Information for
victims of the lung cancer mesothelioma

 

We provide general mesothelioma data, stages of the cancer, treatment options, treatment by stage, more asbestos related problems, as well as links and information about legal help if needed from an asbestos attorney/mesothelioma lawyer.

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).

Mesothelioma

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 Floor Removal Tile here. . .

To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about Asbestos Floor Removal Tile.

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 Floor Removal Tile 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

Angeles Asbestos Los Removal
Asbestos Attorney Apple Valley
Asbestos Attorney Maryland
Asbestos By Caused Disease
Asbestos Inspection
Asbestos Law Ny Removal Shingle
Asbestos Lawyer Dallas
Asbestos Removal Equipment
Asbestos Removal Service
Asbestos Removal Tile Vinyl
Asbestos Roof
Asbestos Survey Company
Asbestos Type
Asbestosis Diagnosis
Asbestosis Litigation
Attorney Agoura Hills Asbestos
California Mesothelioma Attorney
Cancer Esophageal Mesothelioma
County Hendry Lawyer Mesothelioma
Iowa Mesothelioma Attorney
Lung Cancer From Asbestos
Mesothelioma Cancer
Mesothelioma Lawyer Houston
Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
Mesothelioma Support
Philadelphia Asbestos Lawyer
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorney
South Dakota Mesothelioma Lawyer
Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile
Virginia Mesothelioma Attorney

Mesothelioma

What is asbestos?

"Asbestos" is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. These fibers are not affected by heat or chemicals and do not conduct electricity. For these reasons, asbestos has been widely used in many industries. Four types of asbestos have been commonly used:

Chrysotile, or white asbestos (curly, flexible white fibers), which accounts for about 90 percent of the asbestos currently used in industry; Amosite (straight, brittle fibers that are light gray to pale brown in color); Crocidolite, or blue asbestos (straight blue fibers); and Anthophyllite (brittle white fibers). Chrysotile asbestos, with its curly fibers, is in the serpentine family of minerals. The other types of asbestos, which all have needle-like fibers, are known as amphiboles.

Asbestos fiber masses tend to break easily into a dust composed of tiny particles that can float in the air and stick to clothes. The fibers may be easily inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems.

Mesothelioma - Ohio Attorney General Tries to Stop Anti-Asbestos Litigation Legislation - Part 1

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Attorney General Jim Petro has approved the summary of an attempt to stop a law that would make it more difficult for Ohioans to sue for damages if they were exposed to asbestos but not showing signs of illness.

Petro, in a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, said a summary of the law written by backers of a referendum to keep the law from going into effect represented a "fair and truthful statement" of the referendum.

Petro rejected the language of a previous summary because it did not include the effect of the referendum, which would nullify the law passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Bob Taft before it could take effect, Petro said.

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).

Here are some Additional
Mesothelioma Resources

-
Asbestos Professionals. Common Products. Enforcement. Floor Tile Removal. Forms ... Can I remove asbestos flooring myself? What tools do I need? How do I ...
procedures for the removal of vinyl asbestos floor tile (VAT), only. Make sure you read and ... Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile (VAT) Removal ...
Floor Removal. CounterTop Replacement. FiberGlass Repair. Liners and ... When the flooring may contain asbestos, it is better to cover the surface with tile. ...
Because asbestos floor tile and mastic removed by non-friable ... removal of the floor tile need to protect themselves from the asbestos fibers in the air. ...
... asbestos ceiling removal - all in complete compliance with governmental ... all of our quality asbestos advice and removal services, including killing bed ...
 

Today's News Related To Mesothelioma

  • Asbestos removal goes on and on (Charleston Daily Mail)
    posted on July 31, 2008 09:17:52 am
    CHARLESTON, W.Va.--For more than 20 years, Kanawha County school officials have been working to rid the school system of asbestos. And the job is far from over.  Theyre not sure how much the work has cost and how much is left to be done, but they keep...
  • ASBESTOS IN PLEASANTVILLE SCHOOL (NBC40 South Jersey)
    posted on August 25, 2008 09:32:51 pm
    PLEASANTVILLE--- An environmental cleanup project is underway at the South Main Street Elementary School, after workers discovered asbestos floor tile...
  • Mooseheart makeover nearly complete (The Batavia Sun)
    posted on August 01, 2008 04:08:17 am
    MOOSEHEART -- Call it a different type of homework. When students return to classes on the Mooseheart campus Aug. 20, they will see the results of a summer's worth of masonry work and painting to improve the 54-year-old school.
  • Reno raises funds for backlog of repairs (Reno Gazette-Journal)
    posted on August 22, 2008 03:51:15 am
    To prevent another Moana Pool fiasco, the Reno City Council is proceeding with a $8.5 million bond issue to deal with a backlog of repairs for recreational facilities.
  • Mooseheart facelift nearly done (The Courier News)
    posted on August 01, 2008 04:42:08 am
    When students return to classes on the Mooseheart campus Wednesday, Aug. 20, they will see the results of a summer's worth of masonry work and painting to improve the 54-year-old school. Officials expect the massive makeover to extend the school building's life at the campus on Illinois 31 between North Aurora and Batavia.


  

   
 

Featured Mesothelioma Articles

Mesothelioma - Cancer of the Lung Lining - Part 2

The Mesothelioma is referred to by different names, depending on what part of the body it is found in. In the abdomen, it is called the peritoneum, in the lungs, the pleura, and in the heart, the pericardium. These correspond to peritoneum Mesothelioma (cancer of the abdomen/stomach), pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining) and pericardium Mesothelioma.

Years to Develop Mesothelioma is characterized by having a long latency period, which means that symptoms do not develop until 20-50 years after exposure to what caused it. The average age at which symptoms usually begin to appear is around 60 years old. It is estimated that about 3,000 to 4,000 cases of Mesothelioma are diagnosed each years in the US. The number of cases reported each year is increasing.

Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers - Part 6b

If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is Mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

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.