mesothelioma article

Mesothelioma Research

There is always research going on in the area of mesothelioma. Much of this research has focused on learning exactly how asbestos changes normal cells to cause this cancer. Understanding how these fibers produce cancer might help us find ways to prevent those changes.

Multimodality Therapy Research

Doctors are always learning more about the best way to treat patients with mesotheliomas. The roles of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy in the treatment of mesothelioma are highly debated. Treatments that use some combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, called multimodality therapy, are now being studied and may provide the most promising option for some patients. New chemotherapy drugs are currently being tested in clinical trials, together with other types of treatment

Gene Therapy Research

Doctors are always learning more about the best way to treat people with mesothelioma. New drugs are now being tested in clinical trials, along with other types of treatments. One approach is a type of gene therapy. This treatment uses special viruses that have been modified in the lab.

The virus is injected into the space around the lungs where it infects the cancer cells. When this happens, the virus in turn injects a gene into the cancer that makes it sensitive to drug that otherwise would not harm the cancer.

Immunotherapy Research

Mesothelioma treatments that boost the immune system's reaction to fight mesothelioma more effectively are being researched in clinical trials. Some of these treatments use interferons or interleukins, hormone-like substances that activate the immune system.

mesothelioma statistics online

Mesothelioma Research

There is always research going on in the area of mesothelioma. Much of this research has focused on learning exactly how asbestos changes normal cells to cause this cancer. Understanding how these fibers produce cancer might help us find ways to prevent those changes.

Multimodality Therapy Research

Doctors are always learning more about the best way to treat patients with mesotheliomas. The roles of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy in the treatment of mesothelioma are highly debated. Treatments that use some combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, called multimodality therapy, are now being studied and may provide the most promising option for some patients. New chemotherapy drugs are currently being tested in clinical trials, together with other types of treatment

Gene Therapy Research

Doctors are always learning more about the best way to treat people with mesothelioma. New drugs are now being tested in clinical trials, along with other types of treatments. One approach is a type of gene therapy. This treatment uses special viruses that have been modified in the lab.

The virus is injected into the space around the lungs where it infects the cancer cells. When this happens, the virus in turn injects a gene into the cancer that makes it sensitive to drug that otherwise would not harm the cancer.

Immunotherapy Research

Mesothelioma treatments that boost the immune system's reaction to fight mesothelioma more effectively are being researched in clinical trials. Some of these treatments use interferons or interleukins, hormone-like substances that activate the immune system.

mesothelioma stage

Mesothelioma tend to grow and spread in unusual ways compared to other tumors. Rather than forming a "lump", mesothelioma tends to extent from the pleural lining to press against the lung or abdominal organs. It also grows along the pleural lining, eventually forming a hard casing around the lung and making it difficult for patients to take a deep breath. Mesothelioma generally does not spread widely to other organs but, rather, tends to extensively involve the chest and lungs or abdominal cavity before spreading to other distant organs, late in the course of the disease. If the disease is detected early, when only limited growth on the pleural lining has occurred (stage I), the tumor is considered potentially curable and an attempt can be made to surgically remove the entire tumor. Usually, however, the tumor is detected later, when it more extensively involves the pleural lining and has possibly invaded surrounding normal structures. In these advanced stages (stages II, III and IV), the cancer symptoms and quality of life

multicystic mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, usually associated with prolonged exposure to asbestos, which affects the pleura, a sac which surrounds the lungs, the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the pericardium, a sac that surrounds the heart.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. 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.

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

mesothelioma attorney lawyers

A 1964 study of asbestos workers published in the Journal of the American Medical Association proved that people working with asbestos-containing materials had an abnormal incidence of asbestosis, lung cancer and Mesothelioma. Steven Kazan filed a precedent-setting litigation in 1966 on behalf of Reba Rudkin, who developed asbestosis after working for 29 years at the Johns-Manville manufacturing plant in Pittsburg , Calif.

The first OSHA asbestos-exposure standard was issued in 1971, followed by an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ban on spray-on asbestos insulation in 1973. The Manville Trust was formed in 1974 to settle asbestos personal-injury claims resulting from exposure to asbestos-related products mined or manufactured by the Johns-Manville Corp. and its affiliated entities. By 1978, a judge ruled there was "a conscious effort by the [asbestos] industry in the 1930s to downplay or arguably suppress the dissemination of information to employees and the public for fear of the promotion of lawsuits." After this statement, the EPA announced its intention to issue a rule banning all uses of asbestos.

