All about Mesothelioma Cancer Disease

Health News

2010-02-19T08:11:00.002Z

Personalised blood tests which could track whether cancer treatment is working or if the disease has come back have been developed by US researchers.

Health News

2010-02-18T08:11:00.002Z

Fridge-free vaccine hopes raised

Scientists at Oxford University have found a way of keeping vaccines stable without refrigeration.

Happiness wards off heart disease

Being happy and positive may help ward off heart disease, a study suggests.

Germans get Lidl cheese warning

The German supermarket chain Lidl tells Germans to avoid two types of Austrian cheese allegedly linked to fatal food poisoning.

Health News

2010-02-17T08:09:00.002Z

Acupuncture may help period pain

Acupuncture may be an effective way of alleviating severe period pain, a review of existing studies suggests.

'Malaria' killed King Tutankhamun

Tutankhamun may well have died of malaria after the disease ravaged a body crippled by a rare bone disorder, experts say.

Health News

2010-02-16T08:08:00.002Z

Simple test can spot concussion

Spotting athletes who are still unfit to return to action after a blow to the head could be made simpler by a new test.

Poverty link to rogue cancer gene

Experts say there is a genetic explanation for why women from poor backgrounds are less likely to beat breast cancer.

Men 'need better-fitting condoms'

Badly-fitted condoms do not just reduce the pleasure of sex for men and women - they increase the risks of infection and pregnancy, researchers say.

Born to win?

Medics push idea of 'treating' gender ambiguities in sport

A meaty row

Does too much red meat really make you ill?

Health News

2010-02-15T08:07:00.002Z

Grandparents 'boost obesity risk'

Young children regularly looked after by their grandparents have an increased risk of being overweight, a UK study suggests.

Herpes drug 'delays' HIV illness

A cheap, widely-used treatment for herpes can delay the need for HIV drugs in people with both infections, say US researchers.

Gene clue to early dementia speed

A gene that may give you an increased risk of a distressing early form of dementia has been identified by UK scientists.

Health News

2010-02-14T08:08:00.002Z

Lung sufferers offered sex advice

People with breathing problems have been offered some timely Valentine's Day advice to help them enjoy a fulfilling love life.

I love you, baby

The man saved by an unknown child's umbilical cord

Health News

2010-02-13T08:11:00.003Z

Cold challenge

Sufferer risks her health to aid disease fight

Obesity 'set' before age of two

The "tipping point" that sets children on the way to a life of obesity often occurs before the age of two, say US researchers.

Not so clever?

Poland avoids vaccine surplus but flu fears remain

Best 'dates'

Kindness is top of the list for a lasting relationship

Brain clue for autism hug avoidance

Delays during the development of the brain in the womb may show why people with a condition linked to autism do not like hugs.

Health News

2010-02-12T08:13:00.002Z

Brain clue for autism hug avoidance

Delays at crucial points during the development of the brain in the womb may explain why people with a condition linked to autism do not like hugs.

Multiple Sclerosis

Why surgeon put faith in new treatment

Dementia at 36

How dementia can ruin even young lives

Health News

2010-02-11T08:15:00.002Z

Stammering genes uncovered

Scientists say they have identified three genes which may cause stammering in some people.

Brain blood vessels clue to MS

More than 55 percent of multiple sclerosis patients have been found to have constricted blood vessels in their brains, a US study says.

HIV phobia

Mystery 'paranoia' illness baffles doctors in China

Pesticide ban

Georgina Downs' 10 year fight against farm chemicals

Health News

2010-02-10T08:13:00.002Z

Tick tock

Science cannot hold back the hands of the fertility clock

Sweet tooth 'hints at depression'

While most children like sugary foods, those with a extra sweet tooth may have depression, say researchers.

First Lady tackles child obesity

First Lady Michelle Obama launches a nationwide campaign to tackle child obesity, which she says threatens America's future.

India suspends first GM food crop

India halts the cultivation of what would have been its first genetically modified vegetable crop because of safety concerns.

Backless hospital gown redesigned

Backless hospital gowns get a Hollywood-style makeover to preserve patients' dignity.

Gold, myrrh and...

Could frankincense be used to treat cancer?

Health News

2010-02-09T08:13:00.003Z

Brain injury linked to gambling

Californian scientists think they may have discovered the part of the brain which makes people fear losing money.

'Third-hand smoke' risk warning

Lingering residue from tobacco smoke that clings to upholstery, clothing and the skin releases cancer-causing agents, warn experts.

Fertile forties pregnancy warning

Experts fear older women are ditching contraception in the mistaken belief that fertility inevitably wanes at a certain age.

Baby opt-out

A US scheme is paying drug addicts to be sterilised

Exercise 'can cut gallstone risk'

Doing lots of exercise drastically cuts the risk of developing painful gallstones, UK researchers have found.

Terminally Ill Artist Hopes to Help Solve Missing Boy Case in North Carolina

2010-02-08T08:13:00.002Z

Terminally Ill Artist Hopes to Help Solve Missing Boy Case in North Carolina

A terminally ill artist says he has produced his last painting in hopes that it will help authorities in North Carolina solve the 10-year-old case of a missing boy.

Genes reveal 'biological ageing'

2010-02-08T08:12:00.003Z

Genes reveal 'biological ageing'

Scientists say they have pinpointed gene variants that might show how fast people's bodies are ageing.

News: Appeal over asbestos law ruling

2010-01-21T10:11:00.004Z

Insurers have appealed against the decision to allow legislation which gives victims of an asbestos-related illness the right to claim damages.

Last week, a judge rejected a bid to invalidate The Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions)(Scotland) Act which came into force last year.

It allows sufferers of pleural plaques, a benign scarring of the lungs, to make compensation claims.

Aviva, AXA, RSA and Zurich believe the Scottish Parliament act is "flawed".

The law overturned a House of Lords ruling which said damages could not be claimed for the illness, which is not classed as a disease and has no symptoms.

'Good grounds'

Although pleural plaques does not cause or develop into a more serious asbestos-related condition, it does signify an increased risk of developing mesothelioma because of exposure to asbestos.

