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 Statistics Online here. . .

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

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 Statistics Online 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

23 Malignant Mesothelioma Research
Abatement Air Asbestos Cleaners
Albuquerque Asbestos Lawyer
Asbestos Abatement Funding
Asbestos Attorney Louis St
Asbestos Company
Asbestos General Law Motor Suit
Asbestos Houston Training
Asbestos Law Pa Siding
Asbestos Law Suit
Asbestos Lawyer Lucerne Valley
Asbestos Lawyer Maryland
Asbestos Lung Cancer
Asbestos New Removal York
Asbestos Pipe
Asbestos Report Survey
Asbestosis Diagnosis
Asbestosis Symptom
Attorney Austin Mesothelioma Symptom
Attorney County Lee Mesothelioma
Brachytherapy Mesothelioma Pleural
California Mesothelioma Attorney
Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer
Maine Mesothelioma Lawyer
Malignant Mesothelioma Pleural Rate Survival
Mesothelioma Article
Mesothelioma Pleural Washington
Rhode Island Mesothelioma Lawyer
Tennessee Mesothelioma Attorney
West Virginia Mesothelioma Lawyer - Internet Error

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.

Early Signs of Mesothelioma Aid Diagnosis

Recognizing early symptoms of malignant mesothelioma may aid in diagnosis. Symptoms include difficulty in breathing (dyspnea) and/or chest pains, fever, nausea or anemia; other signals are hoarseness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), or coughing up blood (hemoptysis). For many suffering from pleural mesothelioma, there may be pain in the chest or lower back. Those people with peritoneal mesothelioma may experience an expanding waist size or abdominal pain resulting from the growth of cancer cells in the abdomen. Since many of these symptoms are also caused by less serious illnesses, it can be difficult to recognize asbestos-related diseases in the early stages. Due to this difficulty of early diagnosis of asbestos cancer and mesothelioma, the best way to determine your health risk is to consult a doctor for an initial examination, which may include a pulmonary function test (PFT) and x-rays.

Mesothelioma

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.

Here are some Additional
Mesothelioma Resources

-
... and online resources that can give you additional information on the deadly ... Clinical Trials Recruiting Patients With Advanced Mesothelioma ...
Statistics about Mesothelioma as a medical condition including ... Online Forums for Mesothelioma. Medical News Summaries About Mesothelioma. Statistics ...
... Iron Company Develops Mesothelioma. Group Offers Asbestos Removal ... Online readers should not act on this information without seeking professional counsel. ...
... and incidence statistics for Mesothelioma using extrapolations to ... Online Forums for Mesothelioma. Medical News Summaries About Mesothelioma. Statistics ...
Mesothelioma cancer statistics are not that rare anymore, cases are rising every year. ... Copyright © 2004 - 2007 Mesothelioma Resource Online. All rights reserved. ...
 

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

    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).

    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.

    What is asbestos?

    Asbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers.

    The fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible, so that they can even be woven into cloth. Because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States.

    There are several types of asbestos fibers, of which three have been used for commercial applications: (1) Chrysotile, or white asbestos, comes mainly from Canada, and has been very widely used in the US. It is white-gray in color and found in serpentine rock. (2) Amosite, or brown asbestos, comes from southern Africa. (3) Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, comes from southern Africa and Australia.

    Amosite and crocidolite are called amphiboles. This term refers to the nature of their geologic formation.

    Other asbestos fibers that have not been used commercially are tremolite, actinolite and anthophyllite, although they are sometimes contaminants in asbestos-containing products. It should be noted that there are non-fibrous, or non-asbestiform, variants of tremolite, anthophylite and actinolite, which do not have the adverse health consequences that result from exposure to commercial forms of asbestos.