If you think natural treatments might help you, learn about some options below and talk with your doctor to see what they recommend.

What Are Natural Treatments for Mesothelioma?

Natural treatments, also known as alternative treatments, can help mesothelioma patients manage symptoms, reduce stress, and promote healing.

Examples of natural treatments for cancer include:

1. Acupuncture
2. Aromatherapy
3. Dietary supplements
4. Meditation

These approaches are not intended to replace standard mesothelioma treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy. Instead, alternative treatments are meant to accompany standard treatments.

This is because natural treatments are unlikely to cure mesothelioma or other kinds of cancer, but they can help ease some of the pain and even reduce the side effects of traditional treatments.

Learn more about some natural mesothelioma treatments below or get detailed information about treatment in our Free Mesothelioma Guide.

1. Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the application of fine needles to chosen points across the body. As a common facet of Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture is believed to restore the flow of life force energy, called “chi.”

Once the needles are in place, they can be moved by hand, stimulated with an electrical current, or warmed using infrared heat sources.

Small clinical trials have shown that acupuncture can help with multiple symptoms of cancer, although more research is required to confirm these results.

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), acupuncture can relieve:

• Nausea and vomiting related to cancer treatments
• Pain caused by cancerous tumors

Acupuncture is generally considered a safe natural treatment for mesothelioma patients. However, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) states that some patients should avoid acupuncture if they have a risk of infection or are on blood thinners.

Talk with your health care team to see if acupuncture might be a good option for you.

2. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy promotes healing and calmness through the use of essential oils. These oils are made from plants, including ginger, cedarwood, and lavender, to create different fragrances.

Ways to use aromatherapy include:

• Applying or massaging diluted essential oils into the skin. A carrier oil should be used to dilute the essential oils and prevent them from causing irritation.
• Inhaling aromas by using a diffuser that spreads the oils as a fine mist. Diffusing should only be done for limited amounts of time and in well-ventilated areas to avoid toxic reactions.

The benefits of aromatherapy vary between patients, according to the NCI.

Mesothelioma symptoms eased by aromatherapy may include:

• Anxiety and depression
• Insomnia
• Nausea and vomiting

Generally, there are no drawbacks to aromatherapy when used safely, but patients should speak with their mesothelioma specialist before trying it.

Get help understanding other mesothelioma treatments and what side effects to expect in our Free Mesothelioma Guide.

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• Symptoms & staging
• Average prognosis
• Life-extending treatments

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3. Dietary or Nutritional Supplements

Dietary supplements are broadly defined as any edible product that may help you get optimal nutrition.

Dietary supplements include:

• Herbs
• Minerals
• Plant- or animal-based products
• Vitamins

Dietary supplements can sometimes be used to replace or increase nutrients. For example, a mesothelioma patient with frequent vomiting might use a multivitamin to get the nutrients they’re missing from food.

Supplements can also help the body naturally repair itself and reduce treatment-related side effects.

However, not all nutritional supplements are safe. Some manufacturers use filler substances and even harmful drugs to make their dietary supplements. Supplements can also interfere with chemotherapy and radiation treatments and interact with other medications.

Always talk with your doctor before taking any supplements.

4. Meditation

Meditation allows patients to calm their minds, which in turn can relax their bodies. It can help ease cancer symptoms, according to Cancer Research UK.

Meditation can help with symptoms like:

• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia
• Pain

Meditation is one of the most accessible forms of natural treatment since it doesn’t require any special equipment and can be done anywhere.

Some mobile apps provide affordable guided meditations, but you can also work with a psychologist or certified meditation instructor. Some cancer treatment centers have psychologists on staff who can teach you meditation and mindfulness practices.

Other Mesothelioma Natural Treatments

The natural treatments listed above are some of the most popular among cancer patients, but there are many more available.

Other natural mesothelioma treatment options include:

• Art therapy
• Biofeedback (a technique to control your breathing and heart rate)
• Massage
• Music therapy
• Reflexology (applying pressure to certain points on the feet, ears, and hands)
• Yoga

The American Cancer Society recommends speaking with your health care team before starting any alternative cancer treatments.

Finally, you should never substitute natural mesothelioma therapies for standard medical treatments. Standard mesothelioma treatment is the best way for you to increase your life expectancy since it can directly kill or remove cancerous tumors.