First Government Asbestos Ban

OSHA tightened asbestos-exposure standard in 1986. By 1989, the EPA had banned asbestos in most major uses. However, a federal law suit by the asbestos companies in 1991 overturned the EPA's asbestos ban. OSHA tightened asbestos-exposure standards again in 1994. Finally, in 1999, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that Owens Corning willfully withheld information about the danger of working with the company's asbestos products stating, "It would be difficult to envision a more egregious set of circumstances... a blatant disregard for human safety involving large numbers of people put at life-threatening risk."

In 2003, Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced legislation to set up a $108 billion national trust fund to compensate asbestos victims, cap business liability and ease the filing of lawsuits.

Choosing a Mesothelioma lawyer

Now that you're aware of the above fees for your mesothelioma litigation, consider some crucial points regarding choosing your asbestos attorney.

Mesothelioma Cancer Network Recommendation - Have you joined any mailing list for mesothelioma or cancer in general? If so, ask for personal recommendations. Why did the person choose that mesothelioma lawyer? How was their personal

mesothelioma resource

Mesothelioma Studies and Resources

Books

The Road Back to Health: Coping With the Emotional Aspects of Cancer

By Neil A. FioreFiore, a psychologist, was himself diagnosed with cancer in 1974. As such, he has unique insight into the questions, fears, and issues confronting the cancer patient. He shows readers how to become informed about their illness, participate in therapy decisions, establish team relationships with doctors and therapists, practice positive imaging, and share feelings with family and friends.

Coping With Chemotherapy, By Nancy Bruning

After undergoing chemotherapy herself, author Nancy Bruning decided to write a candid and authoritative book to fill the void of information available for patients facing this procedure. In this completely revised, updated, and thoroughly researched edition, she details every step of the process, providing information even doctors neglect to tell their patients, including possible sexual and emotional side effects and ways to combat them.

What You Really Need to Know About Cancer: A Comprehensive Guide for Patients and Their Families, By Dr. Robert Buckman

Written for cancer patients and their families by a noted oncologist, the book combines a complete and accessible general explanation of cancer with detailed information about specific kinds of cancer, all presented in a voice that is as authoritative as it is kind.

Understanding Cancer : A Patient's Guide to Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment, By Norman C. Coleman, Ellen L. Stovall

Dr. Coleman aims to assist the person who has received a diagnosis of cancer in sorting through all the confusing and possibly conflicting information coming from doctors, friends and the media. His goal is to help patients understand how risks and benefits are measured in order to work effectively with their doctors in choosing the most appropriate treatment.

Cancer Clinical Trials : Experimental Treatments & How They Can Help You (Patient-Centered Guides), By Robert Finn, Linda Lamb (Editor)

Medical journalist Finn explains the structure, administration, and history of various experimental cancer studies as well as the laws affecting them. He provides understandable background information, gives the consumer guidance for locating and appraising a clinical trial, and explores the pros and cons of whether to enter a research study.

Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy (Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy, 4th Ed) By Malin, Md. Dollinger, Ernest H., Md. Rosenbaum, Greg Cable, Summerville House, Ernie Rosenbaum

memorial mesothelioma scholarship

Searching the Web for scholarships, there's no better site than www.FastWeb.com if you don't have constant access to the Internet or you simply would like to read about scholarships for you or your child while you're on the go, we recommend the downloadable Scholarship & Grant Guide.

The Scholarship & Grant Guide is one impressive book. Fully guaranteed and with constant updates that a printed book can't match, Jerry Bohlken's guide has helped thousands of students find millions of dollars for college.

The best thing about the book is that you can get it instantly -- just download it. When you do, Bohlken also gives you four other books for free: "How to Win Scholarships," "Hard-to-find Scholarships," "The Indispensable Financial Aid Encyclopedia" and "The Must-Have Financial Aid Glossary." He also throws in three hours of personal, one-on-one scholarship consulting -- also free.

mesothelioma class action

Class Complaint/Class Action

A class action is a civil court procedure under which one party, or a group of parties, may sue as representatives of a larger class. To proceed, the court must permit the class action. If the class action is certified, members of the class must be given notice, and the opportunity to exclude themselves from the proceeding. Only the class members who opt out are not bound by the judgment in the case.

Class actions in federal courts are governed by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. In recent years, the Congress has passed two statutes by overwhelming majorities that are designed to reign in some of the abuses in class action securities suits brought against high tech companies. These are the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act (SLUSA), passed in 1998.

