mesothelioma , Symptoms of mesothelioma, find out about mesothelioma

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever.

If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms: chest wall pain pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lungshortness of breathwheezing, hoarseness, or cough In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body. Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include: abdominal painascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomena mass in the abdomenproblems with bowel functionweight lossIn severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present: blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitisdisseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organsjaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skinlow blood sugar levelpleural effusionpulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungssevere ascitesA mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

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mesothelioma, screening for mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma, How common is mesothelioma? find out about mesothelioma

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer.

The incidence is approximately one per 1,000,000. For comparison, populations with high levels of smoking can have a lung cancer incidence of over 1,000 per 1,000,000. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma currently ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of the populations during the past several decades.

It has been estimated that incidence may have peaked at 15 per 1,000,000 in the United States in 2004. Incidence is expected to continue increasing in other parts of the world. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.

Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27.5 million people were occupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States. Between 1973 and 1984, there has been a three-fold increase in the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma in caucasian males. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the rate of deaths from mesothelioma increased from 2,000 to 3,000 a year. in the late 1990se in annual deaths from mesotheilioma. With men four times more likely to acquire it than women. These rates may not be accurate, since it is possible that many cases of mesothelioma are misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is difficult to differentiate from mesothelioma.

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What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Tagged as: abdominal pain, anemia, blood clotting abnormalities, bowel obstruction, cancer, Mesothelioma, pain, symptoms of mesothelioma, Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, trouble swallowing

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Asbestos Link From Welding Rods To Mesothelioma

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Janet      

This case has been pending in New York State appeals court for some time, but on Dec. 29th in a first-ever jury finding that asbestos-containing welding rods, sold in the billions up to the early 1980's, had caused lung cancer and mesothelioma. Attorney Jerome H. Block of the nationally known mass toxic tort law firm of Levy Phillips and Konigsberg has recently made this announcement.

This New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First, upheld the July 2003 jury verdict in favor of, Angel Gomez, who died following the trial, and the late Daniel Tucker. Both men worked with and around asbestos-containing welding rods. The jury awarded Gomez a total of approximately $3.19 million against Lincoln Electric Company. Jury however, reduced 25 percent of the compensation percent since Gomez was a cigarette smoker. Tucker's estate was awarded a total of approximately $3.5 million split between Lincoln and Hobart Brothers Company.

The welding rods at issue in the Gomez and Tucker cases continue to be a top-selling, all-purpose welding rod. Up to the early part of 1980s, these rods were coated with a mixture containing 5% to 15% asbestos, according to trial testimony.

Source: Washington University in St.Louis - School of Medicine

Did you know?
This case has been pending in New York State appeals court for some time, but on Dec. 29th in a first-ever jury finding that asbestos-containing welding rods, sold in the billions up to the early 1980's, had caused lung cancer and mesothelioma. Attorney Jerome H. Block of the nationally known mass toxic tort law firm of Levy Phillips and Konigsberg has recently made this announcement.

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How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Tagged as: abdominal cavity, asbestos exposure, biopsy, CAT, CT Scan, Diagnosing mesothelioma, extensive diagnostic surgery, medical oncologist, MRI, pathologist, peritoneoscope, peritoneoscopy, thoracoscope, thoracoscopy, treating cancer, x-ray machine

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Mesothelioma, Treatment for mesothelioma?

Treatment of MM using conventional therapies has not proved successful and patients have a median survival time of 6 - 12 months after presentation.

The clinical behaviour of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favours local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease.

Surgery, either by itself or used in combination with pre- and post-operative adjuvant therapies has proved disappointing with a 5 year survival rate of less than 10%. A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed. Less common is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lung, lining of the inside of the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium are removed. Although the tumor is highly resistant to radiotherapy, these regimens are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel.

Radiotherapy is commonly applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall.

In February 2004, the Food and Drug Administration approved pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have yielded variable results. For example, intrapleural inoculation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in an attempt to boost the immune response, was found to be of no benefit to the patient (while it may benefit patients with bladder cancer).

Mesothelioma cells proved susceptible to in vitro lysis by LAK cells following activation by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but patients undergoing this particular therapy experienced major side effects. Indeed, this trial was suspended in view of the unacceptably high levels of IL-2 toxicity and the severity of side effects such as fever and cachexia. Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experiencing a greater than 50% reduction in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.

A procedure known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute[7]. The surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible followed by the direct administration of a chemotherapy agent, heated to between 40 and 48°C, in the abdomen. The fluid is perfused for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained.

