In February 2007 the Department of Health published new advice for NHS healthcare professionals in England on how to organise services and improve standards of care for people with mesothelioma and their families. These guidelines are known as the 'Mesothelioma Framework'.
This page explains how healthcare services in the NHS are organised for people with mesothelioma. It also describes the medical care you should expect - provided the Framework guidelines have been implemented by your local NHS - so that you can be sure you are receiving the best available care.
The Framework applies only to people living in England. However, the British Lung Foundation is pressing for comparable care standards to be introduced elsewhere in the UK. Although the developers of the Framework agree the guidelines are in the best interests of patients, it is not compulsory for local NHS organisations to implement them.
If you want to read the full Mesothelioma Framework, go here to view it on the Department of Health website or order the publication on 0870 155 5455.
The Framework has taken into account the key recommendations from the Mesothelioma Patients' Charter, which was developed by the British Lung Foundation in collaboration with people affected by mesothelioma and their families. It also takes into account other relevant medical and scientific evidence.
Saturday
Mesothelioma Common Questions
What is Mesothelioma? What is the difference between pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma?
Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which a cancerous tumor grows on the mesothelium - the sac lining the internal body cavities. The specific type of mesothelioma is named for the tissue where the cancer started. Pleural mesothelioma starts in the chest, in the pleura that surrounds the lungs (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall). It makes up about 70% of mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma starts in the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Although sometimes referred to as "asbestos lung cancer", mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer. Lung cancers occur inside the lung itself; mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lung. Mesothelioma is rare, striking fewer than 3000 Americans per year.
How do you get malignant mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos, once regarded as a miracle mineral, was popular due its lightweight but tough characteristics as well as for its heat-resistant properties. This naturally occurring mineral was used in many commercial and consumer products, from construction materials such as cement, roofing shingles and insulation, to consumer and industrial applications such as hair dryers, automobile brake pads and pipe insulation.
Most people with malignant mesothelioma worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others were exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it.
How much exposure does it take to get the disease? What is the latency period?
Very little exposure can result in mesothelioma. Sometimes people who worked with asbestos for as little as one or two months get mesothelioma. The "latency period" refers to the time between asbestos exposure and diagnosis of the disease. For mesothelioma, the latency period can be decades long, and people exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Our mesothelioma symptoms page goes into detail about the signs of this cancer. Please note that it is important to seek professional medical advice when trying to diagnose for mesothelioma. The major symptoms include:
•Shortness of breath caused by expanding pleural effusion
•Persistent dry cough
Other symptoms may include:
•Fatigue
•Night sweats
•Fever
•Pain under the rib cage
•Swelling or lumps in the abdomen
•Unexpected weight loss
How do doctors treat malignant mesothelioma?
Each patient has an individualized treatment plan which takes into account the type and stage of the cancer as well as the patient's overall health. Traditional mesothelioma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of these. Contact us at 1-877-367-6376 if you want to talk about reviewing treatment options.
Is there any promising research or are there promising new drugs for mesothelioma?
Scientists and doctors are engaged in research at various cancer centers all over the United States. Researchers are constantly trying to develop new and more effective drugs as well as new treatment techniques. In the past few years, there have been several major advances in the management of mesothelioma, including more accurate staging, improvements in surgical techniques and postoperative care, new chemotherapy regimens, and new radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Some of this research is being conducted through clinical trials, for which you may be eligible. Please call us if you need additional information on current trials.
What should I do if I think I've been exposed to asbestos but don't have mesothelioma?
You probably will not get this rare disease, but you should remain vigilant and get regular check-ups. Let your doctor know about your asbestos exposure.
I was exposed to asbestos when I was in the military. Could that be how I got mesothelioma?
The armed forces used asbestos extensively in the 20th Century, and because of the long latency period only now are many veterans getting mesothelioma. People were exposed in all branches of the service, in a variety of jobs. We have worked with veterans from all over the country. We can help you find VA resources and medical assistance. Our veterans section goes into more detail or feel free to call us at 1-877-367-6376.
Where can I find information on living with mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma Aid is a good website for resource for families dealing with mesothelioma. It includes advice and referrals to other resources for coping with cancer, caregiving, financial challenges, and support groups. Alternatively, contact us here at Mesothelioma Web for help finding resources for living with this disease
Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which a cancerous tumor grows on the mesothelium - the sac lining the internal body cavities. The specific type of mesothelioma is named for the tissue where the cancer started. Pleural mesothelioma starts in the chest, in the pleura that surrounds the lungs (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall). It makes up about 70% of mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma starts in the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Although sometimes referred to as "asbestos lung cancer", mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer. Lung cancers occur inside the lung itself; mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lung. Mesothelioma is rare, striking fewer than 3000 Americans per year.
How do you get malignant mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos, once regarded as a miracle mineral, was popular due its lightweight but tough characteristics as well as for its heat-resistant properties. This naturally occurring mineral was used in many commercial and consumer products, from construction materials such as cement, roofing shingles and insulation, to consumer and industrial applications such as hair dryers, automobile brake pads and pipe insulation.
Most people with malignant mesothelioma worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others were exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it.
How much exposure does it take to get the disease? What is the latency period?
Very little exposure can result in mesothelioma. Sometimes people who worked with asbestos for as little as one or two months get mesothelioma. The "latency period" refers to the time between asbestos exposure and diagnosis of the disease. For mesothelioma, the latency period can be decades long, and people exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Our mesothelioma symptoms page goes into detail about the signs of this cancer. Please note that it is important to seek professional medical advice when trying to diagnose for mesothelioma. The major symptoms include:
•Shortness of breath caused by expanding pleural effusion
•Persistent dry cough
Other symptoms may include:
•Fatigue
•Night sweats
•Fever
•Pain under the rib cage
•Swelling or lumps in the abdomen
•Unexpected weight loss
How do doctors treat malignant mesothelioma?
Each patient has an individualized treatment plan which takes into account the type and stage of the cancer as well as the patient's overall health. Traditional mesothelioma treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of these. Contact us at 1-877-367-6376 if you want to talk about reviewing treatment options.
Is there any promising research or are there promising new drugs for mesothelioma?
Scientists and doctors are engaged in research at various cancer centers all over the United States. Researchers are constantly trying to develop new and more effective drugs as well as new treatment techniques. In the past few years, there have been several major advances in the management of mesothelioma, including more accurate staging, improvements in surgical techniques and postoperative care, new chemotherapy regimens, and new radiotherapy techniques such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy. Some of this research is being conducted through clinical trials, for which you may be eligible. Please call us if you need additional information on current trials.
What should I do if I think I've been exposed to asbestos but don't have mesothelioma?
You probably will not get this rare disease, but you should remain vigilant and get regular check-ups. Let your doctor know about your asbestos exposure.
I was exposed to asbestos when I was in the military. Could that be how I got mesothelioma?
The armed forces used asbestos extensively in the 20th Century, and because of the long latency period only now are many veterans getting mesothelioma. People were exposed in all branches of the service, in a variety of jobs. We have worked with veterans from all over the country. We can help you find VA resources and medical assistance. Our veterans section goes into more detail or feel free to call us at 1-877-367-6376.
Where can I find information on living with mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma Aid is a good website for resource for families dealing with mesothelioma. It includes advice and referrals to other resources for coping with cancer, caregiving, financial challenges, and support groups. Alternatively, contact us here at Mesothelioma Web for help finding resources for living with this disease
Monday
TRADITIONAL CARE
There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma:
· Surgery (taking out the cancer)
· Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
· Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)
Often two or more of these are combined in the course of treatment. (NEW! Click here for the newest trial of trimodal lung-sparing treatment for pleural mesothelioma: The Columbia Protocol.)
MESOMARK BLOOD TEST
In January 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the MESOMARK assay to help monitor response to treatment in epithelial and bi-phasic malignant mesothelioma patients. A specific protein, or biomarker, called Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptide (SMRP), may be released into the blood by mesothelioma cancer cells. By measuring the amount of SMRP in a blood sample, doctors may be able to better monitor a patient's progress. Based on the limited amount of data currently available, use of this test may be beneficial, but effectiveness has not been determined at this time. The MESOMARK blood test has NOT yet been approved for the early diagnosis of mesothelioma.
This test has been approved as a Humanitarian Use Device (HUD), meaning that physicians must follow certain procedures to qualify their patients for testing. Once the physician is certified, informational brochures will be sent to be distributed to each applicable patient.
Those wishing to take part in
MESOMARK testing will be asked to provide one or more samples of blood. The blood samples will then be sent to a national reference laboratory for testing. In conjunction with other clinical and laboratory data obtained by your doctor, decisions regarding your treatment and care may be simplified. You may discontinue testing at any time.
The costs associated with the MESOMARK blood test may not be covered under health insurance, therefore, you may be required to pay all or part of the costs out of pocket. It is recommended that you check with your insurance carrier to determine whether coverage is available under your policy.
SURGERY
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES
As previously mentioned in the "Symptoms" section of this website, a diagnosis of mesothelioma from fluid is many times inconclusive. Given this fact, diagnostic surgery becomes a necessary next step in confirming and staging mesothelioma.
Thoracoscopy enables a physician to evaluate the pleural cavity and to conduct multiple tissue biopsies under direct vision. In up to 98% of cases, a definitive diagnosis can be obtained. Often, chemical pleurodesis aimed at relieving the accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural space, can be accomplished during the same procedure. It is also possible to gauge the extent of the tumor, and make a determination of surgical resectability. While less invasive than an open biopsy, it can only be performed on patients where tumor has not obliterated the pleural space.
VATS, or video-assisted thoracic surgery is an alternative to thoracoscopy, although because of its more invasive nature, concerns of tumor seeding increase. By utilizing small incisions, the physician can view the pleural space with the assistance of a camera, and obtain sufficient tissue samples for analysis by a pathologist. Extent of the tumor (i.e., pleural involvement, chest wall invasion) may also determined, and recommendation as to the type of debulking procedure necessary can be made at this time.
