Discovery Could Improve Treatment for Cancer Patients - Health

Researchers at the Asbestos Disease Research Institute in Australia have discovered a "tumor marker" which could help oncologists provide more precisely tailored treatment options to mesothelioma patients. Mesothelioma (formally known as malignant mesothelioma) is a rare form of cancer that receives approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new diagnoses each year.

Researcher Nico Van Zandwuck, said a bloodborne marking factor can help determine how aggressive an individual patient's form of mesothelioma will be, and how it will respond to various treatment options. Using this information, Oncologists could adjust treatment for particular patients with minimal side effects. The patient must be physically able to tolerate the treatment, however.

In addition, therapeutic advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy now allow oncologists to expand treatment options into novel areas. For example, radiation therapy- once seen as largely palliative, meaning treatment that improved breathing and pain- can now be used to re-treat an area that once saw the treatment of traditional surgery to remove cancerous tissue.

Barry Robson, a former Australian dock worker who handled his fair share of asbestos and president of the Asbestos Disease Foundation of Australia, commended the Asbestos Disease Research Institute for its quick (18-month) identification of the marker. He also noted the agency's importance in ongoing mesothelioma treatment, where the period of death from diagnosis is approximately 135 days.

Mesothelioma tissues are those that surround and protect the body's vital organs. These organs include the lungs, the heart, and the abdominal organs. Mesothelioma cancer surrounding the abdominal regions, or peritoneal mesothelioma, is the rarest form of mesothelioma and occurs in fewer than two percent of all mesothelioma cases.

Mesothelioma is an insidious cancer - individuals may inhale or ingest asbestos fibers while at work, at home, or at school. The disease lays dormant for many years- sometimes for up to 50 years. Early and accurate diagnosis can make it easier to treat. There is currently no cure for the disease, but researchers are hopeful that new research like the studies that have been done at the Asbestos Disease Research Institute could greatly extend patients' lives. Those diagnosed during Stage II or later, when the cancer has metastasized, meaning the cancer has spread to other tissues and organs in the body, are only given about one year to live.

Diagnosis is usually confirmed through an MRI, CT scan, or X-ray. An X-ray will show pleural effusions, a classic manifestation of mesothelioma. Scarring from asbestos or tissue masses indicating a tumor can also alert physicians of a possible mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma symptoms include: pain in the chest or abdominal region, persistent coughing, shortness of breath, or fatigue.

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The Process Of Filing For Mesothelioma Lawsuits - Health - Cancer

Filing for Mesothelioma lawsuits can be an intimidating process especially for those who are not aware with the legal process. In spite of the billions of dollars being rewarded to people who have suffered from asbestos exposure at work, there are still no federal laws that cater to compensation for those who are directly involved in acquiring asbestos cancer from work. Knowing this, you must be aware of the correct steps to be taken in filing for compensation which is greatly needed in treating mesothelioma.

For those of you who arent aware of the effects this kind of cancer has on your body, mesothelioma threatens the protective linings that cover your lungs, heart and stomach. This can have a great influence on the way you breathe, the way your heart beats and the way you digest your food. All of the major organs which are important in leading a normal are affected when you are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Having this in mind, it would be easy for you to come to the conclusion that a large sum of money is needed for the proper treatment of this illness. This is why many people who are diagnosed with this, especially the ones which are work related, usually opt for filing a compensation suit with the help of asbestos attorneys against the company that is responsible.

Finding a person who specializes in filing suits against companies who have complete disregard for their employees well-being is the first step to be taken in filing lawsuits. If you are fortunate to find a person who has a long and impressive record in winning compensation lawsuits, then you have fewer things to worry about. Try hiring the services of an experienced lawyer who is proven in getting favorable results.

There are a number of asbestos attorneys who are offering their services online and it would be a lot easier for you to find them over the Internet rather than going through the yellow pages. Also, do a background check on the person you plan on hiring and make sure their credentials are legitimate and true. You can be confident that the ruling will most likely be in your favor when you work with a person who knows what they are doing.

Another step to take in filing a lawsuit in this case is gathering the proper documents what will hold up for you in court. Take note of certain circumstances that have caused your physical breakdown while at work. Even the smallest details may prove to be valuable when in court. Work closely with your attorney and ask for guidance in how to handle this case. Chances are, if you have hired a person who has a lot of experience in dealing with compensation for mesothelioma lawsuits, they already know what should be done in forming a credible case to rule in your favor.

Although there arent any laws passed by congress that ensure you will be automatically accounted for if ever you contract asbestos cancer at work, you can be confident that by hiring the right person, you are already halfway done with the process of getting the compensation you deserve.

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Support Groups for Mesothelioma - Law - Personal Injury

A diagnosis of mesothelioma, a cancer that attacks the lining of some major internal organs and the abdominal cavity, can be devastating. Because mesothelioma often lies dormant for decades, when a person is diagnosed with the disease, it has often progressed to advanced stages, and treatment options may be limited.

Taking advantage of the many national and local support groups available to people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases can help open the lines of communication. These groups can also help in easing the emotional toll of diagnosis, provide information on available treatments, and help patients deal with some very painful and life-changing side effects.

