On November 5, 2010, the Journal of Thoracic Oncology reported a study done by University of Rochester researchers looking for significant factors associated with longer life expectancy of mesothelioma patients. Spanning decades of case studies, researchers found several factors associated with life expectancy and survival rates of mesothelioma victims.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer with no known cure. Aggressive mesothelioma treatments include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and rehabilitative therapies. A combination of treatments is typical for mesothelioma cases. However, many mesothelioma patients choose palliative treatments rather than fighting the cancer directly. Palliative care focuses on pain management and quality of life.

Mesothelioma cancer is specific to the lining of lungs and other abdominal cavities. Most typically associated with the toxic chemical asbestos, mesothelioma can begin to develop after asbestos fibers are inhaled. These fibers begin a mutation process which results in growth and spread of irregularly patterned tumors.

Development times for mesothelioma are characteristically long. Often patients do not demonstrate signs or symptoms until decades after exposure to asbestos. Many mesothelioma patients have no idea they were exposed to the toxic fibers until they have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and the symptoms are easily assumed to be that of pneumonia or other treatable respiratory illnesses. These factors make mesothelioma difficult to detect early.

The study by University of Rochester looked at 9,701 mesothelioma cases diagnosed between 1973 and 2006. Results proved survival rates dropped drastically as time extended from original diagnosis. Survival rates were 55% after six months, 33% after one year and 5% after five years.

Factors proving positive in patient survival were varied. Female patients and patients in younger years had longer life expectancies. Tumor grade and histology also played a part in survival rates with lower tumor grade and epithelioid histology (a more common structure of mesothelioma cells) being associated with higher survival rates. Cancer-direct surgery and radiotherapies also proved to have greater impact on patient’s potential for longer life.

The Department of Radiation Oncology at James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at University of Rochester is one of the nation’s leading research institutes in cancer and radiation technology. Their mission “is to cure cancers when possible while always aiming to improve the quality of life of patients, to advance the science of cancer therapy through clinical and basic research, and to train young oncologists to carry these goals forward.”

Developers in Australia’s Molonglo valley have come to a sudden halt in plans for a new suburban neighborhood. Excavating was stopped when an old landfill was found on the site. Possibly 100,000 tons of asbestos waste material have been dumped and covered under the ground.

Administrators in the development project are now considering options for proceeding. Safety for workers and potential residents is a priority. Asbestos dust and fibers cause severe respiratory illnesses including mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer with no known curative treatment.

Budget and government funding plays a big part in the decision as well. David Dawes of Land and Property Service wants to find a solution that will not require relocating the entire project, or the waste, to a new location. He said, “There’s quite good ways of dealing with that without the expense of pulling it all away and burying it in another hole. So we can actually look at different solutions that we can overcome with that and minimise any cost blowouts of the project.”

Project administrators are facing a heavy burden and a delicate decision as work has already started and plans are underway. Chief Minister Jon Stanhope responded to the find. He said, “I would not have agreed to this project, the Cabinet would certainly not have approved the project if it had come to us as say a $37, $38, $40 million job. I can’t walk away from the fact that these sorts of issues shouldn’t happen, they have and I’ll seek to ensure it won’t happen again.”

This particular piece of land does not have a hidden past. It was once used as a sewage plant as well as a waste site. Neil Savery, CEO of ACTPLA (Australian Capital Territory Planning and Land Authority) said, “It’s on the contaminated site register and that’s lead to investigations for the better part of five years. On the contaminated site register it’s essentially identified as a site of interested it doesn’t tell you exactly what’s there.” He continues, “We’ve done over 10 investigations to establish what’s in the ground, how extensive it is. The contractor has gone in and has started excavating, it’s taken a while to get down to the bottom level, and it’s found that asbestos – it’s solid cement sheeting – it is spread over a large geographical area, it’s not deposited in one or two locations.”

The project has been stopped until at least middle of next year.

UK Health and Safety Executives investigated another asbestos exposure incident, this one at Aston University in Birmingham. The school recently hired Access Fire and Security Ltd. to install cameras in their recreational center’s reception area. Two workers and a teenage trainee were assigned the job. Once work began, two members of the crew were exposed to asbestos when they began drilling to mount new security cameras.

Asbestos is present in countless building materials worldwide and in the UK, though in the latter concern is specific to materials manufactured and installed before 2000. Floor and ceiling tiles are common residential and commercial building materials containing asbestos. Roofing tiles, plumbing gaskets and insulation are among the many other items containing the toxic chemical.

Asbestos is the cause of many lung and respiratory illness including the rare and fatal cancer mesothelioma. Once asbestos fibers are inhaled, they can begin a mutation process in the cells on lung lining which develops into an irregularly patterned cancer. Mesothelioma takes decades to demonstrate recognizable symptoms and is often misdiagnosed as pneumonia.

There are no known curative mesothelioma treatments and prognosis is grim. Average life expectancy following diagnosis is eighteen months. Many mesothelioma patients are moving to palliative treatment regimens to manage pain and quality of life.

Health and Safety Executive inspector, Karl Raw, responded to the Aston University investigation. “While the amount of asbestos involved in this incident was small, two people now have to live with the knowledge that they may become ill from lung disease in the future,” he said.

Both Aston University and Access Fire and Security, Ltd. are being held responsible for this incident. Raw said, “Aston University failed to ensure university employees and others working across the site were aware of the presence of asbestos fibres. Surveys on the location and conditions of asbestos and materials containing asbestos had been carried out across the university but there was no procedure for communicating the details to contractors. Access Fire and Security Ltd, a long-term contractor with the university, had never been given any information about asbestos – and had never asked for it. They also failed to assess whether asbestos was present, what type of asbestos was involved and what condition it was in, before undertaking work.”

The case was heard in Birmingham Magistrates’ Court where Aston University and Access Fire and Security Ltd. pled guilty of violating asbestos control regulations.

Two UK employees were recently exposed to workplace asbestos hazards after their employer, Mitchells and Butlers, mishandled work orders. Following a survey done by Mitchells and Butlers to locate asbestos risks, workers proceeded with instructions for repairs in a closed pub. The White Horse pub in Darlington was being refurbished to reopen.

When drilling began in the ceiling dust and debris fell onto the faces of the workers. After investigation by a Health and Safety Executive, the tiles were qualified as containing asbestos. Asbestos fibers cause severe respiratory conditions including lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma cancer.

Although the survey had been done appropriately prior to start of the job, additional work was added to the order without another survey. Workers thought they were following safe instructions.

One worker, Jonathan Cook, said, “Because the effects of asbestos take a long time to show up, the worry of whether the asbestos has caused lasting damage to my health will stay with me for years to come.

“And it’s not just me – it’s a huge worry for my partner also, as there is a chance that she might have been exposed to fibres that were brought home on my work clothes.”

Health and Safety Executive, Victoria Wise is serious about employer asbestos violations. She said, “Construction and maintenance workers are among those most at risk from asbestos-related diseases due to the nature of their work.

“Asbestos is still widely present in buildings constructed prior to 2000, so workers can often inadvertently disturb materials containing asbestos if the correct survey has not been carried out to check for its presence and appropriate control measures put in place.

“Mitchells & Butlers Retail Ltd knew there was asbestos in the building and should have ensured that all the areas where work was to be done had been checked for asbestos and the necessary precautions taken.

“Everyone who owns or operates commercial premises built prior to 2000 must ensure that a suitable and sufficient assessment for asbestos has been carried out prior to any construction work starting.

“In addition construction and maintenance workers should have asbestos awareness training so that they can recognise that some materials may contain asbestos and know what action to take.”