Straight Talk about Mesothelioma, a blog series created by Michael T. Milano, M.D., Ph.D., a radiation oncology specialist, as a resource for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. While asbestosis and mesothelioma may seem similar, these 2 diseases are not the same thing. Asbestosis and mesothelioma are both caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers,…
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Advantages of Cytoreductive Surgery with HIPEC
Straight Talk about Mesothelioma, a blog series created by Michael T. Milano, M.D., Ph.D., a radiation oncology specialist, as a resource for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. In order to appreciate the benefits of cytroreductive surgery and HIPEC, it is important to understand some of the basic concepts of HIPEC. What Exactly Is Hyperthermic…
Here’s How Jimmy Carter Used Keytruda® to Kick Cancer’s Butt
When a 91-year-old reveals they have cancer, most people would consider that a death sentence. The older a person gets, the less likely they are to physically tolerate any type of aggressive treatment. In some cases, family members and close friends might also just accept such a sentence — after all, they’ve obviously lived a…
What Are Mesothelial Cells?
Straight Talk about Mesothelioma, a blog series created by Michael T. Milano, M.D., Ph.D., a radiation oncology specialist, as a resource for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. Mesothelial Cells in Pleural Fluid There are certain cells that line the pleura — the thin, double-layered lining which covers the lungs, chest wall, and diaphragm —…
How Do Doctors Make a Diagnosis of Mesothelioma?
Straight Talk About Mesothelioma, a blog series created by Michael T. Milano, M.D., Ph.D., a radiation oncology specialist, as a resource for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. One major obstacle that physicians face when making the initial diagnosis of mesothelioma is the cancer’s long latency period between exposure to asbestos and the development of…
Symptoms of Mesothelioma: What Doctors Look For
Straight Talk About Mesothelioma, a blog series created by Michael T. Milano, M.D., Ph.D., a radiation oncology specialist, as a resource for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. Even though there has been a significant reduction in asbestos use in the U.S. since the 1970s, the incidence of mesothelioma has continued to rise over the…
Paper-thin Pleura: 1MM of Critical Tissue
Straight Talk about Mesothelioma, a blog series created by Michael T. Milano, M.D., Ph.D., a radiation oncology specialist, as a resource for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. Many family members, friends, and caretakers ask the same question when their loved one has been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma: “What does ‘pleural’ mean?” It’s a good…
How a PET Scan Can Save Your Life
In medicine, accurate testing for illnesses can be lifesaving. Positron Emission Tomography (or PET) scans allow doctors to do just that: Save lives. PET scans work quickly to check brain function, identify cancerous tumors, and measure blood flow. Although PET scans are only a relatively recent technology, they have already proven themselves absolutely essential –…
How Do You Get Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs, chest, abdomen, and heart. Doctors in the U.S. diagnose around 3,000 cases of mesothelioma every year, and that number is rising. There is only one known cause for this aggressive and fatal disease: exposure to asbestos. What Is Asbestos? Asbestos is…
