Mesothelioma Attorneys and Asbestosis Treatment Data

Mesothelioma attorneys

It is very important to work with specialized mesothelioma attorneys. They specialize in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits based on exposure of asbestos and other related asbestos lawsuit cases.

As defined by the National Cancer Institute, malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer.

Each year about 3000 people will suffer and die from asbestos exposure. It is important to diagnose and treat this disease promptly and correctly. Generally it takes 20 to 30 years to develop after the exposure in the past.

What is asbestos?

It's a toxin known since 1930's. It's a fibrous material, an inexpensive mineral fiber that is extremely durable and heat resistant.

Industry used it heavily (1920's-1970's )in many products in construccion throughout USA and other countries around the world.

Many products contain asbestos. These include boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, asbestos cement and cloth, asbestos fireproofing spray, asbestos ceiling and floor tiles, dry wall and taping compounds, seals and gaskets , mastics and roofing materials, and raw asbestos fibers, used for mixing with gun cements and other construction cement products.

These products were used in the construction of ships, power plants, refineries, high-rises, schools, military facilities, hospitals, and commercial and residential buildings.

Irresponsible industries continued using asbestos after it's cancer-causing properties were clearly discovered, exposing workers, their families and public in general at risk.

Today, after so many years, there are products containing asbestos in buildings, industrial facilities, ships, and other environments. These products continue to expose people to this very dangerous material.

EPA stated firmly that asbestos exposure can trigger mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. These diseases are almos exclusively caused by asbestos.

Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma cancer is without doubt the most serious of all the asbestos-related diseases. This kind of cancer is where the malignant cells are found (peritoneal mesothelioma) in the pleura or abdomen (peritoneum).

Practically all cases of malignant mesothelioma are caused by asbestos exposure.

There are good attorneys specializing in handling mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease lawsuits, for personal injury and wrongful death.

Their mission is to help victims to get the asbestosis and mesothelioma treatment they need.

Time is an important factor to treat this disease.

Early detection of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can dramatically the results of the mesothelioma treatment.

Call the National Cancer Institute (1-800-332-8615) for more information for the treatment of mesothelioma condition.

Mesothelioma victims and other asbestos-related diseases are entitled to recover damages from the asbestos manufacturing companies. Victims are often surprised to find out that financial compensation can be recovered from the asbestos industry.

These awards provide adecuate financial security for victims and their families.

Written by the team at Mesothelioma Best Resources

A site dedicated to Mesothelioma Resources

www.mesotheliomabest.com

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Mesothelioma Cancer - What to Tell Children

The amount of information you should give them depends on their age and how grown up they are. Being honest is one thing but giving them all the information at once may be too much. Try spreading it out a bit to ease the shock of the inevitable outcome.

Questions can be answered on a 'need to know basis' initially but as more hospital vists are undertaken and the patient is unwell at times then more detail needs to be offered. Getting the same question over and over again from young children can be difficult at times but it should be realised that this is a normal part of their development.

Teenagers may have a particularly hard time as they now have to cope with additional strong emotions and extra responsibilies, as well as the usual emotions which are part of their development into adults. They may need to turn to others outside the family if they find it difficult to talk to family members e.g.family friend, teacher or counsellor.

Grief raises its head everywhere and it is important to reasure children that it is not their fault that this illness has happened. It seems to be common amongst children that they feel they are to blame and these feelings could last for some time.

Additionally, they may need to be put right about what they have heard from friends and other people as it may not be correct.

Children need to be dealt with sensitively but honestly. But manage the communication of information according to age, maturity and circumstances.

This article may be reproduced in its entirety provided the resource paragraph below is included and all urls kept active.

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Mesothelioma Cancer and Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer which occurs in thin membranes (called the mesothelium) lining the chest, lungs, abdomen and sometimes the heart. Although quite rare, mesothelioma symptoms strike more than 200 people each year in the United States. The majority of mesothelioma cases are directly linked to asbestos exposure.

Because of the long latency period of mesothelioma, the average age of patients is between 50 and 70 years. Mesothelioma affects men most due to the high exposure of asbestos in industrial typed jobs. Mesothelioma symptoms include respiratory problems, shortness of breath, continual cough and pneumonia. Other mesothelioma symptoms include weight loss, abdominal problems and swelling. In some mesothelioma patients, the mesothelioma symptoms are quite muted, making it hard for mesothelioma doctors to diagnose.

