A recent article published in the Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine reported that researchers involved in a world-wide study have found a possible link between mesothelioma and hematologic cancer treatments. Scientists from the United States, China, and Australia studied 3,600 mesothelioma patients and found that those who had a hematologic cancer; such as Hodgkins lymphoma, Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and leukemia; had a greater chance of developing mesothelioma, but those who received radiation for the hematologic cancer responded best to treatment for mesothelioma.
Hematologic cancers are found in the blood tissues and are commonly treated with ionizing radiation. Research indicates that patients treated with ionizing radiation are more likely to develop mesothelioma; however, those who had the radiation treatments for the hematologic cancers had longer survival rates than those who did not. It is definitely a double-edged sword, but a vital discovery in the fight against these two types of cancer.
Other factors revealed in the study indicate that age plays a part in the development of mesothelioma in people with hematologic cancers. Patients who had a hematologic malignancy and had not received radiation treatments were generally older and developed mesothelioma within an average span of 24 months. Patients that had received the radiation treatments for their blood borne cancer tended to be younger than those that had not had treatment, and experienced a much longer dormancy period, sometimes stretching as long as 24 years between diagnosis.
The study also revealed that when mesothelioma developed in hematologic cancer patients who had radiation treatments, they generally developed the least aggressive form of mesothelioma affecting the epithelia tissues in the lungs. This type of mesothelioma responds best to treatment and has significantly longer survival rates.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is an overwhelming and life-altering crisis. Patients and their families are often confused, scared, and devastated when the reality of this terminal cancer is revealed to them. The experienced and highly-skilled New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler are dedicated to helping victims of mesothelioma recover compensation for their medical expenses.
Call the New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler toll free at 1-800-369-0899 or complete our online contact form to schedule a consultation today. Our office is conveniently located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania allowing us to serve clients throughout New Jersey, Philadelphia and vicinity, including Chester County and Delaware County.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure, yet public awareness about its causes and risks remains limited. Many…
Living in an apartment can be convenient, but it can also come with hidden dangers—like asbestos exposure. This mineral, once…
Asbestos is most often associated with construction and industrial settings, but landscaping professionals may also face hazards linked to asbestos…
Military personnel have been stationed in hazardous places for decades. Many years ago, military personnel were exposed to asbestos on the…
Asbestos was widely used in construction materials for decades, particularly before the late 1980s. Many schools across the United States…
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Because it develops slowly and is difficult to diagnose…