An Overview Of Asbestos Disease- Mesothelioma - Health - Fitness

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos disease, mesothelioma cancers, lung cancers and asbestosis are the diseases caused because of asbestos exposure. Asbestos constitutes different naturally occurring fibrous minerals in some rocks and soil. It has found widespread use in industries and building materials such as fireproofing, roofing shingles, electric insulation, furnace, hot pipe covering, and friction products.

Recent studies have, however, revealed that exposure to asbestos can have damaging health implication resulting in asbestos disease and mesothelioma for both workers in industries making use of asbestos as well as those who live in the environment surrounding such places. Workers may inhale fine asbestos particles in the air; they also become exposed through skin contact with asbestos or by swallowing asbestos fibers while at work. These workers are vulnerable to asbestos diseases as mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Serious Effects Of Asbestos Disease- Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is the most serious of several asbestos-related diseases detected so far. This is because of the carcinogenic effect of asbestos particles. Asbestos can cause cancer of the lungs, esophagus, colon, rectum, stomach, vocal chords, and kidneys. About 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases of asbestos disease mesothelioma - a rare type of cancer of the mesothelium, the membrane that covers and protects most of the body internal organs - are the result of asbestos exposure at work.

Asbestos disease mesothelioma may not immediately manifest. The asbestos particles can lie dormant in the body for several years and manifest later, when the prognosis is very grim. It is possible that by the time the disease is diagnosed, the cancer may have already spread significantly. In view of health concerns all new uses of asbestos in the manufacturing industries have been banned in the United States from July 1989 onward. In particular, the use of asbestos in hand-held hair dryers was voluntarily stopped in 1979. Schools are required to test for use of asbestos roofing and it is removed or covered up.

Compensation To Victims Of Asbestos Disease Mesothelioma

The first case of asbestos disease mesothelioma was filed nearly 70 years ago. Employees in industries with considerable risk of asbestos poisoning are, in principle, eligible for mesothelioma compensation. The compensation is available only for those employees who run the risk of asbestos exposure since the 1940s. Recently, many mesothelioma patients have filed lawsuits for compensation. They have been awarded compensation on the ground that the owners of industries continued to use asbestos despite the information of the health hazards it entails. Currently, help is available to victims of asbestos disease mesothelioma through many specialized legal firms in the United States.

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The Basics Of Mesothelioma Cancer - Other

Are you in danger of Mesothelioma Cancer? The short answer is yes.

Asbestos is still widely used and has been used in everything from schools and work places, to appliance lining and insulation, and anywhere a fireproof barrier is needed. Most people do not understand that asbestos is still used in manufacturing many products. The air, drinking water, and even some consumer products still contain small amounts of asbestos. Asbestos fibers are even released into the air from natural deposits in the earth.

The industry feels justified in their use of asbestos because it is only dangerous after it breaks down and is released into the air. Wear and deterioration of asbestos products is the primary way to release fibers into the air.

The industry is quick to point out that people who have had a single, high-level exposure, incident, or are exposed for a short period to lower levels of asbestos, are not likely to contract Mesothelioma Cancer.

What most people do not understand is that they do not need to be in a dangerous environment. If they know someone who works in a dangerous environment, they may have been exposed through fibers that clung to clothing, was deposited in vehicles, and released into the environment through their clothing.

How to Be Tested

People at risk from exposure to asbestos from work or at home need to inform a doctor of their exposure history and symptoms. Asbestos fibers can be measured in urine, feces, mucus (fluid coming out of the body), or material rinsed out of the lungs. This may make it possible to test for asbestos long before serious symptoms occur - a vital factor in life expectancy.

A physical exam and chest x-ray may be recommended, but this is not an adequate. A chest x-ray cannot reveal fibers, just changes in the lungs. The x-ray must be sent to an experienced specialist who understands how to look for asbestos-related diseases.

The body must also be tested for fibers.

Mesothelioma cancer is rare, but the incidences of it are on the rise. Currently, it affects 2 000 Americans a year. It is caused by an inflammation in the sac-like lining around many of the body's internal organs. The most common type of this cancer is pleural mesothelioma. This cancer in the lung's linking causes up about 60% of all cases.

Peritoneum Mesothelioma is cancer in the lining of the abdomen and is found in 40% of all cases.

Pericardium Mesothelioma, is found in the lining of the heart and is the rarest form, accounting for a very small percentage of all cases.

Currently, exposure to asbestos fibers is the only cause of mesothelioma Mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. The problem in diagnosis is caused because asbestos remains dormant in the body from 10-50 years before scarring the tissue and causing cancer.