Get Help Paying for Natural Treatments

Even if your doctor recommends alternative treatments, health insurance may not cover those costs. Thankfully, there are other ways you can access financial assistance for natural mesothelioma treatment.

Some compensation options include:

• Asbestos trust fund claims
• Mesothelioma lawsuits
• VA benefits for U.S. veterans

At Mesothelioma Hope, our Patient Advocates can help you connect with treatment and financial resources so you or a loved one can get the care you deserve.

Call us at (866) 608-8933 now or get our Free Mesothelioma Guide to learn more.

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As researchers continue to look for a cure for mesothelioma, new and more effective treatments are being discovered every year that have positive impacts on prognosis, survival rates, and life expectancy.

Learn more about how you can improve your prognosis and join other survivors of this cancer.

Understanding Mesothelioma Prognosis

The prognosis for mesothelioma describes the expected health outcome for patients. Survival rate and life expectancy are two estimates that doctors use to explain a patient’s prognosis.

The overall 5-year survival rate for mesothelioma is 12%, meaning 12% of patients are still alive 5 years after their diagnosis.

The average life expectancy with mesothelioma is 12-21 months.

It’s important to note that survival rates are merely estimates based on past cases. Each person is unique, and your experience may be very different from those of previous patients.

What Factors Influence the Severity of Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma prognosis can vary greatly depending on multiple factors, including:

1. Type of mesothelioma: Some types of mesothelioma, like peritoneal mesothelioma, respond to treatment better than others, giving patients a more positive prognosis.
2. Stage of the cancer: Mesothelioma is usually not diagnosed until it’s in a more advanced stage when the cancer is harder to treat with surgery.

It can take 10-50 years before mesothelioma symptoms become noticeable. This means it’s less common to catch the cancer in the early stages when treatment is more effective.

Treatment Options to Improve Chances of Survival

The best way to improve your chances of survival is to get treatment from a mesothelioma doctor. These specialists have years of experience treating mesothelioma and are committed to helping patients become long-term survivors.

Read more about common treatments for mesothelioma below.

• Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body.
• Immunotherapy boosts the immune system to better target and attack cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy targets and destroys cancer cells with high-energy rays.
• Surgery aims to remove all visible tumors and affected tissues.

Some of the best results are seen when specialists combine multiple types of treatment in what’s known as multimodal therapy.

In addition, new treatment approaches are being studied in mesothelioma clinical trials every year, bringing new and innovative therapies to patients while searching for a cure.

Has Anyone Ever Recovered From Mesothelioma?

There is not a cure for mesothelioma yet, but even with a poor prognosis, some survivors have beaten the odds and are still thriving a decade or more after their diagnosis.

Here are a few of their stories:

• John Stahl was diagnosed with stage 4 pleural mesothelioma in 2019. He is now a 4+ year survivor and has returned to an active lifestyle.
• Julie Gundlach was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma at the age of 35 after secondhand asbestos exposure. She has survived for over 17 years, and her cancer is no longer progressing.
• Alexis Kidd has survived peritoneal mesothelioma for over 16 years. She continues to enjoy life with her husband and rescue cats.

Learn More About Surviving Mesothelioma

As medical research continues to progress, new developments in mesothelioma are providing hope to patients and their families.

Researchers are working tirelessly to understand the disease better, identify new treatment options, and improve overall outcomes for mesothelioma patients.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can read more stories of hope and long-term survival in our Free Mesothelioma Survivors Guide.

The post Is Mesothelioma Always Fatal? appeared first on MesotheliomaHope.com.

Now, it appears the protein known as HMGB1 is a main factor in the development of mesothelioma cancer after asbestos exposure, based on a recent study led by University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center researchers Dr. Haining Yang and Dr. Michele Carbone.

These findings on the role of HMGB1 in the response to asbestos could have a big impact on future research into mesothelioma prevention and treatments in the early stages of this cancer.

How Does HMGB1 Affect Mesothelioma Development?

For years, researchers have known that HMGB1, a type of protein that influences inflammatory immune responses, serves as potential early indicators of mesothelioma.

However, this study reveals that HMGB1 is released from mesothelial cells (the cells that make up the mesothelium, or the thin lining of sensitive organs) and has a link to mesothelioma onset (tumor growth).

Essentially, HMGB1 is released from mesothelial cells after asbestos exposure. Once released, HMGB1 tells other cells to release another protein called TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor – Alpha). Together, these proteins trigger long-lasting inflammation in the body.

