What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the
outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs (pleura), or around the abdominal
organs (peritoneum).
 |
The law limits the amount of
time after a patient incurs an injury to file suit.
The amount of time varies based on the theory
of liability and the state in which the patient files the suit.
If you or someone you love is suffering from
mesothelioma – or has died as a result of it –
contact us.
We can help you understand your rights and
options, and ensure that you have the opportunity to seek
compensation for your injuries. |
|
|
|
|
What does asbestos have to do with mesothelioma?
The only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States is previous
exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos manufacturers knew about the hazards of
asbestos seventy years ago - but they kept this knowledge to themselves. The
first warnings given to workers exposed to asbestos were in the mid-1960s, and
they were terribly inadequate. Even today, workers are not always told they are
working around asbestos and are at risk for asbestos disease.
What can someone with mesothelioma do?
- Seek out the best and most up-to-date information.
- Seek out the best medical care.
- Early screening for mesothelioma diagnosis.
- Stay in close contact with your doctor.
- Consider whether or not you want to bring a lawsuit because of this
asbestos-related injury.
- Remember that resources are available to you through community and
medical support groups, asbestos victims' organizations, your place of
worship, as well as your family and friends.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years,
mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of
mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs
more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease
can appear in either men or women at any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of
asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all
cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any
known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of
strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven.
Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement,
brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If
tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing
process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health
problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk
of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other
cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the
combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's
risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use
greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of
American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks
associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of
developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work
in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the
heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable
levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear
personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to
asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief
exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who
are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos
workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other
asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos
dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the
chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are
usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the
workplace.
People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet
Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet
describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible
benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI
Publications Locator Web site at
http://cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.
Mesothelioma Lawsuit is the best way to find information about
Mesothelioma resources.
This web page takes the legwork out of finding great
Mesothelioma resources. We have compiled great links to
Mesothelioma
information and pages dedicated to
Asbestos Attorney Joshua Tree here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Asbestos Attorney Joshua Tree.
We've taken the time to check out each and every featured Mesothelioma website to make sure they are quality sites, with quality information.
Here you will find
some of the best resources on Asbestos Attorney Joshua Tree ever compiled
and some incredible resources
for Mesothelioma.
In our "Featured Mesothelioma Article"
section, you'll find an article related to Mesothelioma.
We will be providing you with updated and new featured articles on a regular
basis.
Additional
Mesothelioma links
23 Malignant Mesothelioma Research
Arkansas Asbestos Lawyer Mesothelioma
Article Asbestos
Asbestos And Identification
Asbestos Association Information
Asbestos Attorney Jersey New
Asbestos Attorney Tx
Asbestos Lawsuit Mesothelioma Statistics
Asbestos Legislation Senate
Asbestos Mesothelioma Legal
Asbestos Mesothelioma Pericardial
Asbestos Poisoning Symptom
Asbestos Removal Tile Vinyl
Asbestos Roof Shingles
Asbestos Test Lab
Asbestos Treatment
Asbestos Waste Disposal
Attorney Austin Mesothelioma Pleural
Charlotte County Mesothelioma Attorney
Diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma
Hendry County Mesothelioma Attorney
Information Legal Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Mesothelioma Law
Montana Mesothelioma Attorney
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Attorney
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer - Internet Error
Remove Asbestos
South Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer
St Louis Mesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is the
most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Virtually all cases of malignant
mesothelioma are attributable to asbestos exposure.
These web pages contain useful mesothelioma information for the sufferers of
malignant mesothelioma disease. Knowledge of available mesothelioma treatment
options can be an essential weapon in the fight against the progression of this
deadly disease.mesothelioma information
If you would like to explore your legal rights or have any questions about
mesothelioma asbestos disease or any particular mesothelioma treatment, please
contact a mesothelioma attorney.
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
Screening Methods to Identify
Asbestos-Related Disease:
After a preliminary physical
examination, the doctor may need to look inside your chest cavity with a
thorascope for accurate diagnosis. During this thoracoscopy procedure, a cut
will be made in your chest and a small piece of tissue (biopsy) may removed for
examination. While you may feel some pressure, there is usually no pain.
Another special tool that may be used is the peritoneoscope, which allows for
examination inside your abdomen. This instrument is inserted into an opening
made in the abdomen, and a biopsy specimen may also be taken.
If the presence of fluid is indicated by either of these procedures, the doctor
may drain it by inserting a needle into the affected areaa. Removal of chest
fluid is called thoracentesis; removal of abdominal fluid is call paracentesis.
Other screening methods for diagnosis of asbestos-related disease include
various imaging tests. In addition to X-rays, methods include magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET). A more recent and promising
screening method is the computed tomography (CT) scan.
Computed Tomagraphy / CT Scan:
Computed tomagraphy, or spiral CT
scan, is a special radiographic technique that produces a clear cross-sectional
image that allows a radiologist to see distinct aspects of the lung or pleura
that are not readily apparent from the standard X-ray image. Recent studies
(CHEST 2002;122:15-20 and MAYO CLIN PROC 2002;77:329-333) support the use of
annual chest computed tomography (CT scans) exams as a valuable screening tool
for people with a high risk of developing lung cancer, including mesothelioma
cancer. There does appear to be conflicting assessment as to the
cost-effectiveness of CT screening. A 2003 study by Johns Hopkins raises this
concern about the cost-effectiveness of CT scans and states, "There is a
downside to this, including high costs and possible harm to individuals who may
unnecessarily get invasive procedures if the scan detects a benign lung nodule."
