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 Disposal Removal here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Asbestos Disposal Removal.
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 Disposal Removal 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
Article Asbestos
Asbestos Attorney Louis St
Asbestos Ceiling In
Asbestos Cement
Asbestos Consultant Lake Mill
Asbestos Contractor
Asbestos Floor Removal Tile
Asbestos Floor Tile
Asbestos Hampshire Law New
Asbestos Law Arizona
Asbestos Lawyer Dallas
Asbestos Legislation Uk
Asbestos Mesothelioma Legal Information
Asbestosis Compensation
Asbestosis Diagnosis
California Asbestos Law
Colorado Mesothelioma Pleural
Dallas Mesothelioma Law Firm
Define Mesothelioma Pleural - Internet Error
Failure To Diagnose Mesothelioma Case
Lawsuit Maryland Mesothelioma
Louisiana Mesothelioma Attorney
Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyer
Lung Cancer From Asbestos
Madison Asbestos Consultant
Mesothelioma Lawyer Southern California
Mesothelioma Resource
Mesothelioma Resource Online
New Jersey Asbestos Lawyer
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma -
Ohio Attorney General Tries to Stop Anti-Asbestos Litigation Legislation - Part
2
The law would be the first in the
country to require people to prove exposure to asbestos and provide medical
evidence of an asbestos-related illness before continuing with their lawsuits.
The referendum drive is backed by a group of lawyers specializing in asbestos
litigation.
At issue are thousands of cases now pending in Ohio courts filed by people
exposed to the white flaky substance that was widely used in building material
during the 1950s and 1960s and can cause cancer.
The group would have to collect 193,740 signatures - 6 percent of the vote in
the last election for governor - by Sept. 2 to place the referendum on the Nov.
2 ballot.
The last time a referendum was on an Ohio ballot was in 1997, when voters
soundly rejected a law making changes to the workers' compensation system.
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
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
-
... sheds, garages, stables, barns and more. We undertake in depth asbestos surveys and will clear the site of all asbestos ... For asbestos removal, disposal and ... |
... concentrates on asbestos removal asbestos disposal asbestos encapsulation. ... FREE ESTIMATES. Removal Disposal Encapsulation. 508-224-5500. Plymouth ... |
Alltask offers asbestos removal, disposal, surveys and analysis services following asbestos removal regulations as a contractor in the UK |
Newark Carting is the most advanced waste management company in the North East specializing in asbestos removal, Hazmat and waste disposal. |
Asbestos removal specialists, servicing the Sydney, Newcastle & Wollongong areas. Licensed Asbestos Contractors, roof repairs, encapsulation, disposal, cleaning and ... |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
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Featured
Mesothelioma Articles |
Mesothelioma
How
is asbestos used?
Asbestos has been mined and used
commercially in North America since the late 1800s, but its use increased
greatly during World War II. Since then, it has been used in many industries.
For example, the building and construction industry uses it for strengthening
cement and plastics as well as for insulation, fireproofing, and sound
absorption. The shipbuilding industry has used asbestos to insulate boilers,
steampipes, hot water pipes, and nuclear reactors in ships. The automotive
industry uses asbestos in vehicle brakeshoes and clutch pads. More than 5,000
products contain or have contained asbestos, some of which are listed below:
Asbestos cement sheet and pipe products used for water supply and sewage piping,
roofing and siding, casings for electrical wires, fire protection material,
chemical tanks, electrical switchboards and components, and residential and
industrial building materials; Friction products, such as clutch facings; brake
linings for automobiles, railroad cars, and airplanes; and industrial friction
materials; Products containing asbestos paper, such as table pads and
heat-protective mats, heat and electrical wire insulation, industrial filters
for beverages, small appliance components, and underlying material for sheet
flooring; Asbestos textile products, such as packing components, roofing
materials, heat- and fire-resistant clothing, and fireproof draperies; and Other
products, including ceiling and floor tile; gaskets and packings; paints,
coatings, and sealants; caulking and patching tape; and plastics. In the late
1970s, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of asbestos in
wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because these products released
excessive amounts of asbestos fibers into the environment. In addition, asbestos
was voluntarily withdrawn by manufacturers of electric hair dryers. These and
other regulatory actions, coupled with widespread public concern about the
hazards of asbestos, have resulted in a significant annual decline in U.S. use
of asbestos: Domestic use of asbestos amounted to about 560,000 metric tons in
1979, but it had dropped to about 55,000 metric tons by 1989.
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
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.
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