This inflammation, over time, makes it easy for mesothelioma to develop and grow.

What Does New HMGB1 Research Mean for Mesothelioma Patients?

Studying the role of HMGB1 proteins, which cells release the protein, and how they affect mesothelioma growth could prompt widespread changes to the field of mesothelioma treatment and prevention.

This study could move research forward and give hope to patients by unveiling a new focus for mesothelioma targeted therapy, which uses drugs to treat specific genes and proteins that influence cancer cell growth.

By understanding how HMGB1 proteins influence tumor growth, researchers can now pursue targeted therapies to prevent HMGB1 release after asbestos exposure. This could potentially stop the growth of mesothelioma tumors completely or slow the spread of the cancer.

In turn, new targeted therapies could help interfere with mesothelioma growth in earlier stages or prevent mesothelioma development in people who’ve already been exposed to asbestos from developing this cancer.

Ultimately, this research is the start of even more understanding of the cellular behavior of mesothelioma, helping doctors choose the best treatment options.

What Happens Next in HMGB1 and Mesothelioma Research?

Now that researchers have traced the origins of HMGB1 to mesothelial cells after asbestos exposure, they will continue to research ways to hinder the release of this protein.

For people with a history of asbestos exposure, this could mean identifying the risks of mesothelioma earlier, recognizing the need for preventative measures or early screening, and developing better treatment options.

However, more clinical trials are needed to make final conclusions about the potential of this new research.

Find Top Mesothelioma Treatment Near You

If you or a loved one are facing a mesothelioma diagnosis, know that help is available and researchers are working every day to find better ways to prevent and treat this rare cancer.

Some targeted therapy clinical trials are already exploring similar methods to treat mesothelioma. If you or a loved one are facing a mesothelioma diagnosis, our team may be able to help you find active clinical trials in your area.

At Mesothelioma Hope, we provide support, resources, and access to the best treatments. Contact us at (866) 608-8933 now to connect with a Patient Advocate or get our Free Mesothelioma Guide shipped overnight to learn more.

The post Researchers Reveal HMGB1 Protein’s Role in Mesothelioma Development appeared first on MesotheliomaHope.com.

Stanford Health Care suggests that cancer patients eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.

Fortunately, many fruits and vegetables hit their nutritional peak in the fall. Read more about mesothelioma nutrition and the in-season foods that can help you or a loved one heal.

Why a Healthy Mesothelioma Diet Is Essential During Treatment

A healthy diet for mesothelioma patients is crucial during treatment because it can help improve your overall well-being and quality of life. It can also strengthen your body to help you recover from treatment and continue fighting the cancer.

Proper mesothelioma nutrition can help you:

• Improve your energy level
• Keep your strength up
• Lower your risk of infection
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Recover more quickly
• Tolerate treatment side effects

Unfortunately, side effects from mesothelioma treatment may cause patients to lose their appetite and make it difficult to chew. Mesothelioma survivor Arthur Putt was told he might never eat solid foods again due to side effects from chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

However, thanks to a careful liquid nutritional plan that blended fruits, vegetables, proteins, and fats together, Art was able to recover and return to eating a solid diet.

“At one time, doctors told me I’d never eat solid food again, but we showed them wrong.”

Getting Vital Nutrients

For most patients, eating a variety of foods is the best way to ensure the body is getting the nutrients it needs to fight mesothelioma.

Patients should ensure they’re getting enough:

• Carbohydrates: The biggest source of energy needed for organ functioning and physical activity
• Fats: Important for boosting energy, insulating tissues, and transporting vitamins through the blood
• Proteins: Strengthen the immune system and repair body tissue. Extra protein is often needed after chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery
• Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants: Needed to help the body use energy and function properly
• Water: Vital to health because all cells need water to function

Every patient undergoing mesothelioma treatment has different nutritional needs. For this reason, it’s very important to talk with your mesothelioma doctor about your diet.

8 of the Best Cancer-Fighting Foods in Season for Fall

Fall fruits and vegetables include many cancer-fighting foods that can be beneficial during treatment. According to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, many fruits and vegetables hit their nutritional peak during the fall.

1. Broccoli

Broccoli is high in vitamins C and K, folic acid, and fiber. It is also among the highest in calcium, magnesium, and iron.

