January 31st, 2012
Asbestos diseases are illnesses that develop as a result of prolonged asbestos exposure. Asbestosis for example is a chronic inflammatory and fibrotic medical condition that affects the tissue of the lungs in case asbestos fibers are inhaled. It is regarded as an occupational disease and it significantly increases risks for malignancies such as mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma cancer is a rare, but presently incurable disease, which once it starts spreading, it can metastasize into the lungs and other parts of the chest cavity. Since symptoms appear after years and life expectancy after diagnosis is relatively short (often below one year), conventional treatment which consists of radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, often needs to be radical and aggressive. Surgery used on its own, has shown disappointing results. A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed.
Another common intervention is an EPP (an extra pleural pneumonectomy), in which the cancerous lung lining, the membranes around other organs of the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium are removed. Studies conducted on the life quality and life expectancy after an EEP showed worrying results which make this surgical procedure a controversial treatment of early-stage mesothelioma.
An Italian team of surgeons published a study in the journal Lung Cancer where they even call EPP a harmful procedure. A recent study from England has observed that EPP patients are at risk to develop major complications while still in the hospital with even death occurring in some cases and post-operative life quality remaining significantly lower compared to patients who undergo lung-sparing surgery. As these results have been observed in a small number of mesothelioma centers, it is possible that other centers have more encouraging results in their use of EPP in mesothelioma treatment.
Posted in mesothelioma treatments |
April 4th, 2011
The American Thoracic Society (ATS) has decided May 13-18, 2011 as their date for annual International Symposium on pulmonary care. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in asbestos research |
March 16th, 2011
Asbestos exposure continues to this day even in our homes but the worst thing is that it is unknown by majority of the people. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in asbestos exposure |
February 11th, 2011
According to legalview, a leading online legal resource, clinical trials for mesothelioma are giving good results. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in asbestos trials |
January 18th, 2011
Eronite is a new kind of fibrous material and the dangers associated with it exceed the dangers of asbestos. It has been found that it is responsible for cancer Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in asbestos research |
December 2nd, 2010
In Turkey’s Cappadocia and two other nearby villages, the main reason for the death is mesothelioma cancer. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: asbestos exposure, Cappadocia, mesothelioma cases, mesothelioma victims, Turkey
Posted in asbestos exposure |
October 6th, 2010
Photodynamic therapy is an advanced treatment method in which generally light energy are used to largely destroy cancer cells Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in mesothelioma treatments |
August 23rd, 2010
In spite of all efforts, the Environmental Protection Agency has still to obtain a total ban on products that comprise any trace of asbestos. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in asbestos exposure |
July 6th, 2010
12 year old Taylor Boerem has been recently diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. In order to help Taylor and his family with money for the treatment Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in mesothelioma victims |
June 8th, 2010
Corporate representatives of DuPont have admitted that the company had knowledge of the ill effects of asbestos way back in the 1930s Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in asbestos exposure |
