Mesothelioma Survival

Mesothelioma Attorney Settlement - Asbestos Claims

2010-01-18T06:42:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma Attorney Settlement

Mesothelioma Attorney Settlement is now common. Lawsuits against manufacturers of asbestos related products and employers have resulted in mesothelioma cancer settlements.

A mesothelioma settlement can range from hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions of dollars.

There is a debate in the US Senate for a national settlement to end asbestos litigation.

The main purpose of filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is to compensate medical costs, suffering, loss of wages and the development of mesothelioma cancer leading to pain.

Attorneys accepting mesothelioma cases often do on a contingency basis. This means that they will be paid a percentage of the awarded amount. If they do not win the case then they do not collect any fees.

There have been many successful mesothelioma lawsuits filed and I do urge anyone to follow through with legal action in hopes of a mesothelioma settlement.

You can see some of my posts with successful mesothelioma settlement outcomes:

Asbestos Victim Wins Big Payout

Wife Awarded 550,000 After Asbestos Death

Asbestos Definition

2010-01-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

Asbestos Definition

Asbestos is the name that applies to different types of fibrous silicate minerals.

Asbestos is known for its resistance to flame and its ability to be woven into cloth.

It was used to make fireproof materials, as well as heat-resistant clothing for metal workers and firefighters.

Today's uses are asbestos reinforced products such as pipes, sheets and shingles.

Chlorine for bleach, cleansers and disinfectants are produced using asbestos products.

The length of the fibers, duration and degree of exposure, will determine the health hazard from asbestos.

See Mesothelioma Facts

Mesothelioma Symptoms

2010-01-13T14:31:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms Of Mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to fluid between the lung and the chest wall. Chest pain and general symptoms such as weight loss.

Mesothelioma may be first seen with a chest X-ray or CT scan. It is then confirmed with a biopsy tissue sample and microscopic examination.

A thoracoscopy may be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung.

Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis.

Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.

Seek medical attention at the first signs of any mesothelioma symptoms.

Mesothelioma Patient Helped by Herb Pawpaw

2010-01-05T15:52:00.001-08:00

Mesothelioma Cancer Patient Helped by Herb Pawpaw

Marie Augustine was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma cancer three years ago and given a prognosis of six months to live. Too weak for chemotherapy and radiation her family investigated various alternative modalities. Today she is alive, thanks in part to the holistic therapies that she tried and the support of her family. According to her story as reported in the Lake Cowichan Gazette, Marie used Chinese medicine, an herb called Pawpaw, and various other “alternative health programs” to help manage her mesothelioma. In discussing her improvement with Pawpaw, Marie is quoted as saying, “Within a month I noticed the difference. It was slow, but noticeable.”

Pawpaw (Asimina) is a genus of small clustered trees with large leaves and fruit, native to North America. Its edible fruits (sometimes referred to as “Indiana Bananas”) have been used for food for centuries. Recently, stem bark extracts have been shown to have potent antitumor effects in the laboratory. According to studies performed at Purdue University, “Extracts of paw paw are among the most potent of the 3,500 species of higher plants screened for bioactive compounds in our laboratories…[they have] powerful cytotoxicity, in vivo antitumor, pesticidal, antimalarial, anthelmintic, piscicidal, antiviral, and antimicrobial effects…encapsulated extract has been effectively used by certain cancer patients as a botanical supplement product.” To date there have been no published studies on the use of Pawpaw in mesothelioma.

Other long-term mesothelioma survivors like Rhio O’Connor and Paul Kraus have used various herbs as part of their healing regimen including Astragalus, Cat’s Claw, and Pawpaw.

Marie Augustine reminds fellow mesothelioma survivors that “I would like people to know there is hope. Just don’t give up.”

Sources:
Lake Cowichan Gazette, “Just how important is family?” by Doug Marner

McLaughlin JL. Paw paw and cancer

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

2009-04-13T17:40:00.000-07:00

Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer Symptoms

The most common symptom for pleural mesothelioma patients is chest pain.

The pain often is not directly related with the lung pleura and often appears in the shoulder or upper abdomen.

Shortness of breath, cough and weight loss is seen in some patients.

Finally, the rapid growth of the pleural mesothelioma cancer tumors enlarge the pleural space, causing it to fill with fluid.

This leads to discomfort or pain associated with first detection of the disease.

Pleural mesothelioma patients display all three types of mesothelioma cancer cells:

Epithelioid mesothelioma, sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Research

2009-04-13T10:50:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma Research

Their are many organizations that are involved mesothelioma research. This even includes some companies that are responsible for the use of asbestos that has caused mesothelioma cancer in their customers or employees.

Some people that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer now realize that they can claim compensation for being exposed to asbestos.

Some at fault companies now have a responsibility to help with mesothelioma cancer research.

