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
Mesothelioma Cancer Center here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Mesothelioma Cancer Center.
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 Mesothelioma Cancer Center 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
Advice Asbestos Legal Mesothelioma
Albuquerque Mesothelioma Attorney
Arkansas Mesothelioma Attorney
Asbestos Association Information
Asbestos Attorney Indiana
Asbestos Attorney Palm Springs
Asbestos Cancer Mesothelioma
Asbestos Cases
Asbestos Chicago Exposure Lawyer
Asbestos Consulting Testing
Asbestos Disease Fact
Asbestos Exposure Treatment
Asbestos Illinois Lawyer
Asbestos Law Michigan Suit
Asbestos Lawyer Dallas
Asbestos Linked Lung Cancer
Asbestos Mesothelioma Papillary
Asbestos Project Management
Asbestos School Lawsuit
Asbestosis Lung Picture
Attorney Austin Benign Malignant Mesothelioma
Charlotte County Lawyer Mesothelioma
Law Firm Asbestos Woodland Hills 91367
Law Firm Asbestos Woodland Hills 91371
Lawyer Malignant Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Attorney Maryland
Mesothelioma Cure
Mesothelioma Resource Support
Pennsylvania Asbestos 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.
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."
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 7b
Chemotherapy is the use of
anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to
treat Mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV).
Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly
into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy). To relieve symptoms and
control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has
built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the
chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called
paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more
fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in
relieving symptoms.
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Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers
Mesothelioma - Are New
Treatments for Mesothelioma Being Studied? - Part 8a
Yes.
Because Mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute
(NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are
designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments.
Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct
clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and
effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important
treatment option for many patients with Mesothelioma.
People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their
doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer
Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1 800 4 CANCER. Information specialists
at the CIS use PDQ ®, NCI's cancer information database, to identify and provide
detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have
the option of searching for clinical trials on their own.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
-
Mesothelioma Cancer Center provides information and facts about ... is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. 11/17/08Mesothelioma Marathoner ... Mesothelioma ... |
Offers information and support for those who suffer from the lung cancer mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer. |
Mesothelioma Comprehensive Cancer Centers from the Mesothelioma Resource Web. ... University of California, Irvine (UCI) Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center ... |
Mesothelioma Cancer Center. Mesothelioma cancer is commonly caused by exposure to asbestos. ... In any event, mesothelioma , a fatal cancer, strikes as many as ... |
An exhaustive list for the mesothelioma patient of principal cancer centers, with links. ... Mesothelioma Legal. Information Center. Leading Cancer Centers ... |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
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Featured
Mesothelioma Articles |
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.
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:
Questions and Answers - Part 1
Mesothelioma is a rare form of
cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the Mesothelioma, a
protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who
develop Mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
What is the Mesothelioma? The Mesothelioma is a membrane that covers and
protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers
of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac
around it. The Mesothelioma produces a lubricating fluid that is released
between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the
expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The Mesothelioma has different names, depending on its location in the body. The
peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the
abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines
the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The
mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called
the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal
reproductive organs in women.
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