Mesothelioma doctors specialize in the study, research, and treatments of Mesothelioma cancers.

Mesothelioma (or the cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells become abnormal and replicate without control. During Mesothelioma, these cells will invade and damage tissues and organs. Mesothelioma cancer cells can spread throughout the body causing death.

Mesothelioma treatments and Mesothelioma clinical trials and tests

There are many mesothelioma treatment options available. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy and the mesothelioma treatment depends on the patient's age, general health and stage of the cancer. There has been much mesothelioma research conducted throughout the past two years to find new treatment methods. Click here to read more about mesothelioma treatment techniques.

Through mesothelioma research, The National Cancer Institute has sponsored mesothelioma tests and clinical trials that are designed to find new treatment methods. Because of the increase in number of mesothelioma cases in the United States, both governments have increased funding for mesothelioma research. Mesothelioma research and clinical trials have been successful in developing new techniques to fight this cancer and the outlook for more advanced mesothelioma treatments is promising.

Surgery is the most common treatment method for malignant mesothelioma. Tissues and linings affected by mesothelioma are removed by the doctor and may include the lung or even diaphragm.

A second mesothelioma treatment method is radiation therapy through the use of high energy x-rays that kill the cancer cells. Radiation therapy can be outside or inside the body.

A third mesothelioma treatment method is chemotherapy. Through pills or drugs through needles, chemotherapy drugs are used to kill cancer cells.

A new mesothelioma treatment method is called intraoperative photodynamic therapy. In this treatment, light and drugs are used to kill cancer cells during surgery for early stages of mesothelioma in the chest. Although there are numerous treatments and drugs for mesothelioma, doctors are loosing the battle against this deadly disease. Most mesothelioma treatments involve old techniques combined with different drug cocktails. However, in most cases, these mesothelioma treatments have many side effects including organ damage, nausea, increase in heart failure etc. The rush to find a more effective mesothelioma treatment or even cure is ongoing at numerous clinical labs across the nation. Let's hope that the mesothelioma treatments will one day erradicate mesothelioma cancer and asbestosis.

With an abundance of information on the Internet, Mesothelioma Cancer and Asbestos (http://www.mesothelioma-cancer-and-asbestos.com) has consolidated the most important issues surrounding Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma doctors and symptoms, Mesothelioma treatment, Mesothelioma research and tests.

At http://www.mesothelioma-cancer-and-asbestos.com, the website contains useful resources on Mesothelioma lawyers and attorneys, as well as causes by asbestos exposure, asbestos removal, asbestos attorneys and lawsuits, and asbestos cancer. Patients stricken by Mesothelioma and their families require support and current information. Mesothelioma Online Resources hopes to educate and give hope to survivors and victims.

Mesothelioma is such a harsh disease. Not only does it take years for symptoms to appear, but there are limited treatements and drugs that will prolong the lives of workers stricken with mesothelioma. In many cases, the death rate of mesothelioma is unfortunately very high. However, with increased funding in mesothelioma research through the government and private grants, the outlook for a mesothelioma cure is quite possible. In the meantime, mesothelioma support groups and local discussions provide the ongoing support for mesothelioma patients.

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Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosed- Questions to ask

Following diagnosis, uppermost amongst a patient's thoughts will be these..."Am I going to die?", "Will I be in much pain?". As there is no cure for mesothelioma it is important that the patient is advised that with modern treatment they can, for months or years, live a normal life for most of the time. And that the modern drugs are very effective at keeping pain under control and relieving it.

Obviously the treatment aspect is extremely important and the patient and close relatives must ensure that they get the consultant and doctors to explain comprehensively how it is all going to work. It is advisable to compile a list of questions to put to the medical staff prior to any appointments or consultations and to get a relative or close friend to go along with the patient.

I would advise taking a look on the internet for information about the disease and printing out relevant bits. I did this when my father was diagnosed with stomach cancer. When I showed the consultant what I had been studying, I sensed a more open discussion and perhaps a few more technical details were covered that otherwise might not have been.

There is no harm in taking notes with you and you might even consider taping the discussion. These are potentially highly stressful and upsetting meetings which might mean that you don't remember all that was said. You'll want to know where and when the treatments will take place.

Include questions about possible side effects and the range and type of drugs they will be taking. And how the drugs will be taken, injection, by mouth, intravenous etc.