Mediastinoscopy is sometimes used as an aid in staging extent of disease when enlarged nodes are seen using imaging techniques.
Laproscopy is used in mesothelioma patients in cases where imaging techniques suggest possible invasion of the tumor through the diaphragm. This information can be important in evaluating a patient for potential pleurectomy or extrapleural pneumonectomy.
PALLIATIVE PROCEDURES
Palliative surgical procedures are those which treat a symptom of mesothelioma, without aggressively treating the disease itself.
Chest Tube Drainage and Pleurodesis is considered the most common of palliative treatments. Fluid build-up, or pleural effusion, is most often the first symptom which will prompt mesothelioma patients to seek medical attention. Once this effusion has occurred, it is many times persistent, returning rapidly after initial thoracentesis (draining of the fluid). In order to eliminate this problem, the pleural space must be closed. This is accomplished by use of a talc slurry or other sclerosing agent which produces an adhesion.
Thoracoscopy and Pleurodesis is done in conjunction with VATS using a powdered form of talc versus talc slurry. Both this and chest tube drainage and pleurodesis will be only effective if there is no tumor encasing the lung which restricts its expansion.
Pleuroperitoneal Shunt plays a limited role in palliation for several reasons. It involves placement of a catheter run under the skin from the pleural to the peritoneal cavity. Obstruction of the catheter and possible seeding of the tumor into the abdominal cavity may be concerns.
Pleurectomy, used as a palliative procedure, may be performed where more extensive surgery is not an option. In these cases, it is understood that all visible or gross tumor will not be removed. It is considered the most effective means of controlling pleural effusion in cases where the lung's expansion is restricted by disease.
POTENTIALLY CURATIVE PROCEDURES
These procedures are performed with "curative intent". Their goal is removal of all gross disease, with the knowledge that microscopic disease will most likely remain. Adjuvant therapy (another form of treatment in addition to the primary therapy) is typically aimed at eliminating residual disease.
For Pleural Mesothelioma:
· Pleurectomy/Decortication is usually performed on patients with early stage disease (Stage I and selected Stage II), and attempts to remove all gross tumor. If it is found that all tumor can not be removed without removing the lung, this may be done at the same time and is called pneumonectomy.
· Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is considerably more radical than other surgical approaches, and should be carried out by surgeons with great expertise in evaluating patients and performing the procedure itself. (See Finding Specialists.) Because in the past surgery alone has failed to effect a cure, or even to help prolong life for any extended period of time, it is currently being combined with traditional chemotherapy and/or radiation, or other new approaches such as gene therapy, immunotherapy or photodynamic therapy.
· Surgery (taking out the cancer)
· Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
· Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)
Often two or more of these are combined in the course of treatment. (NEW! Click here for the newest trial of trimodal lung-sparing treatment for pleural mesothelioma: The Columbia Protocol.)
MESOMARK BLOOD TEST
In January 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the MESOMARK assay to help monitor response to treatment in epithelial and bi-phasic malignant mesothelioma patients. A specific protein, or biomarker, called Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptide (SMRP), may be released into the blood by mesothelioma cancer cells. By measuring the amount of SMRP in a blood sample, doctors may be able to better monitor a patient's progress. Based on the limited amount of data currently available, use of this test may be beneficial, but effectiveness has not been determined at this time. The MESOMARK blood test has NOT yet been approved for the early diagnosis of mesothelioma.
This test has been approved as a Humanitarian Use Device (HUD), meaning that physicians must follow certain procedures to qualify their patients for testing. Once the physician is certified, informational brochures will be sent to be distributed to each applicable patient.
Those wishing to take part in
MESOMARK testing will be asked to provide one or more samples of blood. The blood samples will then be sent to a national reference laboratory for testing. In conjunction with other clinical and laboratory data obtained by your doctor, decisions regarding your treatment and care may be simplified. You may discontinue testing at any time.
The costs associated with the MESOMARK blood test may not be covered under health insurance, therefore, you may be required to pay all or part of the costs out of pocket. It is recommended that you check with your insurance carrier to determine whether coverage is available under your policy.
SURGERY
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES
As previously mentioned in the "Symptoms" section of this website, a diagnosis of mesothelioma from fluid is many times inconclusive. Given this fact, diagnostic surgery becomes a necessary next step in confirming and staging mesothelioma.
Thoracoscopy enables a physician to evaluate the pleural cavity and to conduct multiple tissue biopsies under direct vision. In up to 98% of cases, a definitive diagnosis can be obtained. Often, chemical pleurodesis aimed at relieving the accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural space, can be accomplished during the same procedure. It is also possible to gauge the extent of the tumor, and make a determination of surgical resectability. While less invasive than an open biopsy, it can only be performed on patients where tumor has not obliterated the pleural space.
VATS, or video-assisted thoracic surgery is an alternative to thoracoscopy, although because of its more invasive nature, concerns of tumor seeding increase. By utilizing small incisions, the physician can view the pleural space with the assistance of a camera, and obtain sufficient tissue samples for analysis by a pathologist. Extent of the tumor (i.e., pleural involvement, chest wall invasion) may also determined, and recommendation as to the type of debulking procedure necessary can be made at this time.
Mediastinoscopy is sometimes used as an aid in staging extent of disease when enlarged nodes are seen using imaging techniques.
Laproscopy is used in mesothelioma patients in cases where imaging techniques suggest possible invasion of the tumor through the diaphragm. This information can be important in evaluating a patient for potential pleurectomy or extrapleural pneumonectomy.
PALLIATIVE PROCEDURES
Palliative surgical procedures are those which treat a symptom of mesothelioma, without aggressively treating the disease itself.
Chest Tube Drainage and Pleurodesis is considered the most common of palliative treatments. Fluid build-up, or pleural effusion, is most often the first symptom which will prompt mesothelioma patients to seek medical attention. Once this effusion has occurred, it is many times persistent, returning rapidly after initial thoracentesis (draining of the fluid). In order to eliminate this problem, the pleural space must be closed. This is accomplished by use of a talc slurry or other sclerosing agent which produces an adhesion.
Thoracoscopy and Pleurodesis is done in conjunction with VATS using a powdered form of talc versus talc slurry. Both this and chest tube drainage and pleurodesis will be only effective if there is no tumor encasing the lung which restricts its expansion.
Pleuroperitoneal Shunt plays a limited role in palliation for several reasons. It involves placement of a catheter run under the skin from the pleural to the peritoneal cavity. Obstruction of the catheter and possible seeding of the tumor into the abdominal cavity may be concerns.
Pleurectomy, used as a palliative procedure, may be performed where more extensive surgery is not an option. In these cases, it is understood that all visible or gross tumor will not be removed. It is considered the most effective means of controlling pleural effusion in cases where the lung's expansion is restricted by disease.
POTENTIALLY CURATIVE PROCEDURES
These procedures are performed with "curative intent". Their goal is removal of all gross disease, with the knowledge that microscopic disease will most likely remain. Adjuvant therapy (another form of treatment in addition to the primary therapy) is typically aimed at eliminating residual disease.
For Pleural Mesothelioma:
· Pleurectomy/Decortication is usually performed on patients with early stage disease (Stage I and selected Stage II), and attempts to remove all gross tumor. If it is found that all tumor can not be removed without removing the lung, this may be done at the same time and is called pneumonectomy.
· Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is considerably more radical than other surgical approaches, and should be carried out by surgeons with great expertise in evaluating patients and performing the procedure itself. (See Finding Specialists.) Because in the past surgery alone has failed to effect a cure, or even to help prolong life for any extended period of time, it is currently being combined with traditional chemotherapy and/or radiation, or other new approaches such as gene therapy, immunotherapy or photodynamic therapy.
Best methods of treatment
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is always difficult, whether it is pleural mesothelioma or another variety. Because this is such an aggressive and stubborn form of cancer, patients and their families may have a difficult time addressing the issue of treatment, but because options for mesothelioma patients are steadily increasing, the discussion of treatment is quite important, even if all hope seems lost.
Each mesothelioma case is considered individually and there is no right or wrong treatment for the disease. What's best for you or your loved one will depend on a number of factors. Diagnostic tools such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and biopsies will be used to determine these factors and these tests will assist the doctor and/or oncologist in determining the best treatment for the patient in question.
What are the Options?
Cancer treatment usually focuses upon destroying malignant cells and preserving healthy ones. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. At present, mesothelioma patients are faced with three major options for treatment of their disease - surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. What course of treatment is recommended will largely depend on these issues:
· The type of mesothelioma and location of the tumor
· The size of the tumor(s)
· The degree to which the cancer has spread or metastasized
· The stage of the cancer - beginning, advanced, etc.
· The age of the patient
· The overall physical health of the patient
Setting up any type of treatment may involve seeing a variety of doctors, including an oncologist (cancer specialist), pulmonologist (lung specialist), or radiologist. Patience is sometimes necessary, but doctors will no doubt set up treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis.
Surgery
Surgery can be performed on mesothelioma patients for one of two reasons: in an attempt to cure the disease or for palliative reasons in order to keep the patient more comfortable and improve the quality of life. Unfortunately, because mesothelioma is almost always diagnosed in its late stages, curative surgery is not usually an option.
As tests are developed that may help to diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage, surgery may become more of an option in the future. At that point, doctors may be able to attempt to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue in an attempt to stabilize the disease.
More often, however, surgery is used as a palliative measure. For example, doctors may opt for a surgery called a pleurodesis, which involves injecting talc into the lungs to prevent fluid from returning. A thoracentesis, a surgical procedure that removes fluid from the lungs by means of a thin needle, may also be recommended.
In severe cases, a pleurectomy may be recommended for palliative purposes. This involves removing the pleura - the lining of the lung - and can control fluid build-up and lessen pain and breathing difficulties.