Nick Starling, director of general insurance and health with the Association of British Insurers, said: "After careful consideration and legal advice, insurers consider that there are good grounds for this appeal.

"Insurers have not taken this decision lightly, and it reflects their strong view that The Damages Act is fundamentally flawed as it ignores overwhelming medical evidence that plaques are symptomless, and the well-established legal principle that compensation is payable only when there are physical symptoms."

The ABI said the appeal would not affect insurers commitment to pay compensation to people with asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma.

Source: BBC News (14/01/10)

News: Scottish asbestos law challenge rejected

2010-01-21T10:06:00.004Z

A judge has rejected a bid to invalidate a Scottish Parliament law giving victims of an asbestos-related illness the right to claim damages.

Following a 22-day hearing at the Court of Session, Lord Emslie ruled against the move by UK insurance companies.

They disputed The Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions)(Scotland) Act which came into force last year.

It allows sufferers of pleural plaques, a benign scarring of the lungs, to make compensation claims.

The Holyrood law overturned a House of Lords ruling which said damages could not be claimed for the illness, which is not classed as a disease and has no symptoms.

Although pleural plaques does not cause or develop into a more serious asbestos-related condition, it does signify an increased risk of developing mesothelioma because of exposure to asbestos.

A judicial review of the act was brought by AXA General Insurance Ltd and other insurance companies.

'Differences of opinion'

The insurers said the act would benefit a small group of individuals who had suffered no harm and would impose a "disproportionate and excessive burden on insurers running into hundreds of millions, if not billions, of pounds".

Lord Emslie's written ruling concluded: "There is clearly room for differences of opinion as to whether the parliament was right to legislate in the way it did, and it remains to be seen whether the 2009 Act will prove to have adverse legal or political consequences in years to come."

But the judge said he did not accept that the insurers' complaints came anywhere near the standard of "irrationality" needed to invalidate an Act of the Scottish Parliament.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said they are now seriously considering the grounds for an appeal.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said he welcomed the decision.

He added: "The Scottish government believes that the legislation is right in principle and right in law and has been unequivocally upheld.

"I firmly believe that people with pleural plaques should be able to raise a claim for damages and I am pleased that this decision has gone in their favour.

"I sincerely hope that the insurers will now carefully reflect on what Lord Emslie has said and abandon any plans they have to raise an appeal in the Inner House."

The ABI's Director of General Insurance and Heath, Nick Starling said: "We are pleased that the judgment recognises the fundamental right of insurers to challenge legislation made by the Scottish Parliament, although we are disappointed that the judge did not feel able to overturn the law passed by the Scottish Parliament.

"Insurers will now be considering carefully this judgment, and are seriously looking at the grounds for an appeal against it.

"This is not the end of the road."

Source: BBC News (08/01/10)

News: Fear over asbestos compensation

2010-01-21T09:59:00.005Z

Victims of an asbestos-related disease may miss out on compensation, it has been claimed.

A solicitor representing dozens of people in Oxfordshire said he was worried a new bill to compensate those with pleural plaque may not become law.

The condition can be a forerunner of asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Peter Lodge said claimants would be "left in limbo" as a second reading of the bill in the House of Lords would be unlikely before the next election.

People suffering from pleural plaque lost their automatic right to compensation in 2007 following a ruling by the House of Lords.

'Nominal amount'

Pleural plaques are areas of thick scar tissue which form in the chest lining and diaphragm and are caused by asbestos exposure.

It does not have any obvious symptoms, but about 10% of people with pleural plaque develop other asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma.

The Damages Bill, which would compensate those with pleural plaque, was then passed in the House of Commons in October, but is still to be debated in the House of Lords.

Mr Lodge, who represents about 70 people, said he was reasonably optimistic the law would eventually be passed by the government.

"I think it is hopeful they will introduce a new scheme whereby anyone who can show that they have pleural plaque will receive a fairly standard nominal amount."

Clive Sutton, 67, from Stonesfield near Witney, came into contact with asbestos whilst working at a manufacturing plant in the fifties and sixties.

Doctors confirmed he had developed pleural plaque after having a chest x-ray in 2005.

He said: "When the ruling took place in the House of Lords, I think that's what the Lords were working on - the fact that no-one with pleural plaque had gone on to suffer any serious injury or effects."

Source: BBC News (11/12/09)

News: Scientist will discover a treatment for CANCER

2010-01-21T09:41:00.004Z

Scientist will discover a treatment for CANCER.

Australian researchers are developing a blood test aimed at detecting 15% of all cancers. There are hopes the discovery will also help create new treatments. For more details view this video.

Source: Copyright © 2010 euronews (07/12/09)

Prevention of Mesothelioma

2010-01-17T19:44:00.002Z

Reducing your exposure to asbestos may lower your risk of mesothelioma.

Find out whether you work with asbestos
Most people with mesothelioma were exposed to the asbestos fibers at work. Workers who may encounter asbestos fibers include:

Miners
Factory workers
Insulation manufacturers
Railroad workers
Ship builders
Gas mask manufacturers
Construction workers
Auto mechanics

Ask your employer whether you have a risk of asbestos exposure on the job.

Follow your employer's safety regulations
Follow all safety precautions in your workplace, such as wearing protective equipment. You may also be required to shower and change out of your work clothes before taking a lunch break or going home. Talk to your doctor about other precautions you can take to protect yourself from asbestos exposure.

Be safe around asbestos in your home
Older homes and buildings may contain asbestos. In many cases, it's more dangerous to remove the asbestos than it is to leave it intact. Breaking up asbestos may cause fibers to become airborne, where they can be inhaled. Consult experts trained to detect asbestos in your home. These experts may test the air in your home to determine whether the asbestos is a risk to your health. Don't attempt to remove asbestos from your home — hire a qualified expert. The Environmental Protection Agency offers advice on its Web site for dealing with asbestos in the home.

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Alternative medicine Treatments

2010-01-17T19:34:00.004Z

No alternative medicine treatments have proved helpful in treating mesothelioma. But complementary and alternative mesothelioma treatments may help control signs and symptoms. Discuss options with your doctor.

