Australian Workers Report of Mesothelioma - Law

As many as 900 Australians a year may be at risk for death due to mesothelioma cancer because of the rapidly rising number of mesothelioma diagnosis.

The Australian workforce once relied heavily on jobs from asbestos-related processing and construction companies and now is finding that they are becoming victims of their one-time employment.

Mesothelioma Death Rates

A professor for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used World Health Organization (WHO) figures and found that the UK and Australia both currently lead in the number of mesothelioma-related deaths worldwide.

Professor Julian Peto, head of the Cancer Research UK Epidemiology and Genetics Group, speculated that the death rate from asbestos-related diseases will only increase, especially among men who are currently 40 years of age, and who will become nearly 100 times more likely to die by the time they reach 80 years of age.

Peto also speculated that since the 1980s, there have been approximately 10,000 cases of mesothelioma reported in Australia alone. He also concluded that within the next 40 years, more than 25,000 Australians could die from asbestosis.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Diagnosis

At its peak, in the 1970s, nearly 10,000 tonnes (equivalent to more than 22 million pounds) of brown asbestos was being imported into Australia for use in the construction industry, largely affecting construction workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and shipyard workers.

According to Peto, who presented his findings at a public lecture at the University of Melbourne in April 2008, nearly 500 Australian men and 100 Australian women are diagnosed each year with asbestos-related conditions including mesothelioma cancer.

What is Asbestos and How Does it Cause Mesothelioma?

Vermiculite is a mineral for which asbestos comes from. There are several types of asbestos found throughout the world, and the use of asbestos was wide spread during the 20th century worldwide, as it was a heat-resistant product that was inexpensively produced, offering the construction industry a cheaply made and easily mass produced product.

In Australia, not only was asbestos mined, but it was imported as well. Over the years, any exposure to asbestos may have infected an individual with mesothelioma cancer.

Inhaling asbestos dust may cause mesothelioma cancer, an aggressive form of lung cancer. It is often misdiagnosed and even when symptoms are present, it can be difficult to diagnose.

Often termed "a silent killer" because it remains dormant for years, showing no signs or symptoms in victims. Mesothelioma can be a dormant condition, not revealing symptoms for decades in an individual.

Types of Asbestos

There are six types of asbestos commonly found including, chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), crocidolite (blue), tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Blue, brown and white were the most commonly used types of asbestos. Chrysotile is considered a more flexible form of asbestos and its use was implemented into a range of products including cement roofing sheets for buildings, brake linings, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and even for fire protection within fuses. In the United States, chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos found and a large contributor for mesothelioma there.

Both the brown and blue, amosite and crocidolite asbestos, had been banned in Australia in the 1980s. Crocidolite is also predominately found in Australia and Africa.

Regulations for brown and blue asbestos didn't occur until the 1980s.

Australian Mesothelioma Treatment Facilities Increase

Due to the high rate of asbestosis cases reported in Australia, with no relief in site, many medical facilities and mesothelioma research centers are setting up headquarters there.

For example, the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia and the Queensland Asbestos Related Disease Support Society are two groups working to offer mesothelioma victims support and information regarding their condition as well as funding for the research of mesothelioma treatments.

While mesothelioma treatment research continues there are no known cures for asbestos-related illnesses. Individuals are advised to speak with an experienced mesothelioma law firm to learn more about developing mesothelioma litigation.

Because of the preventable nature of mesothelioma and the high costs associated with managing the disease, developing a mesothelioma lawsuit may provide monetary compensation as a potential outcome for victims seeking relief.

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Mesothelioma Lawyers or Attorney and Mesothelioma Research - Health

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer contracted by the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers. The fibers in asbestos cause tumors in the lung and/or abdominal lining which, like any other form of cancer, is ultimately fatal unless treated properly. The common causes of death are internal bleeding or hemorrhage from the tumors, or cardiac arrest from the buildup of bodily fluids secreted by the body's immune system in an attempt to combat the tumors.

A majority of those people who contract mesothelioma are in their middle to late years in life, since the symptoms manifest only after 20 to 50 years after exposure. For this reason, the number of cases of diagnosed mesothelioma patients has been steadily growing, due to the fact that asbestos was mainly in use for most industrial work during the 1970s and 1980s.

