Mesothelioma News

Researchers say one treatment option, known as adjuvant radiotherapy, appears to be effective in treating early state mesothelioma, with improved survival in patients. Adjuvant therapy is often a component of multimodality therapy, which may also prolong survival.

Researchers at the University of Zurich say a natural “glue” known as fibrin, combined with the chemotherapy drug Cisplatin, could help treat malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The researchers in the university’s Department of Thoracic Surgery also believe that this combination may also help prevent a recurrence.

While the earliest known reference to music therapy appeared in Columbian Magazine in 1789, this complementary therapy wasn’t popular until the 20th century when both amateur and professional community musicians visited Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of service members suffering physical and emotional trauma from the wars. According to the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA), “patients' notable physical and emotional responses to music led the doctors and nurses to request the hiring of musicians by the hospitals. It was soon evident that the hospital musicians needed some prior training before entering the facility and so the demand grew for a college curriculum.”

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma have shown promising survival rates thanks to an aggressive treatment option known as Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) combined with surgery. 

UK-based Owlstone Medical and the Maryland-based International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (HFIAW or Insulators) have joined forces to identify and verify breath-based biomarkers for the early detection of malignant mesothelioma.

Ten U.S. states and D.C. have filed a lawsuit against the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) demanding stricter asbestos rules. The states say if the EPA makes asbestos tougher to import and use, the health risks to the public will be reduced.

A makeup kit created by former ‘Dance Moms’ star JoJo Siwa and Claire’s has been recalled by the retail giant after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered that it contained asbestos. The FDA has issued a warning to the public to stop using the product immediately.

CAR T Cell Therapy is a form of immunotherapy that involves using a patient’s own T cells and genetically modifying them in the laboratory to recognize mesothelin. The modified T cells, known as CAR T cells, are then returned to the patient to find and kill cancerous cells throughout the body.

Researchers have released the results of a new study that says the risk of death from mesothelioma varies by type. Published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the cohort mortality study utilized an exposure index to evaluate individual cumulative exposure as a proxy of asbestos dose and evaluated the change in cancer mortality patterns following an extended period from the end of exposure.

A research study published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports (JMCR) evaluated a man who was exposed to asbestos as an adult for around five years before being diagnosed with the disease at just 61 years old.The patient, who refused any invasive therapies including surgery and radiotherapy, was treated with hyperthermia and systemic chemotherapy with agents such as cisplatin and irinotecan. He underwent three hyperthermia sessions and a single course of chemotherapy without any severe complications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) houses the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which recently announced the opening of docket to obtain information on the feasibility of a mesothelioma registry that would track mesothelioma cases in the U.S. The docket is also open to recommendations from the public on data collection, enrollment, confidentiality, and registry maintenance.

The EPA has enacted new rules that it says will address harmful materials and their use in the U.S. The Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) will require notice to the EPA before harmful substances such as asbestos are used. However, the new rules do not prevent asbestos or any other harmful substances from being used. Critics of the SNURs argue that this loophole will allow asbestos-containing products to be used with little interference from the government. As a result, critics say the U.S. has seen a substantial increase in asbestos imports.

The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins University has launched a cutting-edge clinical trial for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The study will evaluate the safety and feasibility of neoadjuvant nivolumab +/- ipilimumab in the disease. Known as Neoadjuvant Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Resectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, the study has an estimated June 2019 start date, with an expected 30 participants with resectable MPM.

Just months ago, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a report confirming the presence of asbestos in kids cosmetics sold by Claire’s and Justice. In response, Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) has introduced legislation that would require warning labels on cosmetics marketed to children that could contain the deadly mineral.

On February 4, 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), 15 years later, NovoTTF-100L has been approved as one of only two FDA-approved treatments for patients with unresectable MPM.

A Phase III study of a gene therapy known as TR002 has launched at sites around the world including Europe, Australia, Russia and the U.S.

In a 6-3 ruling by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court has ruled that manufacturers have a duty to warn about asbestos exposure if they know their products will require asbestos before being put to use. The decision represents a victory for the victims in a case involving two Navy veterans and five manufacturers.

Three companies have been ordered to pay a mesothelioma victim and his wife $32.8 million over a defective respirator.

A North Carolina jury has awarded the family of a former Firestone factory worker nearly $33 million in one of the state’s largest mesothelioma verdicts. Franklin Finch worked at a Firestone tire facility in Wilson, North Carolina from 1975-1995.

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute and Fukishima University have developed an immunotoxin that could be the key to a cure for mesothelioma. Known as “2E4-PE38,” the immunotoxin helps reduce the number of regulatory T cells or “Tregs” in the system.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says it has begun a $1 million asbestos removal project aimed at removing friable asbestos materials from the former Rock-Tenn Paper Mill in Otsego, Michigan.

The South Carolina Court of Appeals has ordered Texas-based Celanese Corp. to pay a $14 million verdict that the company attempted to have overturned. The specialty materials company was found negligent for failing to warn the plaintiff of the dangers of asbestos.

A major asbestos abatement project is well underway at two Senate office buildings in Washington. The goal of the first phase of the project was to remove waterproofing that contained asbestos from the Russell Building and asbestos floor tiles in the Dirksen Building.

A drug approved for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma, a type of cancer of the bladder or urinary tract, and metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a type of aggressive skin cancer, could help control mesothelioma long-term in patients.

An Anderson County, South Carolina jury has awarded the widow of a former pipefitter $5.13M in damages. The plaintiff in the case, Thomas Glenn, worked on and around pumps, gaskets, valves, and other equipment at five separate Duke Energy facilities from the 1970s through the 2000s.