This technique permits the administration of high concentrations of selected drugs into the abdominal and pelvic surfaces. Heating the chemotherapy treatment increases the penetration of the drugs into tissues. Also, heating itself damages the malignant cells more than the normal cells.

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Mesothelioma, preventing mesothelioma?

Since the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have regulated the asbestos industry in the U.S. In the past, asbestos was used as a fire retardant and an insulator. Other products are now used in its place. The controversy involving exposure to different forms of asbestos continues.

There are two major types of asbestos called chrysotile and amphibole. It is thought that the amphibole form of asbestos is to blame for causing mesothelioma. However, asbestos is still being removed even if it is the chrysotile variety. Removal is taking place in schools and other public buildings throughout the U.S. The hope is that these measures will greatly reduce the occurrence of this cancer.

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Mesothelioma, long-term effects of mesothelioma?

A mesothelioma is a highly aggressive tumor that is generally deadly.

Current treatment of malignant mesothelioma is designed to make the person with cancer comfortable. Long-term survival cannot usually be expected.

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Mesothelioma Attorney To Your Rescue

Diseases are popping up from everywhere; you will find that even though you seem fit as a fiddle there is a growing disease creeping into parts of your body. The most dreadful fear that cracks everyone is the hectic treatment and the over loading financial aspect that would be involved in the cure. The beauty of it all is that at times these diseases have affected you due to the negligence of others and you wonder, why me?.

Take the example of Mesothelioma cancer, although it is widely known that this disease is generated to people who have been exposed to asbestos and yet you will find companies, builders etc. employing people without educating and provided their employers with the right gear to neither work with nor any prior knowledge about working in an environment around asbestos material.

Today as cancer is growing popularity, there are many patients that have acquired this disease and are struggling with the high cost of treatments due to financial shortages. Every person needs to be treated when suffering and taking this into mind there are companies that have Mesothelioma attorney personal that are professionalized in fighting for the rights of these misfortunate patients.

They study the cases of the victims and find the core reason for the affections and in turn file cases against companies on behalf of the patients that have exposed to the killer material asbestos.

We all know that mesothelioma cancer affects the lining of the vital organs that function in our body causing them not to function properly and eventually death if not controlled in time. As studies have shown that this type of cancer is serious and no assurance of cure is stated where the treatment involved is usually a surgery if the effected part is to be removed which is followed by sessions of chemotherapy and finally radiation to get rid of the cancer cells in the body. It is a long and tiring process which normally requires the patient to be bold and acceptable to the results of the treatment.

As cost for undergoing the necessary treatments involved are fairly high, which at times patients find difficulty in paying, it is advisable for them to consult experienced people who would be in a position to get the company responsible for the disease to bare the expenses and other financial burdens.

A mesothelioma attorney is a person who generally takes up cases where effected patients have an intention of suing companies for not informing them of firstly acquiring the effected disease and for undergoing the tremendous treatment which would not guarantee them a cure. These people feel that why should companies get away with causing injury to normal lives that have helped them make money.

Today you will find many such companies that have been successful in winning cases for patients with Mesothelioma cancer or mesothelioma attorney and frankly speaking you should not let the culprits get away scott free for putting you in this condition. So for more information log onto mesotheliomahelp.net

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sagbee_C

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Mesothelioma Treatments To Sooth Your Precious Life

Being diagnosed with cancer is a dreadful experience, especially if it happens to be one of the serious types where all the people who you have know have all being passing away. Just imagine the state and condition of the individual when the doctor tells them that they have cancer and that it is at so and so stage and there is no guarantee that they would be totally cure of it even after treatment.

Although cancer has been around for ages people never tend to feel as though it is a dangerous disease until it strikes either them or someone they love. Cancer is a deadly disease where certain elements enter the body in an attempt to destroy the smooth functioning. It is widely know that cancer comes in various forms the most deadly being mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma a rare form of cancer is attracted by patients when they are exposed to asbestos a fiber material that is generally used in construction of structures, ship building and other features that require material to be strong, tangible and resistance to heat as well. This type of cancer is known to affect the lungs, chest and even the heart after constant inhaling of the fibers for a huge period of time. Detection of this fatal disease takes years and if not detected at the early stages it could prove fatal.

Scientifically there are various treatments available to concentrate on wiping out the foreign dangerous malignant cells and safeguarding the healthy ones that enables our organs to function smoothly. The well recognized treatments which are mostly considered by doctors are surgery, radiation and of course chemotherapy which normally brings fear to patients that are experiencing it for the first time.

