The Center for Disease Control released a study that revealed the numbers of cancer survivors are increasing. In their Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report that more people who have been diagnosed with cancer are conquering the disease and living longer. The number of survivors in 2007 totaled 11.7 million, the last statistic for cancer survivors was in 2001 where 9.8 million people were classified as survivors. The development of new treatments and drugs are attributed to the rise in the number of cancer survivors and future developments will likely allow more people to survive cancer.
Across the globe lung cancer is the leading killer of men and women. One particularly dangerous type of lung cancer with a high mortality rate is mesothelioma. The lining of the heart and lungs called the mesothelium is attacked by cancer cells when people contract mesothelioma. There aren’t any effective drugs that have been developed to combat this type of cancer but future medical and drug developments may change this aspect.
Unlike many other cancers whose direct causes are hard determine, mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a toxic material used in building for insulation and ceiling tiles and as a fire retardant. When disturbed asbestos can be breathed in and over time may develop into mesothelioma or other pulmonary conditions. Despite a nationwide ban on the use of asbestos many structures still contain the toxin and as time progresses more people could develop the lethal cancer. Medical innovation will hopefully lead to more survivors of mesothelioma.
