Posts Tagged ‘Cancers’

History of Mesothelioma

We can infer that mesothelioma has been around for hundreds or possibly thousands of years, but it is really only in the past one hundred or so years that mesothelioma has affected large amounts of people.  To understand the history of mesothelioma, one must also understand the history of asbestos.  Asbestos is a mix of six naturally occurring silicate materials.  Asbestos must be refined using whatever process is necessary for the use that one desires from asbestos.  Asbestos has been used for a myriad of purposes including clothing, insulation, sound proofing, and even brake pads.  Since asbestos is arguably the only known cause of mesothelioma, as manufacturing and use of asbestos during the industrial revolution, cases of mesothelioma sky rocketed.  During the early nineteen hundreds plants that manufactured and processed asbestos started to see a high rate of lung diseases.  After thousands of workers in similar industries became affected with mesothelioma and other lung related cancers, people began to look for the cause.  Study after study pointed to the presence of asbestos as being the culprit in each case of mesothelioma.  As health sciences and medical technology advanced they were finally able to scientifically explain how the asbestos fibers became trapped in the lungs and organ linings around the lungs, thus clearly defining the link between asbestos and mesothelioma.  Now, some 100,000 people a year in the United States are affected with this deadly disease due to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Resources

Mesothelioma is no different from any illness, disease, or condition when it comes to what a patient or victim that is diagnosed with any serious condition should do when they find out that they have contracted a serious illness.  They should gather as much information as possible in order to combat the illness with every known medicine, procedure, and home remedy.  Mesothelioma has a myriad of resources from which to draw upon others knowledge and experience with the disease.  A Google search will give you thousands upon thousands of websites on mesothelioma.  Obviously it will take some tailoring to disseminate the information down to what you need, but that is a good starting off point.  There are also many good books written by doctors, experts, and mesothelioma survivors or family and friends of those that were afflicted with the illness.  Pass, Roy, and Vento authored a book entitled “100 questions and answers about mesothelioma.”  This is a good book that answers many common questions about mesothelioma and also helps guide you towards other helpful resources.  Paul Krauss wrote “Surviving Mesothelioma and other Cancers: A Patients Guide.”  In this book Krauss not only speaks to cancer patients, but survivors and to friends and family members of people who know and love someone battling with mesothelioma and other cancers.  Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, but there is an abundance of material on mesothelioma and how best to deal with it.  Books are great for in depth knowledge so finding a book on your specific form of mesothelioma can very helpful in your fight.

More on Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are where drugs start before they are approved and released as accepted treatments.  Experimentation is a necessary precaution so that drugs can be carefully observed in how they perform and how people react to the drug.  Mesothelioma, like many cancers, has specific drugs that are being developed to help treat it.  If you have mesothelioma you can help find new ways of treating it by participating in a clinical trial.  The best resource for seeking information on how to participate in clinical trials is through the National Cancer Institute.  Their website (www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials) can help you through all of the necessary steps to join a clinical trial.  Many times trials are looking for specific patients.  If you have mesothelioma you can search for clinical trials involving the treatment of mesothelioma and apply to take part.  Currently there is no cure for mesothelioma, but through clinical trials, research, and doctors working tirelessly for a successful treatment, hopefully it is only a matter of time.  If you are afflicted with mesothelioma it is a good thing to help out and try to participate in a trial.  Researching how a drug reacts and performing these trials is the only thing that will lead us to a cure.  To get to the clinical trial phase of, a drug must go through extensive lab research and animal testing.  The clinical trial of drugs used to treat mesothelioma, or anything for that matter, is the final step in a long arduous process for Food and Drug Administration approval of a drug.  Participating in a clinical trial for treatment of mesothelioma is also a great way to gain access to the latest mesothelioma treatments available.

  • Carbon Nanotubes Could Have Asbestos-Like Health Complications A recent laboratory study has shed new light on the possibility of a nexus between carbon nanotube exposure and the asbestos-like health effects. Carbon nanotubes are molecular-level structures that
  • Links Between Taconite And Mesothelioma The Minnesota Department of Health is launching two major studies to answer long-simmering questions about taconite and human health. The agency says men in northeastern Minnesota have twice the expe
  • Looking Forward To Asbestos Ban A deal is near on legislation banning the use of asbestos, a fibrous mineral often used in brake linings, gaskets, cement products and even yarns and threads imported into the country despite its dea
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