The optimistic news is that not all Mesothelioma is cancerous.

There are two forms: benign and malignant. Benign mesothelioma is non-cancerous and is removed and cured through surgery.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer. The life expectancy for patients ranges from 4-30. This quickly spreading cancer is difficult to treat. Early detection and treatment is lengthening the life expectancy of people diagnosed with this type of cancer.

This makes it vitally important for people exposed to asbestos to seek help immediately, even if there are no obvious symptoms. It may be too late to help them when symptoms appear. People who feel they may be at risk for Petritoneum, or Pericardium Mesothelioma should start medical and legal proceeding before becoming ill.

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Medical view of mesothelioma - Health

Medical View of Mesothelioma

More than 8 million people have been exposed to asbestos and are at risk of succumbing to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is caused when the mesothelium cells start to divide rapidly leading to cancer. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers. The disease has a very long latency period, sometimes even around 60 years. The disease has no known cure and death becomes inevitable.

It is also very hard to correctly diagnose the disease in the early stages, as the symptoms of the disease are similar to other non-malignant diseases like pneumonia. The asbestos fiber, which is light and invisible, is released during mining and manufacture of asbestos. It is inhaled easily through nose and mouth and affects the mesothelium lining of the body part that it comes into contact with. This sets off the mesothelium cells rapid division operation, resulting in tumors. The mesothelium lining can be found in the organs like lungs, abdomen and heart.

Depending on this, mesothelioma can be classified into three categories: Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, Peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdomen, and Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the heart.

Due to the long latency period of the disease, people who have worked in asbestos-related factories in their youth may contract the disease in their old age during or after retirement. Many of them may have shifted many jobs by this time and they do not relate their condition to asbestos exposure. Thus, they do not consider mesothelioma as an occupational disease. They face huge sorrow at having to part with their loved ones in such a tragic way.

Life of Jack Daws

Jack Daws was working as a tutor in the rural regions of Pennsylvania. He had a beautiful wife and a handsome son. He had what is called as a perfect family! They were always supportive and co-operative. They had enduring love and constant hope on each other.

Jack Daws loved his job as he loved kids of all ages and all sizes. He was the coach of the local soccer team during weekends. When Jack was around 55 years, he was planning on getting a retirement from the school where he tutored in another year or two.

At this crucial point of time, Jack slowly started realizing something was wrong with his health. He felt a constant pain in his chest and severe shortness of breath. He, his family and his doctor dismissed all these symptoms as a cause of aging, initially. But, slowly, his condition started to worsen. He felt as if a heavy weight has been placed on his chest. Also, he started losing weight rapidly. By now, the doctor also started sensing that something was wrong with Jack. The doctor conducted a whole lot of tests on Jack. One of the tests that were conducted was to study the fluids & cells in his lungs. After this test, the doctor felt that it appeared cancerous. Further tests followed to make the right diagnosis. It was, finally, confirmed. Jack suffered from 'Pleural Mesothelioma',I.e. mesothelioma affecting the lungs. Doctors felt that Jack had only another year or two of life on earth. Jack started analyzing how he contracted mesothelioma. He had never worked in any asbestos-related industries. Slowly, it dawned on Jack. Lots of construction and painting work used to be done on in his school.

Due to his long career at the school, he was constantly exposed to asbestos dust, which was used during the painting work. The company, which did the job for the school, did not take any safeguards to protect, anyone. Jack was advised to initiate proceedings against the company. The company did not disclose the dangers of asbestos and behaved in a selfish profit-oriented manner.

When Jack initiated proceeding against the company, it was found that lots of people have already sued the company for the same reason and have won their cases. Thus, the Company did not want to go into lengthy and expensive legal proceedings. They agreed to go in for an out-of-court settlement. After negotiations, the company paid Jack around a million dollars for the health damages he suffered and around two million dollars for his family-dependents. Jack underwent treatment at a cancer center. The cancer was spread all around his body and surgery was ruled out for him. Jack underwent chemotherapy and lived a life of suffering for the next two years. After that he succumbed to the disease. However, his soul will rest in peace as he has provided a safe and comfortable settlement for his loving family members.

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Chemotherapy Effectiveness Studied for Mesothelioma Patients - Health

Although mesothelioma cancer has no current cure, many medical professional believe that chemotherapy can be a successful treatment of symptom control of the condition, however, this continues to be debated, according to a study from The Lancet, a British Journal.