A Biotech Company known as Curis, Inc. has opened the first clinical trial of its kind for the treatment of mesothelioma. The study is designed specifically to examine the patient population characterized by a protein found in around 90% of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

A clinical trial for the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma has begun at two clinical sites in Maryland and Missouri. The trial is designed to evaluate biotechnology company MaxCyte’s lead chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) therapeutic candidate, MCY-M11.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has released global mesothelioma figures for the first time. The report is based on the GLOBOCAN database, which estimates the incidence of, mortality and prevalence of 36 types of cancer and for all cancers combined in 185 countries around the world.

A Delaware judge has rejected an attempt by Ford Motor Company to reverse a $9.1 million judgement against it in an asbestos lawsuit that claimed the company was responsible for the death of a mechanic and owner of an automotive repair shop.

A former brake mechanic’s family has been awarded more than $18.5 million in an asbestos case that took just three weeks to decide. The mechanic was diagnosed with mesothelioma in March 2017 and died of the disease December 31, 2017.

A research team says that is has discovered a mechanism that influences the progression of an aggressive subtype of mesothelioma. "Blockading these signals could therefore offer new approaches for treating certain aggressive forms of mesothelioma.”

Justice Stuart Berger of the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland has agreed with a trial jury that returned a multi-million dollar verdict in favor of a former steamfitter who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed at work.

The largest asbestos cleanup project in American history is scheduled to end in 2020. With an estimated price tag of $600 million, the goal of the massive project was to clean up the dilapidated and contaminated W.R. Grace and Co. asbestos mine in Libby, Montana.

Two more mesothelioma talc cases will be heading to court soon. The New York Supreme Court has denied the defendants’ motion for summary judgment requests, giving the green light for the cases to move forward.

An $8 million award has been reinstated by the Florida Supreme Court in favor of a mesothelioma victim who has spent years in court fighting for justice. The defendants in the case, large-scale manufacturer of industrial products Crane & Co. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company denied the allegations.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has announced a $10.7 million grant to fund research by the Translational Center of Excellence for Lung Cancer Immunology at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania.

One of the world’s largest tobacco companies and a global filter maker have been ordered to pay the estate of a Florida man more than $3.5 million. The "exclusive micronite filter" used in the Kent brand cigarettes from 1952 to 1956 is believed to be a contributing factor in the development of the Florida man’s mesothelioma.

Pharmaceutical and consumer goods giant Johnson & Johnson is facing more than 4,000 lawsuits, including 11,700 plaintiffs, over its iconic Johnson’s Baby Powder. The plaintiff’s in all cases claim that the powder caused their mesothelioma and other cancer and that J&J knew about it.

Canada has drafted final regulations to ban asbestos by the end of the year. The regulations will prohibit the sale, import, and use of processed asbestos fibers and products containing processed asbestos fibers. However, the regulations include exceptions.

In a record-setting case decided in January of 2017, a record-setting $75 million verdict was entered against two automotive gasket manufacturers in a secondhand asbestos exposure case. The award consisted of $50 million for the wife of the maintenance worker and home-based mechanic in the case and $25 million for the husband.

One of the first cases U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh will hear is an asbestos lawsuit brought by the widows of two Navy sailors who died of lung cancer following exposure to asbestos-laden equipment used aboard various U.S. Navy vessels and in shipyards.

An asbestos drywall contractor has lost its appeal in a mesothelioma case involving a bank manager. The plaintiff, who worked in a bank undergoing renovations, brought the suit against the drywall contractor. The company appealed the original verdict and lost.

At the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, the results of the largest clinical trial of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, trade name Keytruda, revealed it was a more effective initial, standalone treatment than chemotherapy for the majority of patients with the most common type of lung cancer.

A Maury County, Tennessee jury has awarded the widow of a career industrial maintenance mechanic $2.1 million in an asbestos case. The widow’s husband was not informed that the asbestos pipe and fittings he cut and ground down were hazardous until three years after he began working for the company.

The Jeffrey Mine, located in a small town in Quebec, provided half of the world’s supply of asbestos at one point, and helped make Canada the world’s largest asbestos exporter by the 1970s.The vast space is now a busy tourist attraction, with its own dedicated observation post.

A California appellate court has reversed part of a ruling in an asbestos case involving Pep Boys, a lifelong mechanic, and his family. With this ruling, the victim’s family has a clear path to seek compensation for medical expenses.

A Los Angeles County jury has awarded a former pipefitter and his son $8.45 million in an asbestos case against a boiler manufacturer. The verdict is believed to be the largest ever against the company.

Researchers at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (HPIMR) say gene regulators known as microRNA (miRNA) have become of interest in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). In 2009, Guled and colleagues identified a number of miRNA that were “expressed significantly different” between mesothelioma tissue and normal pericardium and the “three MPM subtypes.”

A 14-year-old girl from the UK has become one of the world’s youngest asbestos victims and one of just nine children in the world to be diagnosed with mesothelioma.

On August 22, 2018, Judge Rex Burlison of the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis affirmed the decision to award the 22 women compensatory damages of $25 million each and punitive damages of $4.14 billion. Just months ago, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay a record $4.69 billion to 22 women who said the company’s talc-based products contained asbestos and caused them to develop cancer.

ABC News has reported that asbestos-related claims against a major building materials company will reach $264 million for 2018. In addition, the company’s liability to the Asbestos Injuries Compensation Fund (AICF) is expected to jump from $196 million to an astounding $1.853 billion.