Radiation Therapy
If a patients health is too fragile for surgery or chemotherapy, radiation is often recommended. Radiation causes the fewest side effects and is usually easier to tolerate than chemo. There are a few different forms of radiation therapy available to meso patients:
External beam radiation - the preferred type to treat mesothelioma, this type of radiation comes from a machine outside the body and is aimed toward affected areas. Usually administered 5-days-a-week for up to 5 weeks, this type of radiation is often used for palliative purposes - to lessen breathing difficulties, pain, bleeding, or difficulty swallowing - but seldom has much of an effect on the mesothelioma tumors. This type of radiation may also be used in addition to surgery.
Brachytherapy - Rarely prescribed for mesothelioma, this kind of radiation places radioactive material directly inside the lung or abdomen.
Chemotherapy
Like radiation, chemotherapy provides no cure for mesothelioma but can go a long way in providing relief from the horrendous symptoms of the disease. As researchers continue to test different combinations of chemotherapy drugs, patients continue to benefit from their findings, and someday, chemo may go a lot further in prolonging the life of a mesothelioma victim.
Chemotherapy is given in pill form or injected. In the case of mesothelioma patients, the drugs are given intrapleurally (into the chest cavity) or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Doctors usually combine two drugs for the best result. Currently, the preferred combination is Alimta© (pemetrexed) and Cisplatin, but other drugs are used in tandem if deemed preferable for a specific patient. In some cases, patients can only tolerate a single drug so only one is used for treatment.
Other drugs are given to the patient to combat the unpleasant side effects of chemo, such as medication to relieve nausea and vomiting or vitamins to replace essential ones lost during chemotherapy.
Some patients decide that the side effects of chemotherapy are too severe and opt not to receive this treatment.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are the study of promising new treatments for a particular disease. These trials are constantly in need of patients who are willing to try these experimental treatments before they are approved by the FDA. Patients should speak to their doctors about current clinical trials available to them and if they might qualify to be a part of a particular study. Those opting to participate in a clinical trial should carefully weigh the pros and cons before agreeing to participate.
Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies include potential treatment for a disease or its symptoms that are not part of the conventional treatment generally recommended for patients with the disease. These might include the use of vitamins or herbs or participation in therapies such as acupuncture, massage, or hypnosis.
A Mesothelioma Cure
Following the backlash of asbestos-related exposures and illnesses, many people were wondering how scientific research was going to proceed. The response has been encouraging, with cancer specialists and other doctors working each day towards a cure for malignant mesothelioma. While a way to completely eliminate the cancer from the body does not presently exist, there are several successful mesothelioma treatment programs as well as clinical trials that are working towards developing a way to eliminate this unfortunate form of cancer.
Treatments for patients of malignant mesothelioma commonly fall in line with treatment of other lung and lung-related cancers. Curative treatments are those which remove the cancer from the body completely. While there are no cures for mesothelioma, any treatment could theoretically be curative, so long as it is successful in completely removing the cancer from the body. While the treatment may be curative, it is important to remember that curative treatments do not rule out the recurrence of the disease.
While curative treatments may not prevent the disease from recurring, it is important to be aware of current initiatives that are working towards a total cure for the disease. There have been instances of unique treatment programs that have prevented the recurrence of the disease for several years. Paul Krauss was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1997 and given only a few months to live by his physician. Today, Paul Krauss is still alive and active and has dedicated himself towards spreading awareness of the disease and working with others in developing treatment programs that would be as successful as his has been.
Combination treatments, which integrate two or more different treatment options, such as surgery coupled with radiation, or surgery paired with radiation and chemotherapy have been successful in extending life expectancies. Researchers believe that when the right combination of therapies is found, prognoses will be far longer than anyone could have imagined when the disease first manifested. Technology has also afforded new possibilities to mesothelioma patients. CT (Computer Topography) scans have been able to map three-dimensional images of the body's internal organs for targeted chemotherapy or radiation therapy to be administered.
Another novel technique is being integrated with surgical resections of mesothelioma tumors. Heated chemotherapeutic agents have shown increased proficiency in the elimination of cancer cells. Side effects of chemotherapy have, in the past, prevented physicians from delivering an optimal dosage of the drug. However, a novel procedure known as intracavity heated chemotherapy treatment has integrated these two concepts into a successful program. Heated chemotherapeutic agent is administered directly to the affected area during the surgical removal, destroying any remaining cancer cells in the area and extending prognoses well beyond typical timeframs.
It is through technology and advancements such as these that cancer specialists and physicians are laying the groundwork for a cure.
Each mesothelioma case is considered individually and there is no right or wrong treatment for the disease. What's best for you or your loved one will depend on a number of factors. Diagnostic tools such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and biopsies will be used to determine these factors and these tests will assist the doctor and/or oncologist in determining the best treatment for the patient in question.
What are the Options?
Cancer treatment usually focuses upon destroying malignant cells and preserving healthy ones. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. At present, mesothelioma patients are faced with three major options for treatment of their disease - surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. What course of treatment is recommended will largely depend on these issues:
· The type of mesothelioma and location of the tumor
· The size of the tumor(s)
· The degree to which the cancer has spread or metastasized
· The stage of the cancer - beginning, advanced, etc.
· The age of the patient
· The overall physical health of the patient
Setting up any type of treatment may involve seeing a variety of doctors, including an oncologist (cancer specialist), pulmonologist (lung specialist), or radiologist. Patience is sometimes necessary, but doctors will no doubt set up treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis.
Surgery
Surgery can be performed on mesothelioma patients for one of two reasons: in an attempt to cure the disease or for palliative reasons in order to keep the patient more comfortable and improve the quality of life. Unfortunately, because mesothelioma is almost always diagnosed in its late stages, curative surgery is not usually an option.
As tests are developed that may help to diagnose mesothelioma at an earlier stage, surgery may become more of an option in the future. At that point, doctors may be able to attempt to remove the cancer and some of the surrounding tissue in an attempt to stabilize the disease.
More often, however, surgery is used as a palliative measure. For example, doctors may opt for a surgery called a pleurodesis, which involves injecting talc into the lungs to prevent fluid from returning. A thoracentesis, a surgical procedure that removes fluid from the lungs by means of a thin needle, may also be recommended.
In severe cases, a pleurectomy may be recommended for palliative purposes. This involves removing the pleura - the lining of the lung - and can control fluid build-up and lessen pain and breathing difficulties.
Radiation Therapy
If a patients health is too fragile for surgery or chemotherapy, radiation is often recommended. Radiation causes the fewest side effects and is usually easier to tolerate than chemo. There are a few different forms of radiation therapy available to meso patients:
External beam radiation - the preferred type to treat mesothelioma, this type of radiation comes from a machine outside the body and is aimed toward affected areas. Usually administered 5-days-a-week for up to 5 weeks, this type of radiation is often used for palliative purposes - to lessen breathing difficulties, pain, bleeding, or difficulty swallowing - but seldom has much of an effect on the mesothelioma tumors. This type of radiation may also be used in addition to surgery.
Brachytherapy - Rarely prescribed for mesothelioma, this kind of radiation places radioactive material directly inside the lung or abdomen.
Chemotherapy
Like radiation, chemotherapy provides no cure for mesothelioma but can go a long way in providing relief from the horrendous symptoms of the disease. As researchers continue to test different combinations of chemotherapy drugs, patients continue to benefit from their findings, and someday, chemo may go a lot further in prolonging the life of a mesothelioma victim.
Chemotherapy is given in pill form or injected. In the case of mesothelioma patients, the drugs are given intrapleurally (into the chest cavity) or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Doctors usually combine two drugs for the best result. Currently, the preferred combination is Alimta© (pemetrexed) and Cisplatin, but other drugs are used in tandem if deemed preferable for a specific patient. In some cases, patients can only tolerate a single drug so only one is used for treatment.
Other drugs are given to the patient to combat the unpleasant side effects of chemo, such as medication to relieve nausea and vomiting or vitamins to replace essential ones lost during chemotherapy.
Some patients decide that the side effects of chemotherapy are too severe and opt not to receive this treatment.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are the study of promising new treatments for a particular disease. These trials are constantly in need of patients who are willing to try these experimental treatments before they are approved by the FDA. Patients should speak to their doctors about current clinical trials available to them and if they might qualify to be a part of a particular study. Those opting to participate in a clinical trial should carefully weigh the pros and cons before agreeing to participate.
Alternative Therapies
Alternative therapies include potential treatment for a disease or its symptoms that are not part of the conventional treatment generally recommended for patients with the disease. These might include the use of vitamins or herbs or participation in therapies such as acupuncture, massage, or hypnosis.
A Mesothelioma Cure
Following the backlash of asbestos-related exposures and illnesses, many people were wondering how scientific research was going to proceed. The response has been encouraging, with cancer specialists and other doctors working each day towards a cure for malignant mesothelioma. While a way to completely eliminate the cancer from the body does not presently exist, there are several successful mesothelioma treatment programs as well as clinical trials that are working towards developing a way to eliminate this unfortunate form of cancer.
Treatments for patients of malignant mesothelioma commonly fall in line with treatment of other lung and lung-related cancers. Curative treatments are those which remove the cancer from the body completely. While there are no cures for mesothelioma, any treatment could theoretically be curative, so long as it is successful in completely removing the cancer from the body. While the treatment may be curative, it is important to remember that curative treatments do not rule out the recurrence of the disease.
While curative treatments may not prevent the disease from recurring, it is important to be aware of current initiatives that are working towards a total cure for the disease. There have been instances of unique treatment programs that have prevented the recurrence of the disease for several years. Paul Krauss was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1997 and given only a few months to live by his physician. Today, Paul Krauss is still alive and active and has dedicated himself towards spreading awareness of the disease and working with others in developing treatment programs that would be as successful as his has been.
Combination treatments, which integrate two or more different treatment options, such as surgery coupled with radiation, or surgery paired with radiation and chemotherapy have been successful in extending life expectancies. Researchers believe that when the right combination of therapies is found, prognoses will be far longer than anyone could have imagined when the disease first manifested. Technology has also afforded new possibilities to mesothelioma patients. CT (Computer Topography) scans have been able to map three-dimensional images of the body's internal organs for targeted chemotherapy or radiation therapy to be administered.