Additionally, broccoli contains phytonutrients. People with diets high in phytonutrients tend to have lower rates of lung cancer, prostate cancer, and stomach cancer.

“Broccoli is the only [vegetable] with a sizable amount of sulforaphane, a particularly potent compound that boosts the body’s protective enzymes and flushes out cancer-causing chemicals.”

There are many ways to enjoy broccoli. It can be prepared as a main course, side dish, or even eaten raw as a healthy snack.

Check out this recipe recommended by the American Cancer Society for Broccoli, Garlic, and Lemon Penne.

2. Carrots

Carrots are another popular fall vegetable that have cancer-fighting properties. They are high in vitamins K and A.

Carrots are one of the more versatile fall vegetables and can be:

• Blended as soup
• Boiled, roasted, or grilled
• Juiced and consumed as a liquid

Many people like to eat carrots raw as a snack. In fact, research suggests that eating just one carrot per day adds a significant amount of fiber and vitamin K to a person’s diet.

3. Kale

Kale is part of the dark leafy vegetable group, considered a powerhouse vegetable since it contains high levels of vitamins, calcium, iron, and fiber.

Kale often gets labeled as a superfood because of its high nutrient density.

“Kale is a top choice because it’s rich in phytonutrients called indoles, which stimulate liver detoxification and help fight cancer.”

Kale can be eaten raw in salads, steamed, sauteed, or even baked into chips. It is also a popular ingredient in smoothies.

4. Sweet Potatoes

In addition to containing 520% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A, sweet potatoes also contain carotenoids. According to the American Institute for Cancer Research, carotenoids aid in controlling cell growth.

Sweet potatoes can be eaten baked, just like traditional baked potatoes. Since baking takes a long time, it is helpful to bake several at once and store them in an airtight container for leftovers.

There are many other ways to prepare sweet potatoes, including pureeing into soup, roasting with herbs, and even making sweet potato fries.

5. Apples

Apples are high in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants. They also contain a nutrient called quercetin, which protects cells’ DNA from the damage that causes cancer.

“The key is to eat them raw and with the skin on. That’s where many of the nutrients are found.”

In addition to eating them raw, apples can be added to salads, made into chips, or baked into healthy muffins.

6. Cranberries

Cranberries contain benzoic acid, which has been shown to slow the growth of lung cancer, colon cancer, and certain types of leukemia.

Cranberries can be added to bread, muffins, or salads. They are also a staple at many Thanksgiving tables.

Due to the health benefits of eating cranberries for cancer patients, it is a good idea to buy bags of them while they are in season and freeze them to eat year-round.

7. Grapes

Grapes contain the antioxidant resveratrol, which is believed to stop some cancers.

Since the skin has the most antioxidants, grapes should be eaten with the skin on. Additionally, red and purple grapes are higher in resveratrol than green grapes.

Grapes can be enjoyed as a snack, added to salads, and even incorporated into hot dishes.

8. Pumpkin

While many argue whether pumpkins are a fruit or vegetable, it can not be disputed that they are packed with the cancer-fighting nutrient carotenoid.

Pumpkin can be added to soups, smoothies, and even ravioli.

Get Help Paying for Mesothelioma Nutrition Therapy

Working with a nutritionist can help patients access a healthy mesothelioma diet that is tailored to their needs. Nutrition therapy can help cancer patients build strength, maintain a healthy body weight, and heal.

The best nutritionists will work with you, your family, and your mesothelioma specialist to manage your diet before, during, and after cancer treatment. Unfortunately, some of the costs of seeing a nutritionist may not be covered by insurance.

Our team of Patient Advocates can help you seek financial assistance for the treatment you need, including nutrition therapy. Contact us at (866) 608-8933 now to see how we can help.

The post Fall Mesothelioma Nutrition Guide: See What Cancer-Fighting Foods Are in Season appeared first on MesotheliomaHope.com.

In one study, 27 pleural mesothelioma patients undergoing first-line immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab (Opdivo® and Yervoy®, respectively) received baseline PET-CT scans at their initial diagnosis and additional scans every 12 weeks.

The addition of PET scans revealed a cell-level response to treatment in some patients that wouldn’t have been detected in a CT scan. The PET-CT scans showed that 8 patients responded to treatment, 7 showed disease stabilization, and 4 experienced disease progression.

This analysis indicates that the combination of these two imaging scans better identified which patients responded well to immunotherapy and could help keep future patients from ending their mesothelioma treatment prematurely.