The National Institute of Cancer is also researching mesothelioma, its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. There is a rising number of mesothelioma cancer patients so it is very important to learn more about developing treatments.

Most of mesothelioma cancer research goes into learning about the effects of asbestos on cells, and how the cells change from exposure. By learning how healthy cells and affected by asbestos, they can learn more about how this can be prevented.

The National Institute of Cancer have carried out clinical trials and mesothelioma research into the treatment of mesothelioma. The trials, which are performed with real patients who have mesothelioma cancer, can help to determine how effective the various treatments are and find more effective treatments.

Stages Of Mesothelioma

2009-04-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Stages Of Mesothelioma

How Is Malignant Mesothelioma Staged?

Stages Of Mesothelioma

Staging is the process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. Staging of mesothelioma cancer is based on results from x-rays, CT scans and MRI scans. The treatment and prognosis of mesothelioma patients depends on the stage it is on or the spread of the cancer. Peural mesothelioma is the only mesothelioma cancer with a staging system.

The common staging system used for mesothelioma cancer is called the Butchart System. This system is based on the extent of the primary tumor. It divides the mesothelioma cancer into stages one through four.

Stages Of Mesothelioma

One
Mesothelioma is present on one side of the chest only and isn’t growing into the chest wall.

Two
Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus, heart, or has grown into the pleura on the other side of the chest. The lymph nodes in the chest may also be affected.

Three
Mesothelioma has grown through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or has spread to the lymph nodes beyond the chest.

Four
Mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to other organs.

Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

2009-04-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer are both serious illnesses, but they are not the same.

Pleural mesothelioma – sometimes called “asbestos lung cancer” – is really not a form of lung cancer because it does not develop in the tissue of the lungs. Instead, it is a cancer of the lining that surrounds the lung (the “pleura”).

Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.

It is considered a “signature disease” for asbestos exposure, which means that, if you have mesothelioma, it can be assumed that you had exposure to asbestos at some point in your life.

Smoking does not cause mesothelioma unlike lung cancer.

Lung cancer can be caused by asbestos exposure; it can also be caused by smoking.

In fact, someone who smokes and was exposed to asbestos has a much higher risk of getting lung cancer.

See Mesothelioma Facts

Source mesotheliomanews.com

Risk Factors for Malignant Mesothelioma

2009-03-27T06:17:00.000-07:00

Risk Factors for Malignant Mesothelioma

Asbestos

The main risk factor for developing mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. In fact, most cases of mesothelioma have been linked to asbestos exposure in the workplace.

Asbestos refers to a family of fibrous minerals made of silicate. It is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in dust and rocks in certain parts of the United States and other parts of the world.

When chrysotile fibers in the air are inhaled, they tend to stick to mucus in the throat, trachea (windpipe), or bronchi (large breathing tubes of the lungs) and are then cleared by being coughed up or swallowed. But the long, thin amphibole fibers are less readily cleared, and they may reach the ends of the small airways and penetrate into the pleural lining of the lung and chest wall. These fibers may then injure mesothelial cells of the pleura, and eventually cause mesothelioma.

Asbestos fibers can also damage cells of the lung and result in asbestosis (formation of scar tissue in the lung) and/or lung cancer. Indeed, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer are the 3 most frequent causes of death and disease among people with heavy asbestos exposure.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, which forms in the abdomen, may result from coughing up and swallowing inhaled asbestos fibers.

Because of its heat and fire resistant properties, asbestos was once used in many products such as insulation, floor tiles, door gaskets, soundproofing, roofing, patching compounds, fireproof gloves, ironing board covers, and brake pads. The link between asbestos and mesothelioma has become well known, so its use in the United States has decreased dramatically. Most use stopped after 1989, but it is still used in some products.

Asbestos was also used in the insulation of many older homes, as well as commercial and public buildings around the country, including some schools. Because these particles are contained within the building materials, they are not likely to be found in the air in large numbers. The risk of exposure is thought to be much less hazardous unless the particles are somehow escaping into the air, such as when building materials begin to decompose over time, or during remodeling or removal.

The risk of developing mesothelioma is related to how much asbestos a person was exposed to and how long this exposure lasted. People exposed at an early age, for a long period of time, and at higher levels are more likely to develop this cancer. Mesotheliomas take a long time to develop. The time between first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis of mesothelioma is usually between 20 and 50 years. Unfortunately, the risk of mesothelioma does not drop with time after exposure to asbestos. The risk appears to be lifelong and undiminished.

Zeolites

Zeolites are silicate minerals that are chemically related to asbestos. An example is erionite, which is common in the soil in parts of Turkey. High mesothelioma rates in these areas are believed to be due to exposure to this mineral.

Radiation

There have been a few published reports of mesotheliomas that developed following exposure to high doses of radiation to the chest or abdomen or after injections of thorium dioxide (Thorotrast). This material was used by doctors for certain x-ray tests until the 1950s. Thorotrast was found to cause cancers, so it has not been used for many years.