Another novel technique is being integrated with surgical resections of mesothelioma tumors. Heated chemotherapeutic agents have shown increased proficiency in the elimination of cancer cells. Side effects of chemotherapy have, in the past, prevented physicians from delivering an optimal dosage of the drug. However, a novel procedure known as intracavity heated chemotherapy treatment has integrated these two concepts into a successful program. Heated chemotherapeutic agent is administered directly to the affected area during the surgical removal, destroying any remaining cancer cells in the area and extending prognoses well beyond typical timeframs.
It is through technology and advancements such as these that cancer specialists and physicians are laying the groundwork for a cure.
How to Tell if You're at Risk for Mesothelioma
You may have heard about Mesothelioma by listening to commercials on TV, but you may also be unaware that you could be at risk of developing this serious form of cancer that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Since a person may not develop any symptoms of the disease for as long as 20 to 50 years following exposure, if you were working prior to the mid 1970s, you could well have been exposed and still not show any signs of it. If you know that you worked in an industry that involved asbestos back before this time and are experiencing general chest or back pains, you should have it checked out. After all, people who worked in environments that exposed them to asbestos fibers need to watch for symptoms for the rest of their lives.
Mesothelioma patients have been diagnosed as having cancer cells surrounding their lungs or abdominal organs or inside their ribcages. While even a little exposure to asbestos could cause the disease, it's far more likely to occur in people who were exposed over longer periods of time. It's real possible that you aren't even aware that you were ever working around asbestos, because it was common for employers back then to withhold from their employees the information that was coming out regarding asbestos exposure. Some examples of people who may have been innocently exposed prior to the 1970s include construction workers or those who were in the Navy.
There are a number of materials you could have been exposed to that contained asbestos, because asbestos was widely-used prior to the middle of the 1970s when the first reports of the damages it could cause were released. Before that time almost every kind of insulation contained asbestos, including insulation used in homes, around pipes, for fire-proofing, and in boilers. Powdered forms of plaster, cement, and joint compounds that were used to insulate contained asbestos, too, and since using them caused employees to breathe in a lot of their dust, they have proved to be a major source of asbestos exposure.
If you worked in one of the following fields prior to the mid 1970s, then you may be at risk for Mesothelioma: * The manufacture or installation of insulation products * Steel refineries and other industries which included the use of steel * Fabricators of brake and clutch shoes * Paper mill employees * Maintenance workers * Boilermakers * Those doing electrical or carpentry work and brick masons * Shipyard workers
Even if you know you worked in one of these industries and could have been exposed to asbestos, there's no need to panic. Since this exposure will place you at a higher risk for Mesothelioma, however, you'll want to make sure your doctor knows all the specifics. He may even want to run some tests just to make sure that you aren't showing any signs of the disease. Most likely he will want to do a complete physical if you haven't had one lately and have some x-rays taken of your chest and abdominal area. He might want you to take pulmonary function tests, a CT scan, or an MRI. If you show no symptoms, then you're clear for now, but you'll have to keep watch for the development of the condition all the rest of your life.
If you should happen to be diagnosed with Mesothelioma sometime in the future, you'll want to hire a lawyer who specializes in this type of litigation to file a claim against your employer. You may be eligible for restitution if it can be proven that your employer was in any way negligent in providing you with information or safety equipment that could have prevented your illness.
4 Explanations to Get a Mesothelioma Lawyer
by admin on March 26, 2009
You've recently been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or lost a loved one to the disease, and you're absolutely devastated. You're facing financial problems, and you may not want to take on the additional expense of hiring a Mesothelioma lawyer. You may be operating under the misguided belief that you won't be able to prove the company was to blame for your situation or that it's been far too long since you were originally exposed. Unfortunately, by thinking this way you could be giving up your rights to compensation should be coming to you. In fact, hiring a lawyer to help you with your case if probably the best possible thing for you to do.
1. You are nothing but a victim of your employer's negligence. As early as the 1920s companies had access to information telling them that they were risking your health by having asbestos in the workplace. By the '40s they were receiving warnings about the health risks and being advised to eliminate asbestos from their manufacturing processes. They chose not to listen, because to listen would mean lower profits. Therefore, they knowingly chose the money over your health. Why shouldn't you hire a Mesothelioma lawyer who will help place the responsibility for your exposure back where it belongs?
2. Mesothelioma may have taken the life of a loved one and left you with insurmountable debts. An experienced Mesothelioma lawyer will be able to file a wrongful death suit in behalf of your loved one which will bring you a settlement to compensate you for the expenses you've inherited as well as for your emotional suffering brought about by this person's death.
3. It's possible that since you've been diagnosed with Mesothelioma you've been watching the depletion of your life's savings, seeing a possible foreclosure looming on the horizon, and trying to live on little of nothing. You don't have to worry about a Mesothelioma lawyer costing you money you don't have. The way most of these lawyers work is on a no win, no pay basis. Therefore, unless they will a settlement for you, you won't have to pay them anything.
4. Corporate negligence as far as employee health is concerned has been going on far too long and needs to be stopped. Companies have been allowed to give profits a higher priority than health issues surrounding their employees, and this practice is totally unacceptable. It has caused hundreds of employees to become victims as employer greed took the forefront. A Mesothelioma lawyer will seek restitution for what you have endured and will also ask for punitive damages. This is additional money the company will be forced to pay as a punishment for their negligence. When companies are forced to pay punitive damages, other companies are being warned that no one is going to tolerate such irresponsible behavior any longer.
When you hire a Mesothelioma lawyer and present your case to the world, you end up helping yourself, your family, and workers everywhere.
Benefits of Hiring a Great Mesothelioma Cancer Lawyer
by admin on March 26, 2009
Are you one of the unfortunate workers who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace and have now been diagnosed with mesothelioma? If you are, you need to know your rights and consult with a mesothelioma cancer lawyer who can get you the restitution you both need and deserve. Mesothelioma is a devastating form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, and it has the power to destroy the lives of the patient and other family members. If you're being faced with medical bills, emotional issues, and burning anger at a company that allowed this to happen to you, you aren't alone. This has happened to hundreds of workers, and many are taking steps to seek the financial support they are entitled to.
There are law firms who have made it a point to become specialists in fighting for your rights. They can provide you with the legal, emotional, and medical benefits you need to help you get through the crisis you are experiencing. You and your family need a lot of care and support, and they're there to see that you get it. They have the legal expertise to prove that you were exposed to asbestos in the workplace, work through the facts that are unique to your claim, and get you the help you have coming to you. Although it can be difficult to know a good mesothelioma cancer lawyer from the bad ones, with a little research it can be done.
You are not to blame for what has happened to you. You couldn't possibly have known that the environment you worked in was going to make you sick. Even if you were aware that there were asbestos particles in the air, you most likely didn't know that they were hazardous. After all, we're all exposed to particulates in the air everywhere we go, and the majority of them do no damage. However, the company you worked for was aware of the risk to employees, and a mesothelioma cancer lawyer will tell you so.
Companies using asbestos in their manufacturing processes have been aware of the devastating effects exposure could have on the health of their employees since as early as the 1920s. By the '30s and '40s, medical links between asbestos and cancer had been scientifically established, and companies were repeatedly warned that they should eliminate asbestos from their manufacturing processes in favor of the safer materials that were available.
It's hard to believe in a country that prides itself on the value it places on human life, but executives in these companies made the decision to keep using asbestos, because it meant bigger profits and more money in their pockets. The health of their employees took a back seat to their greed, a fact that the courts now look upon as totally unethical. They also withheld the information they had concerning the asbestos-cancer link from their employees who continued innocently working in dangerous environments. Therefore, the bad decisions made by these heartless employers are being blamed for the suffering of their employees who contracted mesothelioma. Things could have been much different if they had only acted responsibly.
It's no wonder that the American legal system is throwing the book at companies that were guilty of these downright criminal acts. Therefore, in order to go after your share of the restitution that is now legally available, you'll need to find an experienced mesothelioma cancer lawyer. He'll be able to prove your claim and get you financial assistance to make up for lost wages, medical bills that your insurance didn't pay for, funeral expenses, and emotional support for family members. Obviously he won't be able to restore you to health, because only doctors can do that, but he'll be able to provide you with the financial security your family is going to need.
The Importance of Filing Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuits
by admin on March 26, 2009
If mesothelioma has entered your life either as a disease you're contending with or as a killer in the life of a family member, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Since the victims in mesothelioma cases aren't to blame for what happened to them, you can either file a personal injury claim if you are the victim or a wrongful death suit in behalf of another person. The rights in these different kinds of lawsuits will vary depending on the county and state where they are filed. However, getting a lawyer who specializes in mesothelioma cancer lawsuits will definitely be in your best interests with either kind of suit.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be life-shattering. After all, it's a type of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, which usually happens in the workplace. Even if you've developed the condition from close contact with a person who works around asbestos, you may also be eligible to file suit. It's best if you can pinpoint exactly where you had your exposure to asbestos, because that can make your case move along faster. However, you want to talk to a lawyer even if you don't know where you got the disease, because he'll be able to have a private investigation done in order to research your background history and find where the exposure occurred.
It's important that you file your claim in a timely manner after being diagnosed. In most states the time limit will range from 1 to 2 years following diagnosis. However, make sure you know the time limits in the state where you'll be filing your lawsuit, because if you don't act within those limits, you may be unable to ever file a claim. In the case of a wrongful death lawsuit, the time limits will still apply, so make sure that you act quickly while there's still time to pursue the restitution you are entitled to.
There's no need to be concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer to represent you in your mesothelioma lawsuits, even if you're already buried under the debt of lost wages and medical bills, because most lawyers who specialize in cases like this work under a system known as no win, no fee. This means that if they take on your case and are unable to get any compensation for you, they won't charge you for any of their services.
