Mesothelioma Is An Incurable Cancer That Makes Lawyers Rich

Mesothelioma is a cancer which is linked to exposure to asbestos fibers in 70 to 80 percent of cases.

The National Cancer institute defines malignant mesothelioma as "a rare form of cancer...a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium)."

It is one of the most deadly cancers known to man; the average life span of an afflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months.

Mesothelioma develops in approximately 3,000 United States citizens every year. Most of those diagnosed have a history of occupational exposure to asbestos, though a few have environmental or household contact. This cancer has an extremely long latency period; an exposure period of as little as one or two months can result in a mesothelioma up to 50 years later. Patients who had contact with asbestos as far back as the 1940s are now being diagnosed with this disease. In fact, the average time between exposure and the development of mesothelioma is 35-40 years.

When asbestos first came into use, its risks were unknown, and it was widely used as a fire-retardant material. Many people worked with this deadly substance, unaware that it would kill them several decades later. Workers such as bricklayers, insulaters, plasterers, electricians, mechanics, carpenters, and other tradesmen were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis as it was contained in many insulation and construction materials.

Even occassional exposure to asbestos is a health risk, and there have been many cases of mesothelioma developing in patients who only had brief contact, such as wives of asbestos-exposed workers who washed their husbands' overalls.

Due to the long latency period and vague, diffuse initial symptoms, there is often a delay in accurate diagnosis. As with many cancers, early symptoms can be mild and non-specific. Often patients present with only shortness of breath and a persistent cough; some show no symptoms at all in the initial stages, and the disease is first noticed on a routine chest X-ray. One early tell-tale sign is pleural effusion, a collection of fluid in the lungs. The right lung is affected 60% of the time, bilateral involvement being seen in 5% of cases. Less common initial complaints due to lung mesothelioma are fever, night sweats, weight loss, a raspy voice and facial swelling. Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause abdominal symptoms such as pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia and swelling of the feet. As the disease progresses, patients often develop severe cachexia (wasting).

One of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma, pleural effusion, is an accumulation of fluid between the parietal pleura, which covers the chest wall and diaphragm, and the visceral pleura, which covers the lungs. Both membranes are covered with mesothelial cells which, under normal conditions, produce a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant between the chest wall and the lung. Any excess fluid is removed via blood and lymph vessels, thus maintaining a balance. When more fluid is produced than can be absorbed, an effusion forms.

These effusions are called either transudates and exudates. A transudate is a clear fluid that forms not because the pleural surfaces are diseased, but because of an imbalance between the normal production and removal of the fluid. Often this is caused by congestive heart failure. An exudate, which contains many cells and proteins and is often cloudy in color, results from disease of the pleura itself, and is common to mesothelioma. To differentiate between a transudate or an exudate, a diagnostic thoracentesis, in which a needle or catheter is used to obtain a fluid sample, may be conducted.

As the volume of excess fluid increases, symptoms develop such as shortness of breath (dyspnea) , chest pain, or a non-productive dry cough. Heard through a stethoscope, normal breath sounds are muted, and tapping on the chest will reveal dull rather than hollow sounds.

A pleural effusion can be seen with a chest X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan. Since pleural effusions are often caused by congestive heart failure, the discovery of an effusion is not in itself immediately suggestive of a malignant process.

A histological examination of pleural fluid is negative in 85% of cases; a definitive diagnoses is more often is obtained by a needle biopsy or surgical biopsy of pleural tissue.

Symptomatic treatment of lung compression caused by effusion is accomplished by application of a sclerosing agent which eliminates the space between the lung and the chest cavity, a process called chemical pleurodesis. Talc is usually used, with a success rate of 95%. It can be administered either as a powder or as a slurry mixed with saline. A surgical team opens the chest wall, removes the effusion, then collapses the lung before applying the talc. Once the lung is fused to the chest wall, an effusion can no longer accumulate and compress the lung. This is strictly a palliative measure to improve the patient's quality of life, and has no effect on the progression of the disease.

