Wisconsin Mesothelioma Attorneys: Study Holds Promise for Early Mesothelioma Detection
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Dr. Michael Harbut, director of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Diseases and Environmental Cancer Program at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has co-authored a study of 13 protein markers in the blood that may be able to detect malignant mesothelioma in people exposed to asbestos at the earliest stages of the disease.
Patients with mesothelioma are typically diagnosed at an advanced stage, when treatment has very limited success. Early detection is key to maximizing life expectancy.
Wisconsin Mesothelioma Attorneys Commentary:
As Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys, we’ve seen first-hand the devastating effect of mesothelioma on patients and families, and we understand the importance of the early detection of mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops in the protective lining that covers many of the body’s internal organs, the mesothelium. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. An estimated 27.5 million people in the United States alone had occupational exposure to asbestos between 1940 and 1979. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not widely known. Today, it is commonly accepted that shipyard workers, people who worked in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. Though a diagnosis of mesothelioma is always tragic, it is encouraging that scientific research may lead to earlier detection and longer lives.
In the study, the biomarker panel had 80 percent sensitivity and 100 percent specificity for distinguishing between mesothelioma patients and control subjects and detected 15 of the 19 early-stage mesotheliomas. In a validation study, the marker panel had 92 percent specificity and 92 percent sensitivity. Additional validation studies are being planned and further study is being done in an effort to improve the test’s performance.
There are approximately 3,000 to 8,000 diagnoses of malignant mesothelioma per year in the United States. Because of its long latency period, the incidence of mesothelioma is not expected to peak for another 20 years.
Contact Wisconsin Mesothelioma Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys at our office for a free consultation. Call 715.843.6700 to speak with Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys. Email Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys. More information from Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys.
Do you have questions for a Wisconsin mesothelioma lawyer? If you or a family member have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or if you have lost a loved one to mesothelioma, our Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys can advise you as to your rights. Mesothelioma attorneys serving clients in throughout Wisconsin. Call 715.843.600 for more information about Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys or to speak with one of our Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys. Email Wisconsin mesothelioma attorneys.