A new study published in the journal Lung Cancer says treatment at high volume facilities (HVFs) leads to better mesothelioma outcomes. The study, Facility volume and postoperative outcomes for malignant pleural mesothelioma: A National Cancer Data Base analysis, was based on an analysis of a large, contemporary national database of postoperative outcomes and overall survival (OS) for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) by facility volume.

A California jury has awarded a former construction worker $6.8 million in an asbestos case involving a gun plastic cement manufacturer and several other companies. In the 1970s, the worker performed a number of side jobs that placed him in direct contact with a range of construction materials that contained asbestos. This included gun plastic cement manufactured by the defendant.

A new study has bolstered what cancer specialists around the world already believe—mesothelioma patients who receive supportive care experience less distress than those who do not.

Colgate-Palmolive and the company’s Cashmere Bouquet baby powder products are at the center of yet another claim that they caused someone’s mesothelioma.

A recent study published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research has shown that targeted cancer drug nintedanib is active in malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) cell models. The drug also inhibited angiogenesis and tumor growth in vivo.

A recent study says a new immunotherapy drug combination could help mesothelioma patients live longer.

A construction company’s appeal has been denied in an unusual asbestos case involving a bank management trainee who was exposed to asbestos while working at his desk. The manager was assigned to a bank branch that was undergoing an expansion in the early 1970s.

A jury in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis has handed down the largest verdict to date for Johnson & Johnson. The jury says the consumer goods giant must pay $4.69 billion to 22 women who alleged the company’s talc-based products contain asbestos and caused them to develop cancer. The company currently faces some 9,000 talc cases.

Philadelphia Congressmen Brendan Boyle, Dwight Evans, and Bob Brady have called on House leaders to do something about the deteriorating asbestos in schools across the city.

The Arizona Supreme Court was faced recently with deciding whether employers can be held liable to someone who developed cancer from asbestos brought home on a family members work clothes. The case stemmed from the 2014 death of the son of a metal company worker whose 2013 negligence lawsuit claimed he was exposed to asbestos from his father’s work clothes.

A team of researchers says it has discovered a new diagnostic tool that could make diagnosing mesothelioma faster, giving patients a better chance at survival. Current diagnostic tools include blood tests, fluid and tissue sample tests, chest x-rays, computed tomography (CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET).

Nearly 14 million cancer survivors report cancer-related fatigue (CRF) for years after treatment ends. And most cancer patients report the condition, which affects their overall quality of life, and the ability to carry out normal, daily activities. Now, a new study says open-label placebo treatments (OLP’s) can relieve CRF in survivors (and patients), when compared to treatment as usual (TAU).

A joint research group, consisting of accomplished researchers from NYU Langone Medical Center and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, have succeeded in blocking the growth of mesothelioma in mouse models by inhibiting the heparanase enzyme (HPSE).

In a case presented May 14, 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to “resolve whether military widows can hold companies liable under maritime law for products that they did not make, sell, or distribute.

The family of an asbestos victim has been awarded $1.8 million in a recent case that is considered the largest lung cancer verdict in the history of Michigan asbestos litigation.

Paris-based minerals supplier Imerys SA has agreed to settle claims by 22 women involving asbestos-tainted talc that they say the company supplied to consumer products giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J). According to Bloomberg Business, the settlement, which has not yet been made public, will total at least $5 million.

The success of a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of the new treatment known as Tumor-Treating Fields (TTFields) has led to possible accelerated FDA approval for the treatment of mesothelioma. Novocure, the company that manufactures TTFields, expects to receive a Humanitarian Device Exception (HDE), which could make the treatment available to mesothelioma patients as early as 2019.

A California jury has found Johnson & Johnson and several other companies negligent in causing an Oregon woman’s cancer. The plaintiff developed pleural mesothelioma, a debilitating cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, after using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder for years in her bowling shoes and on her hands.

A recent study conducted by researchers at UNC School of Medicine says a tiny nanoparticle, smaller than a human hair, could help the body’s immune system fight cancer.

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma (PMPM) remains one of the rarest forms of Mesothelioma and often is misdiagnosed and researchers think they have found out why.

While in many countries Asbestos is illegal in the United States the ban on asbestos containing products was overturned in 1991. Today, asbestos is still used in many products around you every day. Learn how to protect yourself from products that contain this toxic mineral.

A promising new study says that a new immunotherapy-chemotherapy combination stops mesothelioma in 50 percent of patients tested. Known as ONCOS-102, the immunotherapy drug is a purposefully engineered human serotype 5 adenovirus optimized to induce systemic anti-tumor T cell responses in cancer patients. It is the lead adenovirus-based pipeline product by clinical stage immuno-oncology company Targovax.

A Cleveland couple has been awarded $27.5 million in a second-hand asbestos exposure case that is believed to be the largest ever in the state of Ohio.

Researchers have discovered that a procedure known as Pressurized IntraPeritoneal/Thoracal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC/PITAC) is effective in treating patients with end-stage malignant mesothelioma (MM). PIPAC offers a promising new treatment pathway that has the potential to extend life and improve the quality of it.

Researchers have discovered that a procedure known as Pressurized IntraPeritoneal/Thoracal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC/PITAC) is effective in treating patients with end-stage malignant mesothelioma (MM). PIPAC offers a promising new treatment pathway that has the potential to extend life and improve the quality of it.