Difficulties arise when a question is asked about how long the patient has got to live. It is impossible for the doctor to predict the future exactly for an individual patient and they would be putting unecessary pressure on themselves if they did. This uncertainty is not good for the patient and vague answers never satisfy anyone. I would push the doctor for an educated guess based on his experience and the results he has at hand. This is only my opinion. I would want to know if I've got months (which could be two or three) or years (which could be 12 months).

Fears can often be worse than reality. That is why it is important to collate as much knowledge about the illness and disease as possible. Discussing this new knowledge with friends and relatives can help relieve the stress as the treatment progresses.

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Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosed: Dealing With Emotions

People deal with and react to having cancer in different ways. There really isn't a right or wrong way to behave or feel regarding this disease and it is easily forgotten that partners, family and friends will need support as well.

Initial response, not only from the patient, is often disbelief..."There must be a mistake! The test results must be wrong!", followed by questions on cures, care and 'anything that you can do for me' issues. Shock sets in.

Naturally the patient will be afraid and unsure about his future. Though they may not show these reactions outwardly, they almost certainly will be thinking about them. Don't assume that just because they appear 'brave' on the outside that they are 'taking it well'.

Some patients will find it easier to talk with family and friends about their future than others do. Doing this may help the patient themselves come to terms with the diagnosis. Conversely, there are those that find it difficult to talk about it to anyone. It that is the case then let them be. The patient has the right to be firm on the issue, in the short term anyway.

On the other side of the coin, friends and relatives may appear to be denying the diagnosis, changing the subject and playing down the patient's worries and anxiety during conversations. Perhaps its a coping mechanism for some people. Nevertheless, the patient should confront them about these responses; they may be hurtful and it isn't going to help the patient if he/she wishes to discuss the matter.

Anger will almost certainly show itself in one way or another. Often anger is aimed at those closest to the patient and the medical staff treating them. Patients shold not feel guilty about being angry and irritable. It is aimed at the illness and not others. It might be difficult, but the patient could explain this to them, or show them relevant leaflets.

If the patient believes that your mesothelioma was caused by an employer and exposure to asbestos, they may feel resentment towards them. They could contact and or join a group that has been set up to deal with such issues. The patient may feel some relief through this strategy and there may even be some legal claim to be instigated.

Some patients may want to be left alone for a period to 'sort themselves out' but friends and relatives may find this a difficult period as they naturally want to help. The patient could reassure them that they will discuss the issues when they are ready.

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Mesothelioma Cancer: Early Warning Signs and Causes

What is Mesothelioma?

Chances are you may never have heard of mesothelioma cancer unless you or a relative have the disease. Still considered as a rare cancer, it has been popularized by its linkage to asbestos.

Exactly what is mesothelioma cancer or malignant mesothelioma? Malignant mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the mesothelium, or lining of the lung and chest cavity. However, it sometimes can be a deadly cancer of the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). It is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, and is slow forming - often taking between 20-50 years to develop after exposure to asbestos.

Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma in the lung and chest cavity are as follows:

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Weight Loss
• Chest Pain

Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma in the abdomen are as follows:

• Abdominal swelling and pain
• Weight Loss

Wondering How You Could Have Gotten Mesothelioma Cancer?

Several diseases are associated with exposure to asbestos. They include: malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural effusion, pleural plaques and thickening, and lung cancer.

Prior to 1975 asbestos fibers were commonly used. You could have been exposed to asbestos while working at any number of different industries. Chief among the possibilities would be jobs at asbestos mining and milling plants, shipyards, fireproofing and heating, construction, automotive repair, insulation, pipefitting and boilermaking.

If you did not work in one of these industries or another that used asbestos, it is also possible that you could have been exposed if someone in your household worked with asbestos and carried asbestos fibers home on his or her clothing, hair or body. You may also have been exposed indirectly by living near asbestos mines.

Although it is true that most patients with malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases likely had prolonged exposure to asbestos over a long period of time, it is also possible for one to develop one of these diseases from a brief exposure to asbestos.

The odds of developing lung cancer from smoking also increases significantly from exposure to asbestos. Although most people with lung cancer are told that their lung cancer was caused from smoking, if you or someone you know has lung cancer and also worked in an environment that gave you exposure to asbestos, it is highly recommended that you contact an attorney that specializes in handling mesothelioma and lung cancer cases caused by exposure to asbestos. The justice system has been very generous in its rewards to people who suffer diseases caused by asbestos exposure.