Mesothelioma can cause pressure within your chest that can make you feel as though you're always short of breath. Breathlessness can be distressing. Your doctor may recommend using an oxygen mask or taking medications to make you more comfortable, but often these aren't enough. Combining your doctor's recommended treatments with complementary and alternative approaches may help you feel better.

Alternative treatments that have shown some promise in helping people cope with breathlessness include:

Acupuncture. Acupuncture uses thin needles inserted at precise points into your skin.
Breath training. A nurse or physical therapist can teach you breathing techniques to use when you feel breathless. Sometimes you may feel breathless and begin to panic. Implementing these techniques may help you feel more in control of your breathing.
Relaxation exercises. Slowly tensing and relaxing different muscle groups may help you feel more at ease and breathe easier. Your doctor may refer you to a therapist who can teach you relaxation exercises so that you can do them on your own.
Sitting near a fan. Directing a fan to your face may help ease the sensation of breathlessness

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Tests and diagnosis of mesothelioma

2010-01-17T19:09:00.005Z

If you have signs and symptoms that might indicate mesothelioma, your doctor will conduct a physical exam to check for any lumps or other unusual signs. Your doctor may order imaging scans, such as a chest X-ray or a computerized tomography (CT) scan of your chest or abdomen, to look for abnormalities.

It's not uncommon for mesothelioma to be misdiagnosed initially because mesothelioma is rare, and its signs and symptoms aren't specific. Your doctor will likely rule out other more common conditions before considering mesothelioma.

Biopsy
Biopsy, a procedure to remove a small portion of tissue for laboratory examination, is the only way to determine whether you have mesothelioma. Depending on what area of your body is affected, your doctor selects the right biopsy procedure for you. Options include:

Fine-needle aspiration. The doctor removes fluid or a piece of tissue with a small needle inserted into your chest or abdomen.
Thoracoscopy. Thoracoscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your chest. In this procedure, the surgeon makes one or more small incisions between your ribs. A tube with a tiny video camera is then inserted into your chest cavity — a procedure sometimes called video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Special surgical tools allow your surgeon to cut away tissue for testing.
Laparoscopy. Laparoscopy allows the surgeon to see inside your abdomen. Using one or more small incisions into your abdomen, the surgeon inserts a tiny camera and special surgical tools to obtain a small piece of tissue for examination.
Thoracotomy. Thoracotomy is surgery to open your chest between the ribs to allow a surgeon to check for signs of disease. He or she removes a sample of tissue for testing.
Laparotomy. Laparotomy is surgery to open your abdomen to allow a surgeon to check for signs of disease. He or she removes a sample of tissue for testing.

The tissue sample is analyzed under a microscope to see whether the abnormal tissue is mesothelioma and what types of cells are involved. The type of mesothelioma you have determines your treatment plan.

Staging
Once mesothelioma is diagnosed, your doctor orders other tests to determine the extent, or stage, of the cancer. Imaging tests that may help determine the stage of your cancer include:

Chest X-ray
CT scans of the chest and abdomen
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Positron emission tomography (PET)

Once the extent of pleural mesothelioma is determined, a stage is assigned. Formal stages aren't available for other types of mesothelioma because these types are rare and aren't well studied. The stages of pleural mesothelioma are:

I. Stage I pleural mesothelioma is considered localized cancer, meaning it's limited to one portion of the lining of the chest.
II. Stage II mesothelioma may have spread beyond the lining of the chest to the diaphragm or to a lung.
III. Stage III mesothelioma may have spread to other structures within the chest and may involve nearby lymph nodes.
IV. Stage IV mesothelioma is an advanced cancer that has spread to distant areas (metastasized). Mesothelioma most commonly spreads (metastasizes) to the brain, lymph nodes in the chest and areas of the lung that are away from the tumor.

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Preparing for your appointment

2010-01-17T18:49:00.005Z

You're likely to start by first seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases when you call to set up an appointment, you may be referred immediately to a doctor who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist) or abdominal problems (gastroenterologist).

Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes. If you're worried about mesothelioma, make a list of all your occupations, even those you had for only a few months.
Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking.
Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to soak up all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For mesothelioma, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
What are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
What kinds of tests do I need?
Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
What is the best course of action?
What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
Should I see a specialist? What will it cost, and will my insurance cover seeing a specialist?
Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What Web sites do you recommend?
What will determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may allow more time to cover other points you want to address. Your doctor may ask:

When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
Have your symptoms been continuous, or occasional?
How severe are your symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
Do your symptoms affect your ability to work?

What you can do in the meantime
Try to avoid anything that worsens your signs and symptoms. For instance, if you're experiencing shortness of breath, try to take it easy until you can meet with your doctor.

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Complications from spreading cancer

2010-01-17T18:43:00.003Z

Complications from spreading cancer

As pleural mesothelioma spreads in the chest, it puts pressure on the structures in that area. This can cause complications, such as:

Difficulty breathing
Chest pain
Difficulty swallowing
Swelling caused by pressure on the large vein that leads from your upper body to your heart (superior vena cava syndrome)
Pain caused by pressure on the nerves and spinal cord
Accumulation of fluid in the chest (pleural effusion), which can compress the lung nearby and make breathing difficult

Death
Mesothelioma that progresses can lead to death. People who die of mesothelioma usually die from related complications, such as lung failure, heart problems, stroke and other causes.

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

News: A former marine machinist, Robert “Bobby” Hilt of Vallejo, California, won $7.5 million in a mesothelioma lawsuit

2010-01-13T17:38:00.006Z

This article is about a mesothelioma patient that was diagnosed of asbestos related cancer in earlier 2008 and now he won $7.5 million in a mesothelioma lawsuit.

A former marine machinist, Robert “Bobby” Hilt of Vallejo, California, won $7.5 million in a mesothelioma lawsuit, which is one of the highest settlements for a patient as old as the 64-year-old Hilt in California courts’ history.

Bobby Hilt was diagnosed with mesothelioma earlier in 2008, nearly a year from his trial.