Researchers studied 409 patients all of which were suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma in different parts of the world. The patients were randomly assigned an active symptom control treatment or a treatment that included an active control treatment with one of two chemotherapy medications. According to the study, "the active symptom control treatments included steroids, bronchodilators, analgesic medications and palliative radiotherapy."

Following the study, the patients with both treatment options were compared and, according to researchers, "the addition of chemotherapy to active symptom control presented no significant benefit or advances in survival rates or quality of life" among mesothelioma victims.

Diagnosing and Understanding Chemotherapy, Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant cancer cells develop in a thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity covering the lungs, which is also known as the pleura, or the peritoneum, which is the tissue lining the abdomen and most of the organs, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

The American Cancer Society (ACS) describes chemotherapy as a treatment for cancer; it is often given to a patient when cancerous cells spread rapidly to healthy cells.

Doctors must adequately evaluate a patients age, health and stage of cancer prior to administering chemotherapy. For mesothelioma patients, chemotherapy is not a curative method of treatment, but is actually administered to mesothelioma patients for several reasons including the following:

* stop growth and spreading of a cancer, to control the cancer

* minimize or shrink tumors - this method is also known as neoadjuvant chemotherapy

* palliative chemotherapy in which pain and other symptoms are meant to be reduced

* the destruction of microscopic disease that remains after a surgical procedure, also known as adjuvant chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is administered either as a catheter placed into a large vein in the body or a catheter attached as a port that is placed into the chest area under the skin for a period of time.

Living With Mesothelioma

Unfortunately, victims of mesothelioma continue to receive setbacks for their life-threatening condition, as there are currently no successful treatments for the deadly cancer.

However, an individual has the opportunity to participate in an array of clinical trial treatment groups as well as the opportunity to develop a mesothelioma lawsuit to derive monetary compensation as a means of repayment for the condition, which is often associated with extremely expensive medical bills.

Speaking with a qualified medical attorney who can offer a free legal consultation as to the creation of mesothelioma litigation can offer a mesothelioma victim peace of mind and insight into overcoming the financial burden of their condition.

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Mesothelioma Treatment Tested at University - Health

The second phase of a clinical trial testing mesothelioma treatments just commenced at Columbia University, according to news reports. The treatments being tested are to decrease signs and symptoms of peritoneal and malignant pleural mesothelioma, the two most dangerous forms of the disease.

The trial will involve approximately 29 individuals and will last nearly six months.

Two of the drugs that will be tested include oxaliplatin and gemcitabine. According to TransWorldNews, oxaliplatin is "a platinum-containing organic compound which targets cancer cells by inhibiting or specifically preventing replication and repair of the cancer cells DNA." Oxaliplatin is from Sanofi Aventis and is manufactured as Eloxatin.

The drug is commonly used in the treatment of colon and colorectal cancers, according to news reports. Gemcitabine, which is from Eli Lilly and Company is manufactured as Gemzar. The drug, according to TransWorldNews is "a cancer drug which similarly targets the replication processes of cancer cells DNA by inhibiting the production of the cellular material which is necessary for DNA synthesis." Gemzar alone is used to treat patients of ovarian, lung, pancreatic and breast cancer. Combined, researchers are hoping the drugs will effectively treat and decrease mesothelioma symptoms. The Respiratory Disease Clinic in Heckeshorn in Berlin found that, "a therapy of oxapilatin and gemcitabine applied every 21 days in mesothelioma patients resulted in an increased rate of control for the disease, progression," all of which were the results of a December 2008 study."

Developing Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of lung cancer that has been linked to the inhalation of asbestos fibers and asbestos dust. Asbestos is part of a mineral known as vermiculite that was heavily mined during the late 19th century and the early 20th century. The mineral was mined during the 1900's until regulations were implemented.

Although, asbestos is still abundant throughout America today, according to the U.S. government. Some of the following are potential uses including:

* thermal, electrical and sound insulation

* cement

* plastic

* resins

* filtration and liquid sterilization

* friction materials

* asbestos textiles

* paper fabrication

* flooring felts

* roofing products

* pipeline wrapping

* brake and clutch pads

Garnering Mesothelioma Assistance

It is imperative for individuals who suffer from mesothelioma to receive both legal and medical assistance from knowledgeable professionals. In order to prolong signs and symptoms of the disease, individuals must seek immediate medical attention.

Also, further discussing the medical issues and legalities surrounding a mesothelioma case will improve the outcome of a mesothelioma victim. Because of the extreme dangers associated with the disease, it may be possible for a victim to receive monetary compensation. Speaking with a mesothelioma attorney will provide increased knowledge of a mesothelioma case.