To learn more about mesothelioma cancer I recommend you visit Mesothelioma Cancer Online when searching for web resources covering mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma-Cancer-Online.com is an excellent resource center that offers recommendations and directory listings for numerous websites related to mesothelioma cancer, along with articles and books about mesothelioma cancer.

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Mesothelioma in the UK

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the external lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lower digestive tract (peritoneum). The disease has been linked to exposure with asbestos dust. Cancer of this kind is uncommon and rarely is a result of anything other than asbestos exposure. It is also very difficult to diagnose. Tumors of the mesothelieum can be either benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most mesothelial tumors are malignant. However this disease is not very responsive to therapy.
Between a person's first exposure to asbestos and the onset of this disease can be anywhere from 15- 60 years. By the time symptoms first appear and the cancer is diagnosed, the disease is often in its advanced stage. The average survival time is one to two years. If found early enough almost half of the patients reach the two year mark and approximately twenty percent survive five years.
Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma include shortness of breath, abdominal pain, a persistent cough, fever, sweating, fatigue, weight loss, nausea, muscle weakness, pain in the lower back or side of the chest and sensory loss. Many people mistake the symptoms of this disease for other common everyday ailments and do not seek treatment.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published statistics regarding work related mesothelioma deaths in the UK, spanning the years 1981- 2000. The study was published in 2003. The statistics showed that the highest rates of mesothelioma deaths in men were in West Dumbartonshire, Barrow-in-Furness, Plymouth, Portsmouth and South Tyneside, which were areas that were involved in shipbuilding, thus the high incidence of asbestos.
Other areas, which were considered high risk, were areas that were situated close to, or contained railway engineering sites. These areas included Crewe, Eastleigh and Nantwich. Also high risk was Barking, Dagenham and Newham, which housed factories that made asbestos products.
The mortality rate for mesothelioma related deaths showed higher in men than in women. The average for women was approximately fifteen percent of the annual deaths due to this disease. The results for women were considered less reliable but showed the following: the areas with the greatest incidence of death for women included Barking and Dagenham (because of asbestos factories), Sunderland (manufacturing and shipbuilding) and Blackburn with Darwen (gas masks were manufactured in this region during the war).

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Screening for Mesothelioma

Doctor appointments are critical to make sure you're staying in proper health. However, exposure to asbestos presents an added urgency for routine appointments. Because asbestos related diseases take decades to form, early detection is critical for proper treatment. People who have jobs in industries like construction, shipbuilding and manufacturing are particularly susceptible of contracting these conditions.
Even the best doctors in the world mistake early symptoms of asbestos related diseases with lesser conditions. Detection of mesothelioma relies mostly on associating proper symptoms with proper diagnosis because it is so subtle. If you have had exposure to asbestos, then you should alert your doctor of your medical history so they know what tests to look for and what tests to use.
Usually, the first test run by a doctor will use a device called a thorascope. The procedure is called thorascopy and is done by creating a small incision in the chest, and taking a sample of lung tissue to see if it's cancerous or not. This procedure is performed at a hospital using local anesthesia and will cause a small amount of pain. There will also be a check for an excess amount of fluid which may be drained to ease the pressure and reduce pain.
If these tests are inconclusive, there will be more advanced test performed such as a Computed Axial Tomography (CAT) scan to give doctors a 3D X-ray of the tissues. This will allow the doctors to analyze the potentially damaged areas. Another option is an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging scan). An MRI will take cross-section pictures of internal structures to separate healthy tissues from malignant ones. These two scans will allow doctors to be able and see potential dangers long before the patient feels any symptoms.
Even with the best screening techniques available today mesothelioma often can escape diagnosis. The best thing to do is get screened early and consistently, especially if you had exposure to asbestos. Medical technology has breakthroughs every day and eventually a cure will be found. However, until then, the victims of mesothelioma should take action against those responsible. Contact a lawyer in your state today so you can receive compensation for your suffering.

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What Are The Risk Factors For Mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma cancer. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of 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 mesothelioma 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.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Who Is At Increased Risk For Developing Mesothelioma?

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma cancer was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

Can Mesothelioma Be Prevented?

Mesothelioma Help - The best way to prevent this disease is to avoid contact with asbestos in public buildings, homes, and at work. People who could be exposed to asbestos at work include miners, factory workers, railroad workers, insulation workers, ship builders, makers of gas masks, and construction workers.

