Mesothelioma Cancer Resources Blog

by Nancy Meredith Mesothelioma is a tragic disease on many levels – it’s tragic that the disease is entirely preventable and equally tragic that, once diagnosed, victims of the disease typically live less than two years.  Mesothelioma is directly linked with exposure to asbestos, which often occurs on the job. Many of the companies where …

Mesothelioma patients often undergo rigorous, aggressive care and treatment after their diagnosis.  Whether a patient undergoes surgery, chemotherapy or radiation, there are many points within the treatment plan where any misstep could potentially cause harm.  However, according to a new study, even if a patient believes he experienced an error during treatment it is unlikely …

Mesothelioma is one of the most deadly and difficult types of cancer to treat. Every year, nearly 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease, and the same number die from it. Though treatment plans including chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy are carefully crafted to reduce pain and increase a patient’s lifespan, they do not yet …

New York, NY, April 14, 2012 — New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck today praised indications of a major advance in gene therapy for battling the aggressive, usually fatal form of cancer. Belluck referred to clinical trial results at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Daniel Sterman of the school recently discussed …

Three oncology experts got together at the 7th Annual Community Oncology Conference in Las Vegas last month and discussed the need for setting expectations for cancer patients.  The physicians talked about the need for setting realistic expectations for patients “in this era of exciting new molecular therapies.” Setting expectations for mesothelioma patients, and others with …

Mesothelioma, a rare asbestos-related cancer typically affecting the lining of the lungs, is highly aggressive and is resistant to many cancer treatments. Currently, there is no known cure for the disease, but ongoing research is the key to finding the breakthrough that can mean the difference between life and death.   Research requires significant amounts of …

Scientists at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) are turning to the subtle glow of a firefly to guide surgeons to mesothelioma cancer cells.  The MSKCC researchers found a way to harness the bioluminescence glow of the insect for use as a dynamic imaging technique for battling the rare cancer.   The researchers reported in the Annals …

Few rare diseases have a vaccination available to prevent the disease from developing, or to serve as a treatment for the disease once diagnosed.  For scientists researching a vaccine for mesothelioma, a rare disease known to be caused by asbestos exposure, any successes have been fleeting.  However, researchers at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center …

New York, NY, April 12, 2012 — New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck said today that he welcomed a report confirming that a less extensive surgical procedure could be the standard for treating pleural mesothelioma patients. “Any news that indicates an advance in the treatment of mesothelioma, or any progress in alleviating the suffering …

We have reported several times on the importance of mesothelioma patients and their doctors having open, direct and focused conversations related to the patient’s care and treatment plan.  Doctors have the responsibility of ensuring the care they offer matches their patients’ needs and desires, and they can only do that through listening and allowing the …