Mesothelioma is an almost always fatal cancer of the tissues lining the lungs. Currently there is no effective treatment for the disease, which is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In most cases, mesothelioma does not develop until decades after exposure. Scientists are not sure why this is, but they do agree that asbestos exposure does lead to the cancer. Patients typically only survive for 12 to 18 months after their diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Hilt sued 11 defendants for causing his exposure to asbestos during his work as a machinist in the 1960s through the 1970s. He claimed that the defendants either made, supplied, or distributed the asbestos-containing materials around which he worked during his career.

Hilt’s career involved a stint at the Bayshore plant for Schlage Lock Company from 1963 to 1965. After that time, he moved to work at the Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard until 1972. During the early part of the 1970s, Hilt worked as a machinist in the nuclear reactor compartments of the Sturgeon submarines at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. It was during this decade of working at these places that Hilt feels he inhaled asbestos fibers that led to his mesothelioma. Since after his time at the shipyards, he went to work at the U.S. Mint in San Francisco from 1972 until he retired in 2004.

The trial began early in November 2008, but two weeks into the proceedings, there were no longer any defendants still in court as the last of the eleven had chosen to settle out of court. Hilt and his wife declined to make a statement on the settlement.

Source: www.asbestos.net

News: Nov/02/2009 Thousands of residents and worker exposed to asbestos-contaminated

2010-01-12T18:09:00.006Z

ScienceDaily (Nov. 2, 2009) — Over nearly a century, thousands of residents and workers in Libby, MT, have been exposed to asbestos-contaminated vermiculite ore, leading to markedly higher rates of lung disease and autoimmune disorders, and causing to Libby in 2002 to be added to the federal Environmental Protection Agency's "National Priorities List."

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, leading a team of investigators from four institutions, are now launching three investigations into disease pathology in the town and to determine recommended cleanup efforts.

The Principal Investigator of the project is Stephen Levin, MD, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a nationally known expert in occupational medicine and asbestos-related diseases who has also served as PI of the nationwide World Trade Center Medical Monitoring & Treatment Program, coordinated by Mount Sinai since 2002.

"The asbestos-related disease in Libby is far more aggressive and rapidly progressive than what's seen in most asbestos-exposed workers, with high rates of cancers and severe effects on respiratory function," said Dr. Levin. "For that reason alone, the health problems in Libby are important to study and understand."

The first of the three programs will focus on particular risks of exposure to Libby asbestos during childhood, when lungs are still developing and maturing. This research may determine the level of environmental cleanup necessary in Libby to protect children, who are a particularly sensitive target population.

A second study will compare lung scarring among Libby residents who were exposed to asbestos only in their environment (and not at their place of employment) with lung scarring seen in workers with historically long-term, heavy exposure to common commercial forms of asbestos. Researchers hope to discover why Libby residents have advanced rates of lung scarring. They will also investigate the mechanism for asbestos-related scar formation and approaches to preventing scar formation after exposure has already occurred.

The third investigation will examine the relationships between autoimmune disorders, autoimmune antibody abnormalities, and CT-scan evidence of scarring lung disease in the context of exposure to Libby asbestos. Auto-immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus have been found to occur more frequently in Libby, and antibody levels to the body's own tissues are found in Libby residents more frequently and at higher concentrations.

Mount Sinai researchers will collaborate on the research effort, to be known as the Libby Epidemiology Research Program, with Libby's Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD), investigators from the University of Montana and Idaho State University, and a national scientific advisory group. The research will be supported by a grant of over $4.8 million from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) of the federal Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The crisis in Libby, a mining town whose history has been shaped by vermiculite-producing corporations since the 1920s, is the result of community-wide occupational and environmental exposure to Libby's naturally occurring vermiculite, contaminated with asbestos and asbestos-like silicate fibers up to 26% by weight.

Health effects have been detected not just in mine and processing plant workers, area lumber mill workers and loggers (from asbestos dusting of forests) and their families, but also among other Libby residents and their children. Many were exposed through ambient air or to mine tailings and other contaminated materials provided to the town by mining companies for the construction of ball fields, school running tracks, playgrounds, public buildings and facilities, as well as for private gardens and house and business insulation.

There is evidence that even relatively low-level exposures to Libby asbestos can cause serious scarring lung diseases, which markedly impair respiratory function, as well as asbestos-related cancers like lung cancer and mesothelioma, which occur at higher rates among the Libby population than elsewhere in the United States.

The health crisis potentially extends far beyond the borders of Libby, since millions of homes and businesses in North America have used vermiculite from Libby as attic insulation, fireproofing and soil conditioner. The ore from Libby was shipped by rail to 49 plant locations throughout North America and the Caribbean for processing, exposing many more workers and communities to the hazardous dust.

CARD Director Brad Black, MD, said, "The pattern of asbestos disease caused by exposure to Libby amphibole asbestos has led to excessive morbidity and mortality for the Libby population, and has been exceedingly challenging for the medical community. The severity of nonmalignant pulmonary disease in non-occupational exposure has been very unusual, raising question as to the potency of the unique amphibole mixture. We look forward to working with Dr. Levin and Mount Sinai to find some of these answers."

The Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2009, November 2). Asbestos Contamination: Health Impacts Of One Of The Nation's Largest Environmental Disasters. ScienceDaily. Retrieved January 12, 2010, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/11/091102172255.htm

Latest Treatments for Stage 4 Lung Cancer

2010-01-10T08:58:00.005Z

ASCO Releases Updated Treatment Guidelines For Patients With Stage 4 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

New recommendations on the use of chemotherapy to treat patients with stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were issued today by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

The evidence-based clinical practice guideline indicates a patient's physical age should not determine the cancer treatment he/she is given. Instead, ASCO recommends oncologists take other factors into account including physiological age and performance status when determining appropriate treatment for stage 4 NSCLC patients.

The new guideline also makes specific recommendations for first-line treatment of NSCLC including:

- Cisplatin (Platinol) or carboplatin (Paraplatin) may be used for first-line chemotherapy in combination with a second drug, such as docetaxel (Taxotere), gemcitabine (Gemzar), irinotecan (Camptosar), paclitaxel (Taxol), pemetrexed (Alimta) or vinorelbine (Navelbine).