SV40 virus

Some studies have raised the possibility that infection with simian virus 40 (SV40) might increase the risk of developing mesothelioma. Some injectable polio vaccines given between 1955 and 1963 were contaminated with SV40. As many as 30 million people in the United States may have been exposed to the virus.

Some lab studies have suggested that SV40 infection may cause mesothelioma. For example, intentional infection with SV40 of some lab animals, such as hamsters, causes mesotheliomas to develop. Researchers also have noticed that SV40 can cause mouse cells grown in dishes to become cancerous, and that asbestos increases the cancer-causing effect of SV40 on these cells. Other researchers have found SV40 DNA in some biopsy specimens of human mesotheliomas. But fragments of SV40 DNA can also be found in some non-cancerous human tissues.

So far, the largest studies addressing this issue in humans have not found an increased risk for mesothelioma or other cancers among people who received the contaminated vaccines as children. But the peak age range for diagnosis of mesothelioma is 50 to 70 years. Some researchers have pointed out that this issue may remain unresolved until more of the people accidentally exposed to SV40 between 1955 and 1963 reach that age range.

Types of Mesothelioma

2009-03-13T15:57:00.000-07:00

Types of Mesothelioma

There are five types of mesothelioma cancer. Four of these are malignant cancers, and one is a benign cancer.

Once asbestos is inhaled it can effect many of the bodys organs including the throat, lungs, stomach, heart and testicles.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma. Around seventy percent of cases being as pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane. Approximately twenty five percent of mesothelioma cancer is this type.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial Mesothelioma develops in the pericardium, the lining of the heart. About five percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial.

Testicular Mesothelioma

The rarest type of malignant mesothelioma. There have been less than 100 recorded cases. Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles.

Benign Mesothelioma

The benign form of mesothelioma most commonly develops in the pleura. This is the only form of mesothelioma for which full cure and recovery is a probable outcome.

Also see my post Benign Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Therapy

2009-03-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma Therapy - What Are the Options?

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the membranes surrounding the internal organs of humans. When not detected until it has progressed to a late stage, it is often difficult, if not impossible to control with therapy. Adding to the particular danger of this cancer is that the symptoms are very general and non-specific. Because of this, it is often not diagnosed early enough. Exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma, documented in nearly all cases.

Because of its aggressive spread, you should contact your doctor as soon as you begin to suspect mesothelioma, especially if you have been exposed to asbestos at some point. You can first expect a screening from your doctor, which can include a variety of tests like X-Rays or CT scans. If these preliminary tests show any sign of mesothelioma, you can expect a long series of additional tests to rule out any other diseases.

The only definitive test for mesothelioma is a moderately invasive procedure called a biopsy. If your previous screenings come back positive, a small sample of tissue will be removed from the affected area and examined by a specialist. There are many different types and techniques of biopsy at your doctor's disposal, and he/she will select the right one depending on where the cancerous growth is located. Depending on which stage your cancer has advanced to, your Mesothelioma therapy options may be many. Mesothelioma can be classified as being in one of four stages of development. The earlier Mesothelioma Therapy starts, the better chances of it working to its full potential.

Stage I is the earliest and very localized. If found at this stage, the prognosis can be quite good. Therapy options at this point can include surgical removal of the tumor, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Clinical trials may also be used on a limited basis to determine the usefulness of new cancer fighting compounds.

Stage II refers to mesothelioma that has spread to other areas near the tumor. Once the cancer begins to spread, the prognosis rapidly deteriorates, however with the right treatment and mindset, hope for recovery still remains. Many of the same therapies for stage I are used for Stage II. Quite often with an individual who has stage I or stage II mesothelioma, the doctor will employ several therapies in conjunction with one another. While very effective, this can leave the patient in a very weakened state, and thus is not recommended for more advanced stages.

Stage III indicates the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. At this point, techniques such as surgery are limited in their effectiveness, simply because of the volume of cancer in the patient. If surgery is elected during stage III or IV, it is usually to increase the quality of life for the patient. Radiation and chemotherapy can still be used at this stage as a mesothelioma therapy, however their ability to control the cancer is diminished significantly.

Stage IV is the most advanced type and is applied to cases where the cancer has spread to parts of the body far removed from the tumor. Usually, when stage IV is reached, the mesothelioma spreads to the brain and the prognosis is very low. Mesothelioma therapy options at this point are usually used to improve the patient's quality of life, although there have been cases where a patient has been responsive enough to treatment that remission is achieved.

The number one asset you have in beating this cancer has little to do with choosing your mesothelioma therapy, but is catching your disease early. More than the different techniques used to combat the cancer, the early discovery of mesothelioma can determine your prognosis and therapy.

By Ryan Gabriel