Example of Discrimination Class Complaint/Class Action:

A complaint stated or filed by a group of people who feel that personnel or management policies or practices discriminate against them as a group. Members of the group believe that the characteristic they share -- race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disabilities --forms the basis for the discrimination. For example, a class may be made up of women who believe they have been consistently discriminated against at a company because of their sex. In such a case, all female employees, past and present, and all female applicants would be included in the complaint. When a class complaint goes to court, it becomes a class action. As with complaints by individuals, illegal discrimination may or may not have occurred.

mesothelioma lung

es of mesothelioma

mesothelioma attorney lawyers

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.

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 air passageways in the lung. 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.

cancer center mesothelioma

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the United States Federal Government's principal agency for cancer research and training. The NCI is a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), one of eight agencies that compose the Public Health Service (PHS) in the United States Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The National Cancer Institute coordinates the National Cancer Program

The United States Congress established the NCI by the National Cancer Institute Act, August 5, 1937, as an independent research institute. Congress then made the NCI an operating division of the National Institutes of Health by the Public Health Service Act, July 1, 1944. Congress amended the Public Health Service Act with The National Cancer Act of 1971 to broaden the scope and responsibilities of the NCI "in order more effectively to carry out the national effort against cancer." Over the years, legislative amendments have maintained the NCI authorities and responsibilities and added new information dissemination mandates as well as a requirement to assess the incorporation of state-of-the-art cancer treatments into clinical practice.

mesothelioma cure

Which Surgery for Mesothelioma?

The possible operations for pleural mesothelioma are

Extrapleural pneumonectomy and Pleurectomy

Surgery is not always the right treatment for mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is often diagnosed too late to make a big operation worthwhile. If pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed early enough, you may be able to have an extrapleural pneumonectomy.

If the cancer has already spread, a pleurectomy can help to control symptoms. But it will not cure your mesothelioma and may not actually make any difference to how long you live with this disease.

There is an operation suitable for some situations in peritoneal mesothelioma. This can only be done if it is diagnosed early enough.

Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP)

This is major surgery. It means removing the lung on the affected side. The pleura, diaphragm and covering of the heart (pericardium) are removed as well.

Not everyone is suitable for EPP. You need to be fit enough to walk up and down 2 flights of stairs without becoming breathless. Your cancer must be at an early stage. This means that is must not have spread to lymph nodes. Or to any other major body parts outside the lung.

To do the operation, your surgeon will open your chest, either at the front or at the side. An opening at the side is called a thoracotomy. An opening at the front is called a sternotomy. You will have a wound about 9 inches long. You will have to stay in hospital for about 2 weeks afterwards.

Even this type of major surgery is very unlikely to cure mesothelioma. But it can help you to live longer. The people who have lived longest after a diagnosis of mesothelioma have had this operation, together with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Pleurectomy

You may be offered pleurectomy to help control symptoms. It can help to control fluid build up in the chest. This is a major operation, but can be done using keyhole surgery. If you have it done this way, you will have 3 wounds, each about an inch long (2cm).

help with mesothelioma

Even though millions of people live with mesothelioma, it can feel as though you are all alone. Where can you turn for help? What does the future hold? Knowing about the disease and the treatment options available can help comfort you or your loved one. Understanding the history of the disease can help you discover how and why this happened.

Living with this illness.

It can be a painful experience, but it doesn't have to mean sitting at home scared and uninformed. It also doesn't have to mean going broke over medical expenses. Today, there are many ways to assist victims and their families with providing for necessities like health care, so paying for care can be the last of your worries.

Education is key.

By learning about treatment options , good nutrition, insurance, and your rights as a patient, you can live with mesothelioma and have it not interfere with the important things in your life.

mesothelioma treatment option

There are several teatment options: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy.

Surgery is commonly used in the treatment of mesothelioma. Surgeons may remove the lining of the chest and some of the tissues around it. For pleural mesothelioma, a lung may be removed or the muscle below the lungs that help with breathing the diaphragm may be removed.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. This type of therapy only affects the cancer cells in the treated area. The radiation can come from external sources (for example, machines that are targeted to deliver high-energy rays to the cancer cells inside your body) or internal (from implanting isotopes in your body to kill the cancer cells).

Chemotherapy uses anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. The drugs used to treat mesothelioma are sometimes given by injection in a vein. In some mesothelioma cases, the chemotherapy may be put directly into the chest.

