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Record Decline in U.S. Cancer Death Rates

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According to a report by the American Cancer Society, data from 2017-2018 shows a record decline in U.S. cancer death rates – a drop of 2.4%. The year 2016-2017 cancer deaths dropped 2.2%. In general, the death rate has been declining since 1991 – a decline of 31% from 1991 to 2018. Death rates also decreased for prostate, colorectal and breast cancer. This is great news and positive news as we approach National Cancer Month in February. But what is the cause?

Why the decline in U.S. cancer death rates?

Since almost half of the decline is due to one form of cancer, lung cancer, we can point to a decrease in smoking over this time. While this is a large factor, there are also improvements in surgery, diagnostics, new pharmaceuticals, and more targeted radiation that have contributed to the decline. These factors, as well as immunotherapies, have helped decrease the other cancers as well. For those who suffer from lung cancer, including those who suffer from asbestos-related lung cancer, this report should be encouraging.

Dr. Deborah Schrag, chief of population sciences at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute stated, “Both men and women who are diagnosed with lung cancer are surviving longer, and that’s really fantastic news.”  While acknowledging the improvement, Dr. Schrag also commented, “We have a lot of good progress. We should celebrate that, but we shouldn’t declare victory.”

Why not declare victory?

With this steady decline in U.S. cancer death rates, why not declare victory? Cancer is still the second leading cause of death behind heart disease. Cancer led to the deaths of 599,000 Americans in 2018. It is projected there will be 609,000 cancer deaths in 2021. Obviously, there is still much research ahead. However, there are also other factors that won’t be helped by scientific research and high tech treatments. To improve statistics in the following problem areas there will need to be more education, individual awareness of lifestyle and cultural challenges, medical personnel, and state and city planning.

• Though cervical cancer is virtually preventable with medical screenings and the HPV vaccine, 2018 had 4,000 women die from this cancer.

• Black patients’ survival rates are below that of white patients’ for almost all cancers.

• There are geographic differences in death rates, including: statewide detection differences, and areas with societal activities leading to smoking or obesity.

• There’s a concern that the death decline seen in colorectal and breast cancers have slowed in the past few years and progress for prostate cancer has actually stopped.

Possible effects of the coronavirus pandemic on cancer deaths

The fear, and difficulty, of going to medical facilities for routine exams or tests when unusual symptoms appear are often delayed or skipped entirely. This can lead to later diagnoses and, potentially, more deaths. The effects will probably not be known quickly. As Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director of surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the referenced report, said, “This will be an impact that will be felt slowly over the next decade.”

With vaccinations in process for Covid-19, cancer doctors anticipate, and hope, the pandemic will be a minor interruption in the decades- long progress made in the fight against cancer deaths.

Asbestos, Quebec Has A New Name

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Asbestos, Quebec has a new name after an emotional search for a new name to replace the one that once proclaimed the town’s pride as a well-known global exporter of asbestos.

The name discussion began

After years as a global supplier of asbestos from the nearby Jeffrey Mine, there was a suggestion in 2006 that a name change would benefit the town. This was rejected by many. Asbestos produced livelihoods for the community for 141 years. Even with it’s tarnished reputation as a deadly mineral, it continued its emotional attachment to many in the town. Generations worked the mine and it brought prosperity to Asbestos, Quebec.

The name discussion continued

The Jeffrey Mine closed in 2011. That made it necessary to bring in new businesses, but few were willing to attach their names to a town called Asbestos. For decades it was known that asbestos, while it had many good qualities, had negatives that were far grimmer. Exposure to asbestos can bring about lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma – a disease that can take decades to diagnose, but can kill within a year to five years. Patients rarely live any longer. Residents of Asbestos experienced the ravages of this disease, so were aware of the price paid for the years of prosperity.

With the facts undeniable, the mayor once again brought up a name change in 2019. While the emotions were still there, with many against a change, four potential names were presented to the citizens. None of these was a clear winner, so eventually six names were submitted for a vote. Residents 14 years and older were eligible.

Asbestos, Quebec has a new name

On October 19, after three rounds of voting, Val-des-Sources won with 51% of the vote. Translated, the name means “Valley of the Springs.” Nearly half the eligible population voted, 3,000 residents in all.

Huges Grimard, mayor, said, “I know that changing the name is a very emotional subject — for us, too — since the beginning. But to have all the citizens who came out to vote, that tells me that we succeeded in winning over the population, and that makes me very proud.”

Asbestos, Quebec: In Search of a New Name, or Is It?

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Asbestos, Quebec, Canada – In search of a new name to replace the one that once proclaimed the town’s pride as a well-known global exporter of asbestos. For 141 years, since the opening of the Jeffrey Mine in 1879, the town based its identity on asbestos. By the 1970s and 1980s, this fame began turning against the town. The dangers of asbestos became known, leading to problems enticing businesses to relocate to Asbestos. Fewer tourists wanted to visit for a tour of the mine.

In search of a new name for Asbestos, Quebec?

In 2006, changing the name of the town was first suggested to the citizens. The idea was rejected by many since memories of the good days were still fresh. But, in 2019, the mayor said the town no longer had a choice. Companies did not want the name Asbestos associated with them or their products. The mines closed in 2011, leaving an economic hole that needed filling.  

Finalists for the new name

Originally, a new name was scheduled for May of 2020, but the process has not gone smoothly. There are requirements for a name change, including:

• a reflection of the area or people,

• it must be in French,

• it cannot be the name of a saint or other person.

Hundreds of suggestions came in and, of those, the municipal council chose four. When the names were revealed, this town, with a population of 7,096, was not pleased. The names and associated complaints:

Apalone – a local species of turtle

A common comment stated there is no pride in living in a soft turtle city.

