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).
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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. |
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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 Lawyer here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Asbestos Attorney Lawyer.
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 Lawyer 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
Armstrong Asbestos Ceiling Tile
Article Asbestos
Article Asbestos Asbestosis Cancer
Article Journal Mesothelioma
Asbestos Attorney Diagnose Failure
Asbestos Cement Pipe Corrosivity
Asbestos Claim
Asbestos Encapsulation
Asbestos Encapsulation Sydney
Asbestos Encapsulation Uk
Asbestos History
Asbestos Legislation
Asbestos Massachusetts Training
Asbestos Survey
Asbestosis Lawsuit
Asbestosis Lung Picture
Asbestosis Mesothelioma
Austin Lawyer Mesothelioma
Cancer Cell Lung Mesothelioma Small
Collier County Mesothelioma Lawyer
Conducting An Asbestos Survey
Idaho Mesothelioma Attorney
Lawyer Mesothelioma Pleural Washington
Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma Cancer Law
Mesothelioma Clinical Symptom
Mesothelioma Victim Lawsuit Compensation
New Mexico Asbestos Lawyer
St Louis Mesothelioma Attorney
Wisconsin Mesothelioma Attorney
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.
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 7a
How is Mesothelioma treated?
Treatment for Mesothelioma
depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the
patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery,
radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Surgery is a common treatment for Mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of
the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer
of the pleura (pleural Mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation
called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the
lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy
rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the
cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine
(external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through
thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal
radiation therapy).
Mesothelioma
Who
needs to be examined?
Individuals who have been exposed
(or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos dust on the job or at home via a
family contact should inform their physician of their exposure history and any
symptoms. A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung
function tests, may be recommended. Interpretation of the chest x-ray may
require the help of a specialist who is experienced in reading x-rays for
asbestos-related diseases. Other tests also may be necessary.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not become apparent for many
decades after exposure. If any of the following symptoms develop, a physical
examination should be scheduled without delay:
Shortness of breath; A cough or a change in cough pattern; Blood in the sputum
(fluid) coughed up from the lungs; Pain in the chest or abdomen; Difficulty in
swallowing or prolonged hoarseness; and/or Significant weight loss. What are the
treatments for asbestos-related diseases?
The key to successful treatment of asbestos-related diseases lies in early
detection. The health problems caused by asbestosis are due mainly to lung
infections, like pneumonia, that attack weakened lungs. Early medical attention
and prompt, aggressive treatment offer the best chance of success in controlling
such infections. Depending on the situation, doctors may give a vaccine against
influenza or pneumococcal pneumonia as a protective measure.
Treatment of cancer is tailored to the individual patient and may include
surgery, anticancer drugs, radiation, or combinations of these therapies.
Information about cancer treatment is available from the National Cancer
Institute-supported Cancer Information Service, whose toll-free telephone number
is 1-800-4-CANCER.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
-
Mobile, AL Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyers and Attorneys - This free lawyer search can help you find Asbestos Mesothelioma lawyers/attorneys in Mobile, AL (Alabama) |
Asbestos Lawyer at the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, PC. ... View Asbestos Attorney Profiles ... angelos / about our attorneys / contact us / disclaimer ... |
Asbestos Lawyer lawyers at the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, PC ... View Asbestos Attorney Profiles ... about our attorneys / contact us / disclaimer ... |
Asbestos resource provides information on how to choose an asbestos attorney or law firm, a mesothelioma lawyer or law firm, or an asbestosis lawyer or law firm. |
About lawsuits against asbestos corporations and the process of litigation. ... Choosing a Lawyer. Action Plan. Asbestos Lawyers ... More on asbestos toxicology. ... |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
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Featured
Mesothelioma Articles |
Pleural
mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is sometimes
diagnosed by coincidence, before there are any symptoms. For instance, tumors
have been discovered through routine chest x-rays. However, when symptoms occur,
they may include shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite,
chest pains, lower back pains, persistent coughing, difficulty in swallowing,
alone or in combination. An initial medical examination often shows a pleural
effusion, which means an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space - the area
between the lungs and the chest wall.
The first step in detecting pleural mesothelioma is, typically, a chest x-ray or
CT scan. This is often followed by a bronchoscopy, using a viewing scope to look
inside the lungs.
The actual diagnosis usually requires obtaining a piece of tissue through a
biopsy. This could be a needle biopsy, an open biopsy, or through a tube with a
camera (thoracoscopy or chest scope.) If an abnormality is seen through the
camera then a tissue sample can be taken at the same time, using the same tube.
This is a hospital procedure that requires anesthesia, but is not usually
painful. The tissue sample is tested by a pathologist.
Fluid build-up from the pleural effusion can generally be seen on a chest x-ray
and heard during a physical examination, but a firm diagnosis of mesothelioma
can only be made through a biopsy and pathological testing. This is important
because there are also benign pleural effusions and other tumors that have a
similar appearance to mesothelioma. Diagnosing mesothelioma can be quite
difficult; it requires special lab stains, and much experience in understanding
them.
The spread of the tumor over the pleura causes pleural thickening. This can
reduce the flexibility of the pleura and encase the lungs in an increasingly
restrictive girdle. With the lungs restricted, they get smaller and less
functional, and breathing becomes more difficult. At first a person with
mesothelioma may be breathless only when he or she exercises, but as lung
function drops, he or she can become short of breath even while resting.
The tumor spreads by direct invasion of surrounding tissue. As it spreads inward
it can compress the lungs. As the tumor spreads outward it can invade the chest
wall and ribs, and this can be extremely painful.
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers
What are the Risk Factors for
Mesothelioma? - Part 3
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.
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
The National Cancer Institute's
definition of screening for cancer is the examination or testing of people for
early signs of certain type of cancer even though they have no symptons - this
is the best way to achieve a diagnosis as early as possible. Early detection and
diagnosis is particularly important for people with historical exposure to
asbestos due to the latency period (up to 30 years) before which symptoms of
malignant mesothelioma cancer may become apparent.
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