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Who is at Increased Risk For Developing Mesothelioma?

Since the late 1800's Asbestos has been mined and used commercially. The use of Asbestos dramatically increased during World War II and since the early 1940's millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos dust working within industries where initally the risks were not known. There has been widespread exposure to Asbestos by workers within shipyards, mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople and an increase risk of deveolping mesothelioma has been the result. .

Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. By contrast, the British Government's Health and Safety executive (HSE) states formally that any threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold does exists at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practical purposes, therefore, HSE does not assume that any such threshold exists. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases. Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers.

To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

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.

There is no curative treatment. Close monitoring (routine X-rays or even pleural biopsy) for mesothelioma is mandated. Oxygen therapy at home is often necessary to relieve the shortness of breath. Supportive treatment of symptoms includes respiratory treatments to remove secretions from the lungs by postural drainage, chest percussion, and vibration. Aerosol medications to thin secretions may be prescribed.

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Your Mesothelioma Case

Your Mesothelioma case is important to you. You have been robbed of years of your life because of someone's negligence. The question is what are you going to do about it? Mesothelioma is a serious disease. Mesothelioma is caused from exposure to asbestos materials. Often times, Mesothelioma takes decades for this disease to come to the surface. When it is noticed, Mesothelioma is often in its last stages, beyond medical treatment. What does this mean to you, the injured? What does it mean for your family as well? Mesothelioma is also reason to look into litigation.

There are many websites out there that will tell you about Mesothelioma, its causes and its treatments. What about the suffering that it causes? What about the years it takes off someone's life? This is where Mesothelioma laws come into play. Every state has very stringent laws regarding asbestos material. Although it has been banned from use for many years, it is often found and people are exposed to it in older buildings. Most of the time it is not known to be there but, every state also has laws regarding proper care of asbestos material and precautions regarding its removal in order to prevent Mesothelioma. That is because of how serious a disease Mesothelioma is.

If you are one of the people who have been exposed to asbestos and are now dealing with Mesothelioma, you should know that you may have a lawsuit claim. Now, perhaps you feel it is no ones fault. Or, perhaps it was so long ago that you just don't want to dig it back up. The bottom line is this. If you were exposed to asbestos and it leads to Mesothelioma, you may have a case to help with your care, your family's care, and even your medical bills. Mesothelioma is quite serious and someone should have to help with all of this, right?

To begin your search for information on Mesothelioma laws in your state, you can look on websites like www.thesmartattorneys.com . You can also look to that site for more information on finding a Mesothelioma lawyers. Your Mesothelioma attorneys will help you decide if and when you should pursue a Mesothelioma case. Find out what the laws in your area are regarding Mesothelioma. Find out if you have a Mesothelioma case.

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Wittenoom Graveyard

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare disease. The tissue lining the abdomen is called the peritoneum. It helps to protect the contents of the abdomen. It also produces a lubricating fluid. This helps the organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen as we move around. Mesothelioma of the tissues lining the abdominal cavity in known as peritoneal mesothelioma.

A thin membrane of mesothellial cells, known as the peritoneum develops many of the organs in the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a tumor that is on this membrane. Its only known cause is exposure to asbestos, and it is not detected until the tumor has begun to grow. The large tumor mass that results late in the disease might resemble many different subtypes of mesothelioma pressed together in the peritoneal space of a single patient. However, some patients with primary peritoneal surface malignancy do show a wide divergence of histological types of peritoneal surface cancer. Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer accounts for about one-fifth of all mesothelioma cases.

Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be either benign or malignant. This discussion is only about malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Histologically, four types of malignant mesotheliomas are recognized: epithelial, sarcomatous, mixed and poorly differentiated. 75% of peritoneal mesotheliomas are of the epithelial form in which the mesothelial cells are arranged in tubulopapillary or trabecular formations.

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.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms

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

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment

There are some treatment methods in use, but there is no known cure for peritoneal mesothelioma. The prognosis depends on various factors including the size and stage of the tumor, its extent, the cell type, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment. However, the peritoneal mesothelioma treatment has been improved as the time goes by. The peritoneal mesothelioma treatment includes; chemotherapy and other drug-based therapies, radiation therapy, and surgery.

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Mesothelioma - The Largest Man Made Epidemic

It is documented that Australia had the highest per capita use of asbestos in the world from the 1950's until the 1970's. As a tragic consequence, Australia now has the highest per capita incidence of mesothelioma in the world. With more than 500 Australians contracting mesothelioma per year, it is estimated that up to 18,000 Australians will die from this asbestos related cancer by the year 2020.