Many groups provide educational programs, counseling, and can be a good source of the latest information on mesothelioma. Family support can be an important part of a patient's treatment and health, and many of the support groups provide resources to caregivers and other family members.

List of Mesothelioma Support Groups

By attending a mesothelioma support group, you or your loved one will see that you're not alone and hear the stories of victims similar to yourself. Mesothelioma, as any cancer diagnosis, will change your life forever. You can learn ways to cope with the disease and find out about means to pay for the medical bills that will accompany treatment for this very rare but serious type of cancer.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and don't where to turn, please search for one of the above support groups to help you.

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Dutch scientists developed a new vaccine for mesothelioma treatment - Health - Cancer

Dutch scientists have developed a novel therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of mesothelioma. Clinical trials using the technology are currently under way. Scientists hope that the research could help patients with this disease Prolong life.

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that can start in the cavities of the lungs, the heart, or the abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma can spread to the lungs and invade its inner tissues, but the origin site of the cancer remains the pleura. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma and has been studied to a far greater degree than any of the other forms of the disease. Malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM), originated from pleural mesothelium cell, is an fatal tumor with natual history of only about several months, has showed an increased morbidity recently. Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the tissue in your abdomen. It usually include abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites). About 50% pleura changes the cancer patient having malignant chest water that the pleura thins out the most common symptom of skin tumour is to breathe hard. Malignant chest water is one of most common symptoms of mesothelioma and directly le ads to shortness of breath ("dyspnea").

The Center scientists made a special vaccine by use of immune cells which are extracted from animals with mesothelioma. The medical community was interested because it offered a chance, potentially, to intervene and prolong life. Scientists said, First, they extract a particular cell from a diseased animal's immune system. Develop it through a special way, These cells are able to identify the mesothelioma cells, and then kill and inhibit mesothelial tumor. These new cells are retransfused into the body. The treatment of mesothelioma to obtain certain effects. if the patients with the early mesothelioma, the tumor has not yet deteriorated to accept appropriate treatment, there may be good results. The treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, is still no effective cure methods. Pemetrexed was initially approved in 2004 for treating patients with mesothelioma. It is the only agent for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma(MPM). The early detection of mesotheliom a is critical to the patient's outlook and in determining applicable treatment options.According to a study published in the "Journal of Thoracic Oncology" 5 issue of a study. a drug that is used to treat kidney cancer may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy for mesothelioma. Temsirolimus, a kinase inhibitor, It can blocks the growth of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) proteins. Order to slow tumor growth. The drug for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. However, the Austrian researchers found that temsirolimus may also slow down the growth of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells. Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that can start in the cavities of the lungs, the heart, or the abdomen.

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DOE Workers Face Higher Risks for Mesothelioma and Other Cancers - Health - Cancer

Construction workers at four Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear sites have been exposed to asbestos and other dangerous materials that are putting them at significantly higher risk for mesothelioma, lung disease, and other cancers according to a new report published in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

Working in construction and other trade jobs at nuclear sites can be risky business. Workers are regularly exposed to a number of cancer-causing substances, including asbestos. Since the mid 1990s, the government has been conducting surveillance programs to determine the health risks faced by workers at four DOE sites: Hanford Nuclear Reservation (Richland, Washington), Oak Ridge Reservation (Oak Ridge, Tennessee), Savannah River Site (Aiken, South Carolina), and the Amchitka site (Alaska).

In past studies, researchers have investigated rates of medical conditions such as respiratory disease and hearing loss among these workers. The current study looked at mortality rates among construction and trade workers. It included nearly 9,000 workers from the four DOE nuclear sites. All of the participants filled out a screening questionnaire, and most of them also had a medical exam. Researchers followed-up on the workers' health status through the end of 2004.

During the study period, 674 of the workers died. Overall, the construction workers had a relatively low mortality compared to the general population, but the authors say this finding could be due to a "health worker effect" (The idea is that, in order to be able to hold a steady job, a person must be generally healthy.)

But when the researchers looked at people in certain types of DOE nuclear site jobs, they saw a spike in death rates. The risk of death was particularly high among asbestos workers/insulators, (93% increased risk), and teamsters (60% higher risk). Construction workers at the nuclear sites faced a much higher than normal risk for lung cancer and mesothelioma, as well as for asbestosis (a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers). "From our data and other data, asbestos use at the sites was not controlled well, historically," says John M. Dement, PhD, CIH, Professor in the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. "Clearly there's a need for better controls of asbestos exposures at the sites."

Although he says DOE sites have been making improvements over the past 10 - 15 years to reduce workers' exposures to toxic substances, much of the asbestos that was in place before the EPA's ban in the 1970s has not yet been removed. Because mesothelioma and asbestosis have a long latency period, many of the deaths that are occurring today are actually due to exposures from decades ago. "What we're seeing are the effects of exposure 20 or more years in the past," says Dr. Dement. He expects to eventually see decreases in asbestosis and mesothelioma cases as asbestos use is phased out, although he says these diseases aren't likely to disappear anytime soon.

