Montana Sen. Jon Testor asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to team up with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to work together to clean up asbestos contamination in Libby, Montana and make the community safe again. More than 200 residents of Libby have died and thousands more are still suffering from asbestos diseases. Residents were poisoned by asbestos from a now-defunct vermiculite mine, and the entire community of Libby is now an EPA Superfund site.
New York School Board Hires Environmental Firms to Test Schools for Asbestos
Saturday, May 30th, 2009The Patchogue-Medford school board in Long Island, New York agreed to hire three environmental firms to test air quality in district schools in response to allegations of asbestos contamination which has caused a drop in school enrollment, Newsday reports. The school board also authorized an investigation of a resident who acknowledged taking samples of insulation possibly containing asbestos from heating pipes in the district’s Eagle Elementary School.
International Symposium on Mesothelioma Draws Near
Saturday, May 30th, 2009The annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma is now less than a month away. An annual symposium organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a charitable organization, will bring together international experts in asbestos-related cancers. patients and caregivers June 25-27 in Washington, D.C. to discuss the latest advances in mesothelioma research.
For more information on reserving your spot for one of the largest events concerning mesothelioma, its treatment, and the people involved, please visit the MARF website for
more information.
Asbestos Linked to Larynx and Ovarian Cancers
Wednesday, May 27th, 2009Exposure to asbestos — long associated with cancers of the lungs — has been shown to cause some cancers of the ovary and the larynx as well, Cancer Research UK reports.
An international team of World Health Organization scientists writing in the journal Lancet Oncology said that people who have been exposed to asbestos are 1.4 times more likely to develop cancer of the larynx than those who had never been exposed.
Dr. Alison Ross, Cancer Research UK’s senior science information officer said, “We already know asbestos can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma and this adds two more cancer types to the list.”
Canadian Expert Surprised Over Delay in Publishing Asbestos Study Findings
Tuesday, May 26th, 2009The chair of an expert panel commissioned by Health Canada to study the relationship between exposure to chrysotile asbestos and forms of cancer said he was surprised by the Canadian government’s delay in publishing the panel’s findings, the Canadian Medical Association Journal reported.
Exposure to chrysotile asbestos, the predominant asbestos fiber used today, has a strong relationship with lung cancer and some connection to other forms of cancer, the panel found, backing the conclusion of previous studies.
Canada is the fifth-largest exporter of chrysotile asbestos in the world.
New Mesothelioma Treatment Shows Promise
Friday, May 22nd, 2009NeoPlas Innovation, a clinical cancer treatment and research firm located in Nashville, Tennessee, has announced that a combination of the cholesterol medicine lovastatin and a low-dose of interferon has shown favorable results in fighting mesothelioma.
The patient was a woman who was exposed to asbestos in childhood. When she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, it had already filled most of the chest space where her right lung had been. According to NeoPlast, two months after starting treatments, a CT scan showed that the cancer had stabilized and the largest of the tumors had regressed significantly in size.
It’s still too early to draw full conclusions on the treatment because the testing is still in the early phases with only one patient so far.
NeoPlas is still accepting patients for the combination treatment.
For more breaking news on mesothelioma treatment, general information, and forum discussions, please visit Mesotheliomahelp.net.
Eli Lilly to Reveal Study Data on Mesothelioma Drug Treatments
Monday, May 18th, 2009Eli Lilly and Company will reveal the data from their latest research findings involving their mesothelioma and cancer treatment drugs, Alimta, Gemzar, and enzastaurin, an investigational drug. These studies are among more than 50 to be unveiled at the 45th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, FL. The results will reveal the effectiveness of these drugs in treating mesothelioma, especially in patients who cannot undergo surgery.
Alimta has been approved the FDA in combination for cisplatin (chemotherapy drug) for the initial treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Gemzar is used along with cisplatin for first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC for whom surgery isn’t possible. It is also used to treat patients with pancreatic cancer, metastatic breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.
The studies will be presented at ASCO from May 29th to June 2nd 2009.
For more information on mesothelioma, please visit Mesothelioma Help.net.
Britain’s Prime Minister Vows to Tackle Asbestos Crisis
Friday, May 15th, 2009British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has stated that he will make great efforts to alleviate Britain’s asbestos problem, especially in the plagued school systems. PM Brown is no stranger to the devastating effects of asbestos exposure. In 2008, Brown lost his friend Scottish Member of Parliament John MacDougall to mesothelioma.
Advocates for asbestos removal have stated their praise of the PM’s words and many believe that he will take his promise to heart because he has personally experienced the pain of mesothelioma.
It will be a great boon for the mesothelioma community if Brown continues to make pushes for asbestos removal. It could mean more funding for mesothelioma and cancer research in Britain as well as continued global awareness.
For more information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, please visit mesotheliomahelp.net.
Swine Flu and Mesothelioma Patients
Wednesday, May 13th, 2009With all the buzz in the media about the recent Swine Flu (H1N1) pandemic, it’s easy to think that the disease is right around every corner.
While that may not be the case, it is still very important for mesothelioma patients to take precautions and to monitor their health closely. Radiation and chemotherapy that many cancer patients receive can weaken the immune system and make them more susceptible to diseases such as the H1N1 virus.
If you are a mesothelioma patient, like all other cancer patients, one thing that you’ve learned is survival. You have most likely been told by doctors that the number one step to fighting a disease is prevention and with the H1N1 virus, the rules are no different. While you’re undergoing treatments, make sure to avoid large crowds of people and attempt to stay away from anyone with a fever or other flu symptoms. Remember that good hygiene is very important. Washing your hands before eating or touching your mouth, nose, or eyes can help to prevent the spread of the disease. If you have to come in contact with someone who has symptoms, make sure that they take precations such as a respirator or facemask.
For caregivers, if you are experiencing any flu-like symptoms or if you believe you have come in contact with the H1N1 virus, it is best to avoid contact with your patient. If possible, find another trusted caregiver or friend to help you with your role of care. If it is absolutely necessary for you to come in contact with your patient, make sure to use a respirator, not a cheap face mask, as they do not provide the same amount of protection. Also, make sure your hands are sanitized and that you limit the amount of close contact to the minimum amount of time needed to perform your duties.
Symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of regular flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. If you believe that you have been exposed or are showing any of flu-like symptoms, contact your doctor.
Visit our website for more information on mesothelioma and patient care.
Bishop Loses Battle with Mesothelioma
Friday, May 8th, 2009The Bishop of Peterborough, Rt Revd Ian Cundy, died on May 7th, 2009 after a two-year battle with mesothelioma.
Bishop Cundy, 64, had recently announced his plans to take an early retirement in July after his chemotherapy treatments had failed to stop the spread of the cancer. No cure for mesothelioma currently exists, but it has been proven that some multimodal treatments that combine traditional cancer treatments, such as surgery along with chemotherapy or radiation, can help to reduce the cancer and slow the spread.
Bishop Cundy was well loved and received in the UK, having been appointed in 1996. He is survived by his wife Jo, three children, and a grandson.
Bishop Frank White will assume the duties of diocesan bishop until a new appointment is made. According to Bishop White,”Bishop Ian was greatly loved in the diocese and around the country for his gentle manner, his warm acceptance of people from all walks of life and all denominations of and traditions within the Christian Church, and for his wise and perceptive counsel.”
Once again it has been desmonstrated that mesothelioma affects men, women, and children of every walk of life and that the dangers of asbestos exposure apply not only to the blue collar working man as once believed.
Please visit Mesothelioma Help.net for more information on mesothelioma and new treatment options that are becoming available to combat this deadly disease.
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Wade Rawlins is a former environmental reporter with the Raleigh News & Observer.
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