Archive for category Research
UK Government Pledges Support for Victims of Asbestos Exposure
Posted by Marcus@SokoloveLaw in Exposure, Legal, Legislation, Mesothelioma, Research, Support on March 17, 2010
The Ministry of Justice in the United Kingdom has unveiled a series of measures aimed at supporting victims of asbestos exposure. They were announced after a government conference on how to respond to a 2007 ruling by the Law Lords which ended the right to compensation.
The proposals are a result of years of campaigning by advocates, who have fought for better treatment, support and compensation for victims and their families even after the 2007 legal setback.
Included in the measures are:
- The creation of an Employers’ Liability Tracing Office, which helps victims track down a company’s insurer (at the time of exposure). Since many manufacturers of asbestos products are no longer in business, finding their insurers from a given period has been extremely difficult.
- The creation of an Employers’ Liability Bureau which will act as a fund of last resort in the event the insurer cannot be found. Victims will receive compensation from this fund, if necessary.
- Increased upfront payments for mesothelioma victims.
- A series of payments of £5,000 for people who had begun, but not yet resolved a legal claim for compensation at the time of the 2007 ruling.
- A pledge to increase funding for mesothelioma research.
A local coroner, William Armstrong, supports the plans. He told the Norwich Evening News, “I deal with a substantial number of inquests into people who have died from asbestos-related diseases and the numbers seem to be growing.
“There are unfortunately people who have been exposed to asbestos many years before the condition manifests itself and many of them die in very distressing circumstances.
“Anything that can be done to help their relatives and loved ones claim the compensation to which they are entitled is very much to be welcomed.”
Ministers have also vowed to set up a working group consisting of mesothelioma lawyers, unions, insurers, the judiciary and civil servants to review asbestos law practices and procedures for obtaining compensation. They also hope to streamline the process in order to reduce the time it takes for cases to conclude.
Chemoimmunotherapy: A New Strategy for the Mesothelioma Treatment
Posted by Sherry@SokoloveLaw in Mesothelioma, Research, Treatment on October 3, 2009
Whether or not the immune system can recognize malignant (cancerous) and pre-malignant cells and eliminate them to prevent the development of cancer is currently under investigation within the medical community and the evidence is favoring the concept.
According to a 2009, study conducted by investigators McCoy, et al. and published in Tissue Antigens, chemoimmunotherapy has become the most recent strategy for the treatment of cancerous mesothelioma. Chemoimmunotherapy is a treatment strategy that combines chemotherapy, which uses different drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells with immunotherapy, which uses treatments to restore the ability of the immune system to fight cancer.
This recent study has revealed the fact that a cancer such as mesothelioma has been found to effectively interact with the immune system and this makes it a good candidate for immunotherapy. Several immunotherapies have been investigated to date and the investigators have determined that immunotherapy should be combined with conventional chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy as a treatment method that is proving itself, although modestly, to be effective.
The investigators are gearing up to begin a Phase I clinical trial using immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy as it is becomes more and more clear that careful drug selection, dosing and scheduling will be significant when designing a chemoimmunotherapy for mesothelioma.
Increased Survival in Lung Cancer Patients
Posted by Mellissa@SokoloveLaw in Research, Treatment on September 24, 2009
The Lancet published a study on Monday showing a increased survival rate for patients with lung cancer. The study revealed patients suffering from nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were treated with Alimta and best supportive care on the average had over five months increased survival than patients who received the placebo plus best supportive care after the received initial chemotherapy.
This study is important because it suggests maintenance therapy as a regular practice and highlights the important of histology in choosing treatment options for nonsquamous NSCLC patients. Maintenance therapy is used with other types of cancer, but is not standard practice for non-small cell lung cancer. Histologies refer to the various tumor types which fall under the NSCLC category.
Read the about the study: Significant Survival Benefit for Patients Facing Deadly Form of Lung Cancer
New Breath Test May Detect Lung Cancer
Posted by Mellissa@SokoloveLaw in Lung Cancer, Research on August 31, 2009
A new breath test may be able to detect lung cancer according to a new study by scientists in Israel. This new research could be quicker, easier and have a decreased cost for diagnosing lung cancer. The test may also allow for earlier detection which increases a patients odds of survival. The team is hoping their results can be extended to include diagnosing other forms of cancer.
Given that 1.3 million people worldwide die of lung cancer each year according to the World Health Organization, this could have widespread impact on the patients themselves and the healthcare systems.
With each new study I am hopeful we are coming closer to earlier detection/diagnosis and better treatment for lung cancer patients.
Read more about the study – Breathalyzer test detects lung cancer: study
New Test May Diagnose Mesothelioma More Effectively
Posted by Mellissa@SokoloveLaw in Mesothelioma, Research on August 24, 2009
Researchers at Oxford University have developed a test that may diagnose mesothelioma more effectively. Dr. Helen Davies worked on the research and claims it may be a way for medical providers to diagnose cases of mesothelioma earlier. This could benefit the mesothelioma community in several ways: medical providers may be able to diagnose earlier and begin appropriate treatment, victims may experience better quality of life and increased life expectancy, and claims for worker’s compensation may begin earlier.
Read the complete article from BCC: “Better” test for asbestos cancer
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