We will remember 2020 for many reasons, with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic at or near the top of the list.

In the mesothelioma community, it was a year of COVID-related stress and FDA-approved hope. It was filled with emerging treatments and therapies made available to mesothelioma patients, victims receiving their deserved compensation, brands turning away from the dangerous ingredient talc, and important developments among some of the top hospitals.

When the calendar flips to a new year, we should remember 2020 for all the progress it brought in fighting this rare and deadly cancer. Here are the top 10 mesothelioma stories from the past year.

This was the biggest news of 2020 for mesothelioma patients, doctors, researchers, caregivers, advocates and anyone else. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the immunotherapy combination for pleural mesothelioma. The approval is explicitly for unresectable cases, meaning those that cant be helped with surgery.

Opdivo and Yervoy brand names for nivolumab and ipilimumab, respectively increase survival by four months compared to chemotherapy. The combination is also safe compared to chemotherapy, causing mild rashes and manageable side effects in most cases.

The COVID-19 pandemic swept through the United States and elsewhere causing understandable anxiety and stress. The group most affected was people with pre-existing respiratory issues, such as mesothelioma.

The coronavirus attacks the lungs and pleural mesothelioma forms in the lining next to the lungs. Patients with mesothelioma tumors on the lungs are at risk of contracting a severe case of COVID-19. Their depleted respiratory health and struggling immune system leave the body susceptible to other diseases, such as this virus.

The U.S. House of Representatives appeared destined to approve an asbestos ban during its September session. That destiny was scrapped at the 11th hour due to partisan politics.

The House indefinitely delayed any vote on the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, and theres no telling when the congress leaders will take up the issue again. The decision came down to semantics and fine-print language within the bill, which is an unfortunate reason to keep the door open for asbestos to continue affecting and killing thousands of Americans each year.

Dr. Abraham Avi Lebenthal started the Boston VA mesothelioma program a decade ago. Now, he has handed the reins to Dr. Hassan Khalil, the newest thoracic surgeon at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

Dr. Khalil spoke to Mesothelioma Guide about joining Brigham and Womens staff, plus taking over the VA program. He trained under three of the best mesothelioma specialists in the world: Dr. Lebenthal, Dr. Raphael Bueno and Dr. Marcelo DaSilva.

One of the top stories in 2019 was the FDA approving a tumor treating fields device for unresectable pleural mesothelioma. Since the approval around 19 months ago, the device has grown in popularity and accessibility.

The device, originally called the NovoTTF-100L System, was rebranded as Optune Lua. Its available in more than 70 hospitals spanning 28 states.

Once experts identified the link between talc and mesothelioma the common thread being asbestos Johnson & Johnson became one of the main characters in the ongoing controversy.

The company decided in May to discontinue the talc versions of those products in the U.S. and Canada. The massive stack of legal claims against the company was the main reason for the move.

Johnson & Johnsons Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder both rely on talcum powder, which comes from the mineral talc. Asbestos can contaminate talc and lead to mesothelioma for consumers, which led to tens of thousands of lawsuits

Johnson & Johnsons top officials likely didnt want to see another $750 million verdict from a mesothelioma case, which also led to them paying more than $100 million to settle 1,000 talc cancer claims.

Johnson & Johnson isnt the only company struggling with legal claims and negative press regarding its talc products. The Environmental Working Group tested cosmetics recently and found traces of asbestos in 15% of them, sounding alarms about the dangers of many products on the market.

Opdivo and Yervoy werent the first two immunotherapy drugs approved for mesothelioma in 2020. The FDA decided in June to approve Keytruda, the brand name for pembrolizumab.

The approval is for a small subset of patients who have high levels of PD-L1. This cancerous protein appears on mesothelioma tumors and subdues the immune system. However, Keytruda halts the proteins power and elevates the immune response against mesothelioma.

Dr. DaSilva left Brigham and Womens Hospital towards the end of 2019 to jump-start the new mesothelioma program at AdventHealth in Orlando. Early in 2020, he started putting together his team and seeing the first patients.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. DaSilva and the AdventHealth staff continued the International Mesothelioma Treatment Programs progress. He had eight patients by June, with five of them having surgery.

Schools and school districts in Pennsylvania have faced asbestos issues since last year. In 2020, though, the problems resulted in criminal charges.

Two former Scranton School District officials former superintendent Alexis Kirijan and former director of operations Jeffrey Brazil were charged with felony child endangerment. Then-current maintenance supervisor Joseph Slack was also charged.

Schools in Philadelphia closed at the start of 2020 due to widespread asbestos concerns. One city school district teacher was diagnosed with mesothelioma and connected her diagnosis to the unsafe working conditions in classrooms.

Sources & Author

Devin Golden is the content writer for Mesothelioma Guide. He produces mesothelioma-related content on various mediums, including the Mesothelioma Guide website and social media channels. Devin's objective is to translate complex information regarding mesothelioma into informative, easily absorbable content to help patients and their loved ones.

Get in depth knowledge about your diagnosis & the best treatments.

Learn More

See the rest here:

Mesothelioma in 2020: Top 10 Stories on FDA Approvals, COVID-19 and More - Mesothelioma Guide