Japanese scientists may have discovered a more accurate way to diagnose mesothelioma with the creation of a device called the IT knife. The IT knife, an insulated-tip diathermic knife, is a special kind of tool that uses heat to cauterize a large piece of diseased tissue.

Because mesothelioma can remain undetected for so long (anywhere from 20-50 years) and because of it’s location in the patient’s body, often times medical professionals have trouble identifying whether or not the disease is actually mesothelioma, or a different lung disease all together like emphysema, bronchitis, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

During this new procedure, after fluids are taken and analyzed from the pleural cavity, a biopsy is done using the IT knife rather than the traditional standard flexible forceps (SFF) to collect tissue samples for lab work and testing.

Not only is the IT knife biopsy performed quickly with no severe complications, studies show that the IT knife was 25% more likely to provide the information needed to establish a mesothelioma diagnosis than the SFF. Additionally, the IT knife biopsy was better than SFF in eight of the 20 cases – three of which had malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Because the piece of tissue capable of being collected by the IT knife is larger in size than the small piece normally collected with the SFF, the IT solution allows more information to be gathered and a more precise diagnosis to be made. This is good news for patients who need to begin immediate treatment for what is most likely an advanced stage of cancer.

Today is National Mesothelioma Awareness Day, a yearly event that seeks to raise the public’s understanding of mesothelioma, asbestos exposure, and the lack of funding for mesothelioma research and treatment.

The day, begun in 2005 by a group of volunteers working for the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and who had been personally affected by mesothelioma, will include local events in more than 20 cities and radio spots on more than 100 stations across the country.

The radio announcements will begin with music by well known singer-songwriter Warren Zevon, who died from mesothelioma in 2003. A short segment about mesothelioma will follow. Despite his heavy smoking habit, Devon was very healthy and hadn’t visited a doctor in over 20 years before being forced to be seen by a nagging cough and chest pain. He was diagnosed with an advanced stage of pleural mesothelioma and few treatment options were available to him.

Because the disease is relatively rare, research for a cure is under funded. When diagnosed, victims are told there is no cure and mesothelioma treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery at best only slow the spread of the disease. A few experimental treatments such as immunotherapy, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy and anti-angiogenesis therapy offer hope of a cure in the future, but more research is needed.

To learn more about how you can help raise awareness in your area, visit the National Mesothelioma Awareness Day webpage.