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 Mesothelioma Resource Support here. . .

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

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 Resource Support 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 Brakes
Asbestos Cancer Center Lung Treatment
Asbestos Cancer Lawsuit
Asbestos Cement Pipe Corrosivity
Asbestos Cement Shingles
Asbestos Claim Law Suit
Asbestos Danger
Asbestos Fund Medical National Worker
Asbestos In Law Virginia
Asbestos Indiana Law
Asbestos Law Michigan
Asbestos Lawyer Missouri
Asbestos Luxembourg Mesothelioma New Seitz York
Asbestos Mesothelioma Product
Asbestos Product
Asbestosis Claim
Desmoplastic Malignant Mesothelioma
Diagnose Failure Lawsuit Mesothelioma
Hendry County Mesothelioma Attorney
Kentucky Mesothelioma Attorney
Law Firm Asbestos Woodland Hills 91372
Mesothelioma Asbestos Attorney Lawyer
Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support
Mesothelioma Information
Mesothelioma Lawsuit Baltimore
Mesothelioma Lawyer California
Mesothelioma Treatment Support
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyer
Replacement Asbestos Siding

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.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

At this time there are treatments, but no known cure, for peritoneal mesothelioma. The prognosis depends on various factors, including the size and stage of the tumor, its extent, the cell type, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment.

However, the options for relief and treatment of people with peritoneal mesothelioma have improved, especially for those whose cancer is diagnosed early and treated vigorously. Many people receive a combination of therapies, sometimes known as multimodal therapy.

Specific types of treatment include:

  • chemotherapy and other drug-based therapies radiation therapy and surgery.
  • There are also clinical trials and various experimental treatments like gene therapy and immunotherapy, and antiangiogenesis drugs.

For more information about peritoneal mesothelioma and treatments, please explore this web site or visit:

  • National Cancer Institute
  • University of Pennsylvania/OncoLink
  • American Cancer Society
  • Medicine Online

Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers - Part 8b

The clinical trials page for Mesothelioma on the NCI's http://www.cancer.gov/  Web site, located at http://www.cancer.gov/clinical_trials  on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ.

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://www.cancer.gov/ publications on the Internet.

Here are some Additional
Mesothelioma Resources

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Support and resources for mesothelioma patients living with and coping with cancer and for their caregivers. ... Pleural Mesothelioma / Caregiver's Guide ...
Mesothelioma Essentials offers information, support, and resources to those ... about mesothelioma, resources for treatment options, and support to those ...
Mesothelioma support groups can held mesothelioma patients cope ... Mesothelioma Resources. Resources > Support Groups. Print. Request Information *Full Name: ...
Mesothelioma News is dedicated to bringing you comprehensive information on a full range of topics about mesothelioma, ... and resources provided in ...
... about malignant mesothelioma. Resource for mesothelioma patients and their ... Resources/Support. News. Research. Videos/Podcasts. Mesothelioma Support Center ...
 

Today's News Related To Mesothelioma


      

       
     

    Featured Mesothelioma Articles

    Mesothelioma - Asbestos Court Bid By Dying Woman - Part 1

    A DYING woman is set to take her case to court for exposure to asbestos during her school days.

    Law firm Slater and Gordon is handling the case for the woman, who now lives in Melbourne. Solicitor Andrew Higgins, who specializes in asbestos cases, says the woman is an example of how innocently people can be exposed to the deadly substance. Last month Slater and Gordon advertised in Tasmanian newspapers for anyone who had been at Devonport High between 1964 and 1968. "We are looking for people who can assist with our inquiries about that time," Mr. Higgins said.

    He said the claim was the woman was exposed to asbestos as a student, which had led to her contracting Mesothelioma as an adult. "The insidious thing about asbestos is you can be working in mines or mills or just be a school student, and you can get an asbestos-related disease," he said. "This is an example of how innocently people can be exposed because there is no safe level of exposure." The law firm's investigations centre on the time an assembly hall at Devonport High was destroyed by fire and subsequent rebuilding.

    The case is expected to be before the courts in Tasmania soon because of the woman's limited life expectancy. Mr. Higgins said there was always a precedent value in such cases but individuals had to be able to prove their claims. "Just because there is one case doesn't mean others will follow," he said.

    The law firm has been involved in a number of cases in Tasmania, both in Hobart and the North-West, including people exposed in heavy industry in the area.

    Mesothelioma

    Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, 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 mesothelium? The mesothelium 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 mesothelium 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 mesothelium 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.

    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.