Now as you may have heard there is no success rate guaranteed by these treatments but it all can be summed up as to how far the malignant mesothelioma has developed in the body. Normally if it is detected at the early stage there is chances of getting rid of the cancer before it spreads to other parts of the body, this is where surgery plays a part. But on the other hand if it has blown to a full grown tumor then the best way is to carry out chemotherapy and radiation sessions to easy the disease and make life a bit easy for the suffering patient.

Basically the Mesothelioma treatments as mentioned above will involve a surgeon to remove the cancer tumor from the body which will be followed by treating the individual with doses of chemotherapy into the veins to get rid of the tiny cells and lastly rays of radiation is focused into the affected areas of the body to do a final cleansing of the deadly disease. The treatments mentioned are suggested by the doctor who chooses what is fit to deal and lessen the symptom of the cancer.

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Mesothelioma Community Will Convene to Focus on Cure

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The urgent mission to improve treatments for a deadly, asbestos-related cancer will make another step forward, the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) announced today, with the Second International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma.

Meso is a malignant tumor that aggressively invades the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testicles. The need for research to develop effective treatments was neglected for decades. But in the past few years, exciting progress has begun. MARF, the national nonprofit whose mission is to eradicate meso as a life-ending disease, has organized the Symposium to review this progress, elucidate the latest advances, and strengthen and encourage the entire meso community.

The Symposium will be held in Las Vegas at the Caesars Palace convention center, October 6 through 8. Following the highly successful 2004 format, the program combines highly relevant material for the patient/family and advocacy communities with scientific presentations by leading experts on the latest in meso science and treatment.

The Symposium will open powerfully with presentations on the scope of the mesothelioma tragedy and the continuing threat, by Dr. Stephen Levin from the renowned Mount Sinai Irving Selikoff Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, author and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Andrew Schneider, and international experts Michael Harbut and Michele Carbone.

Sessions focused specifically for patients and caregivers will cover the clinical aspects of the disease and its treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, experimental treatments, and pain management. Extended break-out sessions are planned for patients, caregivers and the bereaved, to offer holistic strategies for the emotional, physical and psychological aspects of the disease.

Major scientific topics will include evolving diagnostic, prognostic and staging technologies, including the latest in early detection. Multi-modal management -- surgery, radio and chemotherapy -- will be covered in detail for both pleural and peritoneal meso. Systemic chemotherapy protocols will be reviewed, including an assessment of the Alimta/Cisplatin regimen. Second line and novel treatment approaches will be discussed, along with a thorough overview of meso research projects currently underway. Participating physicians will receive CME credits for these sessions. Patients, family members and other non-medical professionals are also welcome to attend.

News Source: PR Newswire  |  Published: October 3, 2005  |  Read Full Story

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mesothelioma - What is mesothelioma? find out about mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos.
In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products. There is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.
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Second International Mesothelioma Symposium