Despite the growing awareness of the dangers of asbestos, there are many people who have not heard of Mesothelioma. This asbestos related cancer is defined as: a malignant spreading tumor of the mesothelium of the pleura, pericardium, or peritoneum, arising form the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

One of the most baffling and frightening known facts concerning Mesothelioma is that many years may pass, between inhalation of asbestos dust and its deadly legacy of disease; it is not uncommon for four decades or more to pass before symptoms due to asbestos dust inhalation become apparent.

In November 2004, I was an invited speaker at the Global Asbestos Congress 2004, held in Tokyo Japan. Over 800 participants from 40 countries around the world were in attendance. To be a part of such a large gathering of fellow humans, united in a quest to rid the poison of asbestos from our environments was an intensely moving experience. Having lost my husband to mesothelioma I know first hand the suffering this cruel disease places on its innocent victims.

There were many speakers and each told a tale, of pain, death and heartache. We listened, we understood and we ached for the past, present and future victims of the killer asbestos and its legacy of mesothelioma and other asbestos related diseases. We listened and we were shocked and angered to learn that despite the growing awareness of the dangers of asbestos and the increasing incidence of asbestos related disease, there remains some countries who are mining asbestos with little or no regard for their workers or people who will come into contact with asbestos products.

Asbestos disease Association member's world wide are working tirelessly and fighting almost insurmountable odds to ban asbestos from all countries of the world. It is a sobering and frightening fact, that even if we were successful today in this quest, the legacy of asbestos related diseases will continue for five decades.

Add your voice to the many who want this killer product erased from the worlds environments - Add your voice to the call that pleads for adequate compensation for victims and their families. Sign the online petition at Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization:

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) continues to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and the incurable and often deadly asbestos related diseases. ADAO is quickly expanding and uniting veterans, fire-fighters, shipbuilders, teachers and thousands of other innocent people around the world. Asbestos Awareness leads to education, prevention, new treatments and ultimately a cure.

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Mesothelioma - Cancer that Strikes 40 Years Later

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.

In his article called

Knee Deep in Asbestos, freelance writer Phil Jones relates how when he was a teenager he worked for a brief time in an asbestos mine in the Yukon. One of the features of daily life

was the constant presence of asbestos dust in the air. As Jones writes,

There were employees that worked in the mill whose sole job was to sweep up the dust that fell on the floor. There was so much of it that this was a constant ongoing job. The asbestos dust in the mill actually fell almost like snow and covered the floor completely. Without sweepers there would probably have been several

inches of asbestos dust on the floor within an hour or so. In fact, I remember seeing sweepers go by pushing their wide brooms and the new dust settling onto the floor behind them as they walked.

This story illustrates a number of the more sinister aspects of the whole mesothelioma story.

First, over the course of many decades, countless workers were placed in work environments where they were exposed to high levels of asbestos fibre with little protection. Their exposure to asbestos fibres was constant and often took place over a very long period of time - in most cases, over many years.

Second, the owners and managers of these work places were often either unaware of the risk of mesothelioma, or they actively attempted to hide or cover up those risks.

Third, since the effects of exposure to asbestos fibre often do not become apparent for 30 or 40 years after prolonged exposure, there often appeared to be no immediate health risk in these work environments. This made it very difficult

for workers or their representatives to make a convincing case that worker health was being sacrificed on the altar of corporate profit.

