Archive for April, 2008
Mesothelioma Treatment in Clinical Trial
There are a number of clinical trials currently underway for the treatment of mesothelioma, the lethal form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Individuals who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are often in the latter stages of their lives because the disease can take decades to develop after the patient has undergone asbestos exposure.
Chemotherapy is fairly standard treatment for mesothelioma, because it is such a fast moving cancer and because it tends to move from the lungs to other parts of the body fairly rapidly. One of the clinical trials now underway under the supervision of the National Cancer Institute is the use of Avastin in combination with chemotherapy.
Sarcoidosis Impacting New Yorkers after 9/11
Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease that can affect any organ. “Common symptoms are vague, such as fatigue unchanged by sleep, lack of energy, weight loss, aches and pains, dry eyes, blurry vision, shortness of breath, a dry hacking cough or skin lesions.” The disease can lead to long term, serious side effects including fatality.
These symptoms are consistent with the problems reported by many first responders and workers involved in the rescue and clean-up efforts at the World Trade Center. According to a report published and discussed on an online medical information site, “We report here that the incidence of sarcoidosis among FDNY WTC rescue workers (firefighters and EMS workers) was significantly increased when compared to the years before WTC dust exposure. This was especially true during the first 12 months after WTC dust exposure.”
Minnesota Legislature Funds Mesothelioma Study
The Minnesota state House of Representatives took a large step during the first week in March towards determining why there is a high incidence of mesothelioma among miners working in the Iron Range. Since WWII, a mineral known as taconite has been a major source of iron, much of it coming from the area of Minnesota that has long been noted for its iron deposits.
Taconite in its natural state contains only 30-35% iron so the ore is pulverized during the process of extracting the iron. Taconite contains fibers of a number of substances, and there have now been 58 cases of mesothelioma reported among the men working in those mines.
Connecticut High School Closes during Asbestos Abatement
For the second time this year, Bethel High School in Danbury Connecticut was temporarily closed due to tests that showed asbestos fibers in the air in certain areas of the school. The Danbury News Times reports that an asbestos abatement company under contract to remove all asbestos from the school’s structures reported a minor accident that resulted in elevated levels of asbestos shown in air samples at the school.