Attemps to cure mesothelioma utilize surgery to remove diseased tissue, combined with chemo and raiotherapy. Several new treatment modalities are currently being investigated. These include Photodynamic therapy, which uses light of particular frequencies to target and kill cancer cells which, compared to normal tissue, display increased uptake of photosensitizing drugs; immunotherapy, which fights the abnormal cells through stimulation of the body's own immune system; and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, which is a radiation treatment that attempts to target just the malignancy, thus avoiding damage to adjacent healthy cells and tissue. In addition, some success has been acheived with the chemotherapeutic drug Alitma (pemetrexed). However, despite the number of clinical trials currently underway, as of the date of this article the prognosis for mesothelioma sufferers is still extremely poor.

All About a Mesothelioma Lawyer

When someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they may find that they need an attorney to help them with their case. This is a disease that is rare, and there is little to be said about the condition. The rate of this disease is on the increase and there are new lawyers that are trying to settle many cases for different people. They have stepped in for the rights of the people to help them with their case.

Many victims of this disease need to have a mesothelioma lawyer to help them with their fight. These lawyers and law firms will deal with the victims and their families to help them claim the right compensation that they deserve from the companies that are responsible for their problems. These lawsuits result in a lot of money being won by the families when the right lawyer or firm handles them.

Handling asbestos causes mesothelioma. This comes from working in an environment that is affected by this deadly material or by someone that is contracted to remove it. Most of the time, the workers are made clear of the dangers that can be caused by working with this type of material. However, some employers will allow little or no protection from the material when the employees are handling it. These workers are entitled to compensation for their work.

Today there are many mesothelioma lawyers to choose from and there are many that are right for you. Many of these lawyers have dealt with this type of suit in the past and know the correct way to handle it. Those people that are looking for a lawyer should choose someone with a good history and experience in this type of case. Most lawyers are happy to provide clients with information that may be helpful in using them for your services. They will show past cases with the names deleted to show proof of their victory.

It is a good idea to find out if the mesothelioma lawyer that you are looking into has won any of their cases or not. These elements can make all the difference when it comes to trying to find the right lawyer to help you with your situation. It is a good idea to do as much research as you can on the entire situation. You may be able to determine your future when you choose their right mesothelioma lawyer for you and your case.

When it comes to being sick with a disease that could have been prevented, it is hard to deal with. Finding the right mesothelioma lawyer to help you in your fight against these companies is a good start. You will be fighting for something that means so much to a lot of people and it will be worth it in the end.

What is Mesothelioma and How Did I Get it?

If your doctor has told you that you have mesothelioma, you may still have a lot of basic questions about the disease.

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you probably have many questions. One of the most basic questions asked by patients and their families is “What is Mesothelioma and how did I get it?”

There has been a lot of coverage in the press about this disease and you may already have a lot of information about Mesothelioma from your doctor.

Our purpose is to offer what we hope is a simple explanation and define some terms you will hear when you are talking to you doctor, so that you and your family can have a solid understanding of the disease.

Before you can understand Mesothelioma, you have to understand asbestos (the substance that causes Mesothelioma). Asbestos is actually just a commercial name for a naturally occurring mineral.

Asbestos is a fibrous silicate that was commonly used in insulation and construction materials, as well as electrical insulation, fireproofing materials, roofing, and filters, because it offered high heat resistance. This mineral was also used to make automobile brakes at one time.

If you or a loved one worked for a company that made asbestos-containing products, or if you lived or live in a house that still has asbestos insulation, that is probably the source of your illness. The U.S. government has since regulated the amount of asbestos that can be used in any product and how and where these products can be used or installed.

Because asbestos is so fibrous, tiny threadlike fibers can circulate in the air and water within or around a house or business containing asbestos materials.

Therein lies the problem!

With prolonged exposure to asbestos you can sustain gradual but serious damage to your lungs.