After talking your claim over with your lawyer, you'll be able to get an idea of about how much he thinks he'll be able to get for you in restitution. The evidence that he can gather regarding your case and how severe of a disability the disease has caused you will help determine the amount of settlement you can expect. There have been many mesothelioma lawsuits in the past, and many of them have been settled for amounts in the 6 or even 7 figures. So, as soon as you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, hire a lawyer and start fighting for what is rightfully yours.
Why you should File a Mesothelioma Asbestos Lawsuit
by admin on March 26, 2009
There's a lot of money to be made these days by filing a mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit if you have a legitimate claim against an employer. This disease is serious, and even if it's been decades since you worked in a profession where you were exposed to asbestos, the disease could well have been lying dormant for all these years. Your present or ex-employer can be held liable for your health problems no matter how long ago you were exposed. If the employer failed to advise workers about the health hazards they were facing, they can be held accountable on the basis of malice, fraud, and oppression. Employees who have filed a Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit against a company found negligent are receiving millions of dollars in damages.
In December, 2008 it was reported that an 82-year-old man who had been exposed to asbestos as a machinist back in the 1940s was awarded a $10 million settlement as a result of his Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit. His employer had been privy to information which it hadn't shared with him and his fellow employees about the health issues that were involved in doing their jobs, a fact that the jury considered to be both conspiracy against the employees and a criminal act.
Employers received reports as long ago as the 1920s telling them of the hazards asbestos presented to employee health. By the 1940s they were even being advised to eliminate the use of asbestos altogether. However, they chose not to listen, because transferring their operations to another material would have lowered their profits. Therefore they ignored the best interests of their employees in favor of more money in their pockets. This was going on until the mid 1970s when OSHA started putting the screws to companies who still used asbestos. During these years, however, thousands of people worked in environments where they breathed air containing asbestos fibers and could now be facing latent cases of Mesothelioma. If you were one of these workers that has found out you're suffering from the disease, you are most likely eligible to file a Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit.
It's time for employees who are facing this deadly condition to stand up for their rights. If you have developed Mesothelioma because you were exposed to asbestos at work prior to the mid '70s, you need to take action by hiring a lawyer who specializes in Mesothelioma litigation. If he can prove that the company you worked for was negligent in giving you the information and safety measures you needed to protect you from the asbestos in the environment, then you have a case in which you can demand compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and the suffering you endured as a result of the exposure. Most cases also result in punitive damages against the company. Punitive damages punish companies for their negligence while letting the rest of corporate America know that they, too, will be held accountable.
Following the filing of the first Mesothelioma lawsuit in 1966, hundreds of other victims have also filed claims and received the restitution they so rightly deserved. Although our present political climate is filled with politicians who are company executives wanting to look out for corporate interests instead of the rights of the people, you can still file a claim, and if it can be proven that the company was at fault, you will win. After all, there's a lot of history and past practice that your lawyer will be able to draw on so that you'll be rightfully-compensated for your Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit.
Mesothelioma patients have been diagnosed as having cancer cells surrounding their lungs or abdominal organs or inside their ribcages. While even a little exposure to asbestos could cause the disease, it's far more likely to occur in people who were exposed over longer periods of time. It's real possible that you aren't even aware that you were ever working around asbestos, because it was common for employers back then to withhold from their employees the information that was coming out regarding asbestos exposure. Some examples of people who may have been innocently exposed prior to the 1970s include construction workers or those who were in the Navy.
There are a number of materials you could have been exposed to that contained asbestos, because asbestos was widely-used prior to the middle of the 1970s when the first reports of the damages it could cause were released. Before that time almost every kind of insulation contained asbestos, including insulation used in homes, around pipes, for fire-proofing, and in boilers. Powdered forms of plaster, cement, and joint compounds that were used to insulate contained asbestos, too, and since using them caused employees to breathe in a lot of their dust, they have proved to be a major source of asbestos exposure.
If you worked in one of the following fields prior to the mid 1970s, then you may be at risk for Mesothelioma: * The manufacture or installation of insulation products * Steel refineries and other industries which included the use of steel * Fabricators of brake and clutch shoes * Paper mill employees * Maintenance workers * Boilermakers * Those doing electrical or carpentry work and brick masons * Shipyard workers
Even if you know you worked in one of these industries and could have been exposed to asbestos, there's no need to panic. Since this exposure will place you at a higher risk for Mesothelioma, however, you'll want to make sure your doctor knows all the specifics. He may even want to run some tests just to make sure that you aren't showing any signs of the disease. Most likely he will want to do a complete physical if you haven't had one lately and have some x-rays taken of your chest and abdominal area. He might want you to take pulmonary function tests, a CT scan, or an MRI. If you show no symptoms, then you're clear for now, but you'll have to keep watch for the development of the condition all the rest of your life.
If you should happen to be diagnosed with Mesothelioma sometime in the future, you'll want to hire a lawyer who specializes in this type of litigation to file a claim against your employer. You may be eligible for restitution if it can be proven that your employer was in any way negligent in providing you with information or safety equipment that could have prevented your illness.
4 Explanations to Get a Mesothelioma Lawyer
by admin on March 26, 2009
You've recently been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or lost a loved one to the disease, and you're absolutely devastated. You're facing financial problems, and you may not want to take on the additional expense of hiring a Mesothelioma lawyer. You may be operating under the misguided belief that you won't be able to prove the company was to blame for your situation or that it's been far too long since you were originally exposed. Unfortunately, by thinking this way you could be giving up your rights to compensation should be coming to you. In fact, hiring a lawyer to help you with your case if probably the best possible thing for you to do.
1. You are nothing but a victim of your employer's negligence. As early as the 1920s companies had access to information telling them that they were risking your health by having asbestos in the workplace. By the '40s they were receiving warnings about the health risks and being advised to eliminate asbestos from their manufacturing processes. They chose not to listen, because to listen would mean lower profits. Therefore, they knowingly chose the money over your health. Why shouldn't you hire a Mesothelioma lawyer who will help place the responsibility for your exposure back where it belongs?
2. Mesothelioma may have taken the life of a loved one and left you with insurmountable debts. An experienced Mesothelioma lawyer will be able to file a wrongful death suit in behalf of your loved one which will bring you a settlement to compensate you for the expenses you've inherited as well as for your emotional suffering brought about by this person's death.
3. It's possible that since you've been diagnosed with Mesothelioma you've been watching the depletion of your life's savings, seeing a possible foreclosure looming on the horizon, and trying to live on little of nothing. You don't have to worry about a Mesothelioma lawyer costing you money you don't have. The way most of these lawyers work is on a no win, no pay basis. Therefore, unless they will a settlement for you, you won't have to pay them anything.
4. Corporate negligence as far as employee health is concerned has been going on far too long and needs to be stopped. Companies have been allowed to give profits a higher priority than health issues surrounding their employees, and this practice is totally unacceptable. It has caused hundreds of employees to become victims as employer greed took the forefront. A Mesothelioma lawyer will seek restitution for what you have endured and will also ask for punitive damages. This is additional money the company will be forced to pay as a punishment for their negligence. When companies are forced to pay punitive damages, other companies are being warned that no one is going to tolerate such irresponsible behavior any longer.
When you hire a Mesothelioma lawyer and present your case to the world, you end up helping yourself, your family, and workers everywhere.
Benefits of Hiring a Great Mesothelioma Cancer Lawyer
by admin on March 26, 2009
Are you one of the unfortunate workers who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace and have now been diagnosed with mesothelioma? If you are, you need to know your rights and consult with a mesothelioma cancer lawyer who can get you the restitution you both need and deserve. Mesothelioma is a devastating form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, and it has the power to destroy the lives of the patient and other family members. If you're being faced with medical bills, emotional issues, and burning anger at a company that allowed this to happen to you, you aren't alone. This has happened to hundreds of workers, and many are taking steps to seek the financial support they are entitled to.
There are law firms who have made it a point to become specialists in fighting for your rights. They can provide you with the legal, emotional, and medical benefits you need to help you get through the crisis you are experiencing. You and your family need a lot of care and support, and they're there to see that you get it. They have the legal expertise to prove that you were exposed to asbestos in the workplace, work through the facts that are unique to your claim, and get you the help you have coming to you. Although it can be difficult to know a good mesothelioma cancer lawyer from the bad ones, with a little research it can be done.
You are not to blame for what has happened to you. You couldn't possibly have known that the environment you worked in was going to make you sick. Even if you were aware that there were asbestos particles in the air, you most likely didn't know that they were hazardous. After all, we're all exposed to particulates in the air everywhere we go, and the majority of them do no damage. However, the company you worked for was aware of the risk to employees, and a mesothelioma cancer lawyer will tell you so.
Companies using asbestos in their manufacturing processes have been aware of the devastating effects exposure could have on the health of their employees since as early as the 1920s. By the '30s and '40s, medical links between asbestos and cancer had been scientifically established, and companies were repeatedly warned that they should eliminate asbestos from their manufacturing processes in favor of the safer materials that were available.
It's hard to believe in a country that prides itself on the value it places on human life, but executives in these companies made the decision to keep using asbestos, because it meant bigger profits and more money in their pockets. The health of their employees took a back seat to their greed, a fact that the courts now look upon as totally unethical. They also withheld the information they had concerning the asbestos-cancer link from their employees who continued innocently working in dangerous environments. Therefore, the bad decisions made by these heartless employers are being blamed for the suffering of their employees who contracted mesothelioma. Things could have been much different if they had only acted responsibly.
It's no wonder that the American legal system is throwing the book at companies that were guilty of these downright criminal acts. Therefore, in order to go after your share of the restitution that is now legally available, you'll need to find an experienced mesothelioma cancer lawyer. He'll be able to prove your claim and get you financial assistance to make up for lost wages, medical bills that your insurance didn't pay for, funeral expenses, and emotional support for family members. Obviously he won't be able to restore you to health, because only doctors can do that, but he'll be able to provide you with the financial security your family is going to need.