Dr. Dement hopes that the data generated from his research will help DOE sites design programs to assess potential worker exposures, and then put appropriate preventive programs (using ventilation, respirators, and protective clothing) in place.

The focus is not only on prevention, but also on treating workers who are already at risk. The DOE's surveillance program offers periodic screenings to identify workers who might have been exposed to asbestos and other hazardous substances, and get them the treatment they need. "You're not going to cure them, but you can reduce the impact from a lot of these diseases," says Dr. Dement.

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Radiotherapy ?Comparable to Chemo? for Mesothelioma - Health - Cancer

A recent study has concluded that palliative radiotherapy produces a response rate in malignant pleural mesothelioma that is comparable to chemotherapy.

A recent analysis of 54 mesothelioma cases at a hospital in Cheltenham, England found that 43 percent of patients who received palliative radiotherapy according to their hospital's policy, responded to the treatment. Most mesothelioma patients are exposed to asbestos fibers at work in industrial settings. Many countries around the world have placed controls on the use of asbestos. However, because of the length of Mesothelioma's latency period, the number of victims around the world many continues to rise.Based on the results of their pre- and post-therapy CT scans, 22 of the 54 mesothelioma patients analyzed experienced a partial response and 1 patient had a complete response. Fifty-seven percent reported some improvement in their symptoms.

In an effort to help determine which mesothelioma patients are most likely to respond to radiotherapy, the research team correlated treatment responses with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) prognostic index. Among the patients judged to be in the 'good' prognosis group, 56 percent responded to the radiotherapy, compared to just 7 percent of patients in the 'poor' prognosis group. The EORTC good and poor prognostic mesothelioma groups had survival of 7.1 and 2.1 months respectively from the start of their treatment.

In addition to the EORTC index, survival following radiotherapy treatment was also correlated with each patient's mesothelioma histological subtype, performance status, treatment response and hemoglobin level. Neither tumor volume nor the stage of the patients' cancer was associated with prognosis. The study concluded that palliative radiotherapy for mesothelioma "produces a response rate that is equivalent to chemotherapy" and recommends the EORTC prognostic index as a method of deciding which patients may benefit from this treatment most.

Although the English study was focused solely on the role of radiotherapy, a number of previous studies have found radiotherapy to be most effective when used as part of a multimodality approach to mesothelioma treatment. One such study from the National Cancer Institute in Cairo found that more than 75 percent of patients who had radiation as part of their treatment protocol saw a response (either a decrease in the size of their tumors or in the severity of their symptoms). Recurrence rates were lowest in patients who had high dose hemithorax (one side of the chest) irradiation, a method typically reserved for the healthiest mesothelioma patients.

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The Legal Opition For Mesothelioma Victims - Law

Mesothelioma lawyers have helped many sufferers of this illness get the treatment and compensation they deserve. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that can quickly cripple or kill a person after it has developed. Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma, such as chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and nausea, are much like symptoms for other kinds of illnesses, so it can be hard to determine whether one has the illness.

Asbestos is the only proven cause of mesothelioma. If one has been exposed to asbestos, one should get tested for mesothelioma. Asbestos used to be used in many everyday consumer products and in many different work settings. In Georgia, the negligence of employers in oil refineries, chemical plants, and other industrial settings caused many persons to develop mesothelioma. Many of the state's Navy veterans were also exposed to asbestos while serving in the mid-to late 20th century. Asbestos was used in ship construction from the 1940s into the 1970s. The illness is fatal, but medical advances can extend the lives of sufferers. However, it is important that individuals who have been exposed to asbestos get tested, even if they have no symptoms of the illness. Early detection and treatment can add a considerable amount of time to one's life.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they inhaled asbestos; others were exposed to asbestos dust and fibers in other ways. There is also research suggests which suggests that persons who have washed the clothes of a family member are also at risk of developing mesothelioma. However, there seems to be no association between mesothelioma and tobacco smoking, but using tobacco does increase one's chance of developing other asbestos-related cancers.

A mesothelioma lawsuit can be filed by any individual diagnosed with the illness. However, the best means of succeeding in a legal suit is to prove that the asbestos exposure occurred in the workplace. Mesothelioma lawyers can help victims link their illness to the asbestos exposure by collecting and analyzing their medical and life histories. Litigating such cases can be lengthy and drawn out. But the financial remuneration for those who suffer from mesothelioma can give them the justice they deserve. Such compensation can include Social Security or Veterans benefits.

Unfortunately, many mesothelioma patients do not have a long life expectancy. In the event that a mesothelioma victim dies before a lawsuit can be filed or, once filed, adjudicated, the executor of the victim's estate can carry on the lawsuit as a wrongful death. A Mesothelioma Lawyer South Carolina or a Mesothelioma Lawyer Georgia can guide family member through the intricate legal process of such litigation. In cases in which a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma through secondary asbestos exposure, that family member also has the right to file on the original mesothelioma patient's behalf as well as their own. Although a victim of this dreaded illness may not realize the ultimate outcome of the legal proceeding, he or she can put in place the means by which justice can still be achieved.

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