Tag Archives: Cancer
Mesothelioma-Data.com Highlights Recent Mesothelioma Case
Four men from Texas are suing Chevron and Gulf Oil on behalf of their father who died recently of mesothelioma which is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Kyle, Dan, Ted and Mark Bergeron claim that their father Gliese Bergeron’s disease was wrongfully caused. Gliese Bergeron died of mesothelioma on October 22, 2008.
According to the lawsuit filed Dec. 22 in Jefferson County District Court, Gliese Bergeron worked as a pipefitter, operator, truck driver, insulator and maintenance planner at Chevron and Gulf Oil from 1942 to 1983.
Bergeron’s sons argue that their father’s exposure to asbestos was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants.
The lawsuit states that Chevron and Gulf Oil were allegedly negligent as they failed to test the air in order to find out the levels of asbestos fibers at the work site and also to warn their employees regarding the health hazards associated to asbestos exposure.
New Cancer Treatment Stops Aggressive Sarcomas
After all standard treatments had failed, a new cancer treatment has stopped the growth of aggressive sarcomas in two recent patients. These results are similar to the new protocol’s previous success against several cancers, including melanoma, pancreatic, colon, mesothelioma and other sarcomas.
One of the patients is an 18-year-old with malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) that arose in the largest bone of his leg. The cancer spread throughout his lungs, despite aggressive surgery that replaced most of his leg with metal implants. The second patient was losing a battle with desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), a very rare and aggressive cancer. After undergoing multiple surgical procedures and different chemotherapy regimens, the DSRCT still progressed and spread through the abdomen.
Mesothelioma – Initiation Of MORAb-009 Phase II Study In First- Line Treatment Of Mesothelioma
Morphotek(R), Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Corporation of North America, announced that it has commenced a multi-centered Phase II study of its MORAb-009 monoclonal antibody in mesothelioma. The study will evaluate MORAb-009, plus the chemotherapy drugs pemetrexed and cisplatinum, as a first-line treatment for patients with mesothelioma cancer.
The primary objective of the study is to assess the efficacy of MORAb-009 as combination therapy with the current standard of care as determined by progression-free survival in patients with locally advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma cancer. Secondary objectives include safety and anti-tumor activity of MORAb-009 as determined by objective response rate. The patient population includes individuals with locally advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma who have not received any prior treatment for their disease. Morphotek expects to enroll up to 86 patients in this clinical study, which is being conducted at clinical centers globally.
Mesothelioma Cancer – Innovative Mesothelioma Video Library Wins Web Awards While Educating Viewers
The SimmonsCooper law firm announced today that the Mesothelioma Video Library Web site, a free educational resource for patients and families affected by Mesothelioma, has been recognized by the Web Marketing Association and W3 Awards for its innovation and excellence on the web. The Mesothelioma Video Library is the first video-driven Web site to address Mesothelioma and asbestos-related issues.
“We started this site to reach out to Mesothelioma cancer patients and families in a fresh and meaningful way,” said Michael Angelides, SimmonsCooper partner and asbestos attorney. “Using video allowed us to simplify the medical information for families, as well as show the personal side of the disease. It’s our hope that people are able to watch these videos and realize that they are not alone in their fight.”
Interrnational Agency For Research On Cancer For Reconfirmation Of Asbestos Dangers And New Evidence Of Related Ovarian Cancers
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), the leading organization serving as the voice of asbestos victims, today applauded the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)’s reconfirmation this week that all commercial asbestos fibers – including chrysotile, the most commercially used form of asbestos – cause lung Cancer and mesothelioma. In addition, the IARC newly confirmed that there is sufficient evidence that asbestos causes ovarian Cancer and reconfirmed asbestos causes laryngeal Cancer. IARC, part of the World Health Organization (WHO), makes up the leading international Cancer research agency, with some of the world’s foremost Cancer experts participating in a number of specialized research groups.
Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma cancer is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Most people who develop Mesothelioma cancer have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
Mesothelioma cancer is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.
Mesothelioma Cancer – Diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma cancer is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma cancer. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma cancer. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma cancer, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).
Mesothelioma cancer – Signs and symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma cancer may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma cancer.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma cancer include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma cancer may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
Immune Systems of AIDS Patients More Prone to HPV Cancers
As their immune systemweakens, people with AIDS are at increased risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancers, a new study has found.
It was known that people with AIDS had a greater risk for HPV-associated cancers of the anus, cervix, penis, vagina, vulva and oropharynx. However, the extent to which AIDS-related weakening of the immune systemplayed a role wasn’t clear, the researchers pointed out.
For this study, researchers at the U.S. National Cancer Institute analyzed cancer registry data on almost 500,000 people diagnosed with AIDS between 1980 and 2004. They found that people with AIDS had a statistically significant higher risk for all HPV-related cancers.
Prostate Cancer Gene 3 (PCA3): Development And Internal Validation Of A Novel Biopsy Nomogram
UroToday.com – In this paper, we investigated 809 prostate cancer patients subjected to >10 cores at initial or repeat prostate biopsy from two prospective, multi-center studies from Europe and North America It has been demonstrated that the urinary marker Prostate CAncer gene 3 (PCA3) represents a novel prostate cancer (PCa) detection marker capable of increasing accuracy of multivariable biopsy nomograms.[1] The paper reports the first PCA3-based nomograms which accurately identify individuals at risk of harboring PCa (AUC=0.73). If a PCA3 score in combination with established risk factors is available, this novel tool assists clinicians in deciding whether further prostatic evaluation is necessary.
