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 In Law Virginia here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Asbestos In Law Virginia.
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 In Law Virginia 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
Asbestos Abatement Funding
Asbestos Attorney San Diego
Asbestos By Cancer Caused Colon Exposure
Asbestos Cancer Info
Asbestos Disease Garrett Peter Related Research
Asbestos Exposure Treatment
Asbestos Law Michigan Suit
Asbestos Lawyer Southern California
Asbestos Lung Damage
Asbestos Management Software
Asbestos Poisoning
Asbestos Project Management
Asbestos Roofing Shingles
Attorney Austin Benign Mesothelioma
Attorney Austin Malignant Mesothelioma Pericardial
Charlotte County Mesothelioma Attorney
Connecticut Mesothelioma Lawyer
Failure To Diagnose Mesothelioma Attorney
Fort Myers Mesothelioma Attorney
Law Firm Asbestos Woodland Hills 91367
Law Mesothelioma Support
Lawyer Mesothelioma Pleural Washington
Mesothelioma Clinical Symptom
Mesothelioma Help
Mesothelioma Lawsuit Baltimore
Mesothelioma Treatment Support Law
Montana Mesothelioma Attorney
Nebraska Mesothelioma Lawyer
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorney
Texas Asbestos Law Firm
Mesothelioma -
Cancer of the Lung Lining - Part 1
Mesothelioma is a very rare form
of lung cancer that arises in the Mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma is made up of
parietal and visceral membranes, thin layers of tissue, which surround organs
and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane
immediately surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering the
visceral membrane. The visceral and parietal membranes that make up the
Mesothelioma. This fluid helps organs move easily among surrounding structures.
In the case of the lung, it helps reduce friction between the lung and chest
wall during normal breathing as the lung expands.
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 4a
Mesothelioma - Who is At
Increased Risk for Developing Mesothelioma? - Part 4a
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 trades people. 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.
Mesothelioma
Treatment
The treatment options for people
with mesothelioma have improved significantly, especially for those whose cancer
is diagnosed early and treated vigorously. Many people are treated with a
combination of therapies, sometimes known as multimodal therapy.
Specific types of treatment include:
Chemotherapy and other drug-based therapies Radiation therapy Surgery and
Intra-operative photodynamic therapy. There are also experimental treatments
like gene therapy and immunotherapy, angiogenesis inhibitors, and clinical
trials for various new treatments and combinations of treatments.
Treatments that reduce pain and improve lung function, are becoming more
successful (although they cannot cure mesothelioma.) Pain control medications
have become easier to administer. Debulking is a surgical process of removing a
substantial part of the tumor and reducing the pleural thickening; this can
provide significant relief. X-ray therapy has also been successfully used to
control the tumor and the pain associated with it for a while.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
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WEST VIRGINIA CODE. CHAPTER 16. PUBLIC HEALTH. ARTICLE 32 . ASBESTOS ABATEMENT. ... ASBESTOS LICENSURE LAW. CHAPTER 16-32. Printed 6/98. 8 ... |
Charlottesville, VA Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyers and Attorneys - This free lawyer search can help you find Asbestos Mesothelioma lawyers/attorneys in ... |
... and personal injury attorneys of Prim Law Firm PLLC represent working people of ... Law Firm PLLC has secured many large verdicts and settlements in asbestos ... |
... have extensive experience handling asbestos claims for legal cases involving ... of asbestos and mesothelioma victims and their families in law suits in ... |
If asbestos is found or assumed to be in the building, the law also requires the ... Virginia law also requires an O&M Program for non-friable asbestos ... |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
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Featured
Mesothelioma Articles |
What is
asbestos?
Here are some additional "Facts
About Asbestos".
What are asbestos-containing
products? What is common to many asbestos-containing products is that they were
(are) used to contain heat (i.e. thermal insulation.) It is impossible to list
all of the products that have, at one time or another, contained asbestos. Some
of the more common asbestos-containing products are pipe-covering, insulating
cement, insulating block, asbestos cloth, gaskets, packing materials, thermal
seals, refractory and boiler insulation materials, transite board, asbestos
cement pipe, fireproofing spray, joint compound, vinyl floor tile, ceiling tile,
mastics, adhesives, coatings, acoustical textures, duct insulation for heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, roofing products, insulated
electrical wire and panels, and brake and clutch assemblies. Some of these
products contained a very high proportion of asbestos, while others contained
small amounts.
Mesothelioma
How
is mesothelioma diagnosed?
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often
difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other
conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history,
including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may
be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests.
A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of
detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an
x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make
detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a
monitor and can also be printed. A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of
mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who
specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for
examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in
different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. 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 -
Cancer of the Lung Lining - Part 3
Among men 55 years and older, a
possible reason for the current increase in diagnosed cases is due to asbestos
use in their work environment. Since the 1930's, asbestos has been used
primarily in factories, shipyards, and other industrial settings. It was not
until 1973 that work places began reducing asbestos exposure. The cases now
being seen have developed many years after a worker's first exposure to asbestos
back in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
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