Asbestos exposure is most often linked to shipyards, aluminum smelters, oil refineries and other industrial workplaces. But, because asbestos was often used to insulate homes, especially from the late 1950s through the 1970s, nearly anyone could have been exposed to this dangerous carcinogen,

For decades, from the early 1960s to 1990, the W.R. Grace Company manufactured a product called Zonolite. It was used in attics, crawlspaces, and rolled fiberglass insulation. When the material was new, it could usually be identified by a brownish–silver or golden color, with a glittery, granular appearance. After the material has aged, its puffy, nugget–shaped granules turn black or gray.

This particular type of insulation poses a substantial risk, as asbestos has been known to cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. If asbestos insulation is suspected in your attic, tests should be performed by a licensed professional. Any disturbance to the material should be avoided, and all safety precautions should be taken to prevent asbestos fibers from releasing into the air.

It was widely used in the midwest but also in Texas.

In September, a bankruptcy court ruled that consumers can file claims against W.R. Grace for damages damages resulting from lowered property values, asbestos abatement fees, costs of removal, and economic loss caused by Zonlite. However, the deadline for filing a claim is Oct. 31.

A common cholesterol drug may be the next breakthrough in advanced cancer treatment. The drug, called Lovastatin, was the first of the statin group of lipid fighters and was introduced in 1980. In lab tests, Lovastatin had an unexpected yet exciting side effect—it attacked cancer cells as well as lipids.

In order for Lovastatin to be effective against cancer tumors, the drug must be administered in doses too high for most patients to handle. Now scientists have found that a similar outcome can be achieved by combining safe doses of Lovastatin with other drugs like interferon.

The results so far have been encouraging. Several patients with late stage melanoma (an extremely fatal form of skin cancer) have seen tumors regress or disappear in a matter of weeks. In fact, the first patient to receive this experimental treatment had stage 4 melanoma that completely disappeared to leave him cancer-free to this day.

Researchers expect for this to transfer to several other cancers including pancreatic, colon and kidney cancer, as well as mesothelioma. It may also be effective against several osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Unfortunately, they do not expect this treatment to be effective against tumors in the brain.

Of all the common side effects of chemotherapy, most patients undergoing the Levastatin treatment only experience fatigue.

This is an outpatient treatment. Previous cancer treatment does not make a person ineligible. If you would like to read more, visit www.neoplas.org <http://www.neoplas.org> .