Author: Fran Mannino

More than two years after implementing a much-celebrated ban of asbestos, Canadians have come to realize the real fight has only just begun. Malignant mesothelioma cancer isn’t going away any time soon. Asbestos exposure may be the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma, but the nationwide ban of the toxic mineral is not predicted to slow the rise in cases […]

The post Mesothelioma Still Prevalent in Canada Following Asbestos Ban appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

More than two years after implementing a much-celebrated ban of asbestos, Canadians have come to realize the real fight has only just begun. Malignant mesothelioma cancer isn’t going away any time soon. Asbestos exposure may be the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma, but the nationwide ban of the toxic mineral is not predicted to slow…

The post Mesothelioma Still Prevalent in Canada Following Asbestos Ban appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

A recent study out of the United Kingdom finds patients with relapsed malignant mesothelioma can be treated effectively with single-agent nivolumab, safely improving overall and progression-free survival. Nivolumab, also known by the brand name Opdivo, is an immunotherapy drug already being used successfully with non-small cell lung cancer. It is the first drug to show a significant survival […]

The post Opdivo Study Offers Hope to Relapsed Mesothelioma Patients appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

A recent study out of the United Kingdom finds patients with relapsed malignant mesothelioma can be treated effectively with single-agent nivolumab, safely improving overall and progression-free survival. Nivolumab, also known by the brand name Opdivo, is an immunotherapy drug already being used successfully with non-small cell lung cancer. It is the first drug to show…

The post Opdivo Study Offers Hope to Relapsed Mesothelioma Patients appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Clinical trials for mesothelioma need more inclusive criteria to better reflect the patients being seen at major cancer treatment centers, according to a recent study conducted in Sydney, Australia. The study demonstrated a significant difference between those carefully selected for clinical trials and real-world patients with pleural mesothelioma. “A broader patient population more resembling real…

The post Researchers: Mesothelioma Trials Need More Inclusive Criteria appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization continued its challenge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, filing a petition for review Jan. 26 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and an intent to sue notice under the Toxic Substances Control Act. ADAO, the leading nonprofit aimed at preventing asbestos exposure and raising awareness…

The post EPA’s Asbestos Risk Evaluation Faces Litigation appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization continued its challenge of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, filing a petition for review Jan. 26 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and an intent to sue notice under the Toxic Substances Control Act. ADAO, the leading nonprofit aimed at preventing asbestos exposure and raising awareness about mesothelioma, was joined by […]

The post EPA’s Asbestos Risk Evaluation Faces Litigation appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Using accelerated high-dose radiation prior to surgery produced an unprecedented 65.9-month median survival for a cohort of pleural mesothelioma patients who were part of a larger clinical trial at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. Lancet Oncology recently published results of the study, named SMART, an acronym for Surgery for Mesothelioma After Radiation Therapy….

The post Study: Mesothelioma Survival Rates Rise with SMART Protocol appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Thoracic surgeon Dr. Marcello Migliore is convinced that adding hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy to aggressive surgery can extend survival significantly for patients with pleural mesothelioma cancer. He wants others to know that, too. This seldom-used, controversial procedure, also known as HITHOC, involves circulating a heated, high-concentration chemotherapy solution throughout the chest cavity for 60 minutes immediately…

The post Thoracic Chemotherapy May Advance Mesothelioma Treatment appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Researchers in Europe may have found the key to making immunotherapy drugs such as Opdivo and Keytruda more effective for a larger percentage of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Statins may be the answer. While treatment with those heralded immunotherapy drugs have worked wonders for some, the majority of mesothelioma patients get little or no…

The post Statins May Give Boost to Mesothelioma Immunotherapy Drugs appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released Part 1 of its Final Risk Evaluation for Asbestos, reaffirming preliminary findings from March that were roundly criticized for underestimating the dangers of exposure to this toxic mineral. Six ongoing use categories of asbestos were evaluated by the EPA, which found 16 conditions of use that presented unreasonable risk…

The post EPA Evaluation Finds Asbestos Still An Unreasonable Risk appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

United States District Judge Edward Chen has ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to improve its data collection on the amount of asbestos and asbestos products that are coming into the country. Chen issued his ruling Tuesday in San Francisco, stemming from a lawsuit brought against the EPA by a group of nonprofit organizations wanting to…

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Growing allegations of asbestos-contaminated talc in various consumer products, coupled with historic approval of a new treatment for pleural mesothelioma, made 2020 a year filled with both anxiety and hope. Johnson & Johnson stopped selling its iconic baby powder in May after being hit by thousands of lawsuits contending its talc-based product was causing various…

The post Top 10 Mesothelioma and Asbestos News Stories of 2020 appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The ONCOS-102 immunotherapy vaccine continues its move toward future, first-line standard of care treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma, based upon the latest study follow-up data. When combined with standard chemotherapy, the genetically modified adenovirus has produced a median overall survival of at least 18.2 months, according to results released in late November from the ongoing…

The post Study: Immunotherapy Vaccine for Mesothelioma Still Promising appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The University of Sheffield has launched the Mesothelioma UK Research Centre-Sheffield, the country’s first experience-based program designed to improve the treatment and care of patients diagnosed with this aggressive, asbestos-related cancer. Based in South Yorkshire, England, the University of Sheffield hopes to become an international pioneer in patient-led mesothelioma research. “The program will build on…

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