A new study presented at the at the 8th Annual European Lung Cancer Congress (ELCC) says a multimodal treatment regimen of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery shows a promising one-year survival rate for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

After a nine-week trial, a Manhattan jury has awarded the family of an asbestos victim a record-breaking $60 million. The victim in the case was a laborer who worked on single-family homes in Brooklyn during the 1970s and ‘80s. His work required ripping out and removing asbestos-laden boilers from properties. The boilers were manufactured by three major boiler manufacturers who the plaintiff said knew about the dangers of asbestos, but did not warn the public.

Researchers at the Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, and University of Siena, Italy have discovered that a drug approved for the treatment of pinworm infection effectively impairs mesothelioma cell growth and migration.

Researchers at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (NIRS-NIQRST) have discovered that carbon-ion radiotherapy has the ability to fight mesothelioma tumors.

Research from a team at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) are finding promising results from studies conducted on mice that have been effective at extending survival in mouse models of the deadly cancer mesothelioma.

Automotive technology giant BorgWarner, Inc. says that it has been named in a significant number of lawsuits each year alleging injury related to exposure to asbestos in certain historical products. The lawsuits show no signs of slowing down, so the Michigan-based manufacturer has allocated $411 million for future asbestos claims.

Once used widely in the infrastructure of many buildings, asbestos now requires extraordinary steps to ensure the removal is completed safely and thorough. Learn how an historic building in Buffalo under went the transformation.

A new clinical study is underway, currently enrolling patients with malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma who have undergone at least one regimen of chemotherapy. The trial is evaluating the safety and tolerability of a new drug combination from Selecta Biosciences and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

After years of exposure to talc powder within baby powder a New Jersey man has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. The company behind the baby powder, Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $80 million award to the plaintiff and his wife.

A new clinical trial being performed by doctors at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK), is set to find the safety and efficacy of a new and promising mesothelioma treatment. The test will use a combination of radiation treatment with immunotherapy using the drug Bavencio to help treat patients with Malignant Mesothelioma.

With more than 6,600 pending lawsuits across the United States Johnson & Johnson has been under fire for their talc powders that could cause cancer. While Johnson & Johnson stands behind the talc powder, a 2013 study concluded that users were 20% to 30% more likely to have ovarian cancer if they used the talc powder. Learn more about talc powder and it's possibly health effects.

Mesothelioma often takes decades to notice any signs of the disease often leaving patients with limited options for treatment, but with the help of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center patients are finding new treatment possibilities.

With it's long latency period Mesothelioma is often not discovered until the advanced stages leaving many families with medical and other expenses that could run into the hundreds of thousands if not millions. According to a new report from Mealey's, this contributes to the average settlement for a Mesothelioma case into the millions.

Researchers at Langone Medical Center at New York University and the College of Medicine at University of Vermont have completed a study on the role of extracellular signaling regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) in mesothelioma pathogenesis. The research collaborative is now the first team to establish that ERK5 plays a significant role in mesothelioma development and projected it as a potential treatment.

A claims management company (CMC) will be headed to court in New York after failing to pay some on a verdict from November 2012 for more than $7 million. The CMC is being accused of stalling payments to maximize the float time before making claim payments to insurance policies.

The EPA has recently announced that it plans to reevaluate a decision it made last year on "legacy" usage of asbestos in the United States from it's risk assessment. With the largest risk to Americans coming from "legacy" uses of asbestos this decision offers new hope in an effort to make asbestos banned in the US.

With one of the longest economic partnerships US and Canada share many things, but why is Canada on track to ban asbestos when the US still hasn't?

Recently a wrongful death lawsuit was reopened in New Jersey from asbestos exposure due to a lawn care fertilizer used on a man's lawn from 1967 to 1980, after new evidence was discovered.

With no cure for aggressive malignant mesothelioma cancer the outlook on patients survival rate is dependent on early detection. A new study using exosomes has the potential to change how doctors can find out if you have the disease.

A boom of of renovations projects in the Massachusetts area has lead to more than 25,000 asbestos removal projects, which could lead to a new danger for untrained workers. Find out how to protect your and your family.

Recently Merck, the company behind Keytruda, has announced that with the combination of Chemo, Keytruda has been found to help extend the overall survival of patients suffering from metastatic non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Though NSCLC and mesothelioma are two different types of cancer, they have a number of similarities, read more to find out about Keytruda.

The counterfeit cigarette business is booming, which could mean a new risk to smokers even if they are purchased legally. With more than 400 billion counterfeit cigarettes being made in China per year, and seizures happening in the UK, and the US smokers need to be aware of the dangers posed by counterfeit cigarettes. These counterfeits have been found to contain chemicals, mold and even asbestos.

Recently a Seattle hotel owner was fined more than $300,000 for exposing unknowing hired workers to asbestos in the hotel during construction efforts. The owner of the hotel hired untrained workers in the removal of the asbestos containing materials to save money.

Recently a railroad company was denied in the appeal process following the ruling that a former railroad worker was exposed to asbestos in his time with the company and was awarded compensation.

One of the world’s largest automakers will be heading to trial in a lawsuit that claims it caused the Plaintiff’s asbestos-related injuries from working on automotive brakes. Though asbestos is regulated in the U.S., it is still legal to manufacture, import, process and distribute in commerce dozens of products. Many of these products are directly related to the automotive industry. Examples asbestos-containing auto parts include clutch facings, disk brake pads, drum brake linings, brake blocks, automatic transmission components, gaskets, and friction materials.

With the help of OSHA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a global metal manufacturer has been ordered to pay more than $340,000 to 11 workers after the company was found to have negligent in exposing its employees to asbestos.

