Mesothelioma Settlement Awarded to UK Widow of Cigarette Filter Factory Worker

A United Kingdom widow, June Bickle, was recently awarded compensation for the loss of her husband, Alan Bickle, to malignant mesothelioma.

Alan, 58, passed away from mesothelioma cancer on January 3 last year. Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma cancer. Exposure occurs by either inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. These fibers have the potential to become lodged in the lining of the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity, where they can cause damage that leads to cancer.

Demolition of Nebraska college building held up by asbestos discovery

Demolition of a building that had been the student center for Chadron State College in Nebraska has been delayed about a month by the discovery of asbestos at the site.

According to the Chadron News, the Kline Campus Center underwent some asbestos removal in 1993, but more asbestos has been found in floor tiling that wasn’t removed then. Horsley Specialties of Rapid City, South Dakota, has been hired to remove the remaining asbestos. The abatement is expected to take about a month.

Figures show rising rates of mesothelioma cases in women

omen are increasingly falling victim to mesothelioma, reports the Mirror.

Figures show that cases of mesothelioma are the most rapidly increasing among all cancers.

Inside Turkey’s ‘cancer village’

The community of Tuzkoy in Turkey’s central Cappadocia region has been afflicted by a particular epidemic for generations.

Twenty-three years ago a doctor discovered unusually high levels of mesothelioma in the area, a type of lung cancer normally associated with asbestos – leading to the village being dubbed “cancer city”.

Mesothelioma Patients May Benefit From Second-Line Chemotherapy

In a retrospective study using data from 2005 and 2006, French researchers evaluated the efficacy of second-line chemotherapy in pleural mesothelioma patients who had previously undergone treatment with pemetrexed. The data came from two separate oncology facilities.

Related articles

• Village ravaged by cancer in Turkey’s Cappadocia (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Malignant Mesothelioma (amazus.org)
• Mesothelioma Costs (diseases-viruses.suite101.com)

Mesothelioma, like most cancers is named for its location.  Mesothelioma is the cancer of the mesothelium – the protective lining that covers many of the body’s internal organs.  For example the mesothelium around the lungs enables your lungs to expand and contract easier.  When the mesothelium is inflamed it can make breathing difficult and painful.

There are 3 main types of mesothelioma:

• Pleural — 75% of all mesothelioma cases (located in the lining around the lungs)
• Peritoneal — 10%–20% (The lining of the GI tract)
• Pericardial — 5% (located in the lining around the heart)

A relatively new trend in medicine is classifying cancers by their type rather than location.

Lungs showing the effects of Mesothelioma

The three types of Mesothelioma are:

• Epithelioid — most common, best survival rate
• Sarcomatoid — most severe, but more rare
• Mixed/biphasic — a mixture of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cancer

Asbestos as found in it natrual state

In 70-80% of cases of those who suffer from mesothelioma, exposure to some form of asbestos is a factor.

Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers that are very strong but flexible enough to be woven.  Asbestos is also very resistant to high heat and as such was used in many types of insulation and building materials.  When damaged or bent, asbestos materials release some of the tiny fibers into the air.  When these fibers enter the lungs they can cause inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer.

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma annually.