What’s the Difference Between a PET Scan and CT Scan?

A computed tomography, or CT, scan operates as a digital X-ray imaging procedure that takes cross-sectional images or “slices” of the organs and tissues inside a patient. These scans can then be digitally stacked together to show a 3D image that doctors can review for any tumors or abnormalities.

A positron emission tomography, or PET, scan is a type of imaging technique that uses a small amount of radioactive substances to see the metabolic activity of the tissue cells in the body.

During the procedure, a technician administers radioactive sugar intravenously, which is absorbed by certain cells. As a result, these cells emit gamma rays that are picked up in the imaging scan. This provides information about the areas of the body affected by cancer and if they are responding to treatment.

While a CT scan informs doctors what the affected area looks like, a PET scan reveals what is happening within cancer cells. Combining these scans provides a more comprehensive picture of how a patient’s pleural mesothelioma is progressing and responding to treatment.

PET-CT Scans as a Prognostic Tool

A second Norwegian study followed 88 patients and emphasized the value of PET scans for a more accurate prognosis. PET-CT scans enabled researchers to divide patients into two subgroups based on low or high metabolic tumor volume (MTV).

Those with low MTV experienced better median overall survival and median progression-free survival. This signaled to researchers that PET scans could help provide patients with a better understanding of their projected life expectancy.

While the current use of PET-CT scans for pleural mesothelioma is limited, scientists continue to study whether incorporating both imaging tests may be a better way to determine patient prognosis and the length and efficacy of treatment.

Get Help Finding a Mesothelioma Specialist

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that can make those fighting it feel defeated. However, studies like these offer hope to patients seeking more effective treatments that can help them live longer.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our Patient Advocates can help you find top specialists who provide the most innovative treatments available.

Call (866) 608-8933 now or get started with our Free Doctor Match service.

The post PET-CT Scan Combination Leads to Better Treatment Decisions for Mesothelioma Patients appeared first on MesotheliomaHope.com.

This collaborative study will investigate whether a combined chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimen before surgery can extend patient survival.

Learn more about the trial and how Mesothelioma Hope can help you enroll.

Chemoimmunotherapy for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with a less than 10% survival rate at 5 years.

Surgery with chemotherapy is often considered the best way to extend survival, but recent advances in immunotherapy offer evidence that it can prolong life expectancy.

The new clinical trial, which is already recruiting patients, will combine chemotherapy and immunotherapy (also known as chemoimmunotherapy) before surgery to see if this three-pronged approach is more effective than surgery and chemotherapy alone.

By studying this treatment combination, researchers hope to achieve the highest possible survival rates and a reduction in cancer recurrence.

More About the Baylor/Duke Study

Leading the study are Dr. R. Taylor Ripley from the Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. Jeff Clarke and Dr. David Harpole from Duke University.

The trial is set to enroll 23 pleural mesothelioma patients at both Baylor and Duke, offering a chance at a more hopeful prognosis for those facing this formidable disease.

Prospective participants will undergo thorough pre-treatment evaluations to assess their overall health and the stage of their cancer to make sure they can safely undergo the combined treatment.

If they qualify, patients will either receive the new chemoimmunotherapy treatment or a control treatment of immunotherapy.

“For patients who have disease that can be removed by surgery, we will randomize them to one of the two arms – either immunotherapy with two drugs, or immunotherapy with two chemotherapy agents.”

Once they’ve had mesothelioma surgery, patients will continue to receive immunotherapy for one year.

See If You Can Enroll in This Trial

By potentially improving survival rates, the combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy prior to surgery could set a new standard in the treatment of this devastating illness.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, joining a clinical trial can help give you access to next-generation therapies and provide a beacon of hope in your fight against cancer​​​​.

Mesothelioma Hope’s team of nurses and Patient Advocates can see if you’re eligible to join this new trial and help you find other active trials in your area.

Call (866) 608-8933 now to get started.

The post Mesothelioma Specialists to Test Chemoimmunotherapy Before Surgery appeared first on MesotheliomaHope.com.

In commemoration of Veterans Day 2023, learn how you can honor our country’s veterans.

Veterans Day 2023 Explained

Veterans Day is a time to celebrate those who made the brave choice to enlist in the U.S. military and defend their country.