The medical term ‘mesothelioma’ relates to the area of your body that is affected by the asbestos fibers when you inhale them. The ‘mesothelium’ is a two-layered membrane that protects most of your internal organs. One of these layers envelopes the organ, and the other layer forms a sac around the organ and the first layer to protect it even further. In between these two layers is a volume of fluid that lubricates everything, and allows flexible movement so that the heart can beat and the lungs can expand and contract without rubbing against other structures in your body.

The ‘peritoneal’ mesothelium covers the abdominal cavity, and the ‘pleural’ mesothelium covers and protects the lungs and the chest cavity, whereas the ‘pericardial’ mesothelium protects the heart. When you inhale asbestos into your lungs, the cells around these inhaled fibers become abnormal or cancerous. And these rogue cells damage the tissue and the organs near the site of invasion. Because asbestos is inhaled, most cases of mesothelioma start in the pleural or the peritoneal mesothelium (because they are the closest to the lungs).

The three most common diseases caused by asbestos are ‘asbestosis’ (a non-cancerous form of lung disease), lung cancer and mesothelioma (a cancer that starts within the layers of the mesothelium).
The symptoms of mesothelioma do not appear for years after exposure (sometimes as long as 50 years later), and may begin as shortness of breath or pain in the chest. These symptoms come from a build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity. If the disease is in the peritoneal mesothelium, your symptoms may start as weight loss and abdominal pain as your abdomen fills with fluid.

To diagnose mesothelioma, your doctor will look for a history of exposure to asbestos at work or at home and he will perform a physical, including x-rays and possibly a lung function test. He may order a CT (CAT) scan or MRI to get more information.
Ultimately, your doctor will need to take a biopsy to positively confirm that mesothelioma is present. A surgeon will remove a small sample of tissue from your body so that it can be tested and examined for disease.

If you have mesothelioma, your doctor will try to figure out what ‘stage’ the disease is in – in other words, how long have you had the disease – so he can determine how best to treat the disease.
Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy or a combination of these treatments.
Your doctor will talk to you about the possible tests for mesothelioma, your specific test results and his treatment recommendations.

Get Compensation For Your Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma is a cancer and like most other types of cancer – it is incurable. Great advances have been made in the diagnosis and treatment of these malignancies, but as yet, there is no complete mesothelioma treatment available that really works. All you can do is perhaps gain some satisfaction and compensation by filing a mesothelioma lawsuit against the employer or whoever exposed you to the chemicals who gave you this cancer.

Almost all cancers are cause by external stimuli and mesothelioma is no different. It is caused when the body is exposed to extremely high amounts of a carcinogen – asbestos. Mesothelioma affects the lining of the internal organs of the body and because of this extremely difficulty location, the infected cells rarely respond to conventional treatments that work for other types of cancer.

Getting mesothelioma treatment is made tougher by the fact that it can seldom be diagnosed on time – there are no blatant symptoms. Because of these factors, the effectiveness of many conventional treatments is limited. Mesothelioma treatment involves multiple treatment options including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy – though these only help slow the growth of the cancerous cells. New treatments like angiogenesis, photodynamic and gene therapy hold new hope for victims of mesothelioma everywhere.

Mesothelioma treatment is an expensive affair and most of the time, afflicted patients find themselves in a financial bind. This disease has long been recognized as a work related disease and very rarely does a patient contract mesothelioma outside of work environs. Companies tend to avoid telling their workers about the risk and hazards faced when being exposed to asbestos contamination in the work place because it takes many, many years before the effect of this exposure – mesothelioma becomes apparent. That’s why many people are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos thirty, forty, even fifty years ago.

But once diagnosed, the patient has every right to file a mesothelioma lawsuit against the company for passing this kind of a death sentence against him/her. Mesothelioma lawsuits have shot up in numbers in the US and across the world over the last few years with increased awareness and there have been several multi-million dollar settlements. It is wise for anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma to file a lawsuit because while the disease can’t be cured, compensation can ensure a good life for the family of the patient.

However, it is very important that the mesothelioma lawsuit be filed immediately upon diagnosis.

How to Select a Mesothelioma Attorney?

