Hmmm, this is disappointing. After two years of decline, the number of people who died from cancer rose in 2005, per an account by the American Cancer Society. Associated Press story here. Over half a million Americans a year die from cancer.
The federal Dept of Veterans Affairs put out a press release noting their leadership in providing hospice care for veterans: “Nearly 9,000 veterans were treated in designated hospice beds at VA facilities in 2007, and thousands of other veterans were referred to community hospices to receive care in their homes.” Care for veterans should be one of our nation’s highest priorities, and the veterans affairs department, through their network of veteran service officers, helps provide that care.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery has an article about peptides in pleural effusions from mesothelioma patients. The level of soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) in the fluid appears to correlate well with mesothelioma presence. Given the difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma, any effective markers are welcome.
