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The Four Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is resistant to heat, fire, and other chemicals. There are four types of mesothelioma: lung, abdomen, heart, and testicular. LUNG: PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA The most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for nearly 75% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs, which is called the mesothelial. Symptoms vary from patient to patient, but some of the most common include: Shortness of breath Fatigue Difficulty swallowing Night sweats and fever Persistent dry cough Chest pain ABDOMEN: PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type of mesothelioma. It develops in the mesothelial lining of the abdomen. This type spreads faster than any other type, making treatment difficult. Common symptoms include: Abdominal pain or swelling Weight loss Fatigue Constipation or diarrhea Nausea and vo

New Hope for Patients with Relapsed Mesothelioma

Every year, cancer doctors and researchers from around the country meet to discuss the latest in cancer care and treatment. This year, speakers presented a new hope for patients with relapsed mesothelioma: immunotherapy. The study focused on patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), which affects the lining of the lungs. Patients involved in the study had relapsing MPM. Read more about pleural mesothelioma Currently, chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation (or a combination of the three) are the top methods for treating mesothelioma. Immunotherapy uses a person’s own immune system to fight cancer. MESO PATIENTS OPT-IN TO STUDY, WITH PROMISING RESULTS For the study, researchers enrolled 125 patients with MPM who suffered a relapse after chemotherapy. They divided the patients into two groups: one took the immunotherapy drug Opdivo, and the other took a different immunotherapy drug called Yervoy. THE STATS Tumors shrunk in 18% of the patients who took Opdivo, while 26% o

Research Brings New Hope for Mesothelioma Patients

In New York, the family of a merchant marine who died of malignant mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos has won the right to sue Chevron. In New Jersey, a man suffering malignant mesothelioma is suing Johnson & Johnson for failing to keep their talc-based baby powder – which he regularly used – from being contaminated with asbestos.  And in Washington, DC, the Supreme Court has ruled that manufacturers have a duty to warn about the potential dangers of parts containing asbestos in a case which started with a suit by two Navy veterans, both of whom developed cancer. The link between mesothelioma and asbestos is impossible to ignore. In thousands of lawsuits nationwide, our clients and many others diagnosed with cancer caused by asbestos exposure charge that employers like Chevron and manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson ignored repeated warnings about asbestos. Thinking Outside the Box: Inhalable Cancer Treatment  There is, however, some good news for those sufferi

New Treatment May Offer Hope to Mesothelioma Victims

A new, non-invasive cancer treatment has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). NovoTTF-100L is the first treatment in more than 15 years to be approved by the FDA for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). MPM is an aggressive form of cancer which cannot be surgically removed and has spread either outside the organ where it began (typically the lungs) or to other areas of the body. NovoTTF-100L works by delivering Tumor Treating Fields – electric fields tuned to specific frequencies that disrupt cell division – to the area of the body where the cancerous tumor is located. MPM Strongly Linked to Asbestos Exposure Obviously, the FDA approval is good news for victims of MPM, a devastating cancer that has been strongly linked to asbestos exposure. Approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with MPM in the United States annually, with only 10-20 percent of them candidates for surgery to remove the tumor. Following asbestos exposure, it typically takes more than 2

What Is Epithelioid Mesothelioma?

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), epithelioid mesothelioma accounts for 60% of all mesothelioma cases, making it the most common of the three types of malignant mesotheliomas. Luckily, this type of mesothelioma comes with the most promising chance of recovery compared to its counterparts—sarcomatoid and biphasic mesotheliomas. Surgery is often an option for treating epithelioid mesothelioma, which helps prevent it from spreading to other organs in the body. Mesothelioma and Asbestos Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the inner lining of the lungs and almost always results from extended exposure to asbestos, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Asbestos, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), refers to a naturally-occurring mineral that was used for centuries in the manufacturing of buildings in the U.S. Asbestos is toxic to humans, who can either inhale its fibers or absorb them thr