If you unfortunately have got the serious disease mesothelioma, you must of course get access to all the treatment you can. However, mesothelioma is not only a medical issue but in most cases also a legal as long as this disease is likely to develop because of contact with certain chemicals we can find in many working places. In fact a majority of the cases of this disease is caused by the working environment. A Mesothelioma attorney is responsible to file cases against the firm or the corporation that is responsible for the development of this deadly cancerous condition.

Filing a lawsuit against the asbestos firms will help to take mesothelioma prevention steps among the unaffected family protected.

These persons often work for no fees in the initial days. There is no consultation fee that is charged by these mesothelioma lawyers. However, once the case is won against such corporate body or the firms, the fees for the concerned lawyers may be settled down.

The exposure to the asbestos or the asbestos containing materials is finally proved in the court of law and this gives more happiness among the victims.

Selection of a lawyer
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be filed using a prospective lawyer who is not only experienced in this asbestos based disease, but also have thorough knowledge on this disease and also giving utmost care and respect to the client.

If you are one of the unfortunate victims of mesothelioma, you can file a Mesothelioma lawsuit. Once a person feels the symptoms of this disease that includes night sweats, hoarseness, edema in the face and arms, muscle weakness, Dyspnea, pain in the lower back and chest pain, he can initiate legal action against the firm.

If you’re a person who has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related malady, you can file a case against the owners of the asbestos company within one or two years from the date of person died of asbestos cancer or from the date a person diagnosed with the disease.

Till the concerned victims receive the compensation, the notary will be working in close relationship with the victim to prove the causal factor for the clinical problem encountered in the victim.

The legal representative in Chicago, Illinois or whichever state or city the company is located - is responsible to sue the case against any firms that is involved in the development of this condition due to asbestos based exposure.

Is Your Child At Risk For Mesothelioma Cancer?

Although Mesothelioma is a term that is often heard broadcast over the television airways by soliciting attorneys it is nonetheless a condition which is not
well understood by the general public.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can affect individuals who either work or have worked in asbestos manufacturing plants, automotive shops, mining, ship yards and constructions industries.

Mesothelioma Cancer is caused from exposure to the fibrous material strands known as asbestos. These fibers are resistant to heat and chemicals which makes it an ideal substance for such applications as roofs, home insulation, cement, etc. However, these same properties make it very difficult for the human body to get rid of them.

Mesothelioma has no gender or age barriers. Given the right set of circumstances children are at equal risk for developing this life-threatening disease.

Although it is true that children do not usually work with or around asbestos they may however, frequent older public buildings or schools where the asbestos material used in the ceilings and flooring has started to deteriorate, releasing small asbestos particles into the air. These particles can then be breathed into the lungs causing tissue scaring, excess fluid accumulation and breathing difficulties.

Children whose parents work with or around asbestos are at greater risk of developing asbestos-related diseases (asbestosis or mesothelioma) due to second-hand exposure (asbestos particles transported from work to home via clothing or hair.

One might ask, if it is true that children can develop asbestos-related conditions, why don’t we hear about them?

The reason is simple. Mesothelioma has a 30-50 year incubation period (time from exposure to the onset of the first major symptoms). A child that is exposed at age six will quite possibly not have significant symptoms until he/she becomes an adult of age 36.

This might explain why experts say that it is possible for some people to develop Mesothelioma even when there has been no known asbestos exposure.

Is it possible that this now adult individual had been exposed repeatedly as a child? This might also explain why there are so many children suffering with respiratory ailments today!

Although the United States government has established laws governing exposure limits, not all facilities comply. Abestos is still alive and well but there are things that can be done to reduce exposure risk:

1. When possible avoid old buildings that are in disrepair.

2. Check with school officials regarding asbestos safety implementation programs.

3. Be sure that anyone who lives in your home and works with or around asbestos strictly adheres to the OSHA safety rules regarding work clothes, showering before leaving the work place, etc.

4. Contact your doctor at the first sign of illness or to discuss any health concerns you might have.

Mesothelioma Treatment varies depending upon its location,stage and patient's overall health.