The Importance of Filing Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuits
by admin on March 26, 2009
If mesothelioma has entered your life either as a disease you're contending with or as a killer in the life of a family member, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Since the victims in mesothelioma cases aren't to blame for what happened to them, you can either file a personal injury claim if you are the victim or a wrongful death suit in behalf of another person. The rights in these different kinds of lawsuits will vary depending on the county and state where they are filed. However, getting a lawyer who specializes in mesothelioma cancer lawsuits will definitely be in your best interests with either kind of suit.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be life-shattering. After all, it's a type of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, which usually happens in the workplace. Even if you've developed the condition from close contact with a person who works around asbestos, you may also be eligible to file suit. It's best if you can pinpoint exactly where you had your exposure to asbestos, because that can make your case move along faster. However, you want to talk to a lawyer even if you don't know where you got the disease, because he'll be able to have a private investigation done in order to research your background history and find where the exposure occurred.
It's important that you file your claim in a timely manner after being diagnosed. In most states the time limit will range from 1 to 2 years following diagnosis. However, make sure you know the time limits in the state where you'll be filing your lawsuit, because if you don't act within those limits, you may be unable to ever file a claim. In the case of a wrongful death lawsuit, the time limits will still apply, so make sure that you act quickly while there's still time to pursue the restitution you are entitled to.
There's no need to be concerned about the cost of hiring a lawyer to represent you in your mesothelioma lawsuits, even if you're already buried under the debt of lost wages and medical bills, because most lawyers who specialize in cases like this work under a system known as no win, no fee. This means that if they take on your case and are unable to get any compensation for you, they won't charge you for any of their services.
After talking your claim over with your lawyer, you'll be able to get an idea of about how much he thinks he'll be able to get for you in restitution. The evidence that he can gather regarding your case and how severe of a disability the disease has caused you will help determine the amount of settlement you can expect. There have been many mesothelioma lawsuits in the past, and many of them have been settled for amounts in the 6 or even 7 figures. So, as soon as you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, hire a lawyer and start fighting for what is rightfully yours.
Why you should File a Mesothelioma Asbestos Lawsuit
by admin on March 26, 2009
There's a lot of money to be made these days by filing a mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit if you have a legitimate claim against an employer. This disease is serious, and even if it's been decades since you worked in a profession where you were exposed to asbestos, the disease could well have been lying dormant for all these years. Your present or ex-employer can be held liable for your health problems no matter how long ago you were exposed. If the employer failed to advise workers about the health hazards they were facing, they can be held accountable on the basis of malice, fraud, and oppression. Employees who have filed a Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit against a company found negligent are receiving millions of dollars in damages.
In December, 2008 it was reported that an 82-year-old man who had been exposed to asbestos as a machinist back in the 1940s was awarded a $10 million settlement as a result of his Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit. His employer had been privy to information which it hadn't shared with him and his fellow employees about the health issues that were involved in doing their jobs, a fact that the jury considered to be both conspiracy against the employees and a criminal act.
Employers received reports as long ago as the 1920s telling them of the hazards asbestos presented to employee health. By the 1940s they were even being advised to eliminate the use of asbestos altogether. However, they chose not to listen, because transferring their operations to another material would have lowered their profits. Therefore they ignored the best interests of their employees in favor of more money in their pockets. This was going on until the mid 1970s when OSHA started putting the screws to companies who still used asbestos. During these years, however, thousands of people worked in environments where they breathed air containing asbestos fibers and could now be facing latent cases of Mesothelioma. If you were one of these workers that has found out you're suffering from the disease, you are most likely eligible to file a Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit.
It's time for employees who are facing this deadly condition to stand up for their rights. If you have developed Mesothelioma because you were exposed to asbestos at work prior to the mid '70s, you need to take action by hiring a lawyer who specializes in Mesothelioma litigation. If he can prove that the company you worked for was negligent in giving you the information and safety measures you needed to protect you from the asbestos in the environment, then you have a case in which you can demand compensation for lost wages, medical expenses, and the suffering you endured as a result of the exposure. Most cases also result in punitive damages against the company. Punitive damages punish companies for their negligence while letting the rest of corporate America know that they, too, will be held accountable.
Following the filing of the first Mesothelioma lawsuit in 1966, hundreds of other victims have also filed claims and received the restitution they so rightly deserved. Although our present political climate is filled with politicians who are company executives wanting to look out for corporate interests instead of the rights of the people, you can still file a claim, and if it can be proven that the company was at fault, you will win. After all, there's a lot of history and past practice that your lawyer will be able to draw on so that you'll be rightfully-compensated for your Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit.
Mesothelioma Cancer - Caused by Asbestos
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lungs and abdomen caused by asbestos exposure. This website is dedicated to those who have questions about the disease, and seek reliable answers. This is an online resource created with the needs of users in mind. Please feel free to fully navigate the site, and we hope you find its contents useful for your needs
Questions & Answers
"The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albert Einstein
This site is meant to serve as a portal for getting answers to your important questions regarding mesothelioma. The following are answers to a few frequently asked questions regarding mesothelioma.
What is mesothelioma?
Caused by asbestos it is a rare terminal cancer found in the linings of the heart, lungs, and abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos.
When Do Symptoms Appear?
Symptoms are normally latent in individuals for years and typically take up to several decades to appear.
Stages of Mesothelioma
How is mesothelioma treated? Most commonly treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. See also Cyberknife as a treatment option.
Other helpful information:
Innovations in Treating Mesothelioma
Diet & Nutrition Information
Specialized Care
Legal Help - Find a Mesothelioma Attorney
For More Information…
These are just a few of the basic questions people have about mesothelioma. More information can be found on various pages within this site, as well as published resources. The National Cancer Institute and other agencies publish more extensive information for the public. Also, a wealth of information can be found regarding victim’s rights, legal compensation, medical and financial assistance for those affected.
Support
“It is a process of diverting one's scattered forces into one powerful channel.” James Allen
The creators of this site wish for it to serve as a tool for support for users. We’ve combined research on a variety of aspects of mesothelioma that may be beneficial for those affected and their families, or those merely seeking information. Whatever the reason, we hope it proves useful.
Questions & Answers
"The important thing is not to stop questioning." Albert Einstein
This site is meant to serve as a portal for getting answers to your important questions regarding mesothelioma. The following are answers to a few frequently asked questions regarding mesothelioma.
What is mesothelioma?
Caused by asbestos it is a rare terminal cancer found in the linings of the heart, lungs, and abdomen. It is caused by exposure to asbestos.
When Do Symptoms Appear?
Symptoms are normally latent in individuals for years and typically take up to several decades to appear.
Stages of Mesothelioma
How is mesothelioma treated? Most commonly treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery. See also Cyberknife as a treatment option.
Other helpful information:
Innovations in Treating Mesothelioma
Diet & Nutrition Information
Specialized Care
Legal Help - Find a Mesothelioma Attorney
For More Information…
These are just a few of the basic questions people have about mesothelioma. More information can be found on various pages within this site, as well as published resources. The National Cancer Institute and other agencies publish more extensive information for the public. Also, a wealth of information can be found regarding victim’s rights, legal compensation, medical and financial assistance for those affected.
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“It is a process of diverting one's scattered forces into one powerful channel.” James Allen
The creators of this site wish for it to serve as a tool for support for users. We’ve combined research on a variety of aspects of mesothelioma that may be beneficial for those affected and their families, or those merely seeking information. Whatever the reason, we hope it proves useful.
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancerous (malignant) tumor that begins in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a membrane that lines and protects the lungs, the heart, and the abdominal cavity. There are three main types of mesothelioma:
· Pleural mesothelioma begins in the pleura (the lining of the lungs). This is the most common type of mesothelioma.
· Peritoneal mesothelioma begins in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity).
· Pericardial mesothelioma begins in the pericardium (the lining of the heart).
What Causes Mesothelioma?
Most cases of mesothelioma are because of exposure to asbestos on the job. Other causes include:
· Genetic susceptibility – Some people are more likely to develop mesothelioma than others
· Exposure to a particular virus – A virus called simian virus 40 (SV 40) has been linked with some cases of mesothelioma
· Exposure to radiation
What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
Most people with pleural mesothelioma note shortness of breath and chest pain (especially under the ribs), but other symptoms can include:
· Abdominal pain and bloating (with peritoneal mesothelioma)
· A persistent cough
· Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
· Weight loss
· Anemia
· Abnormalities in blood clotting
How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Diagnosing mesothelioma can be difficult since there are many conditions that cause similar symptoms. Your physician will first take a careful history, especially questioning you about your employment history, and then perform a physical exam. Imaging studies are often done, and may include x-rays of your chest and abdomen, CT scans, MRI scans or PET scans.
If your doctor suspects mesothelioma, she will need to schedule a biopsy. Depending upon the location of your tumor, she may recommend a thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), a procedure where a tissue sample is taken from the pleura, or a peritoneoscopy, a similar procedure to obtain tissue from the abdomen. If the biopsy reveals mesothelioma, further studies are then done to determine the stage of the cancer (how advanced it is).
Stages of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is divided into 2 primary stages:
· Localized (Stage 1) – With localized mesothelioma, the cancer is confined to the mesothelium – the pleura with pleural mesothelioma, or the peritoneum with peritoneal mesothelioma
· Advanced (Stage 2, 3, and 4) – Mesothelioma is considered advanced if it has spread to the lymph nodes, or other organs including the lungs
What Can I Do to Prevent Mesothelioma?
The most important thing you can do to prevent mesothelioma is to use appropriate precautions if you are exposed to asbestos at work. OSHA has asbestos safety standards for individuals who may be exposed on the job. If you work with asbestos, it is important to follow these guidelines to minimize your families exposure as well. Asbestos insulation in homes is usually not a problem, unless it is damaged or disturbed by remodeling projects. If you may have asbestos insulation (homes built prior to 1950) make sure to hire a contractor certified in asbestos management before you begin any home improvement projects.
How Is Mesothelioma Treated?