Although skin cancer from indoor tanning can lead to more than 76,000 cases of skin cancer per year, new studies are showing that vitamin D could help prevent the risk of cancers such as colorectal, bladder, kidney, breast, and lung cancer, which shares a number of common characteristics with malignant mesothelioma.

An Illinois woman is seeking compensation from several companies after it was discovered that she was diagnosed with Mesothelioma from second hand exposure.

Recently a New York appeals court has reversed a decision made by the Saratoga County Supreme Court, after the defendants case was dismissed due to lack of evidence. The victim appealed the decision and the court agreed, and can now move forward with their case against the defendants.

The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has recently announced that is no safe levels of asbestos exposure and therefore would ban all controlled use of asbestos. Brazil is currently the largest exporter of asbestos into the United States.

While there is no known cure for Mesothelioma a recent advancement in treatment called "bidirectional chemotherapy", is showing promising results for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) patients.

A major paint company and a chemical company recently was order to pay the family of a former paint mixer and tinter $22 million after he was exposed to materials that contained asbestos for decades.

A recent study for Lung Cancer patients is finding benefits to mindfulness, a more than 2,500 year old practice which could also unlock relief for Mesothelioma patients.

With early detection of Mesothelioma critical to the outlook on prognosis, a new study is finding a breath test that could screen for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

With more than 500 pending cases in Montana due to asbestos exposure the court system has created a special claims court that could help speed up the pretrial process and possibly enable individuals to receive a settlement quicker.

Cleanup at a former Pillsbury Mills plant in Springfield, Illinois has failed to rid the 18 acre closed plant of asbestos after an $1.8 million effort.

One of the largest retailers of makeup for young girls has pulled dozen's of beauty products after it was discovered that at least one product contained asbestos.

Learn more about the approved and not approved new treatments for patients that suffer from Mesothelioma.

While the best chance to remove cancer is early and through an operation, patients in stage II are III could be considered too risky due to complications and the extensive nature of the cancer spreading. Learn more about the various options to treat mesothelioma.

New studies are showing the possible benefits from drinking red wine, including claims that red wine could help fight one of the world's deadliest cancers, Mesothelioma.

Consumer product giant, Colgate-Palmolive has been hit with more than 170 cases regarding one of their products called, Cashmere Bouguet. Cashmere Bouquet is a talcum body powder that came from mines contaminated with asbestos.

Recent studies are showing age is not the single best factor when weighing risk for older malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) patients. Find out what are better predictors of mesothelioma surgery outcomes than age.

The widow or a former school bus driver was recently awarded more than $3 million after her husband was exposed to asbestos from the asbestos-containing dust from brakes and gaskets manufactured by Navistar, Inc.

New research conducted by researchers at the Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute (ONJRI) have found a new drug that only targets the bad cells instead of traditional treatments that kill both good and bad.

A recent decision made by the Bankruptcy Court of Pittsburgh has cleared the path for more than 2,000 claimants to finally reach a settlement of more than $178 million.

A new study is seeking recruitment from Mesothelioma patients that involves a patients own T cells and genetically modifying them. Please read the story to learn more about becoming a participant.

A lifelong user of Talcum Powder was recently awarded with more than $13 Million after her settlement with Colgate-Palmolive, after she had developed Mesothelioma.

Researchers at the University of Florida have possibly uncovered a new way to help treat malignant pleural mesothelioma cells (MPM). Learn how a ovarian cancer treatment is now being considered for MPM treatment.

A new investigational drug called Apitolisib is giving hope to Mesothelioma and other cancer patients after relapse from chemotherapy treatments. The small molecule drug is being used in clinical trials to study the response.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first gene therapy to treat leukemia, and is considered a "historic" step in treating cancer. Learn how this leap in medical technology could help patients suffering from Mesothelioma.

Learn about how even bystanders are being exposed to Mesothelioma, after a former power plant worker was awarded $7.55 million in a recent unique case.

Results from findings of a study were announced at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Multidisciplinary Symposium in Thoracic Oncology recently, announcing nintedanib has been found “safe and effective” for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Learn more about how mesothelioma treatment is evolving and new available treatment options.

Researchers at the Barts Cancer Institute are claiming that a new drug called ADI-PEG20 is proving to starve mesothelioma cells resulting in cell death and is showing promising results in trials for mesothelioma patients.

Recently a jury awarded the widow of a mesothelioma victim with $6.8 million for exposure to asbestos during his time as an insulator in the 1960's and 1970's.

Asbestos is too small to be seen, but if you believe that you were exposed to asbestos in the past find out how you or your loved one can get tested.

Talcum powder is being linked to certain kinds of cancer and has a connection to asbestos, learn more!

A new study our of VU University Medical Center is hoping that proton-coupled folate transporters are the key to help increase the overall survival rate of Mesothelioma patients.

While the only known cause of Mesothelioma, asbestos is highly regulated at a federal level, more than 45,000 people have died from Mesothelioma between 199 and 2015. Researchers have recently found certain areas in the United States that are at higher risk than others.

New increases in Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) fines hope to curb American workers asbestos exposure risk.

More than 231 workers at the Sonoma State Univeristy have been awarded $725,000 for damages to them while they worked at the university from 2013 to 2015. During their time at the university they worked in a campus building where the floor was crumbling and the ceiling tiles were breaking up, releasing carcinogenic asbestos fibers.

A closed Vermont asbestos mined has been recently ordered to pay more than $3.3 million to the EPA after closing down their mine in 1993 and leaving piles of asbestos.

Learn how asbestos continues to effect loved ones even though Mesothelioma and similar diseases, while asbestos still remains legal in the United States.