Fresh evidence of progress in the diagnosis and treatment of an aggressive asbestos-related cancer was the highlight of the Second International Symposium on Cancerous Mesothelioma last week. Long considered lethal, meso is a tumor that invades the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testicles. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) organizes the annual symposium, held this year in Las Vegas Nevada, to unite the meso community and focus on curing the disease.
Advances in detection, multimodal treatment, gene therapy, and immunotherapy were among the topics that thrilled the audience. Ann Ferrero, whose mother was diagnosed with meso a year ago, admitted that "Last year my entire family reeled from the shock." The information presented at the symposium, however, left her feeling -- in her own words, "moved, grateful . and, dare I say . hopeful!".
The symposium is unique in that it brings together doctors, scientists, advocates, meso patients and families to learn from each other and exchange research results, study findings, and review progress. MARF Director of Communications, and 4 year pleural meso survivor, Klaus Brauch, stated that "the most important sign of progress for me was that we are now talking about second-line treatments, something of great interest to those of us concerned about recurrences. A few years ago just surviving first-line treatment was an achievement." MARF, which has awarded over two million dollars of meso research funding, continues to be the only independent non-profit organization actively working to eradicate meso as a life-ending disease.
Attendees were able to meet and ask questions of some of the world's leading meso experts. Ferrero commented that "the ability to interact with the medical community on such an informal level was unique. I came back with several leads for my mom." In addition, over thirty meso patients, including numerous long-term survivors, were in attendance. Ferrero found meeting them to be "uplifting," and when she met the dedicated staff of MARF she found them to be "clearly devoted to curing this disease.".
The symposium also featured presentation of the Pioneer Award, an award MARF introduced this year to honor companies that have made substantial contributions to the field of meso research. Alfacell CEO Kuslima Shogen, one of the recipients, stated that "it is a great honor to receive one of the first MARF Pioneer Awards," and promised to "continue to work with [MARF] on the mission to find a cure." Other companies recognized with the Pioneer Award were Eli Lilly, Merck, Biogen Idec, Fujirebio Diagnostics, Genentech and Novartis.
MARF also held a poignant tribute ceremony dedicated to the lives and memory of meso patients lost to the cancer. Against the backdrop of a huge memorial wall, the names of the deceased were read by loved ones and candles were lit to commemorate their lives and their presence in spirit with the mission to cure the disease. Break out sessions for care givers, for patients, and for the bereaved allowed each one to focus on the specific needs of their group and exchange concerns in a safe and nurturing environment.
This year's winner of MARF's annual "Congressman Bruce Vento Hope Builder Award" was none other than the founder of MARF, Roger Worthington, without whose vision and hard work over the last six years neither MARF nor this unique symposium would exist. The awarded was presented by MARF Board of Directors member Susan Vento. Her husband, Minnesota congressman Bruce Vento -- who died from meso in 2000, was beloved for his work to build hope for overlooked communities. Worthington was honored for working, in much the same way, to create hope for the overlooked community of meso patients and those at risk by focusing on the need for effective treatments. The gala reception featured a stirring performance by recording artist Jordan Zevon, whose father, musician and composer Warren Zevon, died of mesothelioma in 2003.
The symposium was made possible through the generosity of financial supporters Eli Lilly, Simmons Cooper, Waters and Kraus, Stanley, Mandel and Iola, Bergman and Frockt, The David Law Firm, Merck, Alfacell Corporation, and Fujirebio Diagnostics. Attendees, whether patients, doctors, caregivers or industry executives, were all moved by the tributes, inspired by the presentations and energized by the resolve of presenters, the organizers and the audience to continue to fight for a cure for this terrible cancer. Planning for next year's symposium is already underway, and details should be announced soon.
For further information visit www.marf.org, or contact MARF Executive Director Chris Hahn (c-hahn@marf.org, 805.560.8942), or MARF Communications Director Klaus Brauch (k-brauch@marf.org, 714.969.1481).
Did you know?
Fresh evidence of progress in the diagnosis and treatment of an aggressive asbestos-related cancer was the highlight of the Second International Symposium on Cancerous Mesothelioma last week. Long considered lethal, meso is a tumor that invades the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart or testicles. The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) organizes the annual symposium, held this year in Las Vegas Nevada, to unite the meso community and focus on curing the disease.
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Jury Finds Chrysotile Asbestos Causes Rare Peritoneal Mesothelioma

A jury awarded over $1.9 million to a 71-year-old retired sheet metal worker, Genaro Garcia, who developed peritoneal mesothelioma from his prior on-the-job exposure to asbestos (Genaro Garcia and Dalia Garcia v. Duro Dyne Corporation, SF Superior Court, #418098). Peritoneal mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that first attacks the membranes lining the stomach. This fatal disease is almost always caused by asbestos exposure.
The defendant, Duro Dyne Corporation, is a former manufacturer and distributor of asbestos-containing flex HVAC duct connectors and duct sealer used for sheet metal duct connections. Mr. Garcia worked with Duro Dyne Corporation's asbestos-containing sheet metal products throughout his 48-year career, but was never advised to wear any form of respiratory protection. Experts testified that he was exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos, and that each exposure was a substantial factor that contributed to his risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.
Mr. Garcia learned that he had peritoneal mesothelioma in late 2002. After over two years of treatment with chemotherapy, including Alimta®, his cancer is currently in a temporary state of remission. Mr. Garcia traveled with his wife by car from Whittier, California, to testify at the San Francisco trial. He was unable to travel by plane due to the severe side effects of his chemotherapy regime.
The verdict against Duro Dyne Corporation consisted of $325,369 for past and future medical expenses, $530,250 for lost earning capacity, and $1.05 million in non-economic damages. Non-economic damages included $300,000 to Mrs. Garcia for loss of consortium.
"We are grateful that the jury rejected the defense claims that chrysotile asbestos does not cause all mesothelioma, including peritoneal, and that Mr. Garcia is somehow cured of this terrible and entirely preventable disease. Only in a courtroom would you hear such things," said Mr. Garcia's attorney, Gilbert Purcell, after the verdict.
Gilbert Purcell and Crystal Howard of Brayton Purcell in Novato, California, represented plaintiffs Genaro and Delia Garcia at trial. Duro Dyne Corporation was represented at trial by James Sinunu and Thomas Trapani of Adams Nye Sinunu Bruni Becht LLP of San Francisco, CA.
About Brayton Purcell
For over 20 years, Brayton Purcell has helped clients protect their legal rights in the face of devastating losses such as illness, injuries, and harm to family members. The law firm enjoys a national reputation for the high quality of its personal injury and product liability work, particularly in the area of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers. For more information, call 415-898-1555 or visit our firm web site at http://www.braytonlaw.com. For mesothelioma legal and medical news as well as information about mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment, see our specialty web site, Mesothelioma Network, at http://www.mesotheliomasite.com.
Did you know?
A jury awarded over $1.9 million to a 71-year-old retired sheet metal worker, Genaro Garcia, who developed peritoneal mesothelioma from his prior on-the-job exposure to asbestos (Genaro Garcia and Dalia Garcia v. Duro Dyne Corporation, SF Superior Court, #418098). Peritoneal mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that first attacks the membranes lining the stomach. This fatal disease is almost always caused by asbestos exposure.
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Mesothelioma - legal history of mesothelioma