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Mesothelioma - an Asbestos Related Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer located in the lining of either the lungs, abdomen or the heart. These linings are thin layers of tissue covering the organ.
The pleura is the tissue covering the lungs and the wall of the chest cavity which cushions and protects the lungs. The peritoneum lines the abdominal wall and surrounds most of the organs in the abdomen. The pericardium is the tissue surrounding the heart.
Mesothelioma is a rare but very serious cancer. There are three types of mesothelioma based on the types of cancerous cells. The most common type is epithelioid and consists of 50-70% of total cases and has the best prognosis. The second type is called sarcomatoid, consists of 10-20 % of mesothelioma cases and is more unpredictable in nature. The third type of mesothelioma is called biphasic, it is a combination of the other two types and consists of 20-35% of all cases.
There are an estimated 2000-3000 new cases of mesothelioma in the United States every year. The majority of these cases begin in the chest wall (pleural mesothelioma), a few start in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) and very rare are the cases starting in the lining surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).
The pleura is a thin lining of mesothelial cells. There are two pleuras in the chest, the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura. The parietal pleura lines the chest wall including the inside of the ribs, diaphragm and pericardium. The visceral pleura covers the lungs and filters fluid to and from the chest. If the pleura becomes diseases it is not effective at eliminating fluid from the chest resulting in pleural effusion or too much fluid in the chest.
Mesothelioma is usually the result of exposure to asbestos. Most people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have had jobs where they breathed asbestos fibers. It may take up to 60 years from the time of asbestos exposure until mesothelioma develops.
Although rare, mesothelioma is a serious form of cancer which is often in its advanced stage when a diagnosis is made. In general, prognosis for mesothelioma patient is poor, however, some patients live with the disease for a long time. As mentioned earlier, the type of mesothelioma has an impact on the prognosis, as well as, the age of the patient, how much tumor has developed and if treatment is rendered. There are many variables in evaluating a mesothelioma case, so only the patients doctor can determine the best treatment and possible prognosis on an individual basis.

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Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura) or abdomen (the peritoneum). Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos.
A doctor should be seen if a person has shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen. If there are symptoms, the doctor may order an x-ray of the chest or abdomen.
The doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope. A cut will be made through the chest wall and the thoracoscope will be put into the chest between two ribs. This test, called thoracoscopy, is usually done in the hospital. Before the test, the patient will be given a local anesthetic (a drug that causes a loss of feeling for a short period of time). Some pressure may be felt, but usually there is no pain.
The doctor may also look inside the abdomen (peritoneoscopy) with a special tool called a peritoneoscope. The peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen. This test is also usually done in the hospital. Before the test is done, a local anesthetic will be given.
If tissue that is not normal is found, the doctor will need to cut out a small piece and have it looked at under a microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This is called a biopsy. Biopsies are usually done during the thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy.
The chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient's age.
Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment
There are treatments for all patients with malignant mesothelioma. Three kinds of treatment are used:
Surgery (taking out the cancer)
Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)
Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
Surgery is a common treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, a lung also may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy) or from putting materials that produce radiation (radioisotopes) through thin plastic tubes in the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
If fluid has collected in the chest or abdomen, the doctor may drain the fluid out of the body by putting a needle into the chest or abdomen and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. If fluid is removed from the chest, this is called thoracentesis. If fluid is removed from the abdomen, this is called paracentesis. The doctor may also put drugs through a tube into the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be put directly into the chest (intrapleural chemotherapy).
Intraoperative photodynamic therapy is a new type of treatment that uses special drugs and light to kill cancer cells during surgery. A drug that makes cancer cells more sensitive to light is injected into a vein several days before surgery. During surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, a special light is used to shine on the pleura. This treatment is being studied for early stages of mesothelioma in the chest.
Recurrent Malignant Mesothelioma
Treatment depends on many factors, including where the cancer came back and what treatment the patient received before. Mesothelioma Clinical trials are testing new treatments.

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Steps to Protect Against Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Lewis and Sholnick have announced the publication of some simple precautionary steps can be taken to avoid high risk situations in regards to asbestos and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It refers specifically to a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs or abdomen. Despite being classified under the rather broad category of cancer, however, Mesothelioma is unique for a number of reasons.

First is the immense devastation of the disease, and the inability for modern medical techniques to significantly slow its onset or offer a cure. Approximately 75% of patients die within 18 months of the first signs of the disease.

Second, is the long latency period between exposure to the cause of the disease, asbestos, and its onset. Latency runs the gamut from 15 to 50 years, meaning that a person may have been exposed to asbestos more than a half century before the first serious signs of the disease manifest themselves. The average reported latency, however, is approximately 35-40 years.

Precautionary Steps

Because of the devastating nature of the disease and because we are able to point to a single root source, asbestos exposure, there is significant reason for all individuals to take necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the disease. While certainly no steps taken can fully eliminate all risk of asbestos exposure, some simple precautionary steps can be taken to avoid high risk situations.

For instance, a responsible parent should contact their childrenís local school district. In 1986 Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which required public and private nonprofit schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing materials. Despite this, an untold number of schools either have not taken the necessary steps to eliminate the potential for asbestos exposure or the work has been done shoddily.