While Canada is becoming closer after closing their last asbestos mine in 2011 to banning asbestos completely in 2018, the U.S. is nowhere near a ban on asbestos since the ruling of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) nearly 30 years ago. See how two neighboring countries share the economic burden of asbestos.

How can the asbestos industry be "booming" while knowing that asbestos is a known carcinogen and can lead to diseases such as Mesothelioma? See what products and countries are leading this "boom" in 2017.

Under The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974, the EPA set standards for levels of contaminants in drinking water. While the act helped create standards, the level of acceptable asbestos in drinking water is currently 7 million fibers per liter. Is this safe?

An Oregon man was awarded with more than $5.4 million after it had been discovered that he was exposed to asbestos while working in the military from 1960 to 1964 for the U.S. Navy and also working as a pipefitter.

Former power plant worker developed mesothelioma after inhaling asbestos fibers while working with asbestos containing gaskets since 1979. In a trail that only last two weeks the worker was granted $300,000 from the power plant and the electric company.

Alarming numbers are being reveled about the potential number of students that are being possibly exposed to asbestos in their school and find out what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is doing about the cleanup.

Just days before trial was set to begin for a Midwestern engineering company, a settlement was reached for $80 million for the removal of asbestos during a renovation project in a county courthouse from 1983-1985.

Recent medical studies are investigating how high doses of Vitamin C could have a better effect on cancer cells than radiation alone.

A $13 million settlement has been awarded to the family of an asbestos victim who lived in company housing that was exposed to asbestos.

An investigation into a girls popular cosmetic called, Just Shine Shimmer Powder revealed non listed ingredients including toxic heavy metals and asbestos.

A major construction company has been fined $1.5 million for failure to comply with the asbestos National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants during the illegal removal of asbestos containing materials from an 18-story high-rise building.

Learn more about how new cases of patients with peritoneal mesothelioma can live more than four years when applying a second line of therapy.

The FDA has fast tracked approval for a drug for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) called brigatinib. Early results from clinical trials have shown tumor shrinkage in 50% of the participants. Lung cancer and mesothelioma patients often receive similar treatment protocols, so when a lung cancer drug receives FDA approval, mesothelioma researchers stand up and take notice.

The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 was set to expire on August 7, 2017 however under the new amendment enacted on April 19, 2017, the entire remaining $950 million left in the fund can be spent to help veterans gain access to medical care.

Conventional radiation therapy used to treat mesothelioma can be hard as the tumors don't usually grow as a single distinction tumor. Avoiding other nearby normal tissues becomes more difficult using traditional radiation therapy. New research for a new therapy called intensity-modulated radiotherapy IRMT) may be much safer than the external beam.

Results from a recent study called MAPS-2 has shown that the patients suffering from maligant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) that starting using a combination of Yervoy (ipilimumab) and Opdivo (nivolumab) have seen progression of their cancer shrink or not grown.

In recent new blood studies scientists have discovered blood based markers for malignant mesothelioma called calretinin that are able to detect all major subtypes except sarcomatoid mesothelioma.

Major auto parts manufacturer was ordered to pay $81.5 Million to the family of a mesothelioma victim after years of exposure to asbestos-laden parts.

A former automotive dealership mechanic diagnosed with Mesothelioma was awarded $1 million for his exposure to asbestos in brake pads while working for the dealership.

A July 2015 case ruling in Missouri was upheld in a May 2nd ruling, allowing for more than $10 Million punitive damages to be awarded to the family of U.S. Navy man.

A drug used to treat Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia could soon help Mesothelioma patients as research has shown that the drug, Gleevac has been effective a blocking tumor growth in lung cancer cases.

Advances in early reporting of symptoms using online resources in between appointments leads to earlier detection and improvement in survival rates.

With the rise of new targeted therapies for Mesothelioma treatment could we be starting to see the end of the use of chemotherapy?

A new study suggests that platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) gene could be a potential path to mesothelioma therapies.

Researchers at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Maryland (UM) School of Medicine have found a link between platelet count and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) survival. Because the findings in this study suggest refining the criteria for CRS-HIPEC patient selection, they conclusions are significant. Improved selection could lead to better outcomes for MPM patients who undergo this pioneering and potentially lifesaving treatment.

Researchers found that a drug derived from a Chinese herb, known as FTY720, significantly suppressed MM cell viability and anchorage–independent growth without affecting normal HM cells.

The metal compound Organo-Osmium FY26n, 50 times more active than the current platinum-based cancer drug cisplatin, is being explored as a new approach to drug discovery and treatment using platinum-based chemotherapy.

A new targeted therapy, Avastin could be used in the first line of treatment for unresectable MPM in appropriately selected patients.

A new Tri-Modality approach to Mesothelioma treatment can help increase the chance of survival, lead by the medial research team at New York's Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

A former aerospace engineer was just awarded $8.8 Million Dollars by a jury for the high levels of exposure he he received during the mid-1950's testing components used to build helicopters for the Vietnam War.

Two clinical trials of LMB-100, a next generation immunotoxin, in patients with mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer are currently underway at the CCR.

An asbestos liability jury verdict has been upheld by a New York appellate court, which said there is ample evidence to support the jury’s finding that a steel and piping company played a role in causing a former manufacturing worker’s mesothelioma and lung cancer.

A major brakes manufacturer has been found guilty of negligent and responsible for more than $5.8 million in damages for exposing workers to hazardous asbestos materials in California.

Learn the history of asbestos and how it became widely used in North America throughout the early 20th Century and how this may effect you or a loved one.