To help the afflicted victims of asbestos induced cancer, certain law firms and lawyers have begun to specialize in cases of mesothelioma. More often than not, companies in the past were aware of the adverse effects of asbestos fibers on the human body, yet failed to take proper precaution with their workers.

In cases like these, the injured patients are assisted by the lawyers or firms in finding out exactly (or approximately) when and from which source they contracted mesothelioma. A properly presented and defended case can bring in millions of dollars by way of compensation for the injured parties.

Aside from work related cases, there have also been cases where careless demolition of houses and buildings which had asbestos in the foundations and walls (in an attempt at fireproofing) were also revealed to introduce large quantities of airborne asbestos fibers which causes nearby residents mesothelioma. Again, these cases can be traced by these law firms and won in a court of law with proper presentation.

Then there are also law firms which specialize in malpractise suits against doctors which used "alternative" (meaning unproven) methods of treatment for mesothelioma. The common accepted method of treating mesothelioma is to use heat/laser surgery and chemotherapy in tandem to burn out the tumors without damaging the healthy body cells. The alternative methods include medicines to boost the body's immune and regenerative systems as well as alternative diets and exercise.

Classic tumor removal surgery for cancer is actually ineffective against mesothelioma, and has led to patents dying after an apparently successful operation. The maximum life span after an operation is set at around 5 years. Again, conducting regular surgery to treat mesothelioma can also lead to a malpractise suit.

Another type of law suit that mesothelioma law firms and lawyers can pursue is negligence. While not as severe as a malpractise suit, it can still be damaging to a doctor's career and can bring in a fairly decent amount in compensation if the case is won.

The reason for this type of case is that mesothelioma symptoms are actually quite similar in nature to any number of relatively harmless disorders, including common old age maladies, asthma, and indigestion. When these regular treatments fail, a good doctor should recommend an x ray, and these will reveal the presence of tumors in the lungs or stomach. Some doctors, however, will simply write off the current treatments as ineffective and prescribe another set of medicines instead of choosing an x ray, and this leads to the true problem being undiagnosed.

These are some of the major common cases handled by mesothelioma lawyers and law firms, and their credo is to help their clients find justice against the parties which have wronged them. While they cannot directly do anything to cure the mesothelioma, they can at least see to it that justice is served and compensation for the injury is recovered, and the money gained from the law suits can go a long way towards helping their clients get proper treatment.

Lastly, it is advised by mesothelioma lawyers that as soon as a person is diagnosed with it they contact a lawyer as soon as possible, since there is a short statute of limitations for filing a case of mesothelioma. The lawyers can then proceed to do their initial research to determine if the injured party has a solid case and enough evidence to make a successful claim in a court of law. If the answer is yes, then a case can be filed and everything proceeds from there.

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Mesothelioma Research And Treatment - Health

Mesothelioma is a life threatening asbestos related disease. Unfortunately, it is still very difficult to recognize and diagnose this disease in its early stages. Consequently, it's pretty much impossible to effectively treat mesothelioma at this point in time.

What is known is that most, if not all of the people who have mesothelioma contracted the disease after being exposed to asbestos. It's also known that it often takes between ten and forty years from the time of exposure until the symptoms become apparent.

In an effort to will learn how to prevent or minimize the potentially life-threatening effects of asbestos exposure, a growing number of scientists and technicians are researching the effects asbestos has on cells within the human body. They are also trying to discern how cells change when they are exposed to asbestos.

If, during their research, they discover a treatment that they believe has some value then, clinical trials may be carried out. Institutes such as the National Institute of Cancer, for example, have carried out numerous clinical trials involving patients who were diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma research can be very costly and is often sponsored by research groups, drug companies, and the US government.

A number of new approaches to treating mesothelioma are currently being researched. These include intensity modulated radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and photodynamic therapy.

Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

This type of radiation treatment only targets the tumor or the area in the body that is affected.

This type of radiation treatment focuses on avoiding contact with the neighboring healthy tissues and cells.

Immunotherapy

This treatment uses the body's own defense system to fight abnormal cells by enhancing and developing the person's immune system.

Photodynamic Therapy

This type of therapy activates photosensitive drugs that have been introduced into abnormal cells via the use of fixed frequency light. The concept is once activated the drugs will kill the tumors.

It's important to keep in mind that when trials are performed there are no guarantees that they will yield successful results. Usually considerably more research and work will have to be done in order to gain conclusive evidence. When that happens effective modes of treatment will have to be formulated.

