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 Cancer Lung Related here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Asbestos Cancer Lung Related.
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 Cancer Lung Related 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
Abdominal Mesothelioma
Acoustic Ceiling And Asbestos
Asbestos Abatement And Removal Services
Asbestos Asbestos Attorney Mesothelioma
Asbestos Association Information
Asbestos Bulk Sampling
Asbestos Cancer Info
Asbestos Cancer Learn Lung
Asbestos Certification Removal
Asbestos Class Action Lawsuit
Asbestos Exposure Testing
Asbestos Lawyer Missouri
Asbestos Lawyer New York - Internet Error
Asbestos Paint Siding
Asbestos School Lawsuit
Asbestos Settlement
Asbestosis Attorney New York
Asbestosis Claim Compensation
Asbestosis Compensation
Attorney Austin Benign Mesothelioma
Attorney Austin Desmoplastic Mesothelioma
Center Law Mesothelioma
Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Maine Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma Attorney Annapolis
New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer
Pennsylvania Asbestos Lawyer
South Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer
Wisconsin Mesothelioma Attorney
Wisconsin Mesothelioma Lawyer
Peritoneal mesothelioma
X-rays and CT scans are,
typically, the first step towards detecting peritoneal mesothelioma. The actual
diagnosis is typically achieved by obtaining a piece of tissue. The medical
procedure of looking at the peritoneum is known as a peritoneoscopy. It is a
hospital procedure and requires anesthesia. If an abnormality is seen, the
doctor will attempt to obtain a tissue sample - this is known as a biopsy. The
tissue sample will be examined by a pathologist who makes a diagnosis using
microscopic analysis of specialized stains.
There are at least two explanations for how asbestos fibers can get into the
peritoneum. The first is that fibers caught by the mucus of the trachea and
bronchi end up being swallowed. Some of them lodge in the intestinal tract and
from there they can move through the intestinal wall into the peritoneum. The
second explanation is that fibers that lodge in the lungs can move into the
lymphatic system and be transported to the peritoneum.
Medical science does not know exactly how or why, at a cellular level, a
carcinogen like asbestos causes a cell to become malignant (cancerous.) Thus it
is not known whether only one fiber can cause a tumor to develop or whether it
takes many fibers, or what the exact conditions and predispositions are for this
change to happen.
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:
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.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
-
Learn about asbestos related lung disorders including asbestosis, lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, scarring of the lungs, fluid around the lungs, and lung ... |
A fact sheet about asbestos, asbestos-related diseases, and who to contact for more information. National Cancer Institute Fact Sheet 3.21 |
The combination of smoking and exposure to asbestos greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer. ... on asbestos and tobacco-related lung cancer lawsuits ... |
Asbestos related lung cancer occurs in several forms including bronchial ... has not proved to be a reliable pattern in asbestos related lung cancer cases. ... |
... all the diseases related to asbestos exposure, lung cancer has been responsible ... Asbestos-induced lung cancer may not show up on x-rays for twenty years ... |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
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Featured
Mesothelioma Articles |
Mesothelioma -
Lung Cancer Link - Part 2
Hilary Koprowski of Jefferson
University in Philadelphia, who created one of the first polio vaccines, says he
is not surprised that the magnesium chloride preparation did not work. "Nothing
inactivates something 100 per cent," he said. "I would believe there were still
remnants [of SV40] left."
Fresh kidneys The contamination of the Soviet vaccine highlights the need for
safer methods of growing viruses for vaccines, Koprowski says, something he is
trying to tackle by using plant cells. The US stopped using fresh monkey kidneys
for polio vaccine in 2000. But the vaccine is still made in this way in several
other countries.
"I would say that it suggests that [old] vaccines made in different countries
should be examined for possible contamination," says Janet Butel of Baylor
University College of Medicine in Houston, a leading SV40 expert.
"In any epidemiological studies where they're comparing exposed versus
non-exposed, if in fact there was any contaminated vaccine used after 1963, the
control group wouldn't be a control group."
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
"There's no such thing as a free
asbestos screening," Worksafe! Newsletter (October 1998, p.6) Mesothelioma
Treatment Options - Patient Medical Research & Pain Management
Keep up an open dialogue with
your doctor It is natural to want to understand as much as possible about a
disease and its treatments, particularly when the disease is as rare as
malignant mesothelioma. The Internet has opened up a wealth of information on
mesothelioma, however, it is still important to keep in mind that your doctor is
your FIRST and (hopefully) BEST resource for understanding and dealing with this
disease.
This does not mean that you shouldn't explore resources and treatments on your
own; a good doctor wants informed patients who are interested in discussing
every available option. Only a trained physician, however, can help you
understand each treatment and evaluate how it fits in with your particular
circumstances, including the stage of your disease.
There are valuable research and support resources available via the Internet
which can assist you in your efforts to gain medical knowlege as you begin your
interaction with your doctor. To begin, there is an online resource that tutors
on how to use the Internet to research a lung cancer diagnosis. This tutorial
also cautions you as a researcher to be mindful of the limitations of
Internet-based research and to learn how to evaluate the information that you do
find. Another useful tool to assist in being an informed patient is The Cancer
Patient's Workbook: Everything You Need to Stay Organized and Informed, (DK
Books, 2001). This workbook hopes to help the patient better understand their
situation so they may deal with and fight their disease from an informed
position. This interactive guide helps patients cope and also explains how to
receive the best treatment possible.
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.
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