Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos, a mineral that was commonly used as building material, is often incurable.

But some specialists thought that chemotherapy may help prolong the patients life and improve their quality of life.

However, new research published in the medical journal The Lancet, found no benefit with this treatment.

Exposure

Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally in the environment.

Due to its characteristics of strength and flexibility, this material was commonly used in various applications, mainly in construction.

However, when breathed in, asbestos fibers can lodge and accumulate in the lungs and cause injuries and diseases such as mesothelioma.

Currently there are laws around the world to control the use of asbestos, but thousands of people die each year because the symptoms can appear up to 50 years after exposure.

According to experts, these decades of delay between exposure and the onset of the disease means that cases continue to rise over the next five years.

The study, conducted by the Medical Research Council UK, analyzed the cases of 409 patients, mainly in the country which had received the standard treatment for mesothelioma.

This usually includes steroid drugs and radiotherapy sessions.

Some patients in the study received additional doses of chemotherapy to compare the effect of his illness.