Minnesota’s state health department did an analysis of iron miners and found a high incidence of mesothelioma. Another case of occupational exposure to asbestos resulting in cancer. Of course there are other pulmonary diseases associated with mining. The asbestos in question here was present in the ore pulled out of the ground.
Mesothelioma found among Minnesota iron miners Read More »
The Pump Handle reports that Senator Murray’s hearings included testimony from a worker in the U.S. Capitol tunnels. We reported last year on the asbestos found underneath the Capitol building and the risks it poses to people working down there.
More on the Murry hearings Read More »
The Senate Health Committee’s employment and workplace safety subcommittee held a hearing yesterday and the widow of Bruce Vento testified. Vento was a congressman who died several years ago from mesothelioma. Senator Patty Murray is continuing her crusade to ban asbestos, and reintroduced her bill to ban the material. Murray has tried to get this
Vento testifies; asbestos bill reintroduced Read More »
General Electric is charging $115 million after-tax charge on its accounting books to cover asbestos cases. The company has already paid $500 million to settle asbestos cases, and has 509,000 claims pending. Like many large industrial companies, GE used asbestos in its products, even though it was not a primary asbestos maker. GE’s power turbines
The British Press Association is reporting about 47-year-old woman with mesothelioma who was exposed to asbestos dust as a child. Her father died last year from cancer, and the woman Debra Brewer remembers asbestos on his work clothing when she was young. There are unfortunately many such cases of children being exposed through their father’s
Exposed as a child; sick as an adult Read More »
The Washington Post reports (via the Los Angeles Times) the passing of Les Skramstad, one of the early leaders notifying the world about the dangers from the Libby Montana vermiculite mine. Skramstad worked there from 1959 to 1962 and was diagnosed with asbestosis in 1996. He subsequently got mesothelioma, which is what he died from.
Key figure in Libby situation dies of mesothelioma Read More »
Not direct mesothelioma news, but interesting and encouraging nevertheless. Scientists at M.D. Anderson had success with MK-0457 (VX-680), a novel multi-kinase inhibitor, to treat leukemia and myeloproliferative disorders. Kinase inhibitors are one of the most promising areas of research in cancer treatment today.
M.D. Anderson reports success with kinase inhibitors Read More »
Ogan Gurel has an article on the Wisconsin Technology Network website about the recent decline in cancer deaths in the United States. He identifies the four major technical advances in cancer therapy in the past decade. Earlier detection and diagnosis. Targeted therapies. Personalized medicine. Minimally invasive surgery.
Trends in cancer incidence Read More »
New Scientist has an article headlined Cheap, safe drugs kill most cancers. The drug in question is dichloroacetate (DCA), which is already used for other maladies. Scientists will have to investigate this thoroughly, but the good news is that this material is inexpensive. The blogger Orac has some reservations. He points out DCA has only
New use for old drug: cancer treatment Read More »
There is a report from India that an Indian company will soon introduce a generic version of pemetrexed under the brand name Pemnat. The intellectual property laws are different in India, so the company is expecting a generic to be legal at this point, while pemetrexed is still under patent in the United States. The
Generic pemetrexed in India Read More »