Nonetheless, a considerable number of new trials are currently being carried out. It is hoped that discovering a treatment that can effectively prolong the lives of mesothelioma victims and/or eradicate the disease will be found in the foreseeable future.

Growing numbers of people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have discovered that they can seek compensation from the companies responsible for their disease. They have found that in more cases than not, the companies that they worked for knowingly put them into the hazardous situations that caused their disease.

Consequently, many mesothelioma victims have hired a mesothelioma lawyer to represent them in their legal battles with these companies.

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The Asbestos Claim and Mesothelioma Lawyers - Finance - PersonalFinance

An asbestos attorney for mesothelioma has the job of ensuring that the victim of the disease is treated fairly by the legal system, to ensure the remuneration of the company in charge of the exhibition. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers. It was not until mid-1960 that the connection has been brought to the attention of employees who had been exposed. Meanwhile, many people were already seriously ill. Manufacturers have known about the dangers long before then, but kept the information for themselves. Under current law asbestos, employers are required to provide adequate respiratory protection and protective clothing, hygiene facilities adequate training on how to work safely with asbestos, and systematic health examinations. Any employee that has not been given to these protections and are victims of mesothelioma due to compensation to an attorney.

When hiring a lawyer of this concern, proceed with caution. Find a company with experience in this type of litigation, and get all the information you can in advance before signing a contract. Knowing what was agreed, what the options are, and what the total cost will be. Ensure that all provisions agreed to in writing. Oral contracts not prevail in court if a dispute later. Ask someone who has used asbestos cancer mesothelioma lawyer, ask for a reference. Personal references are always good, but in the absence of this, call the local Bar Association and ask questions about the firm or the practitioner will only be considered for hire. It will inform the caller or not have a good reputation and if they have complaints against them.

Cancer Mesothelioma is a rare that affects the lungs or peritoneal areas. The first Asbestosis symptoms are so vague that diagnosis is not made until the disease is in its final phase. Life expectancy is the victim of one to five years, even with treatment. With this kind of contradiction is not surprising that victims seek help from a mesothelioma asbestos attorney to prosecute those responsible for informing them of the risks and protect themselves from exposure.

It is the client's lawyer to you all necessary information on their exposure, so that it can fairly present the matter to court. The laws are there to protect workers in industries where exposure is a danger, and to break these laws is a crime. But if the information is presented to prove its case is insufficient, counsel for the asbestos mesothelioma still lose the case. Collaboration between client and asbestos lawyer is critical to success. The victim of at least one can expect is for his family to take care of her death. Her own life may be too short to enjoy all forms of compensation that is made from a trial, but a spouse and children can survive without his paycheck.

The certainty of a negative outlook adds to the burden of asbestos lawyer mesothelioma symptoms as well. He has little time for this case to court, and if there are too many postponements and delays, the customer may not be there when the case is ready to proceed. In case the client is part of a class action against one of the leading manufacturers of asbestos important, will not be as important if you are there or not. In this case, the family will apply to your part of the solution.

There is no guarantee, of course, because the outcome of a trial. However, a lawyer for mesothelioma asbestos will probably succeed in a good kind of settlement for his client (the manufacturer of this product will not stand trial, so they are often willing to settle outside of court generous amount). It is possible that could change if no other cause of this cancer never been proven, but now there are no other known cause of the disease. This puts the burden on manufacturers. OSHA enforces the law that defines the permissible asbestos exposure levels for asbestos in the workplace. Employers are also required to conduct frequent exposure monitoring and create regulated work areas. When you take a case to court, a lawyer for mesothelioma asbestos to make the company shows that it followed the laws.

"Everyone is subject to the higher authorities do not have power but of God. The powers that be are ordained of God "(Romans 13, 1) asbestos manufacturers today follow the laws and judicial proceedings require the services of asbestos mesothelioma lawyer are not. A safer working environment has been the purpose of mesothelioma lawyer asbestos and to obtain redress for victims. It seems that the goal could be reached.