Immunotherapy is a new approach that uses your body's immune system to fight the mesothelioma in your body. This approach is currently under clinical trial for mesothelioma patients.

malignant mesothelioma research

Malignant pleural mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is associated with a history of asbestos exposure in about 70 to 80 percent of all cases and there is no approved or very effective chemotherapy for the disease. Researchers hypothesized that pemetrexed might prove effective in treating this disease because it targets key enzymes thought to play a role in allowing the rapid growth of this tumor.

Early Phase I trial results in 11 patients tested with pemetrexed and cisplatin were promising and a definitive randomized Phase III trial was developed. Since there are no established therapies for this condition, a standard chemotherapy agent called cisplatin that has shown efficacy in treating other diseases, was used as the control arm. The Phase III study initially planned to enroll 456 patients from April 1999 to March 2001. However, after enrolling 150 patients, a high rate of severe toxicity and death was associated with the pemetrexed and cisplatin arm of the trial. Elevated levels of homocysteine, a chemical byproduct that results when proteins are broken down in the blood, were found, which provided a basis for redesign of the trial to reduce the dangerous drug side effects.

Two hundred and eighty patients were enrolled to the revised protocol. Using a strategy to reduce drug side effects that has been successful in the past, this new protocol added folic acid to the regimen because pemetrexed as an antifolate agent reduces levels of this important vitamin. Folic acid was given prior to and during the trial, and vitamin B12 was given only during the trial. Both vitamins should boost folic acid levels, reduce homocysteine formation, and hence reduce toxicity to pemetrexed. "We now have a significantly less toxic regimen than the one we started with," said Vogelzang.

Because of the presumed importance of the vitamins to the study, the researchers examined not only the combination therapy versus the single drug therapy, but also looked at the results of patients on the vitamin supplements versus those early enrollees who had not initially received vitamins.

Standard treatment for malignant mesothelioma has been surgery. Surgical treatment rarely results in cure and long-term survival is unusual. Use of radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy following surgery has not improved survival for patients but radiation treatments may alleviate some pain associated with the disease.

pleural mesothelioma diagnosed

Pleural Mesothelioma / Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The most common place for mesothelioma to develop is in the mesothelial membrane, also called the pleural lining, surrounding the lungs. About two thirds of all mesothelioma cases develop in the pleural mesothelium or lung lining. Pleural mesothelioma is also known as cancer of the lung lining.

The remaining cases, about one third, develop in the peritoneal mesothelium in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Rarely, mesothlioma occurs in other mesothelial tissue, such as around the heart or in the reproductive organs (pericardial mesothelioma).

Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be either benign or malignant. This discussion is only about malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.

When the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include abdominal pains, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling. Fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space, a condition known as ascites. Over time the wasting symptoms can become more and more severe.

The growing tumor can exert increasing pressure on the organs in the abdomen, leading to bowel obstruction and distention. If the tumor presses upward, it can impair breathing capacity. If the tumor pushes against areas with many nerve fibers, and the bowel distends, the amount of pain can increase.

X-rays and CT scans are, typically, the first step towards detecting peritoneal mesothelioma. The actual diagnosis is typically achieved by obtaining a piece of tissue. The medical procedure of looking at the peritoneum is known as a peritoneoscopy. It is a hospital procedure and requires anesthesia. If an abnormality is seen, the doctor will attempt to obtain a tissue sample - this is known as a biopsy. The tissue sample will be examined by a pathologist who makes a diagnosis using microscopic analysis of specialized stains.

There are at least two explanations for how asbestos fibers can get into the peritoneum. The first is that fibers caught by the mucus of the trachea and bronchi end up being swallowed. Some of them lodge in the intestinal tract and from there they can move through the intestinal wall into the peritoneum. The second explanation is that fibers that lodge in the lungs can move into the lymphatic system and be transported to the peritoneum.

mesothelioma update

Are new treatments for mesothelioma being studied?

Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the U.S. 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.

History (particular reference to Australia)

An article by Wagner, published in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine in 1960, first established mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to crocidolite asbestos. The article ("Diffused Pleural Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure in the North Western Cape Province") 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 in the Medical Journal of Australia. The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.

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 Witternoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.

mesothelioma clinical trial

Your doctor may need to remove a tissue sample from the tumor (a biopsy) or draw fluid (aspirate) from it to confirm it to confirm the diagnosis. This can be done in several ways.