- Bevacizumab (Avastin) is recommended with carboplatin plus paclitaxel in particular circumstances.

- Physicians may consider adding cetuximab (Erbitux) to cisplatin plus vinorelbine in first-line therapy in patients with a tumor which tests positive for EGFR protein.

- Gefitinib (Iressa) may be used as first-line therapy in patients with a tumor which tests positive for an activating EGFR gene mutation.

Recommendations for second-line and third-line treatment include:

- For second-line treatment, the guideline recommends the use of a single drug, eitherdocetaxel, erlotinib, gefitinib or pemetrexed.

- For third-line treatment, the guideline recommends erlotinib if a patient's performance status is 0 to 3 and he/she has not previously received erlotinib or gefitinib.

While patients with a tumor that tests positive for an EGFR mutation may receive certain drugs which target EGFR earlier in the course of their disease, the guideline does not recommend the routine use of molecular markers to choose treatment for patients with NSCLC because there is not enough evidence that doing so extends patients' lives.

"The use of molecular markers in treating people with cancer is a rapidly developing field with interesting potential," said Giuseppe Giaccone, MD, PhD, co-chair of the guideline expert panel and a physician and researcher with the National Cancer Institute. "ASCO is diligently monitoring clinical research involving the use of biomarkers to personalize the treatment of patients with NSCLC to ensure that its guidelines reflect all available high quality evidence."

The updated guideline also highlights disparities in treating members of minority populations who are diagnosed with lung cancer. Research has shown that only 36 percent of African Americans with stage 4 NSCLC receive first-line chemotherapy. Reasons for these disparities include socio-economic status, access to health services, other existing medical conditions and ineffectual communication between health care providers and patients.

"Ethnic and racial minorities experience worse outcomes compared to whites in all stages of lung cancer, and these disparities are frequently due to communication barriers between doctors and their patients," said Christopher G. Azzoli, MD, co-lead author of the guideline and physician at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. "When patients receive uniform clinical care, these disparities are minimized."

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women in the United States, and it is estimated that 159,390 people will die from lung cancer (88,900 men and 70,490 women) in 2009. NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, and a stage 4 diagnosis means that the cancer has spread to the opposite lung, and/or to distant sites within the body by way of the bloodstream and is no longer operable. Once released in the blood, NSCLC can spread anywhere in the body, but has a tendency to spread to the brain, bones, liver, and adrenal glands.

ASCO published its first evidence-based clinical practice guideline on treating NSCLC in 1997 and published an update in 2003. In conjunction with the latest update published today, ASCO has developed clinical tools and resources for oncologists that summarize the findings and recommendations. These resources include Decision Aid Tools to help physicians and patients have a better dialogue on the potential benefits, risks, and prognosis of treating stage 4 non-small cell lung cancer with chemotherapy, as well as a slide presentation and a summary in the Journal of Oncology Practice.

The updated clinical practice guideline, decision aid tools, and other resources are available at http://www.asco.org/guidelines/nsclc. ASCO also has developed a corresponding patient guide available on ASCO's patient web site, http://www.cancer.net.

This guideline is being published in the November 16 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO), the semi-monthly peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the world's leading professional society representing physicians who treat people with cancer.

Source
American Society of Clinical Oncology
www.medicalnewstoday.com

FACTS: Dr. Deborah Morosini speaks passionately about asbestos related cancer

2010-01-06T17:54:00.003Z

Dr. Deborah Morosini speaks passionately about asbestos related cancer

Lung cancer claims the lives of more Americans than all other cancers combined. In this powerful clip, hear research pathologist Dr. Deborah Morosini speak about lung cancer and its causes, especially the impact of exposure to toxins like asbestos.

WATCH VIDEOS here

Source: www.baronandbudd.com

FACTS: Asbestos related cancer deaths still rising in U.S.

2010-01-06T17:44:00.003Z

Asbestos related cancer deaths still rising in U.S.

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Deaths from malignant mesothelioma, a cancer primarily associated with asbestos exposure, are still on the rise in the US, federal health officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta reported Thursday.

In an analysis of death records, the CDC found that 18,068 deaths from malignant mesothelioma occurred between 1999 and 2005. During that period, the number of mesothelioma deaths per year climbed from 2482 to 2704.

The annual mesothelioma death rate during the 7-year period, however, held steady at around 14 per million.

According to a report in the CDC's weekly bulletin on illness and death, the vast majority of mesothelioma deaths involved white men. The state of Maine had the highest number of deaths at 173 with an annual rate of 27.5 per million.

Although a number of regulatory actions have been implemented to reduce the use of asbestos exposure, the lag time from initial exposure to disease onset can be as long as 40 years. The CDC expects the number of mesothelioma deaths to peak by the year 2010.

"Although asbestos has been eliminated in the manufacture of many products, it is still being imported and used in the US in various construction and transportation products," the report notes. "Ensuring a future decrease in mesothelioma mortality requires meticulous control of exposures to asbestos and other materials that might cause mesothelioma."

SOURCE: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, April 24, 2009. www.reuters.com

FACTS: Asbestos related cancers among 28,300 military servicemen in the Royal Norwegian Navy

2010-01-06T17:12:00.006Z

Asbestos related cancers among 28,300 military servicemen in the Royal Norwegian Navy

Introduction

This study focus on the incidence of asbestos-related cancers among 28,300 officers and enlisted servicemen in the Royal Norwegian Navy. Until 1987, asbestos aboard the vessels potentially caused exposure to 11,500 crew members.

Methods

Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) were calculated for malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer, and laryngeal, pharyngeal, stomach, and colorectal cancers according to service aboard between 1950 and 1987 and in other Navy personnel.

Results

Increased risk of mesothelioma was seen among engine room crews, with SIRs of 6.23 (95% CI = 2.51-12.8) and 6.49 (95% CI = 2.11-15.1) for personnel who served less than 2 years and those with longer service, respectively. Lung cancer was nearly 20% higher than expected among both engine crews and non-engine crews. An excess of colorectal cancer bordering on statistical significance was seen among non-engine crews (SIR = 1.14; 95% CI = 0.98-1.32). Land-based personnel and personnel who served aboard after 1987 had lower lung cancer incidence than expected (SIR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.64-0.92). No elevated risk of laryngeal, pharyngeal, or stomach cancers was seen.

