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).
 |
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
Nevada Mesothelioma Lawyer here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Nevada Mesothelioma Lawyer.
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 Nevada Mesothelioma Lawyer 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
Against Asbestos Lawsuit Ppg
Alabama Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Alaska Asbestos Attorney Mesothelioma
Alaska Asbestos Lawyer Mesothelioma
Albuquerque Mesothelioma Attorney
Article Journal Mesothelioma
Asbestos Attorney Louis St
Asbestos Cancer Colon
Asbestos Danger
Asbestos Houston Training
Asbestos Law Nh Removal
Asbestos Lawyer California
Asbestos Sampling
Asbestosattorneymesothelioma
Asbestosis Compensation
Chicago In Mesothelioma Settlement
Chrysotile Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Cover Asbestos Tile
Florida Asbestos Attorney
Hendry County Mesothelioma Attorney
Kansas Mesothelioma Attorney
Law Firm Asbestos Woodland Hills 91399
Louisiana Mesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma Attorney Texas
Mesothelioma Injury
Mesothelioma Lawyer California
North Dakota Mesothelioma Attorney
Pennsylvania Asbestos Lawyer
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorney
Primary Periotoneal Cancer Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma -
Cancer of the Lung Lining Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma
Asbestos is the major cause of
Mesothelioma in the United States. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs as a long
thin fiber in the environment. Until the 1980's, when it was banned due to its
health dangers, it had been used in many industrial and insulation materials as
a fire retardant. Some of the jobs in which people have been exposed to asbestos
directly or indirectly are those that involve factory work, demolition,
insulation, shipbuilding, carpentry, installation of brake linings in vehicles,
and many others.
Review our At Risk Job section for a more detailed list of jobs. Despite efforts
to eliminate asbestos from our environment, many public and private buildings
still contain asbestos today. Personnel who remove asbestos from such structures
or work around asbestos are required to wear personal equipment to lower their
risk of exposure.
Mesothelioma
What
are the health hazards of exposure to asbestos?
Exposure to asbestos may increase
the risk of several serious diseases:
Asbestosis-a chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath and
permanent lung damage and increase the risk of dangerous lung infections; Lung
cancer; Mesothelioma - a relatively rare cancer of the thin membranes that line
the chest and abdomen; and Other cancers, such as those of the larynx and of the
gastrointestinal tract. How does smoking affect risk?
Many studies have shown that the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure is
particularly hazardous. Cigarette smokers, on the average, are 10 times as
likely to develop lung cancer as are nonsmokers. For nonsmokers who work with
asbestos, the risk is about five times greater than for those in the general
population. By contrast, smokers who also are heavily exposed to asbestos are as
much as 90 times more likely to develop lung cancer than are nonexposed
individuals who do not smoke. Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of
mesothelioma, however.
There is evidence that quitting smoking will reduce the risk of lung cancer
among asbestos-exposed workers, perhaps by as much as half or more after at
least 5 years without smoking. People who were exposed to asbestos on the job at
any time during their life or who suspect they may have been exposed should not
smoke. If they smoke, they should stop.
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.
##
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
-
Nevada Mesothelioma Lawyer - Hotline 800.291.0963 - Mesothelioma lawyer, ... MESOTHELIOMA LAWYER - EXPERIENCE ... County Nevada Mesothelioma Lawyer. Washoe ... |
... about types of mesothelioma including abdominal, and pleural as well as help with mesothelioma lawsuits, and legal ... Nevada mesothelioma lawyer referral ... |
Stateline Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyers - This free lawyer search can help you find Asbestos Mesothelioma lawyers in Stateline, Nevada (NV). Find lawyers by ... |
Nevada Mesothelioma Attorney. Asbestos Exposure? NV Lawyers filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits. ... Legal Help FAQs from Our Nevada Mesothelioma Lawyers. What is asbestos? ... |
Online guide to Mesothelioma in Nevada with the ability to contact a qualified Nevada Mesothelioma Lawyer at Matthews & Associates |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Featured
Mesothelioma Articles |
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
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.
|
|
