Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer. Only 100 to 500 cases are diagnosed in the US each year, making up less than 30% of all mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the abdominal lining, or peritoneum (paira-tin-e-um), which is why is is sometimes referred to as abdominal mesothelioma. This membrane supports and covers the organs of the abdomen.
The peritoneum is made of two parts, the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs and makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract. Covering the abdominal cavity is the parietal peritoneum. Cells in these linings secrete a fluid which allows organs to move against one another. For instance, as the intestines move food through the body. The cells of the mesothelium are designed to create fluid, but the cancer can cause them to overproduce, creating a build up of excess fluid in the abdominal cavity….. (more…)
A gene therapy approach is designed to treat mesothelioma by correcting the genes that allow a cancerous tumor to grow, potentially controlling tumor size and spread. Like immunotherapy, gene therapy clinical trials are currently underway. While a relatively new treatment, and still very much in the experimental stages, it is showing great promise and effectiveness in tests and clinical trials.
The goal of gene therapy is to get at the root cause of a disease. Because genes hold the instructions for making proteins and other building blocks necessary for cell function, if a gene’s instructions are incorrect or missing, the “ingredients” for a healthy cell and person may be lacking. Instead of dealing with the errant effects of faulty genes after the fact, gene therapy attempts to deliver the proper instructions to your cells, avoiding the negative affects altogether….. (more…)
The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) applauds both Senator Gloria Romero for authoring SB 624 and the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources for passing this legislation to remove serpentine, the host rock of asbestos, as California’s official state rock, supporting the eradication of asbestos to promote public health.
“ADAO dedicates our efforts on this campaign to Army Archerd, prolific Daily Variety journalist who died from mesothelioma in September 2009”
“California has the highest rate of mesothelioma deaths in the nation,” said Senator Gloria Romero (D-East Los Angeles). “This bill is about raising awareness to protect the health of our citizens. Serpentine contains asbestos, a known carcinogen. Toxic materials have no place serving as emblems for the State.”….. (more…)
As of June 30th 2010, the Mesothelioma Therapeutic Video Library for MesoCare.org is available. Lectures include topics on surgery, chemotherapy, Radiation and others. This series was designed as an educational resource for patients, family, and healthcare providers. The lectures are also available via DVD by request.
Houston TX (Vocus/PRWEB ) July 2, 2010 — Mesothelioma lecture series is now available online. Current lectures include: Vikki Devitto on Chemotherapy, Veronica Garza of on “Radiation Therapy Options For Patients Suffering From Mesothelioma”, Dr. David Rice, on Surgical options and Sharon Myers introduction on various speakers. Lectures were held at the International Rotary House on the MD Anderson main campus in Houston, Texas…….. (more…)
For those living in the United Kingdom, today marks Action Mesothelioma Day, an attempt to spread awareness about a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
The British Lung Foundation and other asbestos support groups have campaigned for the day since 2006. In addition to creating awareness about the effects of asbestos exposure, the day is meant to support those who have been affected with malignant mesothelioma as well as bring notice to the importance of improving treatment options.
A cure for this cancer has yet to be found, but researchers around the world continue to perform clinical trials with the hope of finding one. Current treatment methods are more or less designed to relieve symptoms and prolong life. The average mesothelioma life expectancy for patients ranges between four and 18 months…….. (more…)
An international panel of health experts is excoriating global governments for a failure to ban asbestos despite “overwhelming agreement that there is no safe level of exposure” to the cancer-causing mineral.
The doctors and occupational-health experts, writing in Thursday’s edition of the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives, say the continuing world trade in chrysotile asbestos — one of several forms of the substance — is a result of the cushy relationship between the industry and many governments.
More than 50 countries have banned the production and use of asbestos in all its forms, but Canada continues to permit the mining of chrysotile fibres, mainly for export. Health Canada affirms that it poses no risk “if the asbestos fibres are enclosed or tightly bound in a compound.”
The health experts dispute that position and call for a global ban on all forms of the material.
“Early suggestions and industry reports that chrysotile might be significantly less dangerous than other forms of asbestos have not been substantiated,” they write…….. (more…)
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