The holiday’s date coincides with the end of World War I, which formally concluded on November 11, 1918. Unlike Memorial Day — which honors those who have died defending our country — Veterans Day celebrates all living U.S. military members.

On Veterans Day, it’s important to highlight the sacrifices that military service members have made. While many veterans are still with us today, they may be suffering from service-related health problems. This includes mesothelioma, a rare and fatal form of cancer that is caused only by asbestos exposure.

Veterans & Mesothelioma Risks

Between the 1930s and 1980s, the military relied on asbestos for building materials without concern for its dangers. As a result, U.S. veterans make up one-third of all mesothelioma cases.

The makers of asbestos-based products intentionally hid the dangers of asbestos in an effort to increase profits. Once the truth was publicly revealed, the U.S. military took steps to remove asbestos from bases, vehicles, and ships. However, the damage had already been done since thousands of service members and their families had already been exposed to asbestos.

Veterans Day is a great time to remind veterans with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases that you care about them, are proud of their service, and understand their ongoing health battles.

4 Ways to Honor Service Members on Veterans Day 2023

There are a number of ways you can celebrate Veterans Day this year, from large-scale events to one-on-one activities with the veterans in your life.

We’re sharing 4 specific ideas below.

1. Visit a Veteran

Veterans Day can be a great time to visit the veterans you love. A surprise visit from a relative can make all the difference to a veteran, especially if they are facing mesothelioma or another serious illness.

If you can’t visit them in person, call them up on the phone or schedule a video chat through FaceTime, Zoom, or another online platform.

2. Make a Donation

Donating to a veterans organization or cancer research foundation is a great way to honor veterans who have passed away.

You can make donations to:

• Disabled American Veterans: This nonprofit organization helps veterans access benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), gives them rides to VA hospitals if they live far away, and helps them find jobs.
• Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation: More commonly known as the Meso Foundation, this group aims to find a cure for mesothelioma and support those affected by this rare form of cancer. Some of the world’s top mesothelioma doctors serve on the organization’s board of directors.
• Wounded Warrior Project: This organization supports veterans who served on or after September 11, 2001. With the help of Wounded Warrior Project, veterans can get help accessing VA benefits, find support from others who served, and receive support for their mental and physical health.

3. Participate in Veterans Day Events

There are thousands of local and national events planned for Veterans Day in 2023. Check your local newspaper or veterans organizations to see what activities are scheduled in your area.

Veterans Day is often celebrated with:

• 5K walks and races
• Ceremonies
• Parades

If you live near Arlington, Virginia, consider attending the Veterans Day National Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. This year’s ceremony will take place on November 11, 2023, at 11:00 a.m ET.

The event is open to the public and includes a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a parade of colors by veterans’ organizations, a military flyover, and speeches from dignitaries and other guests.

4. Celebrate Those Who Served on Veterans Day 2023

Veterans Day is a reminder that all who served in the U.S. military deserve our respect and praise.

Whether you attend an in-person ceremony, simply thank a veteran, or host a gathering to celebrate, make sure you take time out of your day to make them feel honored and respected.

Help for Veterans With Mesothelioma

On Veterans Day 2023, we humbly thank all U.S. military veterans for their service.

Mesothelioma Hope is dedicated to helping veterans who have developed mesothelioma after serving their country.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of your service in the U.S. military, you may be entitled to VA benefits and financial aid.

Our Patient Advocates can help you learn more about mesothelioma veterans benefits and explore all your options for compensation.

Call (866) 608-8933 today or fill out our contact form to get personalized help and support.

The post Veterans Day 2023: Honoring U.S. Veterans With Mesothelioma and All Who Served appeared first on MesotheliomaHope.com.

The current prognostic model for mesothelioma developed by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) remains a valuable tool in predicting patient outcomes, according to Dr. Andrea Wolf of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.

However, during a presentation at the 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Dr. Wolf indicated that there’s room to improve the existing model by looking at other prognostic factors, including anemia and elevated mesothelin levels.

“By refining and validating prognostic models, we are advancing our ability to tailor treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.”
– Dr. Andrea Wolf, Director of the New York Mesothelioma Program at Mount Sinai Health System

Learn about the factors that may help doctors make a more accurate prognosis and provide more personalized treatment below.

Understanding Prognostic Factors in Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer of the lung lining caused by asbestos exposure.

