Another step towards Mesothelioma Research: Minnesota House approves a grant of US$4.9 million

MINNESOTA, April 12, 2008 - The Minnesota House of Representatives gives permission for US$4.9 million funds to help explore a study of Mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of lung cancer usually associated with exposure to asbestos dust.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation discovered that at least 58 people in Minnesota State have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma cancer as of summer 2007. The average Mesothelioma rate across the country is one in 500,000 and the presence of the cancer hints at other lung-related ailments, for example Asthma, Bronchogenic carcinoma etc.

Passed by a vote of 88-45, the malignant Mesothelioma research project will include a collaborative between scientists at the University’s Duluth and the Twin Cities campuses, and is broken into four different studies. The causes of death in the iron ore miners and the health of current and former miners will be investigated in the first three studies. On the other hand, the fourth study will inspect air particle samples in different cities of northern Minnesota.

Action Mesothelioma Day – February 27

Action Mesothelioma Day was launched on February 27, 2006 as an initiative by British Lung Foundation (BLF) with the help of other groups, to build awareness about the killer cancerous disease, mesothelioma, caused due to asbestos exposure.

In continuation to the campaign set up in 2006, events related to support mesothelioma and spread awareness are conducted to mark the Action Mesothelioma Day, 2008 to be held on February 27.

On this day, a petition called the “Action Mesothelioma Charter” signed by one thousand people was presented to the Parliament, which enlisted the various changes to be undertaken, to help build awareness toward mesothelioma as well as support people suffering from mesothelioma in Britain.

The campaign has become a platform where people of UK can protest against the exposure of asbestos in various industries as well.

The fight against mesothelioma through Action Mesothelioma Day was supported by specialist industrial disease solicitors Matthew Garson and Gina Heather along with a number of MPs.

Action Mesothelioma Charter Demands

• better treatment and support to mesothelioma patients
• safety to people working in industries using asbestos to prevent future exposure to asbestos
• financial support towards mesothelioma cancer research
• avoidance of asbestos-related cancer deaths
• justice for mesothelioma sufferers

Many mesothelioma sufferers with their families and supporters actively participated in various events conducted across United Kingdom to mark Action Mesothelioma Day.

Mesothelioma deaths in UK:

Last year itself the number of deaths due to mesothelioma in Britain amounted to an estimate of two thousand people.

According to an American study conducted by a non-profit research organization, Rand Corporation, it is indicated as much as 73,000 people have gone in for financial support and compensation for asbestos related disease, mesothelioma.

According to Amicus’ Health and Safety Officer, Rob Miguel, “Mesothelioma can develop up to 60 years after and because of this long delay it has been calculated that the number of UK cases will continue to rise until 2015. At present, some 2000 people a year die from this terrifying disease in the UK and by 2050 it is anticipated that 95,000 people will have died from mesothelioma.”

This indicates:

• 1,900 people die from mesothelioma each year in the UK
• 95,000 people will die from mesothelioma by 2050 in the UK
• 250,000 people will die from mesothelioma in Western Europe by 2035

Mesothelioma update: Asbestos presence confirmed in toy products

Asbestos in toy products

Planet Toys’ premium toy, Planet Toys’ CSI: Crime Scene Investigation™ Fingerprint Examination Kit, tested by three laboratories indicated white “fingerprint dust” in the kits, which contained high levels of tremolite asbestos.

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) appreciated Planet Toys’ decision to remove the toy from the US market that has tested positive for asbestos and wrote a letter to retailers requesting to stop the sale, which was immediately complied with.

Experts suggest a single exposure to tremolite asbestos is enough to increase risk of developing mesothelioma and other lung diseases associated with asbestos.

Planet Toys in New York City, the manufacturer and distributor of these toys claimed they have been checking the plants in China that make these toys. Chinese collections of plastic tools and different kinds of fine powder are found to contain asbestos. Doctors fear children playing with these toys will inhale the lethal substance leading to Mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Statistics 2007

The year 2007 has revealed an increase in the number of people with mesothelioma occurring between the ages of thirty and forty years.

Every year, as much as 2,000 to 3,000 new patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma. An estimated seventy-five percent cases are caused by direct exposure to asbestos is the main cause.

As a result, mesothelioma statistics may not accurately reflect the number of people who develop the disease. Statistics for the year 2007 indicate that men are more prone to mesothelioma than women due to exposure at work.

