Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are looking to figure out if there is a connection between the measles virus and mesothelioma in order to possibly find a cure.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have reported time and time again on our Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog that researchers are picking up the pace in terms of looking at mesothelioma. While this is a rare form of cancer, it is one that is devastating because it has no cure.

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused primarily by exposure to asbestos. It is unique in that a person can be exposed to this natural mineral and not feel any symptoms of the cancer for 20 to 50 years later. Typically, this cancer isn't discovered until it is in its most advanced stages.

Symptoms include heavy coughing, fluid built-up in the lungs, chest pain and other signs that could point to a variety of ailments. That is another reason why this cancer is so dangerous -- it can be masked as something less serious.

But researchers are hopeful that recent work may be able to put a dent into the number of people who die from this form of cancer. Typically, people with mesothelioma are treated with chemotherapy because surgery often isn't a sound option. This is because the cancer tends to form near major organs, such as the heart, lungs and abdomen.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are reporting there has been an increase of mesothelioma cases in Minnesota, so the clinic there is doing extensive research to find a cure. This is attributed to taconite mining in the Iron Range region, which is a large economic booster, but has shown to have some unknown medical risks.

The latest version of the measles virus vector is an engineered version of the measles virus that is safe to the patient, but carries a toxic payload and is targetable. Doctors are able to conduct imaging studies to follow the virus in a treated patient. And they believe that they may be able to administer a more toxic version into a mesothelioma patient to destroy the cancerous tumor.

Researchers have found that mice with mesothelioma were given treatment that doubled the life span compared to mice that didn't receive any treatment. The potential treatment was found by lab workers testing drugs approved to treat other forms of cancer.

When applied to mesothelioma cells, it seemed to make a difference. But researchers warn that this isn't a cure for mesothelioma. Still, they hope that the treatment could improve for these patients.

One researcher said the hope is that within four years, after proper testing and trials, that treatment can be offered in the form of a pill that could outperform chemotherapy. That would allow patients to have a less turbulent time getting help for this cancer. They also predict that this treatment would increase the patient's lifespan by about six months.

Continue reading "Researchers Working to Determine if Measles Help In Treating Mesothelioma" »

The Department of Defense is dedicating $16 million to research certain types of cancers, including mesothelioma.

This is critically important because many of our military veterans are suffering from mesothelioma after years of dedicated service to our country. Our mesothelioma lawyers are aware that this form of cancer can date back decades and many service men and women were exposed to asbestos before it became unpopular due to health risks.

The United States military was one of the largest users of asbestos, especially in Naval ships and shipyards. This natural mineral, which has a resistance to fire, was used in ships and in buildings on military bases and bases throughout the world.

While many veterans may have been exposed to asbestos decades ago, they are just now feeling the effects. Common symptoms of mesothelioma are trouble breathing, chest pain and fluid build-up, which are similar symptoms to lung cancer.

This is part of the reason mesothelioma is so dangerous. Many people tend to ignore the symptoms, assuming they are related to a different, already known illness or just a sign of old age. By the time a person goes to a doctor, who usually refers them to other specialists -- all of which takes time -- it's typically too late; the median life expectancy after diagnosis is 12 months.

Mesothelioma is incurable and it is 100 percent fatal. Usually, the lungs are the target of the asbestos-forming cancer, but also the heart or lining of the abdomen can be affected. This is a serious form of cancer unlike others because the treatment options are very limited. Operations are rarely a good idea in an older patient near a vital organ. Once it's discovered, it's typically well-developed.

But the Department of Defense is dedicating $16 million to researching cancers other than breast, prostate, lung and ovarian cancer programs that are already in place. The funds are to be used to research:

• Mesothelioma


• Blood cancers


• Colorectal cancer


• Genetic cancer research


• Kidney cancer


• Listeria vaccine for cancer


• Melanoma and other skin cancer


• Pancreatic cancer


• Pediatric cancer


• Radiation protection utilizing nanotechnology

Researchers are required to meet certain requirements in order to get funding to do the research. Information is available through the Congressionally Directed Medication Research Programs website.

This is a great opportunity for mesothelioma to get more attention and hopefully for more research to be done in order to find a cure or better early detection. Our mesothelioma lawyers are dedicated to keeping up with the latest research and most up-to-date information regarding this awful form of cancer.

The negligence of companies has caused the pain and suffering of many of our clients. We are dedicated to fighting on behalf of those whose lives have been cut short because of this preventable illness.

Continue reading "Department of Defense to Spend $16 Million to Research Mesothelioma, Other Cancers" »

CanBas Co., a Japanese-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company was recently granted orphan drug status by the United States Food and Drug Administration for a new drug that treats advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma, pharmabiz.com reports.