Prognostic factors for pleural mesothelioma are essential in determining the course of this disease, survival rate, and life expectancy, all of which make up a prognosis. They help doctors understand the severity of the disease, the potential for it to spread to other areas, and the patient’s overall health.

Some of these prognostic factors include:

• Gender (men are more commonly affected)
• Genetic and molecular markers
• Patient’s age and overall health
• Rate of tumor growth
• Tumor size and location within the chest cavity

Prognostic factors also play a vital role in shaping treatment decisions for pleural mesothelioma.

By evaluating these factors, health care providers can tailor mesothelioma treatment to each patient, ensuring they receive the best possible care to improve their prognosis.

Building on What Already We Know

The IASLC has been instrumental in advancing our understanding of pleural mesothelioma. In 2009, it established an international database to enhance the accuracy of disease staging, which is the most important factor for estimating a patient’s mesothelioma prognosis.

Staging was largely used as the sole predictor of survival before additional research shed light on other important prognostic factors.

In 2014, the IASLC identified these additional factors for determining prognosis:

• Age (over 50 vs. younger)
• Cell type (epithelioid vs. biphasic or sarcomatoid)
• Complete blood count (platelets, white blood cells, and hemoglobin)
• Type of surgery (palliative vs. life-extending)
• Use of chemotherapy or radiotherapy after surgery

What Does the Latest Research Show?

In 2023, Dr. Wolf and her fellow researchers conducted a study using a new cohort of 1,733 patients diagnosed with mesothelioma between 2009 and 2019. They compared data on these patients to the original data collected in 2014 from 3,101 patients.

The results showed the 2014 model, which has been the foundation of mesothelioma prognosis for nearly a decade, remains accurate. More specifically, it serves as a solid baseline for determining someone’s prognosis, but it could be improved to make doctors’ predictions more accurate.

“The IASLC models performed relatively well in this updated validation dataset, but clearly these models have room for improvement.”
– Dr. Andrea Wolf, Director of the New York Mesothelioma Program at Mount Sinai Health System

Dr. Wolf shared that continued efforts to gather and analyze patient data will be key to improving survival predictions and providing individualized patient care.

Her team also found two new predictors of survival in their research, both related to patient blood characteristics.

Identifying Additional Predictors of Survival

Dr. Wolf’s research has introduced two new predictors of survival: anemia (lack of healthy red blood cells) and elevated mesothelin levels.

Mesothelin is a protein that can be detected in blood tests and is sometimes used as a biomarker (indicator of disease) for pleural mesothelioma. It has become a key target for research and new treatment strategies for this cancer.

Pleural mesothelioma patients with anemia and high mesothelin levels had much lower survival rates (which measure the percent of patients still alive at a certain point after diagnosis) than those without, as shown in the chart below.

These findings provide hope for the development of more accurate prognosis models and better treatment options for patients with these risk factors.

Get Dedicated Support to Improve Your Prognosis

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Hope can help you find the best medical care to improve your prognosis. In fact, we have experienced nurses on staff who can connect you with top doctors and hospitals right now.

From accessing treatments to managing medical expenses and finding emotional support, our goal is to make sure you have the resources you need to navigate every aspect of your fight against mesothelioma.

Call (866) 608-8933 now to speak to a Patient Advocate or use our Free Doctor Match service to connect with top specialists for treatment.

The post New Research Reveals Ways to Improve Current Mesothelioma Prognostic Model appeared first on MesotheliomaHope.com.

Learn how to tell if your rental has asbestos and what your landlord should do to protect you.

Is There Asbestos in My Rental Property?

Asbestos fibers are tiny and cannot be seen by the naked eye. For this reason, it can be challenging to know which products contain asbestos.

Asbestos used to be found in:

• Ceiling and floor tiles
• Cement
• Drywall
• Electrical wire casing
• Insulation materials
• Paint
• Plaster
• Roofing materials

More than likely, if your rental property was built before the 1980s, it was constructed using asbestos-containing materials like those listed above.

What to Do If You Suspect Asbestos

Asbestos products are generally safe until they’re disturbed, damaged, or removed unsafely. When this happens, microscopic asbestos fibers can be released into the air and inhaled or swallowed.

If you suspect something in your home contains asbestos, do not touch, scrape, or otherwise disturb the item. Instead, look at the material for signs of wear and tear or other damage.

If it looks like the material is breaking or coming apart, you should contact your landlord immediately, as you might be at risk of asbestos exposure.