Conclusion

The overall increase (65%) in mesotheliomas among military Navy servicemen was confined to marine engine crews only. The mesothelioma incidence can be taken as an indicator of the presence or absence of asbestos exposure, but it offered no consistent explanation to the variation in incidence of other asbestos-related cancers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:64-71, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Source: www3.interscience.wiley.com

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

2010-01-06T10:00:00.000Z

Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

Until recently, clinical trials for mesothelioma were difficult to conduct. The disease had a rapid onset and progression, leading to a relatively short survival period in which to conduct clinical trials. Also, there was a lack of basic understanding about the clinical biology of the disease and how the disease changed during progression.

Specific clinical measures were difficult to obtain in order to demonstrate the response to treatment. Recently, as part of the Alimta clinical trial, researchers developed new metrics that included factors other than just pleural thickening or abnormal breathing capability. A number of new clinical trials are now underway, many of them using these new measurement techniques. Hopefully these trials will lead to ways to stop or reverse the progression of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Trial Phases

Clinical trials for evaluating mesothelioma treatments are broken into four parts or phases. These Phases are described below (Source FDA).

Phase I
Researchers evaluate a drug or treatment in a small group of people/patients (20 to 80) for the first time to evaluate a drug's safety, determine the appropriate dosage range and identify side effects.

Phase II
Researchers treat a larger group of people/patients to determine if the drug treatment is effective and safe for the dosage levels determined in Phase I.

Phase III
Researchers administer the drug or treatment to a large group of people/patients to confirm the effectiveness of the drug and evaluate the drug's side effects. In this phase, the drug under evaluation will be compared to commonly used treatments. Additionally, researchers use Phase III trials to determine the proper protocol for the use of the drug when it is released for routine treatment.

Phase IV
Researchers perform follow-up studies from Phase III, primarily to obtain information that can be used when marketing the drug, such as drug risks, benefits and optimum use.

Historically, cancer has been treated with drugs that inhibit the inner workings of cells. Many of these treatments, including chemotherapy medications, can have devastating side effects due to the fact that they also interrupt the processes of non-cancerous cells. Gene therapy research is aimed at developing treatments to overcome this obstacle by targeting the specific proteins that cause cells to mutate and become cancerous.

Information on Enrollment

The clinical trial will be conducted at treatment centers around the world and is limited to people suffering from malignant mesothelioma who have not yet received treatment. Initially, the study will involve 33 people, but depending on preliminary results up to 78 participants may eventually be enrolled. Updated information can be obtained at clinicaltrials.gov or by contacting Dr. Raffit Hassan, Chief of Solid Tumor, Immunotherapy Section, Laboratory of Molecular Biology at the National Cancer Institute at 888-422-4743.

Mesothelioma occurs when a protein or set of proteins allow cells to grow in an uncontrolled manner. One such protein called mesothelin was found by researchers looking for differential expression of proteins between normal cells and mesothelioma cells. The increased presence of mesothelin on certain cells is thought to enable their growth and spread (metastasis), leading to cancers such as mesothelioma and pancreatic cancer. As a result, much of the mesothelioma research currently underway is focused on developing gene therapies or biopharmaceutical products that can directly block mesothelin function. In March 2009, biopharmaceutical company Morphotek announced the commencement of a Phase II clinical trial to evaluate MORAb-009 as a new therapeutic approach to treat mesothelioma. MORAb-009 is a monoclonal antibody — a replica of an antibody produced by the human body normally used to fight infectious disease.

Why MORAb-009?

The company's decision to move forward with its study of MORAb-009 was made after results in preclinical studies involving animals showed a slowing of tumor growth when combined with chemotherapy. Mesothelioma patients in the Phase I trial tolerated the treatment well, with minimal side effects. As a class, antibodies are generally well tolerated.

MORAb-009 is a monoclonal antibody that tackles mesothelioma in two ways: by stimulating the body's immune system and by blocking the function of mesothelin. Monoclonal antibodies are a relatively new type of therapy cancer treatment. They are developed by identifying antibodies known to have a specific purpose and adapting them in the laboratory in such as way as to develop the exact characteristics needed to attack the proteins causing or involved in maintaining the disease.

Goals of the Clinical Trial

The MORAb-009 study is designed to provide patients with mesothelioma therapy that goes beyond the normal standard of care. Participants will receive a mesothelioma treatment consisting of MORAb-009 in combination with chemotherapy drugs Alimta (pemetrexed for injection) and cisplatin. The company's objectives are twofold: to assess the efficacy of MORAb-009 and to gain further evidence of its safety.

The company is hopeful that patients will be able to continue taking MORAb-009 for a matter of months, if not longer. While the scheduled treatment duration is one year, patients will have access to the treatment for as long as they respond to the therapy and need treatment. The entire clinical trial is scheduled to last approximately four years. After the first 33 patients enroll, the company along with expert independent oncologists will determine if their response was any better than would be expected for patients taking Alimta and cisplatin alone. If that is the case, an additional 45 patients will enroll in order to give the study statistical power to demonstrate efficacy.

Treatment Centers

Mesothelioma is a fatal form of cancer affecting the lining of body cavities; most frequently the chest (pleural mesothelioma), but the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) and occasionally the heart (pericardial mesothelioma) are affected. At present time, the prognosis of mesothelioma patients is quite grim: 60 percent of patients die within one year of diagnosis. This is why studies such as the MORAb-009 clinical trial are so important. Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma should carefully weigh all options with their doctors to determine whether or not to participate in a clinical trial.

The treatment centers currently planning to participate in Morphotek's clinical trial are located in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, and additional treatment centers may be added. For the latest information on the MORAb-009 clinical trial and participating treatment centers, visit www.clinicaltrials.gov and type in: NCT00738582 or contact: 1-888-522-4743.