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Getting the Hard Ways with New York Mesothelioma lawyer - Law - Civil Law

It is always known to be a mark that fighting with cancerous ailments is a tough task because its healing process involves a lot of radiation, surgery and strong medicines. And every aspect of this process comes with a whooping cost factor that needs to be managed somehow. Now, here the case is that of mesothelioma, which is known to be one of the most serious forms of cancer. It, generally, takes place in one's body after inhaling a huge amount of toxic material. Out of these hazardous materials, asbestos is the most famous one that tends to be its basic cause. This material is, usually, seen in the construction related materials and the various companies manufacturing it. What the owners of these companies do is that they do not inform their workers about the bad effects of this particular toxic material. The reason behind this is the profit margin. In this case, you can take on the services of New York mesothelioma lawyer for saving against the health fraud done to you.

Indeed, the best part of taking the assistance of New York mesothelioma lawyer is that they are quite proficient in dealing with the complexities of their field. Since, they are also aware of the medical terms associated with the laws meant to get the maximum benefits for the plaintiff; it becomes easier for them to manage any sort of problem associated with the case. After all, it is vital to be alert before handed about the positive and negative of the court case filed in the court of law. Now, after the discussion with the plaintiff, the New York Mesothelioma lawyer would file the lawsuit in the court. Then, a legal notice will be send to the wrongful party for informing them about the case filing. After doing so, the attorney would try hard to collect all the possible proves for making the case stronger.

Also called as a petitioner lawyer, New York mesothelioma lawyer is responsible for interviewing prospective clients and examining their cases to determine the legal matter, categorize the distinct issues rooted within the plaintiff's larger problem, and widely research every issue to build a strong case. However, if you do opt to have yourself legally represented, you stand a much bigger possibility of getting quite a larger amount of money from your court case, and at least much more than if you were to go into court all by yourself. In fact, New York mesothelioma lawyer offer to represent you on a pay per win base, which means that they will attain a percentage of the compensation fees you will get out of the lawsuit if you should win. If you believe registering a court case, you must get hold of the proper legal illustration by contracting any of the personal injury lawyers with practice and training in the personal injury court.

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Mesothelioma lawyer is Committed Support - Law - Civil Law

Cancerous issues have been prevailing in this world ever since its smallest amount of symptoms got in hold. Lawyers began to make their own findings with certain examinations and concluded that many cases of malignant mesothelioma were wrongly analyzed as rare forms of lung cancer, which was misleading the patients and also the doctors. The court cases began to bring the social attention one by one, each case it's exclusive and each patient is treated with attention in a timely and individual manner by each law company that wishes to win each case. Mesothelioma lawyer is like a police officer with medical studies and bachelor diploma in legal rights of citizens. Each new case is a tough task and the fight is harder than the precedent one because companies evaluating the asbestos or using it in the mass production of different objects can't manage loosing publicity and thousands of dollars on each lawsuit they lose.

It is essential to avail mesothelioma lawyer assistance in time. There is time bar or in other words period of limitation in filing of the suit. So, only a skilled lawyer would decide the suitable time for filing of the suit. It is worthy to advantage mesothelioma attorney assistance because at the first instance the client does not need to pay anything. The attorney may employ private investigator to find the pertinent and necessary details of the case at his own cost. These facts regarding the period of introduction, the level and duration of working, protecting equipments provided by the company etc are of great meaning while filing the case. It is up to the mesothelioma lawyer to choose the proper timing and authority to file the case. This is important because different jurisdictions may offer different amount of reward to the concerned client. The petitioner or someone who is filing the case holds an imperative legal position regarding the right to file the case.

Well, the mesothelioma lawyer aims at serving the best possible support to his clients. It is because he is aware of the fact that people tend to lose a lot on getting affected with mesothelioma. It may also happen that the person having this life taking disease may be the sole bread earner of the family. In this regard, the mesothelioma lawyer would also file charge against the employer for getting dependability charges. This particular amount tends to empower the family members of the afflicted person to bear their regular expenses, along with the medical expenses made for the plaintiff. In having the justified compensation, which one is invincible to deserve, you must think of paying assimilation on finding the reliable Mesothelioma lawyer that would support you in winning the case. A highly gifted lawyer in this is of expertise will inductee for a faster payment to make certain that his client get the thorough medical care needed for Mesothelioma cancer. Now, the coerc ion for lawyer arises here because, many times, the workers are bared to this toxic material without being told about its ill effects, it is this insensitivity of the employers that costs the employees their life.

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