Mesothelioma Cancer Resources Blog

Many mesothelioma patients who have beaten the odds by surviving over 10 years after diagnosis attribute some of their longevity to holistic treatments.  Paul Kraus, a 14-year mesothelioma survivor, plotted his own course of treatment relying on alternative therapies, as well as yoga and meditation.  Kraus and many other cancer patients can give anecdotal evidence …

Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, affects nearly 3,000 Americans each year.  However, over one-third of the victims are military veterans.  Due to the extended latency period of the disease some veterans exposed to asbestos between the 1950s and 1970s are just now exhibiting symptoms, and are dealing with their mounting medical bills. …

In September, Duke researchers warned cancer patients of the potential of developing blood clots, or venous thromboembolism (VTE), during treatment, and up to one year after receiving chemotherapy.  Now, the SAVE-ONCO study, funded by Sanofi, reports that in patients who were treated with an experimental form of heparin the risk of developing a blood clot …

The Oncology Report has just published its second annual guide to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals of new cancer drugs, indications, and devices.  “The Oncology Report Guide to Cancer Drugs and Devices in 2011” includes a listing of over 10 drugs and devices used in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including …

In November, President Obama issued an executive order to address the drug shortage that has affected mesothelioma and other cancer patients.  Now, the EPA is taking action to bring relief to some patients that have not been able to receive critical treatments for their cancers due to the lack of two key drugs, doxorubicin and …

Researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania reported yesterday that they have made yet another breakthrough in finding a way to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments.  This time using a drug commonly used to treat malaria. The finding comes on the heels of a report from Penn last month …

Patients dealing with rare, life-threatening diseases may be able to get promising new drugs and treatments much faster, thanks to a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (D-NC). The legislation targets the 7,000 known rare diseases, such as mesothelioma, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS) and muscular dystrophy, that do not currently have effective treatments.   Mesothelioma …

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation announced last week that it has awarded $500,000 in grants to the “best and most promising” mesothelioma research projects for its 2011/2012 Mesothelioma Research Grant Awards.  Funding of these projects is critically important for helping researchers find new, effective treatments that could lead to a cure for the asbestos-caused cancer.   …

Mesothelioma is a painful, incurable cancer known to be caused by exposure to asbestos.  The hazards of asbestos were first identified in the 1920’s, but for years companies ignored the dangers and subjected millions of workers worldwide to the risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.  This week, a judge in Turin, Italy, ruled …

Concerned with the increasing number of diagnoses of mesothelioma in Minnesota, researchers at the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota have partnered “to harness a unique therapeutic approach aimed at the disease.”  The researchers are now recruiting for a phase I clinical trial aimed at determining the effectiveness of an engineered version of the …