certain types of cancer; despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Since it is usually diagnosed only in its final stages, by the time a person has been confirmed to suffer from this form of malignant cancer, considerable damage has already occurred to their internal organs.

Who is affected?

Most people who develop mesothelioma may have worked in factories or manufacturing facilities, where they were exposed to asbestos used for product manufacturing purposes. Commonly such industries include cement, fire insulators, pipe insulators, fireproof dry wall manufacturers and others. Workers in these industries who have not been properly instructed and equipped with safety gear by the manufacturers may run the risk of contracting mesothelioma as long as 50 years after their exposure. Such a person might not immediately notice the symptoms even though they may have contracted this cancer from being exposed to asbestos fibers occupationally. The symptoms surface with time. Workers who are not aware of the deadly effects of the exposure are usually unaware as well of the severe dangers awaiting them. However, they are not to be blamed.

Who is responsible?

It is the responsibility of the asbestos companies to provide appropriate information and adequate warnings about the potential health hazardous of their products. There are many cases that reflect the suffering of workers who are not warned of the occupational hazards of exposure to asbestos. Frequently symptoms have worsened to the extent of causing the death of the patient. While families suffer, the manufacturers responsible for such an unfortunate event have known little of the pain and grief caused by the malady. Numerous groups have endeavored to expose the perfidy of those who knowingly have pushed many innocent people towards such a fatalistic disease. Mesothelioma cases have become much more common, and many more people are filing claims for compensation.

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

Aggressive Mesothelioma Cancer: Some Characteristics

administrator

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 Cancer, Meso Causes

Genetic Predisposition and Susceptibility: How to Get Mesothelioma Cancer?

administrator

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.

The JOHNS Donate $5,000 For Mesothelioma Cancer Research

administrator

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

administrator

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

administrator

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 Facts

Mesothelioma Prognosis Stage One

administrator

Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer caused due to excessive exposure to asbestos. Its prognosis is dependent on the stage of the disease and the age of the patient. Apart from this, there is also the factor of health condition of the patient and the kind of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Prognosis

The prognosis and the life expectancy of the patient are dependent mainly on the stage of mesothelioma when it is diagnosed. But with mesothelioma, unlike some other cancers, it is difficult to determine the developmental stage when the cancer is diagnosed. This is because the disease is quite rare and the initial symptoms are not easily diagnosable. As this deadly disease is diagnosed only at the advanced stage, the survival rate is not very high. The history of mesothelioma statistics indicate that 10% of the cases diagnosed for about 3 years and about 5% will live for about 5 years. Still, if the disease is diagnosed early such as stage one and is treated effectively, then 50% will survive 2 years and 20% people will survive 5 years.

Mesothelioma Stage One

Stage one mesothelioma indicates that the cancer is localized and has not spread to other parts of the body. It is found only in one area of the body like in the case of pleural mesothelioma, it is only in one part of the lung. There are different methods to identify the stage of mesothelioma for its prognosis:

Mesothelioma Stage One – Butchart Staging System

This method is considered to be oldest system to discover the degree of development for pleural mesothelioma. The staging is done based on the size of the primary tumor. In Stage One, only one of the sides of the lung has cancer which indicates that one part of the pleural membrane is affected by cancer. It could be also one side of the diaphragm and one lung.

Mesothelioma Stage One – The TNM Staging System

This is a recent kind of staging system which stage the cancer depending on the size of a tumor, presence of cancer in the lymph nodes and its spreading to other parts of the body. When using the TNM method, stage one mesothelioma is found in the left or right pleura and has spread to either the lung, the pericardium or the diaphragm on the same side of the chest. In TNM stage one mesothelioma, the cancer is not found in lymph nodes and has not metastasized to other body parts.

When the Brigham System is used to stage malignant mesothelioma, the doctors generally focus and grade the stage of the cancer based on the successful removal of the primary tumor with surgery. So, with this approach and method the stage one mesothelioma patient has a better prognosis, because the other stages may not follow this stage indicating that the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body and has been restricted to only one part of the body. This method also provides for better treatment options.

However, it is quite difficult to diagnose this disease at stage one use both methods because the symptoms of mesothelioma are not clearly identifiable like they are in Stages Two, Three or Four. In Stage One, the patient can be treated by undergoing a surgery to remove the primary tumor and the nearing tissue followed by radiation therapy or chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Please consider using our offer to ask oncologist and research leader, Dr. Parkash Gill, for a specific response to your mesothelioma question for FREE: Click Here to Ask Dr. Gill

MesoRFA Information and Press Releases

Tag Archives: Meso Cancer

North Ireland Deaths From Mesothelioma and Asbestosis in 2012

Asbestosis Big Problem in Northern Ireland

Fighting the Asbestos fibrous hazard