A more recent study in Chest, 2003:124:614-621 comes to a different conclusion:
"A baseline low-dose CT scan for lung cancer screening is potentially highly
cost-effective and compares favorably to the cost-effectiveness ratios of other
screening programs."
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 1
Mesothelioma is a rare form of
cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the Mesothelioma, a
protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who
develop Mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
What is the Mesothelioma? The Mesothelioma is a membrane that covers and
protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers
of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac
around it. The Mesothelioma produces a lubricating fluid that is released
between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the
expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The Mesothelioma has different names, depending on its location in the body. The
peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the
abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines
the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The
mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called
the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal
reproductive organs in women.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
-
Asbestos Attorneys in Joshua Tree, CA (California) at Local.com - Search for Joshua Tree businesses, products and services at the web's leading Local Search Engine |
Find Asbestos Diseases Attorneys near Joshua Tree, California at SuperPages.com. Superpages has listings for many more Joshua Tree businesses. |
Asbestos and Mesothelioma information: find an attorney for Asbestos and ... Looking for a Joshua Tree, CA Mesothelioma attorney? ... |
... and Safety. Occupational Health and Safety " Asbestos Lawyers Joshua Tree ... International Chemical Safety Cards. Types Of Hazardous Waste. Asbestos Attorneys ... |
... Joshua Tree, California. Mesothelioma Assistance from Attorneys in Joshua Tree, ... Asbestos, Benlate Fungicide, Benzene, Chemical Exposure, Creosote, Diesel ... |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Featured
Mesothelioma Articles |
Mesothelioma -
Big Payout Too Late
WORKING in clouds of asbestos
dust came back to haunt former builder Stewart Beckworth decades later.
Mr. Beckworth, 63, who has asbestos-related lung cancer, has just won a large
compensation payout from the James Hardie company but it provides little comfort
for the father of nine. Mr. Beckworth, of Mt Martha, knows Mesothelioma will
kill him but he is more worried about other problems confronting his devastated
family.
His wife Ginny, 61, has much more than her husband's illness to cope with. She
has a heartbreaking wait hoping for the green light to donate one of her kidneys
to accountant son Nathan. Nathan Beckworth, 34, was born with cystic fibrosis
and had a heart-lung transplant 14 years ago. He is one of the longest survivors
of the operation but he suffered another blow when stricken with kidney failure.
Only a transplant can now save his life but he must build up lung capacity for
the operation.
The couple also care for Mrs. Beckworth's mother, 96, who has recently been
seriously ill. "I'm angry this happened to me," Mr. Beckworth said. "But I'm
also angry what it has done to my family. "I've got a lovely family and we love
one another to death. I see those kids hysterical that dad's not going to be
around to walk them down the aisle or to see the grandkids born. It's a terrible
thing."
Mr. Beckworth sued James Hardie, claiming that although it knew its asbestos
products were dangerous it did not to warn builders. Hardie's settled the case
before it got to court but continued to deny liability. Mrs. Beckworth said
waiting for the kidney transplant operation, coping with her sick mother and
dealing with her husband's cancer was taking its toll. "It's awful. I thought to
myself, 'please, I don't want three funerals'," she said. Mr. Beckworth had
nothing but contempt for Hardie's.
"I'm a normal working man. I don't deserve to be poisoned by people like that,"
he said. Mr. Beckworth was a builder on the Mornington Peninsula for more than
40 years. All of his constructions until the late '70s contained asbestos cement
sheeting. "I had no idea this dust was deadly," he said.
He was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in January and told he had six to 12 months
to live. "I thought what am I going to do? I've got kids crying, I've got my
wife crying, I'm a bit upset myself," he said. Mr. Beckworth's solicitor, Peter
Gordon, a partner at Slater and Gordon, said his case was sadly not unusual.
He said more builders would develop Mesothelioma but another danger was to home
renovators. "Stewart is one of a generation of Australians who have been exposed
this way by Hardies but it could be any one of us in the future," he said.
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
Explore the National Cancer
Institute's PDQ
The National Cancer Institute
provides a computer service called PDQ to give up-to-date information on cancer
issues for patients, their families, doctors, and other healthcare
professionals. Detailed information on detection, diagnosis, treatment, support
groups, clinical trials and treatments is reviewed and updated each month by
oncology experts. Each topic is discussed in two tracks, one for patients and
one for healthcare professionals.
You might want to visit the information written for patients first, in order to
get a clear understanding of the issues discussed in layman's terms. For more
detailed information, you can then explore the physician's track.
By going to NCI's CancerNet, you can research the PDQ informational summaries
for malignant mesothelioma; these summaries are written for both patient or
professional readers. You will also find a useful overview on researching,
treating, and coping with malignant mesothelioma.
You will find links to other treatment specific PDQ pages throughout this
website.
Mesothelioma
Who
is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used
commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War
II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to
asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not
known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found
among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers
of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and
other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in
the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment
to lower their risk of exposure. The risk of asbestos-related disease increases
with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some
individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other
hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos
workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other
asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos
dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the
chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are
usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the
workplace.
|
|