Apply for Mesothelioma Lawyers at :- /private_solicitors/asbestosis_claims.htm

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Mesothelioma Lawyer Can be Banked Upon - Law - Personal Injury

With the cognizance of the disease the number of victims has raised, the companies that were tentative about controlling asbestos in the workplace have faced proceedings from victims represented by law firms and their Mesothelioma lawyer specializing in bringing Mesothelioma cases to court. The workers who developed Mesothelioma after continuous acquaintance to asbestos began filing lawsuits against companies that carelessly exposed employees to asbestos fibers. The mesothelioma cases filed by workers have helped prove that many company knowingly put their employees at risk of asbestos exposure. If you are a victim of disclosure to asbestos and have been detected with any type of mesothelioma, it is essential that you find a skilled mesothelioma lawyer to handle you mesothelioma lawsuit. You need to have a right treatment as soon as possible and the right asbestos lawyer or mesothelioma lawyer to struggle for economic help.

Once the symptoms of this disease are deceptive, a formal diagnosis is needed to help bring forth litigation. If you have come in close contact with asbestos, it is imperative that you watch out for any symptoms. The initial signs embrace blood in the sputum, fatigue (feeling tired), chest wall pain, feeling breathless, wheezing and coughing. If you get these signs and you have worked with or had dealings with asbestos, it is important that you get checked out. It is necessary to be certain that your Doctor is informed of your asbestos matters. Increased numbers are now filing claim cases for compensation. This is predicted to increase further as diagnosis is feared yet to peak. The injustice is that people who have got inflicted with mesothelioma have got this by just innocently earning a living. A verdict from the high court will soon be made to determine compensation for the mesothelioma victims. It is thought that this sentence will look kindly upon people with this di sease and the reward will go directly to the sufferers. It looks like the struggle for victims might get easier with the help of mesothelioma lawyer.

Mesothelioma dealing used either to remove the tumor or to assuage pain and suffering. If the cancer is relatively contained, surgery can be used to eradicate part of the lining of the chest or abdomen. The idea is to confiscate the cancer cells from the body by eliminating the tissues with large numbers of cancer cells. Chemotherapy treatment is inclusive of using drugs to treat the cancer. The drugs can be absorbed in pill form or can be injected by a needle into a vein or muscle. Most of the medicines used in the treatment of lung cancer either unswervingly kill cancer cells or stop them from separating into new cells. The drug enters the circulation and mingles throughout the body to reach and rescind the cancer cells. Chemotherapy aims at the entire body and can kill normal cells as well as the contaminated cells, causing severe side effects. Well, the Mesothelioma lawyer should always be completely informed about these medical matters to handle the case effectively.

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Mesothelioma Risk Modifiers And Gene Expression.

Each year over 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed. Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that results from inhaling asbestos dust and particles. There has been some groundbreaking research done regarding risk modifiers and their relationship to mesothelioma. One study on this topic is called, Inherited GSTM1 and NAT2 Defects as Concurrent Risk Modifiers in Asbestos-related Human Malignant Mesothelioma by Ari Hirvonen, Katarina Pelin, Lauri Tammilehto, Antti Karjalainen, Karin Mattson and Kaija Linnainmaa - Departments of Industria Hygiene and Toxicology [A. H., K. P., K. L.], Epidemiology and Biostatistics [L. T.], and Uusimaa Regional Institute [A. K.], Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, FIN-00250 Helsinki, Finland, and Department of Internal Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, FIN-00290 Helsinki, Finland [K. M.] Published in Cancer Research 55, 2981-2983, July 15, 1995. Here is an excerpt:

Besides asbestos exposure, the factors that determine susceptibility to malignant mesothelioma are unknown. We evaluated the risk of GSTM1 null genotype and slow acetylation-associated NAT2 genotype for malignant mesothelioma in relation to asbestos exposure. Both the GSTM1 null genotype and the NAT2 slow acetylator genotype placed individuals at about 2-fold increased risk of developing malignant mesothelioma [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03.5 and OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.14.1, for the GSTM1 and NAT2 genes, respectively]. When the patients were divided into low/moderate and high exposure groups according to their asbestos exposure histories, the effect of the at-risk genotypes was mostly attributable to the high exposure groups (OR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.05.6 and OR = 3.7, 95% CI = 1.310.2, for the GSTM1 and NAT2 genes, respectively). The individuals with combined GSTM1 and NAT2 defects had about a 4-fold risk of developing malignant mesot helioma compared to those with the GSTM1 gene and NAT2 fast acetylator genotype (OR = 3.6; 95% CI = 1.39.6). Moreover, the risk among subjects highly exposed to asbestos with the double at-risk genotype was more than 7-fold greater compared to those with the more beneficial genotypes of both GSTM1 and NAT2 genes (OR = 7.4; 95% CI = 1.634.0).