The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. It was not until 1960 that an article published by Wagner et al in 1960 first officially established mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to crocidolite asbestos. The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. In 1962 Dr McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australian asbestos worker. The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.
In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.
Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. It is difficult to understand why the mine and mill was allowed to initially open and operate without adequate risk control measures; and why nothing was done to force the owner (CSR) to clean them up, adopt safer work practices or close down their operations.
In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978 the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.
By 1979 the first writs for negligence related to Wittenoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.
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Mesothelioma - asbestos, cancer, find out about mesothelioma

This website aims to provide you with easy to understand and accurate answers to the questions you have about mesothelioma.
We realise that there are many resources on the internet which inform, guide, advise and bombard you with technical details about mesothelioma and it became obvious to us that there was a real need for straightforward information to help you become better informed about mesothelioma.
Information is power. Your experience of mesothelioma can only be made easier if you understand all about it. We seek to explain what you need to know clearly and simply. We have done our best to translate technical and medical terms into normal language that everyone can take in, and we have only included relevant facts so that you don’t have to wade through too many pages.
Research into mesothelioma is going on all the time and we are keen to bring you details of ground-breaking treatments as they become available, so click here to bookmark this page. As soon as we find something new that’s special we will tell you about it here.
In addition, we have access to the enormous Amazon databases, which have allowed us to search for other relevant items that might interest you on the subject of mesothelioma. This is already done for you on this site to save you the time and effort required.
Welcome. We hope that this site helps you.
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Watching for Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a serious disease, and 99% of all cases are attributable to exposure to asbestos. It's a disease that can remain dormant for as long as 20 to 50 years before it starts taking its devastating toll on a person's health and life. Although the cancer may show up in less than 20 years in some cases, most people don't develop any symptoms until somewhere around 35 years after exposure. Early symptoms may not ring any bells, either, because they may be as basic as general pain in the chest or back. Therefore, anyone who ever worked in an environment where there were asbestos fibers needs to be on guard 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.
People who worked in the following occupations prior to the mid 1970s need to be alert for the symptoms of Mesothelioma: * Paper mills * Brake and clutch shoe manufacture * Boilermakers * Electrical and carpentry workers or bricklayers * Insulation - manufacture or installation * Steel refineries and other steel industries * Shipyard workers * Maintenance workers
Even if you did work in any of these occupations, that's not a sure sign you're going to come down with Mesothelioma. However, it does put you at a higher risk, and you should let your physician know that you were exposed. He may recommend that you take some tests in order to determine if the asbestos is having any effect on you. He may want to do a complete physical, have x-rays taken of your chest and abdomen, and ask you to take pulmonary function tests. In some cases CT scans or MRIs are advisable. All of this testing may well find no evidence of Mesothelioma, but at least you'll know for sure which can be a relief.
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.
Tagged as: asbestos, asbestos exposure, evidence of Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma patients, symptoms of mesothelioma
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Are New Treatments For Mesothelioma Being Studied?

Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma. mesothelioma treatment information is at  http://mesothelioma-asbestos-cancer.org/
Tagged as: clinical trials, Mesothelioma, mesothelioma asbestos cancer, Mesothelioma Treatments, National Cancer Institute
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Mesothelioma, What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure exists in almost all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the airways (lung cancer, bronchial carcinoma). The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelioma have resulted. Smoking current cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma.
Some studies suggest that simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma.
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