Asbestos News Blog

According to recent statistics, the numbers of mesothelioma cases that are reported in the U.S. annually are somewhat rare, but data shows that the illness has affected more people than ever in the past few decades.

Men are typically more likely to get mesothelioma than women since they are employed at places where there is a potential for asbestos exposure.  

The Survival Rate

The illness is typically caused by asbestos and many people are unaware that they are sick until 15-50 years after their exposure.

After being diagnosed, patients are usually given a five-year survival rate, a prediction that depends on the severity of the case.

This survival rate given by doctors refers to the percent of patients who have been recorded as having lived at least five years after their diagnosis.

However, since more research is being done on the illness, many more patients are proving this five-year survival rate to be only specific to certain cases and not the norm.

Statistics on the Disease

Research shows that each year between 2, 500 and 4,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

This number is expected to rise in the next 10 years since so many people have been exposed while at work, school and in their daily routines in the past.

Britain’s healthcare “watchdog� NICE, recently gave doctors clearance to use Eli Lily and Co’s medication Alimta to help treat mesothelioma.
Thus far, a cure for mesothelioma has not been found but using medications such as Alimta has proven to be beneficial for those suffering from the illness, according to
researchers.
Reversal of Decision Regarding Medication
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence was finally issued final clearance for the National Health Service to provide the medication after much debate surrounding the drug.
Alimta has been approved to be used on patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and aren’t eligible for surgery.
The approval is a reversal of a 2006 NICE decision that the drug, also known as pemetrexed disodium, wasn’t cost-effective for the illness.
Mesothelioma Becoming More Common
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is associated with asbestos exposure and can take from 20-50 years to detect in patients.
People are often exposed to asbestos through the handling of products containing the substance or the inhalation or ingestion of the fibers.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, also known as the Meso Foundation, recently announced that it will give $1 million to researchers working at some of the top universities in the country.
The award is intended to help these researchers find a cure for mesothelioma, the rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Raising Money to Find a Cure
Yearly, the Meso Foundation funds top research programs around the world through its grant process that helps raise money for mesothelioma research.
The recent donation brings total funding at the foundation to $5 million.
“The areas funded are targeted therapies that might halt the development of mesothelioma cells, immunotherapy, novel transport systems to assist chemotherapy drug entry into the cell membrane and gene therapy,� explains Mary Hersdorffer, who works for the Meso Foundation’s Medical Liaison.
The Truth Behind the Disease
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that can painfully invade the lining of the lungs or heart and is caused by exposure to asbestos.
Research for the illness has taken a backseat to other forms of cancer and as a result, for those with the disease, it has been difficult to determine and treatments have been delayed.
Asbestos Exposure Remains a Problem
According to reports, asbestos exposure is still common in schools, homes and the workplace despite the known harm the substance can cause.
“For all those battling the disease today, the need is urgent,� says Chris Hahn, the Executive Director at the Meso Foundation.