The Belfast Telegraph reports that the number of hospital admissions for asbestos diseases in Northern Ireland has approximately doubled in the past 10 years. “Many sufferers are former shipyard workers or tradesmen who used asbestos as a popular building material in the 1950s and 1960s.” Just like in the United States.
More asbestos cases in the hospitals Read More »
The Cheerful Oncologist blog had a post called The Quest, where they compared today’s cancer research to Jason and the Argonauts: a. commit suicide (by the process known as apoptosis, although a vicious six-foot drop from a wooden scaffold wouldn’t bring any tears to my eyes). b. wound themselves, if not to the point of
Summary of cutting edge cancer research Read More »
This article out of Australia describes the concern of geologists and health officials on the effects of natural asbestos. People living near these deposits can be put in danger when there is roadworks, construction, farming, or other disturbances. There has been no systematic medical assessment of this risk.
Geologic deposits of asbestos and their danger Read More »
Academics at Texas Tech University did a review of the PubMed/MEDLINE database on pemetrexed (Alimta) articles. They conclude that “Pemetrexed should be used as a standard of care for unresectable MPM [malignant pleural mesothelioma] and recurrent metastatic NSCLC [non-small cell lung cancer].” They also mention decreasing toxicity of the drug by giving the patient steroids
Literature review of pemetrexed Read More »
We generally call them “caregivers” in the US, while they apparently use the term “carer” in Britain. This is National Carers Week with a focus on “In sickness and in health”, promoting issues relating to carers’ health and wellbeing. Taking care of oneself is a challenge for many caregivers.
UK’s National Carers Week Read More »
Via the cancer center at the University of Florida. “According to a recent article published in the Annals of Oncology, immediate treatment with chemotherapy improves survival rates at one year and provides improved quality of life compared to administering chemotherapy once symptoms occur in patients with malignant mesothelioma.” More on chemotherapy for mesothelioma.
Study says Early Chemotherapy Improves Outcomes for Mesothelioma Read More »
Terrence J. McCann won the gold medal in freestyle wrestling in 1960. He was president of USA Wrestling and served on the board of FILA, the international governing body of wrestling. Diagnosed with mesothelioma last year, he spoke out against the attempt to limit compensation for victims, testifying before Congress. Press release here.
Olympic Gold Medal winner dies from mesothelioma Read More »
A new report says there is a relationship between asbestos exposure and larynx cancer, with suggestions that asbestos may also be a factor in colon and stomach cancers. The exact wording from the Institute of Medicine was “the evidence is: sufficient to infer a causal relationship between asbestos exposure and laryngeal cancer; suggestive but not
Asbestos also linked to larynx cancer Read More »
The Hill has an article today on Arlen Specter and Patrick Leahy still trying to get Senate passage of a bill to replace the asbestos-litigation system with a $140 billion trust fund. Specter is quoted as saying this is the last chance for this bill, and there are significant obstacles to passage, including opposition from
Senators still pushing asbestos bill Read More »
Paul Gleason was a character actor, most well known today for his part in the cult firm The Breakfast Club. He died of mesothelioma on Saturday. He joins Steve McQueen as actors who have died of this disease. Gleason played minor league baseball before becoming an actor. He was 67.
Actor Paul Gleason dies of mesothelioma Read More »