Depending on the size and location of your tumor, and if it has spread, treatment options may include:
· Surgery – Surgery may be considered, especially if the tumor is caught at an early stage. Types of surgery include:
o Pleurectomy – With a pleurectomy, a portion of the pleura is removed
o Extrapleural pneumonectomy – A portion of the pleura is removed, as well as a portion of the pericardium (heart lining), diaphragm (muscle separating the chest and abdomen) and the lung
· Chemotherapy – A combination of a chemotherapy medication and a targeted therapy may improve survival.
· Radiation Therapy – Radiation therapy is occasionally used as a palliative treatment for mesothelioma, a treatment that does not cure cancer, but can make you more comfortable. It may also be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.
· Clinical Trials – Several clinical trials are in progress, evaluating new ways to treat mesothelioma.
Living With Mesothelioma
On top of the heartbreak a diagnosis of cancer brings, many people with mesothelioma lack the emotional and psychosocial support that those with other forms of cancer find readily available. In addition, medico-legal battles related to asbestos exposure on-the-job can be emotionally draining. Participating in a support group, either through your cancer center, community, or online, can help you wade through the maze of treatment options, and find camaraderie in others who are living with mesothelioma.
· Pleural mesothelioma begins in the pleura (the lining of the lungs). This is the most common type of mesothelioma.
· Peritoneal mesothelioma begins in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity).
· Pericardial mesothelioma begins in the pericardium (the lining of the heart).
What Causes Mesothelioma?
Most cases of mesothelioma are because of exposure to asbestos on the job. Other causes include:
· Genetic susceptibility – Some people are more likely to develop mesothelioma than others
· Exposure to a particular virus – A virus called simian virus 40 (SV 40) has been linked with some cases of mesothelioma
· Exposure to radiation
What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
Most people with pleural mesothelioma note shortness of breath and chest pain (especially under the ribs), but other symptoms can include:
· Abdominal pain and bloating (with peritoneal mesothelioma)
· A persistent cough
· Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
· Weight loss
· Anemia
· Abnormalities in blood clotting
How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Diagnosing mesothelioma can be difficult since there are many conditions that cause similar symptoms. Your physician will first take a careful history, especially questioning you about your employment history, and then perform a physical exam. Imaging studies are often done, and may include x-rays of your chest and abdomen, CT scans, MRI scans or PET scans.
If your doctor suspects mesothelioma, she will need to schedule a biopsy. Depending upon the location of your tumor, she may recommend a thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), a procedure where a tissue sample is taken from the pleura, or a peritoneoscopy, a similar procedure to obtain tissue from the abdomen. If the biopsy reveals mesothelioma, further studies are then done to determine the stage of the cancer (how advanced it is).
Stages of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is divided into 2 primary stages:
· Localized (Stage 1) – With localized mesothelioma, the cancer is confined to the mesothelium – the pleura with pleural mesothelioma, or the peritoneum with peritoneal mesothelioma
· Advanced (Stage 2, 3, and 4) – Mesothelioma is considered advanced if it has spread to the lymph nodes, or other organs including the lungs
What Can I Do to Prevent Mesothelioma?
The most important thing you can do to prevent mesothelioma is to use appropriate precautions if you are exposed to asbestos at work. OSHA has asbestos safety standards for individuals who may be exposed on the job. If you work with asbestos, it is important to follow these guidelines to minimize your families exposure as well. Asbestos insulation in homes is usually not a problem, unless it is damaged or disturbed by remodeling projects. If you may have asbestos insulation (homes built prior to 1950) make sure to hire a contractor certified in asbestos management before you begin any home improvement projects.
How Is Mesothelioma Treated?
Depending on the size and location of your tumor, and if it has spread, treatment options may include:
· Surgery – Surgery may be considered, especially if the tumor is caught at an early stage. Types of surgery include:
o Pleurectomy – With a pleurectomy, a portion of the pleura is removed
o Extrapleural pneumonectomy – A portion of the pleura is removed, as well as a portion of the pericardium (heart lining), diaphragm (muscle separating the chest and abdomen) and the lung
· Chemotherapy – A combination of a chemotherapy medication and a targeted therapy may improve survival.
· Radiation Therapy – Radiation therapy is occasionally used as a palliative treatment for mesothelioma, a treatment that does not cure cancer, but can make you more comfortable. It may also be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.
· Clinical Trials – Several clinical trials are in progress, evaluating new ways to treat mesothelioma.
Living With Mesothelioma
On top of the heartbreak a diagnosis of cancer brings, many people with mesothelioma lack the emotional and psychosocial support that those with other forms of cancer find readily available. In addition, medico-legal battles related to asbestos exposure on-the-job can be emotionally draining. Participating in a support group, either through your cancer center, community, or online, can help you wade through the maze of treatment options, and find camaraderie in others who are living with mesothelioma.
How is Mesothelioma Treated?
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the body's internal organs, a thin layer of cells known as the mesothelium. While very thin, this layer of cells is vitally important to organ function and the health of the inner body structures. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleural lining of the lungs and is the most common form of the disease. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs within the peritoneum, which lines the abdominal cavity and is the second most common form of the disease. Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest variety of the disease and occurs in the pericardial lining of the heart. The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, though other factors, such as smoking may increase the likeliness of the disease in certain individuals
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer but can be managed with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Currently, there is no known cure for asbestos cancer but several mesothelioma treatment regimens have proven to be successful in helping the patient avoid pain and discomfort caused by the disease. Several therapies have emerged in recent years that have extended survival rates to levels previously thought to be impossible. Cancer centers have initiated hundreds of clinical trials in recent years to help mesothelioma patients find a therapy that works for them while still working towards a cure for future patients. Progressive therapies are now being developed through the International Mesothelioma Program under the direction of thoracic specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker
How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Malignant mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms of the disease often closely mimic those of less serious conditions. It will often require X-ray and other body scans (CT or MRI) in addition to a biopsy to conclusively diagnose mesothelioma. Nevertheless, those experiencing chronic cough, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or breathing difficulties should alert their physician immediately. This is particularly true among those with a known asbestos-exposure history. Those with asbestos exposure history should communicate this to their physician even before symptoms appear so that they may be able to alert patients to warning signs of the disease. If detected early enough, patients may be eligible for aggressive treatment options, including surgical resection of the mesothelioma cancer and affected tissue. Oncologists and thoracic specialists will be able to assist the patient in determining the extent of the disease and the best treatment options for that particular patient.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure was common among industrial workers. Among the more common jobsites were those in the shipbuilding industry, such as the Todd Shipyards or Newport News Naval Shipyard. Other jobsites include power plants, chemical manufacturing, or the metal works industry. Those with asbestos history should notify their doctor and learn of possible warning signs of health complications caused by exposure. Those who have been made sick by asbestos exposure should fill out the form on this page to receive a free asbestos and mesothelioma information kit detailing top doctors, new treatments, and how to obtain financial compensation for asbestos disease.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer but can be managed with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Currently, there is no known cure for asbestos cancer but several mesothelioma treatment regimens have proven to be successful in helping the patient avoid pain and discomfort caused by the disease. Several therapies have emerged in recent years that have extended survival rates to levels previously thought to be impossible. Cancer centers have initiated hundreds of clinical trials in recent years to help mesothelioma patients find a therapy that works for them while still working towards a cure for future patients. Progressive therapies are now being developed through the International Mesothelioma Program under the direction of thoracic specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker
How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Malignant mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms of the disease often closely mimic those of less serious conditions. It will often require X-ray and other body scans (CT or MRI) in addition to a biopsy to conclusively diagnose mesothelioma. Nevertheless, those experiencing chronic cough, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or breathing difficulties should alert their physician immediately. This is particularly true among those with a known asbestos-exposure history. Those with asbestos exposure history should communicate this to their physician even before symptoms appear so that they may be able to alert patients to warning signs of the disease. If detected early enough, patients may be eligible for aggressive treatment options, including surgical resection of the mesothelioma cancer and affected tissue. Oncologists and thoracic specialists will be able to assist the patient in determining the extent of the disease and the best treatment options for that particular patient.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure was common among industrial workers. Among the more common jobsites were those in the shipbuilding industry, such as the Todd Shipyards or Newport News Naval Shipyard. Other jobsites include power plants, chemical manufacturing, or the metal works industry. Those with asbestos history should notify their doctor and learn of possible warning signs of health complications caused by exposure. Those who have been made sick by asbestos exposure should fill out the form on this page to receive a free asbestos and mesothelioma information kit detailing top doctors, new treatments, and how to obtain financial compensation for asbestos disease.
How is Mesothelioma Treated?
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer but can be managed with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Currently, there is no known cure for asbestos cancer but several mesothelioma treatment regimens have proven to be successful in helping the patient avoid pain and discomfort caused by the disease. Several therapies have emerged in recent years that have extended survival rates to levels previously thought to be impossible. Cancer centers have initiated hundreds of clinical trials in recent years to help mesothelioma patients find a therapy that works for them while still working towards a cure for future patients. Progressive therapies are now being developed through the International Mesothelioma Program under the direction of thoracic specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker
How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Malignant mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms of the disease often closely mimic those of less serious conditions. It will often require X-ray and other body scans (CT or MRI) in addition to a biopsy to conclusively diagnose mesothelioma. Nevertheless, those experiencing chronic cough, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or breathing difficulties should alert their physician immediately. This is particularly true among those with a known asbestos-exposure history. Those with asbestos exposure history should communicate this to their physician even before symptoms appear so that they may be able to alert patients to warning signs of the disease. If detected early enough, patients may be eligible for aggressive treatment options, including surgical resection of the mesothelioma cancer and affected tissue. Oncologists and thoracic specialists will be able to assist the patient in determining the extent of the disease and the best treatment options for that particular patient.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure was common among industrial workers. Among the more common jobsites were those in the shipbuilding industry, such as the Todd Shipyards or Newport News Naval Shipyard. Other jobsites include power plants, chemical manufacturing, or the metal works industry. Those with asbestos history should notify their doctor and learn of possible warning signs of health complications caused by exposure. Those who have been made sick by asbestos exposure should fill out the form on this page to receive a free asbestos and mesothelioma information kit detailing top doctors, new treatments, and how to obtain financial compensation for asbestos disease.