Editor’s Note: The clinical trials listed below are specific to mesothelioma and have participating centers in North America. The website of the National Cancer Institute lists additional mesothelioma trials being conducted abroad, as well as cancer clinical trials that include but are not specific to mesothelioma. For updated information on recruitment for any of the trials discussed in this article, visit clinicaltrials.gov.

Due to the ineffectiveness of single chemotherapy agents for the treatment of mesothelioma, most ongoing clinical trials now focus on evaluating combination treatments. Most of these trials attempt to assess the efficacy of drug therapies, although some involve surgery or other treatment combination modality combinations.

The following are typical strategies used by investigators when selecting combinations of drugs to test in clinical trials for the treatment of mesothelioma.

Different drug classes. Each drug in the combination must individually have at least some anti-tumor activity. Drugs belonging to different classes often have different mechanisms and are therefore more potent and more effective for combination treatment than drugs of the same class. For example, an alkylating agent, such as Platinol, in combination with an antimetabolite agent, such as Alimta, has a synergistic effect for fighting malignant mesothelioma. Using two types of alkylating agents would not be expected to have such a synergistic effect.

Different mechanisms. While using two types of the same agent may not be effective, when drugs within the same class function through different mechanisms, they may work well together. For example, antimetabolite drugs are designed to block the synthesis of DNA by impeding the nutrients and other chemicals needed for DNA metabolism. Two antimetabolite drugs that block different kinds of nutrients may be able to work together in a synergistic manner.

Different toxicity levels. Drugs that have different levels of toxicity dosage may also be evaluated for combination therapy. Drug combinations that can be given intermittently allow time for the patient to recover from the short-term side effects of the treatment.

Active Clinical Trials Involving Combination Treatments

The following is a list of ongoing clinical trials involving combination chemotherapy and other types of “combination treatments” for mesothelioma. Click on the links below each trial for updated information on eligibility and recruitment status.

Carboplatin, Bevacizumab and Pemetrexed in the First-Line Treatment of Patients with MPM

This mesothelioma clinical trial will assess the effectiveness of combination therapy involving Carboplatin, Bevacizumab (Avastin) and Pemetrexed (Alimta) in treating patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Study of CBP501 + Pemetrexed + Cisplatin in Patients with Solid Tumors (Phase I) and Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (Phase II)

This malignant pleural mesothelioma clinical trial will combine full doses of cisplatin and pemetrexed with escalating doses of CBP501. The study is open to patients with confirmed solid malignant mesothelioma that has spread (metastasized) or is unable to be removed through surgery. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Short Neoadjuvant Hemithoracic IMRT for MPM

Though radiation treatment reduces the recurrence of tumors in the area treated by more than 90 percent, most mesothelioma patients treated with radiation succumb to the disease anyway. Researchers have suggested this paradox may occur as a result of tumor cells contaminating adjacent areas during surgery. This study will attempt to determine the effectiveness of sterilizing these cells through short, intense doses of radiation to the chest prior to surgery. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Pleurectomy/Decortication with Intraoperative Intrathoracic/Intraperitoneal Heated Cisplatin with Sodium Thiosulfate

This mesothelioma trial will assess the viability of administering cisplatin as well as Alimta in patients undergoing surgery with heated cisplatin. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Cisplatin, Pemetrexed and Bevacizumab for Untreated Malignant Mesothelioma

This malignant mesothelioma clinical trial will attempt to determine the effect of a combination therapy on progression of mesothelioma. The therapy consists of cisplatin, pemetrexed and bevacizumab. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Study Using Chemotherapy Followed by Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy to the Pleura in Patients with Locally Advanced But Unresectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

For certain types of mesothelioma, radiation therapy is typically not used due to the risk of severe side effects, including lung damage (pneumonitis). A new radiation technique known as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has shown promise in reducing these side effects. This clinical trial will assess the safety of using chemotherapy followed by IMRT. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

An Efficacy Study of MORAb-009 in Subjects With Pleural Mesothelioma

This malignant pleural mesothelioma clinical trial will attempt to determine whether combination therapy involving cisplatin and pemetrexed is more effective when administered along with an experimental drug called MORAb-009. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Eloxatin® Plus Gemcitabine Chemotherapy for Mesothelioma

This clinical trial will test the response rate of patients treated with chemotherapy involving Oxaliplatin (ELOXATIN) and Gemcitabine. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Trimodal Lung-Sparing Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma

Current treatments for pleural mesothelioma often lead to reduced lung function, ultimately requiring removal of the lung, which can dramatically affect lung function and quality of life. This clinical trial will attempt to show that measures can be taken to prevent the necessity of lung removal. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Pemetrexed (ALIMTA) Plus Cisplatin Followed by Surgery and Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma

Investigators in this clinical trial will change the order in which the treatments that make up trimodality therapy (surgery, chemotherapy and radiation) are administered. They believe that treating patients with chemotherapy first, followed by surgery and radiation therapy, may reduce the recurrence of tumors and increase survival times. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Decitabine and FR901228 in Treating Patients with Advanced Lung Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Pleural Mesothelioma, or Lung Metastases

Different chemotherapy drugs attack tumor cells differently; as a result, treatment that involves two different types of chemotherapy drugs may destroy more tumor cells. Investigators in this trial, which focuses on patients with inoperable pleural mesothelioma and other types of cancer, will attempt to determine the best doses of two types of chemotherapy drugs: FR901228 and decitabine. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Cisplatin, Pemetrexed, and Imatinib Mesylate in Malignant Mesothelioma

The primary objective of this malignant mesothelioma clinical trial is to determine the maximum tolerable dose of a combination drug therapy comprised of cisplatin, pemetrexed and imatinib mesylate. These drugs attack mesothelioma using three different mechanisms. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Immunotoxin Therapy, Pemetrexed, and Cisplatin in Treating Patients with Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma that Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

This mesothelioma clinical trial will study the best dosage and the side effects of a mesothelioma combination treatment consisting of two chemotherapy drugs (cisplatin and pemetrexed) plus immunotoxin therapy, in combination with one another. Each component of the therapy attacks cancer cells in a different manner. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of Azacitidine in Combination with Temozolomide

This “dose-escalation” clinical trial will attempt to assess the safety and toxicity of a combination drug therapy (Temozolomide and Azacititine) used to treat mesothelioma and advanced soft tissue sarcoma. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Extrapleural Pneumonectomy /Pleurectomy Decortication, IHOC Cisplatin and Gemcitabine with Amifostine and Sodium Thiosulfate Cytoprotection for Resectable Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Following removal of pleural mesothelioma tumors, chemotherapy is used to kill tumor cells and stop them from dividing. This malignant pleural mesothelioma clinical trial will attempt to determine the safety of adding gemcitabine to the chemotherapy treatment. In addition, two “cytoprotection agents” will be used in an attempt to counter any potential side effects. (Click here to learn more about eligibility and recruitment.)

