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
Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma.
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 Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma 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
2 Interleukin Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment
Arizona Mesothelioma Lawyer
Asbestos Attorney Indiana
Asbestos Attorney La Quinta
Asbestos Attorney Tx
Asbestos Consultant
Asbestos Houston Training
Asbestos In Lung
Asbestos Legislation
Asbestos Lung Cancer
Asbestos Management
Asbestos Regulation
Asbestos Removal Equipment
Asbestos Survey
Asbestos Vermiculite
Asbestosis Claim Uk
Attorney Austin Malignant Mesothelioma Pericardial
Attorney Collier County Mesothelioma
Charlotte County Lawyer Mesothelioma
Compensation Legal Mesothelioma - Internet Error
Failure To Diagnose Mesothelioma Injury
Law Firm Asbestos Woodland Hills 91365
Law Firm Asbestos Woodland Hills 91371
Mesothelioma Clinical Symptom
Mesothelioma Law Litigation
Oregon Mesothelioma Attorney
Tennessee Mesothelioma Attorney
Uk Asbestosis Compensation Claim
Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile
Wisconsin Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma -
Ohio Attorney General Tries to Stop Anti-Asbestos Litigation Legislation - Part
1
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Attorney General
Jim Petro has approved the summary of an attempt to stop a law that would make
it more difficult for Ohioans to sue for damages if they were exposed to
asbestos but not showing signs of illness.
Petro, in a letter Thursday to Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, said a
summary of the law written by backers of a referendum to keep the law from going
into effect represented a "fair and truthful statement" of the referendum.
Petro rejected the language of a previous summary because it did not include the
effect of the referendum, which would nullify the law passed by the Legislature
and signed by Gov. Bob Taft before it could take effect, Petro said.
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.
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
Explore MEDLINE
Published by the National Library of Medicine, MEDLINE is a comprehensive index
of medical citations and abstracts dating back to 1966. In the past, this
database was available only to students, doctors or by subscription. However,
there are now several Internet resources which offer free MEDLINE access,
including PubMed and MedlinePlus. Use of both services is free, although you
must initially fill out a member registration form.
An additional benefit of these services is access to full-text versions of many
of the articles. PubMed publishes a list of MEDLINE journals with links to
publisher web sites at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/fulltext.html. Access to these articles
may require user registration or a small fee, but recent issues are often
available free of charge.
These publications and abstracts are not written for the layperson, so make sure
you discuss any literature you read with your doctor before making any decisions
about them.
Although MEDLINE is the most comprehensive database of medical literatere, the
National Cancer Institute also has a free database of cancer-specific abstracts
and literature.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
-
Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma Attorney - Hotline 800.291.0963 - Mesothelioma ... Grand Rapids Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma Attorney ... |
Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma - Hotline 800.291.0963 - Mesothelioma is a rare ... Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma. Did you know? ... |
Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawyer - Hotline 800.291.0963 - Mesothelioma ... Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawyer - Mesothelioma Lawyer. Did You Know? ... |
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the second-most prevalent form of asbestos-related ... The symptoms of peritoneal Mesothelioma are non-specific and can often be ... |
Malignant mesothelioma varies depending on its location. Pericardial mesothelioma, Pleural mesothelioma, and peritoneal mesothelioma. |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
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Featured
Mesothelioma Articles |
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.
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
Explore the National Cancer
Institute's PDQ
The National Cancer Institute
provides a computer service called PDQ to give up-to-date information on cancer
issues for patients, their families, doctors, and other healthcare
professionals. Detailed information on detection, diagnosis, treatment, support
groups, clinical trials and treatments is reviewed and updated each month by
oncology experts. Each topic is discussed in two tracks, one for patients and
one for healthcare professionals.
You might want to visit the information written for patients first, in order to
get a clear understanding of the issues discussed in layman's terms. For more
detailed information, you can then explore the physician's track.
By going to NCI's CancerNet, you can research the PDQ informational summaries
for malignant mesothelioma; these summaries are written for both patient or
professional readers. You will also find a useful overview on researching,
treating, and coping with malignant mesothelioma.
You will find links to other treatment specific PDQ pages throughout this
website.
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.
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