The simplest way to obtain tissue samples involving making a small incision and placing a flexible tube in the area of the tumor. This is called a thoracoscopy if it is done in the chest area. A laparoscopy is the same procedure, but done in the abdominal cavity. A tube that is that is attached to a video camera is placed so that the doctor can look inside the body. A tissue sample may be taken at the same time. Sometimes, however, a more extensive surgical procedure may be advisable. A thoracotomy can be done to open the chest to take a tissue sample and, if feasible, to remove most or all of the visible tumor. If this procedure is done in the abdominal cavity, it is called a laparotomy.

At other times, a mediastinoscopy may be done in which a very small incision is made just above the sternum (breast bone) and a tube inserted just behind the breast bone. This lets the doctors look at lymph nodes. This are small, bean-shaped structures that are an important part of the body's immune system, and they contain cells that help your body fight infection as well as cancer. This test will give the doctor more information on the type of cancer and whether it has spread to other areas. The tissue samples taken in these procedures are analyzed by looking at them under a microscope in order to determine whether the tumor is a mesothelioma or some other type of cancer.

mesothelioma settlement

I am exposed to asbestos should I file a lawsuit?

Before you file an asbestos lawsuit or go for mesothelioma satelment,you should have an injury that has been diagnosed by a medical doctor as an asbestos-related disease. Simply being exposed to asbestos is not sufficient grounds for us to file an asbestos lawsuit on your behalf.

However, if you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you should contact an attorney immediately because certain deadlines (called statutes of limitations) may apply.

We believe that a case should only be brought if a client has cancer or another serious asbestos-related disability - one that prevents him or her from working or interferes in the ability to perform the usual activities of daily living.

If you have been exposed to asbestos, but have not been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, we recommend that you should:

» monitor your health carefully,

» tell your doctor that you have been exposed to asbestos,

» seek medical attention promptly if you feel unwell, and

» find out more about asbestos-related diseases and their symptoms.

What should I do if I have been exposed to a toxic chemical?

The Firm is a law office, not a doctor's office or hospital. However, we recommend that you consider doing the following things promptly:

» go to a health professional and tell him or her about this exposure,

» make sure that you are not still exposed by asserting your rights to a safe and healthful workplace, and, if necessary, protecting yourself from exposure,

» monitor your health closely, and

» if you are thinking about filing a lawsuit or workers' compensation claim, contact an attorney promptly. Certain deadlines (called statutes of limitations) may apply, and they limit the time during which you can file a claim.

WORKSAFE! is a good resource from which to obtain more information about occupational health and safety if you are currently

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.

mesothelioma research

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.

People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ®, NCI's cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own. The clinical trials page on the NCI's Cancer.gov Web site, located at http://cancer.gov/clinical_trials on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ.

What causes mesothelioma?

Nearly every mesothelioma case is related to the inhalation of asbestos fibers. There are about 3,000 cases per year (mostly men over the age of 40) and there will be about 300,000 cases before 2030. The disease usually spreads rapidly through the mesothelial cells to the heart and abdominal organs. The life span is typically 24 months after diagnosis, but it depends on what stage the cancer is detected, the health of the patient and other factors.

Although asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, it has a latency period after exposure that could last 15 to 50 years. This means that someone who worked in a factory with asbestos 40 years ago could be developing the disease now. Anyone who knows they were exposed to loose asbestos fibers should be tested regularly.

Mesothelioma is an extremely deadly disease. The average survival time is about one year from date of diagnosis. About 20% of patients who find their cancer early and treat it aggressively will reach the five-year mark.

If you have Mesothelioma, you were most likely exposed to asbestos. Many asbestos manufacturers and distributors knew for decades that asbestos was hazardous, yet made a business decision not to warn people of those hazards. As a result, you may have a right of recovery against those manufacturers, which can help defray the costs of treatment and provide compensation for your pain and suffering.

Gross Appearance

In their early stages, malignant mesotheliomas appear as multiple small nodules on the parietal or visceral pleura.With time, the nodules grow and may coalesce to form large plaques involving both layers of the pleura, encasing the lungs, and obliterating the pleural space.In the late stages of the disease there may be involvement of the chest wall, mediastinum, and diaphragm. The tumor itself is usually firm and white-yellow.Rarely does the tumor penetrate the lung parenchyma to a depth greater than 1 cm.