What Is My Landlord’s Responsibility?

Landlords are responsible for complying with housing codes to provide a safe and habitable environment for their renters. Each state and county has different housing codes and laws, so some landlords might not be legally required to inform tenants of the presence of asbestos.

However, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) outlines federal requirements for landlords of older buildings.

If you believe there are damaged asbestos-containing materials in your rental and it was built before 1981, your landlord is required to work with a licensed asbestos professional to test the product and determine if it needs to be removed.

Learn more about asbestos exposure risks and how to protect your family in our Free Asbestos Products Guide.

Download Asbestos Products GuideFree 2023 Asbestos Guide

• Asbestos safety information
• Products containing asbestos
• Common exposure risks

Get Your Free Guide

Asbestos Abatement in Rental Properties

If the asbestos is considered unsafe, asbestos abatement will need to begin. Removing asbestos is a long and carefully controlled process to keep workers, renters, and all others in the building safe from exposure.

One safety measure is sealing air ducts, windows, and doors with thick plastic to keep asbestos fibers from traveling to other areas.

Depending on how much asbestos is in your rental, you may need to work with your landlord to find temporary accommodations until the abatement is complete.

Once the removal is finished, the area must be carefully cleaned before you can safely return.

You can ask your landlord to provide documentation from the abatement professionals showing proof of their work and if any other asbestos materials remain that may need to be monitored.

When to Find an Asbestos Lawyer

Landlords who fail to take action for damaged asbestos place the health of their tenants at risk.

Renters may not even know they were exposed to asbestos until decades later when symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases appear.

If you’ve developed an asbestos-related disease from asbestos exposure in a rental property, you may be eligible for financial compensation.

Mesothelioma Hope can connect you with trusted asbestos lawyers who can fight for compensation on your behalf. Contact us at (866) 608-8933 or get a free legal consultation now.

The post Asbestos in Apartments and Rental Properties: Information for Tenants appeared first on MesotheliomaHope.com.

Scientists in the United Kingdom have developed MesoGraph, which uses artificial intelligence to precisely identify which mesothelioma cells are present so patients can get the right treatments. Learn more about MesoGraph and how it could help patients below.

Why It’s Hard to Determine Mesothelioma Cell Type

Doctors classify mesothelioma tumor cells into three types:

• Epithelioid (or epithelial)
• Sarcomatoid
• Biphasic (tumor with both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells)

It’s crucial to know which mesothelioma cell type is present in a patient’s tumor, as it will impact which treatments will work best. The sarcomatoid and biphasic cell types are more aggressive and harder to treat than the epithelial cell type.

Unfortunately, it’s often hard for doctors to determine the cell type. This is because many mesothelioma tumors may actually contain both epithelial and sarcomatoid cells and it’s hard to know exactly how much of each cell is present.

MesoGraph hopes to solve this problem and make it easier to determine the cell type.

What Does MesoGraph Do?

MesoGraph is a machine learning model — an AI program that can make decisions since it’s been trained to recognize patterns.

MesoGraph determines how many sarcomatoid cells are present in a tumor sample. With it, doctors can assess a sample much more quickly and consistently.

The MesoGraph model looks at several features of the different cell types before determining the sample’s category. The tool was able to accurately determine cell type for 85% of the samples examined.

“With the increasing use of digital pathology, this model represents a first point of entry for an AI-based clinical tool … to more accurately define epithelioid and sarcomatoid components in mesothelioma … and potentially create future opportunities to improve clinical decisionmaking and prognosis,” the Cell Reports Medicine study on MesoGraph reported.

Doctors can then use the information from MesoGraph to determine the best treatment plan for a patient and provide a more accurate assessment of a patient’s prognosis.

This isn’t the first use of artificial intelligence tools to improve mesothelioma diagnosis or the outcomes of treatments. Several other studies have used computer models to provide more consistent analysis of imaging scans and more.

Get Help Finding a Mesothelioma Specialist for Effective Treatment

The best mesothelioma specialists carefully craft a patient’s treatment plan based on the unique factors impacting their diagnosis — including mesothelioma cell type.

The MesoGraph tool could further help specialists provide the best possible treatment for their patients sooner and more effectively.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Hope’s Free Doctor Match program can help you find a specialist near you. Or, contact our Patient Advocates at (866) 608-8933 now to get help finding doctors, treatments, and financial aid for medical care.

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