Patients affected by rare and orphan diseases, and their advocates fighting for more research and increased funding to bring effective treatments to the marketplace, just got a big boost from a $ 10 million anonymous gift to the University of Pennsylvania. Penn has put the funds to good use by establishing the Penn Center for [...]
We have all heard the word “tumor” and simply think of a mass of tissue. But what is a tumor, really? The definition of tumor implies abnormal cell growth; this results in an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors (also referred to as a neoplasm) are not always cancerous (malignant); they can also be non-cancerous [...]
Mesothelioma is an aggressive, incurable cancer caused by asbestos exposure that often leaves patients with few treatment options and a prognosis of less than one year after diagnosis. Asbestos was widely used in building materials in homes, schools, factories and other industrial settings for much of the 20th century. Its use was largely restricted in [...]
It was a day not unlike other days my wife and I have spent at our home in North Georgia. It was a bit warm, sunny and otherwise reasonably comfortable. The day itself was a bit special, because we were there to take a quiet weekend interlude to celebrate our birthdays. We were glad to [...]
By Nancy MeredithMichele Carbone, MD, PhD, one of the world’s premiere authorities on mesothelioma and director of the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, has once again concluded a groundbreaking study that could have far-reaching implications of the environmental risks on the health of some Americans. Carbone and his research team have concluded that exposure to [...]
Malignant mesothelioma clinical trials continue to be one of the best options for patients struggling to find a new, effective treatment. Offered through hospitals and medical research institutions, the trials test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of the disease. They also provide researchers with critical information needed to allow them to move [...]
New York City mesothelioma lawyer Joseph W. Belluck, who is experienced in asbestos exposure issues, said he was disturbed to learn that a Brooklyn hospital has been cited for negligent failure to protect workers from exposure to the well-known carcinogen during demolition and renovation work. He added that OSHA fines against Interfaith Medical Center reflect [...]
As long as there is the possibility for newer and better drugs to fight cancer, there remains hope. A few of the recent breakthroughs in cancer drugs are listed below: Breast cancer that has metastasized in patients who have already been treated with chemotherapy at least twice can be treated with a new drug called eribulin [...]
Phil Mickelson, the famous left-handed golf champion, has a number of impressive titles: winner of four major golf championships and the winner of 39 PGA events. But he also has another more impressive title: a cancer supporter. Rewind the clock a couple years when Phil’s wife, Amy, was diagnosed with the shocking news of her [...]
In a session at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) meeting in Washington, DC this month, the International Rare Disease Research Consortium (IRDiRC) leaders agreed that encouraging more countries and pharmaceutical companies to join the consortium is critical for meeting their lofty goals laid out earlier this year. Their intention is to provide diagnostic tools for [...]