Jeffrey – for W.H. Jeffrey, the namesake of the Jeffrey asbestos mine

Critics say this still ties the town to asbestos and the leaders indirectly tied to the deaths of many workers. One requirement stated no names of persons.

Phénix – the mythical bird who arose from flames to begin anew

This has no connection to local history.

Trois-Lacs –  a local lake

While the name sounds inviting, it is known as one of the worst lakes in Quebec.

The voting

The mayor, Hugues Grimard, issued a statement, “I am very happy with the approach we have adopted throughout the process and especially with the involvement of our population. I invite our citizens to come and vote in large numbers!”

However, on September 16, the general manager for Asbestos, Quebec, Georges-Andre Gagne, tried to quell the conflict saying, ”some people have expressed their disagreement with the names proposed” and called for a constructive and respectful debate.

The strife is such that some citizens want to keep the name Asbestos, even though it is the name of a toxic and sometimes deadly mineral. Asbestos can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma – a deadly form of cancer.

One citizen, Alexandre Cote, wrote on Facebook, “Honestly, it’s a setup to get Trois-Lacs! The rest of the names are really awful.” His comment joined the many who just said, “ridiculous!!”

The search of a new name will hopefully be settled when voted on between October 14 and 18 by citizens over 14.

First New Mesothelioma Therapy Approved by FDA in Over 15 Years

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The first new mesothelioma therapy approved by the FDA is based on a trial. In this single-arm STELLAR trial, the median overall survival rate was 18.2 months with patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma who received TTF plus chemotherapy. This combination of treatments comprises the NovoTTF-100L System along with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy for front-line treatment.

History of new mesothelioma therapy

Bill Doyle, executive chairman of Novocure, the developer of NovoTTF-100L stated, “Since 2000, we have been developing and commercializing Tumor Treating Fields (TTF) to extend survivals in some of the most aggressive forms of cancer. FDA approval of NovoTTF-100L provides patients with the first FDA-approved treatment for MPM in more than 15 years and, as our first FDA-approved torso cancer indication, marks a major milestone for Novocure. We are thankful for the patients, caregivers and health care providers who partnered with us to make this possible.”

What is malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)?

Strongly linked to asbestos exposure, MPM is a rare malignancy. Approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with MPM each year in the US. This new therapy is welcome news as there was only one FDA-approved therapy prior to the NovoTTF-100L approval. That treatment consisted of pemetrexed plus cisplatin.

In addition to extending life, this new mesothelioma therapy approved by the FDA, is noninvasive, delivering TTF directly to the region of the tumor. No increase in serious systemic wide effects were noted with this new therapy.

Results showed patient overall survival at:
• 21.2 months for epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma (53 patients)
• 12.1 month for non-epithelioid malignant pleural mesothelioma (21 patients)
• 62% of those in the STELLAR study were alive at one year.
• Disease control when at least one CT scan was given as a follow-up was 97% (72 patients).

Mary Hesdorffer, NP, executive director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, said “MPM is a devastating disease, with only 10 to 20 percent of patients being candidates for surgery to remove the tumor. Typically, mesothelioma patients who cannot have surgery receive palliative care to mitigate their symptoms. NovoTTF-100L provides unresectable MPM patients with a treatment option that may improve survival. We are encouraged by the FDA approval and hope it is just the beginning of innovation in the treatment of this aggressive disease.”

Asbestos Stopped the Clock

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Asbestos in LSU clock tower
LSU Clock Tower

After almost a hundred years of service, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Memorial Tower in Baton Rouge was ready for restoration, but asbestos stopped the clock tower project when the potentially deadly mineral was found in the interior.

History

The tower was built in the early 1920s in memory of 1,447 Louisiana soldiers who died in World War I. The interior of the tower houses a military museum.

The Memorial Tower clock holds a special place in the heart of students and the community for its chimes. The bells ring every quarter hour until 10 pm and at noon they ring the tune of the university’s alma mater song. On Valentine’s Day, tradition states that receiving a kiss under the tower at the ringing of the chimes at midnight – the only night they ring past 10 pm – confirms a student is now an “official” LSU student.

The 175’ tall building was designed in the Italian Renaissance style and is a landmark in the city.

From its history, it is evident the tower is an important part of Louisiana’s past – from its construction in 1923, to today, and into the future. The restoration will ensure the building and its traditions carry on for future generations of students.

The restoration

Finding asbestos was not completely unexpected, as many buildings in the United States were built using the mineral from the 1920s until the late 1970s. Until renovations began, the asbestos was undisturbed and therefore not a danger. But once substances containing asbestos are handled, fibers can become airborne and inhaled by workers or others who are in the affected area.

When found in the tower, work on the interior was stopped and tests are currently underway. Most other buildings on the LSU campus were also constructed during this time period, meaning that as they are restored, they may also need testing and possibly abatement.

Because the asbestos was discovered at the beginning of the restoration, the university states there is no threat to students or faculty members. As a precaution, remodeling or renovations performed on any commercial buildings, schools, or residences during the time period asbestos was commonly used in construction, may require testing on possible asbestos-laden products before initiating a project.

Exposure to asbestos is a known cause of cancers, such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. At this time, mesothelioma remains a fatal disease. Mesothelioma can go undetected for decades – even 50 years – which makes it a silent killer. Early detection is critical.

Asbestos stopped the clock, but it will chime again

Exterior renovations continue and the entire $6.8 million project should be completed by the 2020 Fall semester. Baton Rouge, especially LSU students and alumni, look forward to enjoying their celebrated clock tower once again.

Photo by: Kkmurray – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2666826