In fact, just two years ago a New York school district was found to have high levels of asbestos despite having had a contractor "remove" the threat a mere five years before.

Upon further investigation, however, the contractor used had already been cited numerous times for doing work not up to code in similar asbestos removal projects.

Consequently, concerned parents should first contact their childrenís school district to receive a copy of documentation stating that indeed, proper steps were taken to remove asbestos from the building. Then, parents should do a bit of their own research via the internet and the Better Business Bureau to ensure that the contractor hired has a stellar record.

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Is Replacing the Lungs the Answer to Lung Cancer?

Late stage lung cancers are some of the hardest to treat, but in the future scientists maybe able to grow human lungs and simply remove and replace the damaged lung. So far it appears that major steps have been made to make this feasible for lung transplants. In the United Kingdom a specialized team of researchers at the Imperial College London used embryonic stem cells and had them grow into cells found in the lungs of adults. Lung cells, which allow oxygen to cross into the blood stream where made. Although this maybe a decade or so away, it is possible to make this procedure a simple process. It is also theoretically possible to make these tissues from other types of adult stem cells, which avoids the political stem cell debates, which have been a firestorm of controversy, between religious doctrines and modern bio scientists. Currently it is hard for a lung cancer victim to get a transplant, which is a close enough match for a viable risk of rejection, but this could change all that some day.

Master cells or stem cells can be coaxed into becoming any number of types of cells you want them to be with proper directions. It is also fair to say that this research could lead to repairing damaged sections of the lungs after cancer treatment and restore the lungs to full capacity. There is obviously significant work to be done, but this of course is a major step indeed. Modern Medicine is moving along extremely fast and we are solving many of the problems we face in beating cancer. For now we must all live strong and soon the human race will no longer have to worry about cancer. Think on this.

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How to Treat Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure

There are many forms of treatment for Mesothelioma. Their effectiveness is on a cases by case basis. Here are five possible treatments that have been used:
1) Surgery - this is where the cancerous tissue is cut out. In extreme
cases where the cancer has spread to the lungs, a lung may be removed.
2) Gene therapy (still in clinical trials) - this is where a "suicide gene" is
inserted into the cancer making those cells susceptible to drugs that can be used to
kill the malignant cells, leaving the healthy ones behind.
3) Radiation Therapy - high energy x-rays are directed at the cancer cells
to kill these cells and/or shrink the tumors.
4) Chemotherapy - drugs are placed directly into the bloodstream
through pills or injection. In Mesothelioma cases these drugs can be injected into
the chest cavity.
5) Intraoperative Photodynamic therapy - uses drugs and light therapy is
used during surgery.The patient is injected with drugs 3 days before surgery. These
drugs make them sensetive to light. A special light is shined on the cancer cells
during surgery.
Speak to your doctor about the risks involved with each procedure and which would
be appropriate for your individual case.

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How to Tell if You Have Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma - Symptoms and Solutions
Symptoms of Mesothelioma can be latent in the body for years. And even
when the symptoms do become evident, the symptoms are so general that they can
easily be misdiagnosed. The symptoms of this disease can even be confused with
pneumonia during its early stages, making it difficult to diagnose. It is therefore
important for patients to inform their doctor if they have been exposed to asbestos
at any point
Types of Mesothelioma:
Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma are common forms of
Mesothelioma. The rarest form of this disease is pericardial mesothelioma
What are some of the symptoms?
Shortness of breath and chest pains are common. This may be accompanied by a
persistent cough. Those with Pleural Mesothelioma may also experience severe
breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever as well as trouble swallowing and even
swelling of the face and neck. Some patients may also develop a rasping voice and
start coughing up blood. However, there are other patients that may not show any
significant symptoms at all.
Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma can display abdominal pain and swelling,
nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting. They can also suffer breathing problems, and
chest pain.
Pericardial mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath,
persistent coughing and palpitations.
What causes this?
With Pleural Mesothelioma the build up of fluid between the lining of the lung and
the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion. This type of the disease starts in
the chest cavity and can then spread to other parts of the body.
In patients with peritoneal mesothelioma the disease starts in the abdomen and can
spread from there. These symptoms result from tumours that lean against the
abdominal wall. Bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever and problems with blood clotting
may also affect peritoneal mesothelioma patients.
Pericardial Mesothelioma, starts in the cavity surrounding the heart. With pericardial
mesothelioma, the tumours grow in the tissues that surround the heart and can
spread from there.

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