Why is Mesothelioma So Deadly?

On the way to modernization, humans have to admit that many sacrifices had to be made. Sky scrappers and tall buildings bring wealth to the world. What we might not realize is, the buildings where we spent hours working at our jobs can potentially be killers. It can be dangerous to you or the people associated with these buildings and establishments.

Corporate buildings are mostly based from asbestos. Roads, railways, hinges and sliding windows contain high amounts of asbestos. Thus, many construction workers are highly exposed to the diseases related to asbestos. One of them is mesothelioma, a rare yet deadly disease to us.

Mesothelioma does not happen naturally. It happens due to inhalation of asbestos for a long period. When inhaled, asbestos will settle a cancerous layer on the membrane protecting the inner organs. The most common mesothelioma is the cancerous attack on the outer layer of the chest cavity and the lungs. This is the reason why mesothelioma is widely known as lung cancer. The cancerous layer can also develop outside the abdominal cavity and outside our heart.

The bad news is, you can run around, play with your kids, sipping coffee on your balcony for years before you realize you have mesothelioma. It is only when mesothelioma reaches the critical stage that you will realize its symptoms. Dry cough, breathlessness, pain in the chest and throwing up are common symptoms of deadly mesothelioma. It is most unfortunate that you will only notice the symptoms when it is really too late for anything to be done about it.

Why is mesothelioma one of the deadliest diseases known to men then? The fact that it can lay dormant for decades without you noticing is one. When the doctor finally diagnoses you as the victim of mesothelioma, it is too late. You are unable to fight for it. This disease drains your energy and you will be bedridden, incapable of anything. You will be coughing blood before you know it and this is extremely painful.

As mesothelioma is highly associated with the respiratory system, you might notice that swallowing is a terrible business. To add to the suffering, breathing causes pain in your ribs. It really put you in a dreadful position, once you become a patient of mesothelioma.

The duration between inhalation of asbestos to mesothelioma is between 15 to 20 years. If your work requires you to deal with asbestos or anyone around you, take the safety step to have a full medical report. It is a good way to have a complete medical history to monitor any potential mesothelioma patients.

You might just wave off coughing and breathlessness. However, you need to remember that these can be the symptoms of mesothelioma. If you happen to suffer from these, do not wait until it becomes critical before you see the doctor. Early mesothelioma detection is important in order to settle for the type of treatment you need to receive.

How To Care For Someone With Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a killer lung disease. When it strikes, there is nearly no way out for the patient. Simple activities like talking become difficult. Even eating to keep the patient alive becomes a tough chore.

Caring for someone with Mesothelioma requires strength and patience. When your family members become one of the Mesothelioma sufferers, it can be a huge blow for you. The caring process can be emotionally and physically difficult for you.

It is not easy to watch a Mesothelioma patient suffer. It is extremely easy to burst out crying but this might demoralize them. What a Mesothelioma patient need from you is strength and motivation for them to battle the killer disease.

Knowledge is power. This is applicable everywhere, including the focus on mesothelioma patients. Learn about the disease, how it affects the patients. There are incredibly huge amounts of informatoin on the Internet for you to read. There are many sites dedicated for Mesothelioma. If you are not sure about the information parted on the sites, you can always talk to the doctors.

When you have learnt everything that you need to know about Mesothelioma only then will you be prepared for anything that might come your way. Emotions will always take over but when you know what is going to happen, it will become more bearable. Patients might suffer from difficulty to breathe, something that is essential and basic activity to live. Hence, you can imagine how much mesothelioma patients have to suffer.

In order to provide some relief from the pain, most of them will be prescribed morphine. The misconception of this type of drug is widely spread. There are many cases when patients refuse to be sedated because they believe that it will lead to addiction. Your role is to convince them that when taken with care, it will never lead to addiction. In fact, it will release them from the pain.