A Mesothelioma diagnosis can be devastating but, learning these 5 key items you can help patients, family and friends manage their disease and provide them with the best quality of life.

Learn more about early detection of Mesothelioma and new tests to help identify the disease if you have ever been exposed to asbestos.

While the use of asbestos has been drastically cut down on and heavily regulated the amount of deaths from Mesothelioma are still on the rise.

While there is no cure for Mesothelioma, palliative care can help manage treatment and the effects that come along with cancer treatment including pain. Using acupuncture therapy, studies have shown acupuncture can help relieve some of the side effects.

Galinpepimut-S will be entering into phase III trials in the second half of 2017 for mesothelioma patients, and has shown encouraging results. Learn more about Sellas Life Sciences Group developed Galinpepimut-S.

Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, is currently seeking participants for a Phase 2 study for mesothelioma patients. Learn about this new study and how patients diagnosed with mesothelioma can locate other studies to participate in.

One of the largest verdicts in California history was just handed down for an asbestos case against a major manufacturer of building materials.

If you worked in the dental industry from the 1930s to the 1970s, you may have been exposed to asbestos. Dental lining tape used during this time period contained a small amount of asbestos that could be dentists at risk for mesothelioma.

New drug called Avelumab or Bavencio, is currently under clinical investigation for more than a dozen different types of cancer, including Mesothelioma. Results from initial trials showed 10 percent of patients, Avelumab reduced tumor size and 47.2 percent showed stable disease.

Most people believe that exposure to asbestos only occurs when people come in direct contact with it at work. This is not always the case. Exposure can occur in the community, in the home, schools, and other structures, and yes, through second hand exposure.

EPA now stepping in to help assist in the asbestos cleanup process of a closed Pillsbury Mills plant in Springfield, Illinois.

Could robotic surgery be the future of mesothelioma treatment? Florida doctor, Dr. Farid Gharagozloo has performed the first successful robotic extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), increasing the chances that the cancer is removed completely, blood loss is decreased and the risks of infection and death are lowered.

Learn how identity thieves can target mesothelioma victims through the proposed Furthering Asbestos Claims Transparency (FACT) Act of 2017.

Between the 1940's and the 1970's asbestos was used extensively in schools in building materials, and while high amounts have been removed it will never be eliminated from all of America's schools.

Studies have show that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure poses a greater threat than smoking alone or asbestos exposure alone. Learn the symptoms of ling cancer and how they are similar to pleural mesothelioma.

The importance of evaluating your risk for exposure to asbestos and getting tested for Mesothelioma. The earlier Mesothelioma is caught the more treatment options and the better the outcome. Learn how you can evaluate risk, learn about symptoms and more.

If you think you have found asbestos in your home follow these three tips from experts to safe.

Find out how automotive mechanics can be potentially exposed to the deadly substance, asbestos without evening knowing it.

Former steamfitter diagnosed with Mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos wins $14.5 Million in a three week trial.

Learn how a CONUT score can be used to predict prognosis in other types of malignancy and to help determine which patients will benefit from the most common cancer treatments.

Learn more about an emerging study known as NGR-hTNF which recently entered into phase III trial, that has nearly 400 participants at 49 hospitals around the world.

Sharing symptoms and treatment options, Asbestosis and Mesothelioma are often confused for the same disease. Find out the differences and similarities between Asbestosis and Mesothelioma.

Cancer research has uncovered a molecule that lowers levels of mesothelin, with the hope of further study and development, the treatment could slow the progression of pleural mesothelioma.

Of the more than 250 countries worldwide only 59 of them have a ban on all types of asbestos, find out if your country allows one of the most important occupational carcinogens.

Using a new innovative technique to monitor cancer called a "liquid biopsy" doctors believe that the test will detect the reappearance of cancer far earlier and more accurate.

A drug used for decades could now be used to treat pleural Mesothelioma according to recent research from John Hopkins University.

Patients that suffer from rare forms of cancer such as Mesothelioma often are burdened with large medical bills. A new study is helping cut the costs of diagnosis and lower the risks.

A new study indicates a growing belief in the active ingredient in Turmeric can destroy Mesothelioma Cells.

Learn how Medicaid, the nation's largest insurer can help cover the costs of Mesothelioma.

A number of targeted therapies have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to leave healthy cells alone compared to chemotherapy, which is a “systemic” treatment that works throughout the body to destroy rapidly growing cancer cells but can also affect healthy cells.

Asbestos exposure in the workplace risks the development of mesothelioma for the worker and their family from send hand exposure.

Named “targeted therapies,” new drugs block the growth and spread of cancer by interfering with specific molecules or “molecular targets” that are involved with the progression, growth, and spread of cancer.

The study, “Cytotoxicity of Plumbagin, Rapanone and 12 other naturally occurring Quinones from Kenyan Flora towards human carcinoma cells,” concluded that the quinones demonstrated cytotoxicity against human carcinoma cell lines.

Keytruda has been referenced as "promising" by researchers.

The 21st Century Cures Act makes headway in attaining more funding and faster access to innovative treatments that can treat rare diseases such as mesothelioma.

Learn about Dr. Sugarbaker's innovation in pertoneal mesothelioma treatments and his latest invention, the Perfusion "Pump".

For the third year in a row, Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LCC has dedicated itself to raising money for cancer research through Pedal the Cause St. Louis. The mesothelioma law firm has sponsored a company team and pledged to donate $250 for each employee who rides or volunteers for the event.

Dedicated to helping others outside of the mesothelioma community, MRHFM donates $5,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project through employee's Tough Mudder team.

