Mesothelioma Empowerment Update - May 22, 2009

May 22, 2009

65 Year-Old Fisherman 'Bearing down' as He Battles Mesothelioma 

Allen "Al" Christiansen was the perfect retiree.  He was never bored or out of things to do.  He woke early in the morning and always experienced a full day. He lives with his wife of 36 years Kathy on eight beautiful acres surrounded by corn fields in Hinckley, Illinois.  Hinckley is just far enough outside of Chicago to feel like you're a million miles from the Magnificent Mile but close enough to drive in for a Bulls game or a steak at Ditkas. When not tending the yard, watching his beloved Bulls, Bears, White Sox or Notre Dame sports Al is either wetting a line or planning his next fishing trip "with da boys."  More...

Al Christiansen

Surgery:

Pleurectomy/Decortication Effective as the Surgical Arm of Multimodal Therapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma: Presented at EMCTO (5/12/2009)

Researchers at the University of Pisa in Italy have concluded in the February, 2007 issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology concluded that the use of pleurectomy/decortication as the surgical component in a multimodal treatment plan using chemotherapy and radiation demonstrated positive survival results and morbidity and warrants additional testing. More... 

Diagnosis / staging:

Mayo Researchers Discover Mechanism of Cell Type-Specific Signaling in Tumor Development (5/22/2009)

Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered the mechanisms behind two key checkpoints in cell growth and development — factors that may ultimately allow investigators to benchmark progression of tumor cells or stop them from further development. More...

Four-Gene Expression Ratio Test for Survival in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Mesothelioma (5/22/2009)

A four-gene expression ratio test prospectively distinguished mesothelioma patients who had a statistically significant longer overall survival from those who had shorter survival, according to researchers from the Brigham and Women's Hospital. More...

Another Study Links Nanotubes to Mesothelioma (5/22/2009) 

Finding from a new study conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), serve to raise the alarm on the potential hazards related to how nanotube products interact with our bodies. More...

Chemotherapy:

Chemoimmunotherapy: An Emerging Strategy for the Treatment of Malignant Mesothelioma
Study on whether the immune system can recognize malignant and pre-malignant cells and eliminate them to prevent the development of cancer is still a matter of open debate. More...

Nutrition:

Cancer Nutrition Tips (5/19/2009)

Weight loss and malnutrition are serious threats to patients battling cancer, who can find that their tumors or treatment sap their appetite, cause nausea and other side effects and block absorption the nutrients they do force down. More...

Mortality:

Mesothelioma Mortality to Peak in 2010 (5/22/2009)

The mortality benefits of restricting the use of asbestos should begin to appear after 2010, when deaths from malignant mesothelioma are expected to peak, according to a report from the CDC. Although the health threat posed by asbestos has decreased, it has not disappeared. "Ensuring a future decrease in mesothelioma morality requires meticulous control of exposures to asbestos and other materials that might cause mesothelioma," the authors concluded. More...

Legislation:

Libby Reacts to Grace Asbestos Verdict (5/13/09)

People in Libby closely following the W.R. Grace trial were at home when the verdict came down. Most are upset and saddened with the jury's decision, reaching a not guilty verdict on all eight counts. Some even say the company is getting away with murder. More…

Grace trial: Reaction Around Libby Toughest on Judge Molloy (5/12/09)

A jury acquitted W.R. Grace & Co. and three former executives last week of all criminal charges relating to Libby’s asbestos poisoning. Following 11 weeks of testimony, jurors were handed the case Wednesday evening and delivered their verdict Friday morning. More…

Jury Acquites Grace In Asbestos Case (5/11/09)

After a three-month trial, firm and executives are cleared on all 10 counts A federal jury cleared W.R. Grace and three former executives on all charges of knowingly exposing residents of Libby, Mont., to asbestos and concealing the danger. After a three-month trial and two days of deliberation, the jury effectively repudiated the government’s criminal case, filed in 2005. More…

The 2009 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma

June 25-27 in Washington, DC.

Organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. This conference is for everyone - patients, caregivers and family members; those who have lost a loved one; volunteers; advocates; and medical and scientific experts. Everyone struggling with this disease and everyone who cares about the mission to cure it will gain valuable medical information, coping skills, support, new friendships, and opportunities to make a real impact in the mission. More...