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 Insulation here. . .

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

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 Insulation 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

1 Attorney Information.com Mesothelioma Mesothelioma
Article Asbestos
Asbestos Abatement Supply
Asbestos Attorney California
Asbestos Claim Mesothelioma
Asbestos Colorado Lawyer
Asbestos In The Home - Internet Error
Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Asbestos Project Management
Asbestos Register
Asbestos Regulation
Asbestos Removal Massachusetts
Asbestos Removal Service
Asbestos Replacement Shingles
Asbestos Siding
Asbestos Testing
Attorney Austin Malignant Mesothelioma
Attorney Lawyer Mesothelioma
Chicago In Mesothelioma Settlement
Iowa Mesothelioma Attorney
Lee County Mesothelioma Lawyer
Malignant Mesothelioma Body Cavity
Mesothelioma Cancer Center
Mesothelioma Litigation
Mesothelioma Support Law Resource
Mesothelioma Treatment Option
Mesothelioma Update
Montana Mesothelioma Attorney
New Mexico Mesothelioma Lawyer
Replacement Asbestos Siding

Mesothelioma

Who Is At Risk?

Overview The only known cause of mesothelioma is previous exposure to asbestos fibers. Often times workers are not told they are working around asbestos, and even single exposures to very low doses of fibers can produce serious long-term consequences.

Asbestos diseases are said to follow the trail of exposure. That means that wherever people have received asbestos exposure, regardless of their trade, age, sex or race, they are at risk of cancer and other diseases.

Almost anyone who has inhaled asbestos dust is at risk. Even a worker's families and friends can be at risk, because asbestos can often be carried on clothing.

Exposure to asbestos dust can occur at major construction job sites, in shipyards, in industry, and during construction or renovation of commercial buildings. See the list at right for certain occupations that are known to be those where risk of exposure to asbestos is great, and the numbers of people in such occupations contracting asbestos disease are high.

Please contact a mesothelioma attorney if you have any questions about occupational risk, or if you'd like to explore your legal rights.

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.

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.

Here are some Additional
Mesothelioma Resources

-
Asbestos. Current Best Practices for Vermiculite Attic Insulation ... Is my health at risk from previous exposures to the asbestos in the insulation? ...
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that has been used commonly in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. EPA and CPSC have ...
These tiny fibers can be present in the dust in an area where asbestos insulation is disturbed. ... you think you have asbestos insulation, do not attempt to ...
Asbestos is known to have toxicity. ... thermal pipe insulation ... Low density insulation board and ceiling tiles ...
Resources to answer your health concerns regarding asbestos found in vermiculite insulation. ... If your insulation does contain asbestos, don't attempt to ...
 

Today's News Related To Mesothelioma

  • MP?s family criticises delay in compensation for asbestos-linked illnesses (The Herald)
    posted on August 24, 2008 08:17:51 pm
    The compensation delays for people facing painful deaths from asbestos-linked diseases have been strongly criticised by those close to John MacDougall, the Glenrothes MP who died while suing the government over his illness.
  • Senior beats city hall (Windsor Star)
    posted on August 28, 2008 08:24:40 am
    He survived jail in the former Yugoslavia, came here with nothing and built a successful business -- only to see it crumble at the hands of an unsympathetic bureaucracy.
  • Mesothelioma patient outlines frail condition (Daily Press)
    posted on August 30, 2008 08:19:39 am
    An ex-shipyard worker seeks $15M from a company that he says exposed him to asbestos. John O. Koonce appeared to be in good health when he retired from The Virginian-Pilot four years ago.
  • DEP: Company fined $20K for asbestos removal (Sentinel & Enterprise)
    posted on August 25, 2008 07:17:57 am
    The state Department of Environmental Protection fined A & E Environmental, Inc., of Westminster, more than $20,000 after DEP inspectors found the company improperly removing asbestos from a Worcester home.
  • UM tunnel project keeps on steamin? (Montana Kaimin)
    posted on August 29, 2008 02:17:43 am
    In 1984, a dangerous little word was floating around the University of Montana campus: asbestos. Beneath the campus, in a labyrinth of steam tunnels dating back to 1897, asbestos insulation speckled the hot air pumping into university buildings. With the health of the campus in mind, then-Vice President Glen Williams took the word and ran with it. Soon after Williams began his campaign, asbestos ...


  

   
 

Featured Mesothelioma Articles

Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which occurs in the lining of the lung (the pleura) or in the abdomen (the peritoneum). In very rare cases, mesothelioma can occur in other areas of the body as well. The major known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Although science is not certain as to the exact mechanism which causes mesothelioma, it is thought that the asbestos fibers puncture the parenchyma, become lodged in the pleura, and by process of irritation create the change in the cells which causes the mesothelioma.

The chance of recovery for a person with mesothelioma depends on several factors, including:

  • Size of the cancer
  • Location of the cancer
  • Spread of the cancer throughout the body
  • Response to treatment
  • Appearance of the cells under a microscope
  • Age of the patient

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.

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."