How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Malignant mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms of the disease often closely mimic those of less serious conditions. It will often require X-ray and other body scans (CT or MRI) in addition to a biopsy to conclusively diagnose mesothelioma. Nevertheless, those experiencing chronic cough, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or breathing difficulties should alert their physician immediately. This is particularly true among those with a known asbestos-exposure history. Those with asbestos exposure history should communicate this to their physician even before symptoms appear so that they may be able to alert patients to warning signs of the disease. If detected early enough, patients may be eligible for aggressive treatment options, including surgical resection of the mesothelioma cancer and affected tissue. Oncologists and thoracic specialists will be able to assist the patient in determining the extent of the disease and the best treatment options for that particular patient.
Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure was common among industrial workers. Among the more common jobsites were those in the shipbuilding industry, such as the Todd Shipyards or Newport News Naval Shipyard. Other jobsites include power plants, chemical manufacturing, or the metal works industry. Those with asbestos history should notify their doctor and learn of possible warning signs of health complications caused by exposure. Those who have been made sick by asbestos exposure should fill out the form on this page to receive a free asbestos and mesothelioma information kit detailing top doctors, new treatments, and how to obtain financial compensation for asbestos disease.
Mesothelioma type of cancer
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the body's internal organs, a thin layer of cells known as the mesothelium. While very thin, this layer of cells is vitally important to organ function and the health of the inner body structures. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleural lining of the lungs and is the most common form of the disease. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs within the peritoneum, which lines the abdominal cavity and is the second most common form of the disease. Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest variety of the disease and occurs in the pericardial lining of the heart. The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, though other factors, such as smoking may increase the likeliness of the disease in certain individuals
Social Security Disability Benefits Awarded to Nurse Who Became Sensitized to Latex
Connie R. Gates, who was awarded total disability benefits by the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court, was awarded Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income benefits as a result of her sensitivity to latex products.
The Administrative Law Judge in the Social Security action found that the evidence presented in the case rendered a finding of a disability as defined under the Social Security Act. The applicant who is 35 years of age with 16 years of formal education offered medical evidence that she sustained an occupational disease, namely, latex allergy. The symptoms that she presented with included urticarial plaques with increasing tightness of the throat and chest within as little as 15 to 20 minutes of her exposure to latex materials. She also suffered general erythema, shortness of breath, light headedness and abdominal pain. Her medical management included the prescription of an epinephrine pen, maintaining a beta agonist metered dose inhaler, and Zyrtec daily. Additionally she was required to wear a Medic Alert bracelet to avoid inadvertent exposure to latex.
In his report to the court, the treating physician indicated the global presence of latex in today’s society which would include clothing, balloons, writing instruments, computer peripherals, medical products, sporting goods, household appliances, motor vehicles, furnishings in the home, and kitchen equipment. While the treating physician opined that she could work in an environment in which she would not be exposed to latex allergens, such a latex “safe” environment does not exist because latex particles often become airborne and circulate through a ventilating system.
Additionally, evidence presented by a vocational rehabilitation expert as well as by the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court established that, “…all reasonable vocational rehabilitation efforts have been attempted, but to no avail.”
The claimant also testified at the hearing that the allergic reaction began in April of 1998 with the symptoms of hives and swelling of her eyes and that the symptoms persisted even though she began to wear latex-free gloves in her work environment. The former nurse advised the Administrative Law Judge that a limited exposure of grocery shopping in 15-minute increments from 3 to 4 times a week produced adverse reactions consistently. The Administrative Law Judge indicated that it was reasonable to conclude that because of the symptoms associated with her latex allergy that her residual functional capacity for maximum sustained work activity has been reduced to the requirements of sedentary labor at best. However, the Judge indicated that in consideration of the claimant’s need to have a safe work environment because of her latex allergy and the fact that virtually every occupation requires exposure to latex, that “…Claimant’s occupational base for even sedentary labor has been so eroded that a significant number of jobs for her do not exist in the regional economy, and a finding of disability is appropriate…”
In awarding her disability under the Social Security Act The Administrative Law Judge additionally awarded her Supplemental Security Income benefits effective the first day of the month following the month of her application. In light of her young age and a potential for medical improvement of her impairment as medical research may produce alternate treatments, the Judge indicated that she should undergo a residual functional capacity evaluation approximately 24 months from the date of his decision.
The Administrative Law Judge’s favorable decision awarding Social Security Disability benefits to Connie Gates provides recognition and credibility to the latex allergy medical condition. The awarding of Social Security Disability benefits in cases of latex allergies provides another needed avenue for recovery for those who become latex allergic in addition to the benefits available under State Workers’ Compensation Acts and products liability actions.
The Administrative Law Judge in the Social Security action found that the evidence presented in the case rendered a finding of a disability as defined under the Social Security Act. The applicant who is 35 years of age with 16 years of formal education offered medical evidence that she sustained an occupational disease, namely, latex allergy. The symptoms that she presented with included urticarial plaques with increasing tightness of the throat and chest within as little as 15 to 20 minutes of her exposure to latex materials. She also suffered general erythema, shortness of breath, light headedness and abdominal pain. Her medical management included the prescription of an epinephrine pen, maintaining a beta agonist metered dose inhaler, and Zyrtec daily. Additionally she was required to wear a Medic Alert bracelet to avoid inadvertent exposure to latex.
In his report to the court, the treating physician indicated the global presence of latex in today’s society which would include clothing, balloons, writing instruments, computer peripherals, medical products, sporting goods, household appliances, motor vehicles, furnishings in the home, and kitchen equipment. While the treating physician opined that she could work in an environment in which she would not be exposed to latex allergens, such a latex “safe” environment does not exist because latex particles often become airborne and circulate through a ventilating system.
Additionally, evidence presented by a vocational rehabilitation expert as well as by the Nebraska Workers’ Compensation Court established that, “…all reasonable vocational rehabilitation efforts have been attempted, but to no avail.”
The claimant also testified at the hearing that the allergic reaction began in April of 1998 with the symptoms of hives and swelling of her eyes and that the symptoms persisted even though she began to wear latex-free gloves in her work environment. The former nurse advised the Administrative Law Judge that a limited exposure of grocery shopping in 15-minute increments from 3 to 4 times a week produced adverse reactions consistently. The Administrative Law Judge indicated that it was reasonable to conclude that because of the symptoms associated with her latex allergy that her residual functional capacity for maximum sustained work activity has been reduced to the requirements of sedentary labor at best. However, the Judge indicated that in consideration of the claimant’s need to have a safe work environment because of her latex allergy and the fact that virtually every occupation requires exposure to latex, that “…Claimant’s occupational base for even sedentary labor has been so eroded that a significant number of jobs for her do not exist in the regional economy, and a finding of disability is appropriate…”
In awarding her disability under the Social Security Act The Administrative Law Judge additionally awarded her Supplemental Security Income benefits effective the first day of the month following the month of her application. In light of her young age and a potential for medical improvement of her impairment as medical research may produce alternate treatments, the Judge indicated that she should undergo a residual functional capacity evaluation approximately 24 months from the date of his decision.
The Administrative Law Judge’s favorable decision awarding Social Security Disability benefits to Connie Gates provides recognition and credibility to the latex allergy medical condition. The awarding of Social Security Disability benefits in cases of latex allergies provides another needed avenue for recovery for those who become latex allergic in addition to the benefits available under State Workers’ Compensation Acts and products liability actions.
Mesotheliom stage
The knowledge of the Mesotheliom stage is a factor, with the help of whose your physician can set up a treatment plan. The most exactly fixed and most extensively used system is mentioned the TNM international Staging system, also international Staging system of the Mesotheliom Interessensgruppe, for vague malignant pleurale Mesotheliome. This system considers primary Tumore (T), lymph nodes (N) and Metastasen (M). There is no established Staging system for peritoneale Mesotheliome. Peritoneale Mesotheliome can be classified in accordance with the general TNM system for cancer or due to the mass of the existing tumor (i.e. small mass, medium sized mass etc.). Because the TNM system goes much into the depth and from laymen to be interpreted difficult is, a simplified version is described in the following. Stage I is the earliest stage; Stage IV is the most advanced stage.
Stage I
The Mesotheliom struck and can the right or left Pleura also lung, Perikard or zwerchfell on the same side have struck. The lymph nodes are not concerned
Stage II
The Mesotheliom spread from the Pleura on a side on those the lung which was obvious lymph node on the same side. It can have struck also lung, Perikard or zwerchfell on the same side.
Stage III
The Mesotheliom struck chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, Oesophagus or other organs on the same side, lain in the thorax, with or without infestation of the lymph nodes, which are on the same side as the primary tumor.
Stage IV
The Mesotheliom struck the lymph nodes which were in the thorax on the opposite side of the primary tumor, or on Pleura or lung on the opposite side spread or directly in organs of the abdominal cavity or the neck. All far distant Metastasen is contained in this stage.
Stage I
The Mesotheliom struck and can the right or left Pleura also lung, Perikard or zwerchfell on the same side have struck. The lymph nodes are not concerned
Stage II
The Mesotheliom spread from the Pleura on a side on those the lung which was obvious lymph node on the same side. It can have struck also lung, Perikard or zwerchfell on the same side.
Stage III
The Mesotheliom struck chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, Oesophagus or other organs on the same side, lain in the thorax, with or without infestation of the lymph nodes, which are on the same side as the primary tumor.
Stage IV
The Mesotheliom struck the lymph nodes which were in the thorax on the opposite side of the primary tumor, or on Pleura or lung on the opposite side spread or directly in organs of the abdominal cavity or the neck. All far distant Metastasen is contained in this stage.
Saturday
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancerous (malignant) tumor that begins in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a membrane that lines and protects the lungs, the heart, and the abdominal cavity. There are three main types of mesothelioma:
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