Malignant mesothelioma risk increased after radiation treatment for HL

Patients with Hodgkin’s lymphoma who have been treated with radiation may be at an increased risk for malignant mesothelioma.

Although malignant mesothelioma is relatively uncommon, previous research indicated it may be associated with radiation exposure.

Results of several recent epidemiological studies showed that radiation for lymphoma may be linked with an increased risk for malignant mesothelioma. However, these studies involved only a small number of patients and the results needed to be confirmed in larger studies.

For this study, the researchers examined risk for malignant mesothelioma in 2,567 patients who had reached at least five-year survival after treatment for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Patients included in the study had been treated with radiation alone, chemotherapy alone or a combination of both.

Median follow-up period was 18.1 years. At this time, 13 patients had malignant mesothelioma at least five years after being treated for Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Five-year survivors of Hodgkin’s lymphoma were about 26 times more likely than the general population to develop malignant mesothelioma, according to the results. Those treated with radiation alone were about 30 times more likely to develop malignant mesothelioma.

There were no cases of the disease among the 232 patients treated with chemotherapy alone, but patients treated with both radiation and chemotherapy were almost 44 times more likely to develop malignant mesothelioma.

International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma coming to Town

The 2009 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma has now been scheduled for the end of June. The event, which is organised by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) is set to be held in Washington DC from the 25th June until 27th June.

The event will be an interesting one that will involve raising awareness about asbestos related disease as well as looking at research and discussing the latest findings. A number of industry experts will be attending the event to provide details on various clinical trials, treatment, and research.

In addition to this many others will also be at the event, including sufferers of the asbestos related cancer, campaigners, advocates, and those that provide care for sufferers of mesothelioma. The event will take place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, in Washington, DC.

Following the event the foundation will honor those that are living with the disease, and will also give out the three annual awards that it gives for political support, research contributions, and community support.

Mesothelioma still needs more attention, research funding

Regarding the Oct. 15 front page article, ''Cancer death rates declining'': The death rate for mesothelioma, an extremely painful cancer in which membrane cells lining the chest or abdomen become malignant and proliferate uncontrollably, is on the rise.

Mesothelioma, caused by asbestos exposure, is almost always fatal. The life expectancy is 12.3 months with treatment and 9.2 months without. In fact, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation in the mortality rate for mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma's latency is as long as 50 years, so millions of Americans who were exposed in the past five decades are at risk. And, given the current levels of asbestos exposure, it is inevitable that Americans will continue to be diagnosed for decades. The only hope is research to develop effective treatment.

Much has been accomplished with limited, private funding. It is time for the federal government to help find a cure. With facts like these, it is extremely distressing to know that less than 3 percent of cancer research dollars go to mesothelioma research. Wake up, Lehigh Valley; not all cancers or cancer death rates are on the decline.

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LORDS' 'ILLNESS' RULING SLAMMED BY VICTIM

A retired dockyard worker who developed scars on his lungs after working with asbestos has attacked a House of Lords decision to end compensation for people with the condition.Ken Peach, aged 75, of Beacon Park, said the Law Lords ruling on pleural plaques - scars on the lungs usually caused by exposure to asbestos - is "disgusting".

The condition can lead to fatal diseases including malignant mesothelioma and other forms of lung cancer.

The House of Lords yesterday ruled that pleural plaques was not a disease, ending future claims.

The landmark decision could affect hundreds of people in Plymouth, which is a 'hotspot' for asbestos-related conditions.

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Mr Peach joined unions, solicitors and Plymouth MP Linda Gilroy in criticism of the ruling.

The pensioner, who received a Government payout in 2001 after developing pleural plaques, said: "It's disgusting and I feel very sorry this decision was made.

"I have a five per cent chance of the scars on my lungs developing into something more serious. It's a horrible feeling to know it's there; it worries me."

Mr Peach joined Devonport Dockyard in 1952 when he was just 20, working as a joiner. His job involved fitting and ripping out layers of asbestos from submarines docked for routine maintenance.

Plymouth MP Linda Gilroy, who sits on the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Asbestos, said Plymouth has one of the country's highest rates of asbestos-realted conditions.

"This decision is a huge disappointment," she said.

"There will soon be a meeting of the all-party group and we will look at this issue, as well as many others surrounding asbestos-related conditions, and will endeavour to lend as much support to it as we can."

The latest figures show 320 people dying from mesothelioma caused by asbestos between 1985 and 2004.

Cases are expected to peak between 2011 and 2015, as the condition takes between 30 to 40 years to emerge.

John Messham, head of the occupational disease department at Bond Pearce in Plymouth, said the firm has seen around 200 successful cases for pleural plaques in the last five years - with pay outs of between £3,500 and £7,000.

He said: "I could say the House of Lords has failed to recognise the anxiety caused by pleural plaques.

"It's the right decision for insurers but not the many thousands of people across the country who have the condition, for who it will be a devastating blow."

He added around 30 Plymothians' cases would have to be dropped following the announcement.

Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said: "This is a harsh decision which will affect thousands of people with pleural plaques now and in the future."

The only three UK areas with higher figures of asbestos-related diseases are Barrow-in-Furness, West Dumbartonshire and North Tyneside.