Microscopic Features

Mesotheliomas display a wide range of histologic features.The malignant cells may appear epithelial or mesenchymal, or show features of intermediate differentiation (biphasic).The architectural and cellular features may range from well differentiated to anaplastic.The well differentiated tumors can be recognized by their light microscopic appearance, while more poorly differentiated tumors necessitate immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies to reveal their identity.Mesotheliomas are also separated into four histologic categories:epithelial (50%), sarcomatous (15-20%), biphasic (15-20%), and poorly differentiated or undifferentiated (15-20%).

Mesothelioma attorney and Lawyers can be found in all the USA cities.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida

Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland

Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada

New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio

Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee

Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Wash D.C.

What is Asbestos? Or Mesothelioma asbestos

Asbestos is the name for a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers. The fibers are strong, durable, and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible, so that they can even be woven into cloth.

Because of these qualities, asbestos has been used in thousands of consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States .

Although millions of Americans have been exposed to some amount of asbestos since the 1940's , there are particular fields where there is an increased risk of exposure. Particular fields where workers have increased exposure to mesothelioma causing asbestos includes: asbestos miners, shipyard workers, workers in the heating and constructions fields and the producers of other asbestos related products

Mesothelioma attorney and Lawyers

Mesothelioma attorney and Lawyers can be found in all the USA cities.

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida

Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland

Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada

New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio

Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee

Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Wash D.C.

Mesothelioma - Cancer of the Lung Lining

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of lung cancer that arises in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is made up of parietal and visceral membranes, thin layers of tissue, which surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane immediately surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering the visceral membrane. The visceral and parietal membranes that make up the mesothelium. This fluid helps organs move easily among surrounding structures. In the case of the lung, it helps reduce friction between the lung and chest wall during normal breathing as the lung expands.

The mesothelioma is referred to by different names, depending on what part of the body it is found in. In the abdomen, it is called the peritoneum, in the lungs, the pleura, and in the heart, the pericardium. These correspond to peritoneum mesothelioma (cancer of the abdomen/stomach), pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining) and pericardium mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Cancer

This rare cancer affects over 3,000 people each year, it is highly aggressive and fatal. People that have been exposed to asbestos over long periods are most at risk. Asbestos is a known toxin that irresponsible companies continued to market for decades in the face of scientific evidence proving its danger. Victims should seek legal help to make sure they are compensated. Attorneys have made these negligent companies pay millions of dollars to asbestos victims. This page informs victims of their treatment options, legal rights to damages and helps individuals locate experienced attorneys with proven track records of success.

Prevention of mesothelioma

Prevention may be impossible for those who have been exposed to asbestos over an extended period of time. The following workers should take care to observe their employers' safety rules and procedures regarding asbestos exposure.

• Auto mechanics
• Construction workers
• Factory workers
• Gas mask manufacturers
• Insulation manufacturers
• Miners
• Railroad workers
• Ship builders

It's also important to remember that many older homes have asbestos components. But removing it can be extremely dangerous because of asbestos dust and fibers that can get into the air and therefore, into your lungs.

Check the Environmental Protection Agency website for advice on dealing with asbestos in the home.

Treatment of mesothelioma

Unfortunately, mesothelioma usually isn't diagnosed until it has reached a later stage. Since it is an aggressive form of cancer, a cure is often impossible.

However, there are a number of treatment options that are used, and they vary depending on the type of cancer the patient has contracted along with a number of other factors like the overall health of the patient.

Surgery If the disease is diagnosed in an early stage, surgeons may try one of several types of to remove the cancer. These include:

Procedures to decrease fluid buildup in the chest which may cause breathing difficulty.

Removing the tissue around the lung or abdomen. A pleurectomy involves removing the tissue around the lungs. A peritonectomy removes the tissue lining around the abdomen.

Surgery known as debulking is intended to remove as much of the cancer as possible.

Surgeons may remove a lung and the surrounding tissue.

Chemotherapy This involves the use of chemicals to kill cancer cells.

Radiation This type of therapy employs high-energy beams that are directed to a specific area or areas affected by the cancer.

Combination therapy This involves using surgery, chemotherapy and radiation together. This is an extremely grueling type of treatment that isn't appropriate for everyone. Combination therapy appears to offer the most promising possibility for short term treatment, but in many cases, the cancer eventually returns.

Symptoms of mesothelioma

Symptoms vary depending on location.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms:

• Dry cough.
• Pain while coughing.
• Discomfort when breathing.
• Chest pain beneath the rib cage.
• Shortness of breath.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest.

Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms:

• A change in your bowel habits, including frequent constipation or diarrhea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Abdominal swelling.
• Lumps in the abdomen.
• Unexplained weight loss.

Little is known about the symptoms of the pericardial and tunica vaginalis types of mesothelioma because they are so rare.

Types of mesothelioma

There are a number of different kinds of mesothelioma. Although many people believe mesothelioma is a lung disease, it can also occur in other parts of the body.

Pleural malignant mesothelioma is the most common type. It affects tissue around the lungs.

Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the tissue of the abdomen.

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the tissue surrounding the heart. This type is extremely rare.

Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis occurs in the lining around the testicles. This type is also extremely rare.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is diagnosed in between 2000 and 3000 individuals a year in the United States. It affects the lining of certain internal organs. This lining is known medically as mesothelium.

People who have had a history of exposure to asbestos appear to have the highest risk of developing the disease, although it isn't completely understood why this is the case.

The risk of contracting mesothelioma is approximately twice as great in smokers who are exposed to asbestos.

There is also reason to believe mesothelioma may be caused by a radioactive substance known as thorium dioxide. This substance was often used in conjunction with X-rays during the first half of the 20th century to diagnose various health conditions. It is no longer in use.

Mesothelioma - Symptoms of Mesothelioma Cancer

Do you know what the most common symptoms of mesothelioma cancer are? Well, the most common symptoms are shortness of breath and pain in the chest. These symptoms occur due to a buildup of fluid in the pleura, what is known as Pleural Mesothelioma. However there are other symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma, those may include weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling, this is due to an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

Peritoneal mesothelioma may include other uncomfortable symptoms too, such as bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia and fever. However these symptoms can appear before if malignant cancerous cells have spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, and other symptoms such as trouble swallowing, pain, and swelling of the neck or face may appear.

Mesothelioma or other less serious conditions may caused these symptoms, therefore the importance of going to a doctor if you feel any of these symptoms, because only an expert like him can make a correct diagnosis.

Mesothelioma cancer rate has increased over the past 20 years and although this disease is not as common as other cancer pathologies, the number of new diagnosed cases in the United States has risen up to 2,000 per year.

According to experts the major risk factor for developing Mesothelioma lies in working with asbestos, so if you are a asbestos worker remember following the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommendations in order to reduce your risk.

In our next article we are going to analyze the different aspects of "Mesothelioma Diagnosis".

What You Need Before Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit

If you suffer from mesothelioma, then you likely have grounds for a mesothelioma lawsuit. Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer, which causes malignant cells to be produced on the protective sac covering most of the bodys internal organs, mainly the lungs. Exposure to asbestos is the cause of mesothelioma; there is no known link between smoking and mesothelioma. Those with the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. 

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or a family member has died as a result of mesothelioma, then you are entitled to recover compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit against the companies that made these asbestos products.

The first step in initiating a mesothelioma lawsuit is to contact an attorney associated with a reputable mesothelioma trial law firm. Your mesothelioma attorney can recover up to millions of dollars, which will be invaluable in assisting you and your family with medical bills and other expenses associated with the disease. When searching for a mesothelioma attorney, you should be careful to choose a law firm that has the required experience and skill to aggressively represent your interests. You should be prepared to interview potential attorneys, asking questions such as how quickly their past cases have been resolved, how much compensation they have successfully obtained and how many total mesothelioma lawsuits they have dealt with.

Once you have selected an attorney, you will need to provide him or her with all relevant information regarding your diagnosis and prognosis. This information will form the basis of your mesothelioma lawsuit. One of those most important details to provide to your attorney is the time period in which you believe you were exposed to asbestos. This information is critical for two reasons. First, because as many as twenty or even thirty years will often pass before one becomes ill from asbestos exposure. Second, most states have a set time limit in which you can file your lawsuit, and it is very important that you not miss this deadline known as the statute of limitations. 

Other details that your attorney will request from you include the name and location of your employer, the working conditions during the term of your employment, and whether your employer informed you that you would be exposed to asbestos during your employment. Many people are concerned because they do not know exactly where and when they were exposed to asbestos. Some people may have been exposed to asbestos numerous times. However, your mesothelioma attorney can help to pinpoint the products that you were exposed to. If necessary, your attorney will hire the services of a private investigator to find out where the exposure took place.