You have to understand that medicine have to be taken in the order it was prescribed by the doctor. Although a mesothelioma patient might look fine three days in a week, you must not forget to provide them with medicine during these three days. You might wonder why this is so. Well, the medicine will help them combat the pain continuously so if you keep giving medicine, they will be able to lead an almost normal life.

This is one option where you can really care for mesothelioma patients effectively. Try keeping a diary where you will jot down their progress daily. Apart from that, write down the patient’s reactions towards every medicine they take. This way, you can team up with the doctors to help provide better medication for the mesothelioma patients. Any medications that give bad reaction towards the patient will be removed. Only beneficial medicines will stay at this stage. You will find how relieved you will be when you are able to see your loved ones able to escape pain, even for a moment.

It is true that caring for any patients, including mesothelioma patients will be challenging, both physically and mentally. However, when you are prepared to face with the facts, soon you will realize it is not so bad after all. Your attention to detail, willing to help them and your care will definitely give new hope to mesothelioma patient that you care for.

The Dangers From Asbestos

Asbestos is a very dangerous substance to inhale. That’s why many companies hire professionals to remove asbestos from their workplace. Asbestos is so dangerous because the fibers that form asbestos can cause cancers such as mesothelioma, as well as other diseases. The danger in asbestos is when the material breaks down or open and the fibers become airborne. Unfortunately, dangerous exposure the asbestos can occur when even just a trace amount of fibers for a minute amount of time is present in the environment. Even then, the symptoms of trouble might not show for up to 40 years.

Typically, a person becomes exposed to asbestos from work or even home but a third risk is for people that live near places such as shipyards, steel mills, power plants, refineries, and so on where asbestos is used. What happens is that the fibers become disrupted, contaminating nearby residential areas. In addition to the industries mentioned, other common areas include maritime, construction, automotive repair (specifically brakes and clutches), roofing, and railroads.

Just as asbestos can be a serious problem for some types of businesses, it can also exist in many homes and schools. Prior to the 1970s, some materials used for building structures contained asbestos. In fact, an estimated 30 million tons of asbestos fiber was used just in the U.S. during this time, with some winding up in homes and schools.

How can you make sure your home is free of asbestos? First,remember that your home, even if it was built before 1970, does not necessarily contain asbestos. The majority of individuals that have developed health problems related to asbestos worked in industries where asbestos was prevalent, but were not exposed in their home. In addition, bear in mind that the majority of people exposed to small amounts of asbestos do not become ill.

If you have any fear at all that you may have asbestos in your home, call the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). They will tell you how to find qualified technicians to come and examine your house. In the case that asbestos is found, they will help you get rid of it. The EPA will also have you get a separate risk assessment to confirm or dispute their finding.

Anytime you’re contemplating home construction, assume that some of the materials will contain asbestos, unless marked asbestos free. Contact all manufacturers and get their guarantee that none of their building stock has asbestos fibers. You can’t be too careful.

If you plan on purchasing a home, the law dictates that the seller must acknowledge any hazardous materials on-site, including asbestos. If you rent an apartment built before 1970, chances are good that there is some asbestos somewhere. Remember though, that it’s only dangerous if the fibers are released into the air. As long as it stays inside the wall, you will be fine.

In 1995 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set guidelines for asbestos discovery and follow-up in work environments. Any time it’s found, employees must be notified. The same applies to rental units. If your potential landlord informs you of existing asbestos, it will be your choice to live there or not.

What is Mesothelioma Cancer?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the abdominal cavity, chest cavity, and the area around the heart. It has an uncommon nature that makes it difficult to diagnose and treat. It has been connected with exposure to asbestos, which is a material that was found in many work environments. There is a small amount of people that are diagnosed with this terrible disease.

Normal mesothelioma therapies include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You should keep in mind that if you choose one course of action for mesothelioma treatment, you might preclude other courses. All of your options should be considered as soon as possible.

When individuals have a prolonged history of working with asbestos, they are at higher risk of Mesothelioma cancer. It will take the people that have been exposed to this type of asbestos to not have any kind of symptoms for up to forty years. This means that the average age of the people that are finding out that they have this problem are between the ages of fifty and seventy. There are more men that are being diagnosed than women. This is due to the fact that there were more industrial settings found to have the asbestos.