Treating mesothelioma is difficult because there is no known cure for this particularly aggressive form of cancer. While pharmacists, scientists and researchers attempt to find one, like they are doing for all forms of cancer, the best mesothelioma patients can get at this point are drugs that can soothe their pain.

Most research has shown that the illness can live in a person's body for up to 30 or 40 years before a person feels the symptoms and seeks a doctor's opinion on what is causing it. By the time a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they typically only live another 12 months, on average.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have seen the pain and frustration this form of cancer has caused families. For many, they are so scared to learn they have this disease and they don't know how to react to the news. For others, they are angry because they discover that working with asbestos decades ago, for a company that knew the ill effects of the product but never told employees, is the cause for their disease.

Asbestos was used in the United States for decades until the early 1990s. Researchers began studying this natural mineral -- used as insulation, in car parts products, hair dryers, crock pots, piping and other products to resist fire and heat -- decades ago because people who were around it were getting sick. It wasn't long before they realized asbestos is a direct link to mesothelioma.

But perhaps this new drug could help. According to pharmabiz, CBP501 is in a late development stage to treat people with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma who aren't eligible for surgery. This is the case with many mesothelioma patients. Because the cancer attacks major organs, such as the lungs, heart and stomach lining, it's typically difficult to operate.

According to the report, the company is testing 63 patients and hope to have the patients treated by the beginning of 2012. The FDA's orphan drug program allows for drugs to get special status to treat a rare disease or a condition that affects a small portion of the public. It provides tax breaks and marketing incentives to companies who are working on drugs that won't be mass-marketed, but only will treat a small number of patients.

According to the source, pleural mesothelioma makes up about 70 percent of all mesothelioma cases and 80 percent of all pleural mesothelioma cases involve a history of asbestos exposure. The latency period is 20 to 50 years and therefore the diagnosis usually comes in the advanced stages. Chemotherapy is typically the only treatment option for patients.

Our mesothelioma lawyers hope that this drug could provide hope for the thousands of mesothelioma patients in the United States who wonder what went wrong and why they have to suffer at the end of their lives. While this form of cancer doesn't get the exposure that others do, it is ruthless and more treatment options must be developed.

Continue reading "New Drug Granted Orphan Drug Status to Treat Malignant Mesothelioma" »

More than 1,000 people who claim they were injured after the World Trade Center Twin Towers collapsed following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York recently had to decide whether they wanted to pursue lawsuits or attempt to get money through a compensation fund, the Associated Press reports.

Our mesothelioma lawyers reported on our blog in September that a recent study showed that firefighters, medical personnel and others around the towers after the collapse were more likely to end up with exposure to asbestos compared to others who weren't near the aftermath that day.

As we have reported time and time again, asbestos exposure can lead to major medical problems, including mesothelioma. This is a rare and incurable form of cancer.

It is so devastating because patients don't realize they have mesothelioma until years and sometimes decades after they have first been exposed. Many men and women who were teenagers when they enlisted in the armed forces were exposed to asbestos before most realized it was dangerous and they are now suffering today. Others who worked in steel mills, in the oil and gas industry or in manufacturing may have worked on equipment or with products that contained asbestos.

On January 2, the deadline passed for people to decide whether they wanted to go forward with lawsuits claiming their health was ruined by dust and smoke from the collapsed towers or if they would rather drop the litigation and apply for benefits from the government.

Lawmakers set aside $2.76 billion in federal taxpayer dollars last winter, though that amount was lower than a previously proposed amount, that would pay for those who were diagnosed with illnesses that were a result of spending time in the disaster zone. As many recall, a haze of ash spread over the Ground Zero area for many months following the attacks.

Rescue crews scoured for live bodies, while recovery crews later worked to clean up the rubble from the giant towers. To be considered for part of the money, applicants had to dismiss any lawsuits and give up the right to sue ever again. Anyone who still had a lawsuit pending on Jan. 3 forfeited the right to apply for the compensation fund.

The program allows people to get money for their sickness without having to prove it was a result of the terrorist attacks. But it could take months or years before the applicants know how much money they could eventually get. They must endure the gamble of not knowing whether a trial would be quicker or more profitable. This program is as suspect as many other such government programs.

The other problem is that the fund was limited to some breathing ailments, such as asthma, scarred lungs and other respiratory problems. The list of illnesses doesn't include cancer, which scientists have yet to conclusively link to the toxins within the trade center. Some have dropped their lawsuits even if cancer is one day added to the list.

The article suggests that New Yorkers other than emergency crew workers could one day apply for the fund as well, spreading its money thin. If the list of illnesses is expanded, that could cut down on how much is available as well.

Continue reading "Tough Decision as Thousands Consider Whether to Pursue 9/11 Mesothelioma Lawsuits" »