Statistics reveal, due to mesothelioma’s latency period, people between the age bracket of 50 and 70 years were commonly the sufferers

Based on industry and occupation, statistics indicate that mesothelioma is likely to be found in people working in industries like construction, railroad, shipyard, manufacturing, automobile industries with construction industry only having about 1.3 million people being exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma and Life expectancy post- diagnosis:

Mesothelioma statistics indicate life expectancy of people after detection of mesothelioma to be about an average of one year and with early detection and aggressive treatment as much as two to five years at the most. According to mesothelioma statistics, between 43,000 and 230,000 people have died from the cancer throughout the country. An average cost incurred by the patient is about USD 400,000 and USD 800,000 for treatment.

Mesothelioma is incurable. Owing to the fact that Mesothelioma treatments cost substantial amount of money, patients need to file lawsuits to recover medical and other costs related to this disease.

Mesothelioma statistics do not indicate the figures related to people who are susceptible to this disease or who are presently victims of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma statistical research:

Companies using asbestos are initiating research in the field, as people diagnosed by this disease claim compensation for asbestos exposure. The National Institute of Cancer performs continuous Mesothelioma research on the cause, symptoms, diagnosis as well as cure and treatment of the disease. Mesothelioma statistics help to gain an insight into research conduction by focusing on areas that require attention.

source : Health Magazine

HEALTH ALERT: ABSESTOS SAFETY- call for action worldwide

The recent fire breakout in the premises of a building in Texas (click here for details of news) has caused the emittance of the well-known cancer causing compound-asbestos. Residents are instructed to stay away for the next six months.

This is alarming not just for them, but for the entire nation as the rate of diagnosis of mesothelioma rises.

Asbestos, known for causing a deadly form of cancer-mesothelioma which, if not diagnosed early, proves fatal. It is waterborne as well as airborne and asbestos safety warnings are spreading through media as well as health organizations.

The discovery of the hazardous effects of asbestos in the 1960s caused uproar countrywide and litigations rose against companies who used asbestos-containing products. The heavy fines, however, could not compensate for the resultant numerous deaths, which continue to rise.

Presently, the awareness that the presence of asbestos resulting in mesothelioma cancer, is not only limited to miners and factory workers, but also exposed through household products, toys, building material and chemical products.

Countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom have imposed ban on the use of asbestos and citizens’ campaigning has risen to promote asbestos safety.

A major concern that has yet to be voiced is against one country that exports on a massive scale production range from toys to heavy duty machinery throughout the world and legal action could cost them heavily as well the large multinational corporations whose orders are placed with them.

The government, at its discretion, has taken precautionary measures by ordering companies whose products that have tested positive for asbestos after laboratory tests, to take their product off the market.

However, due to this discretion, companies continue to use asbestos and import them to places where the ban is yet to be imposed. The absence of a public message warning people against the use of asbestos containing products is of grave concern.

Advice on asbestos safety measures must be dealt with immediately before its too late!

Alimta®-Platinum Compound for Pleural Mesothelioma treatment

Clinical trials, conducted in Italy, have proved the chemotherapy combination of Alimta® (pemetrexed) with a platinum compound (Platinol® [cisplatin] or Paraplatin® [carboplatin]) respond well for pleural mesothelioma treatment.

The results, presented at the 2007 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, confirmed previous findings of the same, which were as follows:

• Chances of survival increased to about 64%.
• Cancer progression decreased by about seven months.
• Anticancer responses were higher by 26.3% for patients who took Alimta/Platinol when compared with 21.6% for those who took Alimta/Paraplatin.
• Blood cells’ level of Alimta/Platinol patients dropped extensively and frequently than Alimta/Paraplatin patients.

An active combination of Alimta/Platinum, i.e. Alimta with Platinol or Alimta with Paraplatin was given to 745 untreated patients who responded well to the pleural mesothelioma treatment.

Pleural mesothelioma, a rare cancer on the tissues of the lungs leading to the chest, is caused most often by exposure to asbestos. Diagnosed only in its last stage, pleural mesothelioma does not respond to the typical cancer treatments.

Mesothelioma patients may consult with their physician prior to the Alimta and platinum compound pleural mesothelioma treatment for risks and benefits, or visit the National Foundation for Cancer Research at their web site http://www.nfcr.org/ .

Source: National Foundation for Cancer Research