Another interesting study is called, Asbestos induces nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) DNA-binding activity and NF-kappa B-dependent gene expression in tracheal epithelial cells by Y M Janssen, A Barchowsky, M Treadwell, K E Driscoll, and B T Mossman. Here is an excerpt: Abstract - Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) is a transcription factor regulating expression of genes intrinsic to inflammation and cell proliferation--features of asbestos-associated diseases. In studies here, crocidolite asbestos caused protracted and dose-responsive increases in proteins binding to nuclear NF-kappa B-binding DNA elements in hamster tracheal epithelial (HTE) cells. This binding was modulated by cellular glutathione levels. Antibodies recognizing p65 and p50 protein members of the NF-kappa B family revealed these proteins in two of the DNA complexes. Transient transfection assays with a construct containing six NF-kappa B-binding DNA consensus sites linked to a lucifera se reporter gene indicated that asbestos induced transcriptional activation of NF-kappa B-dependent genes, an observation that was confirmed by northern blot analyses for c-myc mRNA levels in HTE cells. Studies suggest that NF-kappa B induction by asbestos is a key event in regulation of multiple genes involved in the pathogenesis of asbestos-related lung cancers.

If you found either of these excerpts helpful, please read the studies in their entirety.

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Cigarette Smoke And The Effect of Asbestos Fibers in The Lungs

According to the American Society, there are between 2,000 and 3,000 people diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States. There are four types of mesothelioma, depending on which are part of the body is affected. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdomen, mesothelioma of the tunica affects the testes, and pleural mesothelioma affects the lungs. One factor that can make matters worse is cigarette smoke.

One interesting study that addresses this issue is called, Cigarette smoke, asbestos, and small irregular opacities. By Weiss W. - Am Rev Respir Dis. 1984 Aug;130(2):293-301.

Here is an excerpt: The long-term inhalation of cigarette smoke is associated with the appearance of diffuse small irregular opacities of mild profusion on chest roentogenograms of some subjects in a limited number of reports. Human histologic and experimental animal studies have shown the presence of pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. The radiographic abnormalities may be explained by interstitial fibrosis, although bronchiolar wall thickening may also be involved. Because asbestos causes diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, the literature was reviewed for evidence concerning an interaction between cigarette smoke and asbestos in the frequency of pulmonary asbestosis. A majority of 14 prevalence studies and 7 cohort studies of asbestos workers with information on smoking habits have shown a positive interaction between the 2 agents. The interaction appears to be additive rather than synergistic. Smoking may exert an effect on the frequency of pulmonary asbestosis by in creasing the effective fiber dose retained in the lungs through interference with clearance.

Another interesting study that delves into measuring the risks of asbestos exposure is called, Epidemiology of asbestos-related tumors by Newhouse M. - Semin Oncol. 1981 Sep;8(3):250-7. Here is an excerpt:

Epidemiologic evidence has helped in defining and measuring the risks of asbestos exposure. Further investigations are required to confirm the differing carcinogenicity of the various types of asbestos and related fibers. The evidence relating crocidolite asbestos to malignancy is not universally accepted. Most standards for concentrations of asbestos in the air are currently being adopted and the proposed British standard is about to be reduced to 1 fiber per milliliter for chrysotile asbestos, 0.5 fiber per milliliter for amosite and is to remain at 0.2 fiber per milliliter for crocidolite asbestos. 37 Careful prospective studies are still required in order to evaluate the efficacy of these standards in the prevention of asbestos related diseases. In addition, further epidemiologic studies are necessary to determine the relationship between asbestos exposure, particularly the low level exposure, and its potential cocarcinogenic role with other carcinogens i n the evolution of the wide spectrum of human malignancy.

Only by raising more public awareness about mesothelioma and link to asbestos exposure, can we ever hope to find a cure. Promoting public awareness is key to ensuring that medical research will continue. If you found either of these excerpts helpful, please read the studies in their entirety. This article should not be construed as medical or legal advice. If you believe that you have suffered as a result of asbestos exposure, you should consider getting a legal and medical opinion.

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