Mesothelioma cancer will cause fluid to accumulate between the lung lining and the chest cavity. This can be determined through a chest x-ray as well as a CT scan. A biopsy will have to be performed to confirm the diagnoses.

Mesothelioma cancer is a life threatening disease and should not be left untreated. If someone had this type of cancer, they need to seek the help of a medical professional as soon as possible. There are forms of treatment that have to be set into place so that the person has a chance at their life.

In recent years asbestos has not been used in anything. Since it has been determined that it is so dangerous to one’s health, the federal government has forbad the use of this type of material in any industry or products. A lot of the industries in the fifties and sixties were contaminated with asbestos that caused many people to have mesothelioma cancer.

Many sources are dedicated to help the victims of this awful disease. Many agencies are going to great lengths to help the people that have been affected and the families that have had to suffer because of this terrible disease. Even though this is a rare disease, it can affect thousands of families each year.

Some of the treatments of Mesothelioma cancer include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. You need to keep in mind that if you choose one course of treatment for this disease, you may have to take on another challenge or even try another form of treatment for it to work. You must keep going and try all that is offered to ensure that you beat this terrible disease.

Asbestos Related Lung Cancer

For almost a 100 years asbestos was considered to be a surprisingly extraordinary mineral. It was used mostly for insulation in the building industry and woven into most every kind of product that could be manufactured. In the late 1800's it was reported that asbestos could cause severe lung injury to anyone that was exposed to it. Those reports were either ignored or intentionally suppressed. Not until 1931 did the British government start taking action to deal with the possibilities of lung cancer in those who worked with and were exposed to asbestos. In the early 1970's the United States government, following the British, began to document safety rules for handling asbestos. This truly was 50 years to late for many thousands of people who were exposed to asbestos in the environment, the home and especially in the workplace.

The results of exposure to asbestos in the environment and the workplace include pleural plaques, lung scarring, asbestosis, lung cancer and a particularly malignant, more severe cancer known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively related to exposure to asbestos. It's pleura, cancer of the lining around the lungs instead of in the lungs. Even a very short term exposure 10, 20, 30 or more years ago may result in mesothelioma. Smoking increases the risk of being diagnosed with mesothelioma dramatically. A patient who was exposed to asbestos that smokes has a 50 to 90 times greater chance of being diagnosed with lung cancer, including mesothelioma than a non-smoker. By contrast, a non-smoker exposed to asbestos has a five times greater chance of being diagnosed.

Asbestos Related lung cancers including Mesothelioma are diagnosed through a coalition of medical history, imaging technologies like x-rays, MRIs and CAT tissue sampling, scans, and biopsy. Those who are known to have been exposed to asbestos should have regular checkups for lung irregularities, as the incubation period between exposure and development of this disease can be as long as 5 decades.

As with any cancer, early diagnosis will give the best chance of recovery. Generally the accepted statistics for patients diagnosed with asbestos related lung cancer or mesothelioma are not good at all. In some cases, a person diagnosed with mesothelioma may be told that he has only 8-12 weeks to live, but there are many extenuating factors that may affect that. Some people in clinical trials that use a multi-treatment approach to treating mesothelioma have approached a 40% five year survival rate - almost as much as those diagnosed with other types of lung cancer.

It seems that the best response to Mesothelioma is an aggressive treatment that combines surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, since mesothelioma is so often diagnosed in the later stages, surgery is not often an option, but there are some encouraging new advances in chemotherapy for treatment.

The first medication specifically to treat mesothelioma was approved by the FDA in February of 2004, Alimta manufactured by Eli Lilly. Alimta showed in clinical trials that in conjunction with another drug frequently used for treatment, cisplatin, improved the life expectancy of people diagnosed with mesothelioma. In a time where new advances are happening almost on a weekly basis, even a few months of extended life can propose hope for a cure.