The law firm of MRHFM supports the 11th Annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma as it relates to funding mesothelioma cancer research.

Though regulated in the United States, asbestos is not completely banned. MRHFM along with the NIEHS call for stricter asbestos regulations in the US to protect its citizens and workers.

MRHFM comments on new study showing associations between all levels of asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, lung cancer and laryngeal cancer.

The law firm of MRHFM invited its clients and their families to the first client appreciation day dedicated to sharing mesothelioma stories and remembering those who fought the battle against asbestos related diseases.

Almost a decade of research by Dr. Harvey Pass has paid off as a biomarker company is in the process of developing a blood test that may detect early stage mesothelioma.

A promising study was recently published reporting that targeted chemotherapy delivers cancer-fighting drugs directly into mesothelioma cells, while leaving healthy cells intact

New research uses nanotechnology that shows promise in potentially playing a more significant role in the detection of aggressive cancers such as mesothelioma.

Pilot program out of Victoria, Australia shows promise by recommending higher doses of radiotherapy for the treatment of mesothelioma cancer.

While it is recommended to seek legal counsel if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, MRHFM warns about predatory organizations that are not qualified and should not be trusted to handle such personal and sensitive information.

MRHFM encourages laparoscopic surgery for mesothelioma cancer treatment as a recent study suggests that fewer surgical complications are related to laparoscopic surgery for treating patients with peritoneal cancers.

MRHFM commends recent TV ad that positions alcohol consumption alongside asbestos exposure as increasing the risk of certain cancers as alcohol, tobacco and asbestos are all classified as Group 1 Carcinogens by the World Health Organization.

The FDA has come out in support of personalized medicine as a tremendous benefit for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. The law firm of MRHFM also supports this initiative as it relates to the progression of mesothelioma cancer research.

The law firm of MRHFM applauds justice in the amount of a $27.5 million settlement that settled in a Cleveland mesothelioma case for 40 year old John Panza and his council Gary Paul and Demetrios Zacharopoulos of the law firm Waters & Kraus, LLP.

Mesothelioma attorney Dawn Besserman of MRHFM Law Firm received an “AV Preeminent” rating through Martindale-Hubbell. Besserman was also selected by Super Lawyers Magazine as 2013 Rising Stars along with MRHFM attorney Steve Rineberg.

In an effort to spread awareness about mesothelioma cancer and asbestos exposure, the law firm of MRHFM publishes informational content and matches employee donations.

MRHFM lends support to the Wisconsin Asbestos Victims Network’s efforts to strike down Senate Bill 13, a bill that would create new hardships for asbestos cancer victims.

MRHFM, the largest law firm in the country exclusively devoted to mesothelioma victims and their families, recently published a blog about the firm’s fight to help victims of mesothelioma.

Bill McQueen was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2011. The Wall Street Journal spent a year with the Texas surgeon and his family as they battled this fatal disease.

Rushville's Wonder Woman, Janelle Bedel's fight with mesothelioma comes to an end after a 7 year battle.

Article out of Australia identifies trend of a ‘third wave’ of victims who were exposed to asbestos.

Students conducts research in Ambler, PN to better understand the health hazards of the town that has a long history of asbestos production beginning in 1881.

MRHFM employee Maggie Murry shares her story about her family’s battle against a life threatening disorder. The family has joined up with Delete Blood Cancer organization with the hope of finding bone marrow matches for her sons.

A man operating a salvage yard in Grand Rapids faces a year in prison and $168,000 fee for violating the Clean Air Act and failing to protect his workers and the environment from asbestos in his work place.

Mesothelioma attorney Steven D. Rineberg of MRHFM Law Firm recently received the highest peer review rating available, the ”AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated” rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

MRHFM pledges to donate $250 for each employee that participates or volunteers for Pedal the Cause. The MRHFM team will also sponsor a 5 year old girl battling cancer in the Ride for a Child Program.

Because of the high risk jobs and job sites where asbestos has been identified, MRHFM raises awareness for mesothelioma cancer during Men’s Health Week June 10–16

MRHFM employees support Komen Race for the Cure in St. Louis on Sat. June 15.

Maggi Dettwiler shares Joshua Nelson's Story about his fight with kidney disease.

Clean up crews and volunteers in Oklahoma need to be weary of the possible health risks that may lie in the debris.

MRHFM gives $1 for every pound lost in office Biggest Looser Competition to O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry in St. Charles.

MRHFM supports World No Tobacco Day May 31 as studies have shown that people who smoke and have asbestos exposure are more likely to develop mesothelioma.

In response to the EF5 tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma, MRHFM law firm pledges to match up to $10,000 of employee contributions.

FACT Act Update: House Committee Passes Bill to Congress

The "Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act” or FACT Act is a federal bill that could hurt the rights of asbestos victims if passed. Stop the FACT Act from passing in congress.

All schools should undergo regular inspections for asbestos. Some in Australia have failed to keep up with their inspections. Learn about Asbestos inspections in schools in the US.

May is Cancer Research Month, sponsored by the American Association of Cancer. Mesothelioma cancer research is vital to finding a cure.

The Baltimore Orioles displayed information about Mesothelioma Awareness Day on the stadium screen to raise awareness & funds during a home game on the 26th.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation announces Mesothelioma Awareness Day to be held on Wednesday, September 26.

Lowcountry firefighters raised money and awareness for mesothelioma cancer on Saturday to help make their health a priority in their profession.

Kayaking4aCure will launch kayaks on the Hudson River in Mechanicville, NY on September 22 to raise funds to help find a cure for mesothelioma.