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Mesothelioma Definition

2010-01-03T09:45:00.015Z

Malignant mesothelioma (me-zo-thee-le-O-muh) is a rare cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium).

Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types based on what part of the mesothelium is affected, including:

Pleural malignant mesothelioma, which affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs and is the most common form of mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the tissue in your abdomen.
Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the tissue surrounding the heart.
Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis, which occurs in the lining around the testicles.

Between 2,000 and 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the United States each year, according to the American Cancer Society.

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Causes of cancer

2010-01-02T23:00:00.000Z

In general, cancer begins when a series of genetic mutations occur within a cell, causing the cell to grow and multiply out of control, when healthy cells would normally die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).

It isn't clear what causes the initial genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma, though researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk. It's likely that cancers form because of an interaction between many factors, such as inherited conditions, your environment, your health conditions and your lifestyle choices.

Benign pleural mesothelioma
A form of noncancerous (benign) tumor that can occur in the chest is sometimes called benign mesothelioma. However, this name is misleading. Benign mesothelioma doesn't begin in the same cells where the cancerous forms of mesothelioma begin. And, in a minority of cases, benign mesothelioma can be very aggressive, despite the term "benign." For this reason, some doctors now refer this tumor as solitary fibrous tumor.

Solitary fibrous tumor usually doesn't cause signs and symptoms. Most cases are inadvertently discovered during tests and procedures for other conditions. It isn't clear what causes solitary fibrous tumors, but they aren't linked to asbestos exposure. Treatment for solitary fibrous tumor typically includes surgery.

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

The symptoms of mesothelioma

2010-01-02T10:11:00.011Z

This article contains the symptoms and signs of mesothelioma that may vary depending on where the cancer occurs: pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and other forms of mesothelioma.

CT scan of a patient with mesothelioma, coronal section (the section follows the plane that divides the body in a front and a back half). The mesothelioma is indicated by yellow arrows, the central pleural effusion (fluid collection) is marked with a yellow star. Red numbers: (1) right lung, (2) spine, (3) left lung, (4) ribs, (5) descending part of the aorta, (6) spleen, (7) left kidney, (8) right kidney, (9) liver.

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs.

Pleural mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include:

Shortness of breath
Painful breathing (pleurisy)
Painful coughing
Chest pain under the rib cage
Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest
Unexplained weight loss
Dry (nonproductive) cough

Peritoneal mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include:

Abdominal pain
Abdominal swelling
A change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation
Lumps of tissue in the abdomen
Unexplained weight loss

Other forms of mesothelioma
Signs and symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are unclear. These forms are so rare that not much information is available. Pericardial mesothelioma signs and symptoms may include difficulty breathing or chest pains. Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis may be first detected as a mass on a testicle.

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if you have signs and symptoms that may indicate mesothelioma. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma aren't specific to this disease and, due to the rarity of mesothelioma, are more likely to be related to other conditions. If any persistent signs and symptoms seem unusual or bothersome to you, ask your doctor to evaluate them.

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Risk Factors

2010-01-02T01:00:00.000Z

Asbestos exposure: The primary risk factor for mesothelioma

Asbestos is a mineral that's found naturally in the environment. Asbestos fibers are strong and resistant to heat, making them useful in a wide variety of applications, such as in insulation, cement, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products. People who work around asbestos fibers are thought to have the greatest risk of mesothelioma.

When asbestos is broken up, such as during the mining process or when removing asbestos insulation, dust may be created. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers may settle in the lungs or in the stomach, where they can cause irritation that may lead to mesothelioma, though how exactly this happens isn't understood.

Mesothelioma risk is believed to be increased in people who are exposed to high levels of asbestos, in people who are exposed to asbestos over a long period of time and in people exposed to asbestos at a young age. It can take 30 to 40 years or more for mesothelioma to develop as a result of asbestos exposure.

Some people with years of asbestos exposure never develop mesothelioma. And yet, others with very brief exposure develop the disease. This indicates that other factors may be involved in determining whether someone gets mesothelioma or doesn't. For instance, you could inherit a predisposition to cancer or some other condition could increase your risk.

Possible risk factors
Factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma include:

Personal history of asbestos exposure. If you've been directly exposed to asbestos fibers at work or at home, your risk of mesothelioma is greatly increased.
Living with someone who works with asbestos. People who are exposed to asbestos may carry the fibers home on their skin and clothing. These stray fibers can put others in the home at risk of mesothelioma. People who work with asbestos should shower and change clothes before leaving work.
Smoking. Risk of mesothelioma is increased greatly in smokers who are exposed to asbestos.
SV40. Some research indicates a link between mesothelioma and simian virus 40 (SV40), a virus originally found in monkeys. Millions of people may have been exposed to SV40 when receiving polio vaccinations between 1955 and 1963, because the vaccine was developed using monkey cells. Once it was discovered that SV40 was linked to certain cancers, the virus was removed from the polio vaccine. Whether SV40 increases the risk of mesothelioma is a point of debate, and more research is needed.
Radiation. Some research links mesothelioma to the radioactive substance thorium dioxide, which was used along with X-rays to diagnose various health conditions from the 1920s to the 1950s. Thorium dioxide was later found to cause cancer and is no longer used.
Family history. A family history of mesothelioma may increase your risk of mesothelioma, but more research is needed to understand this theory.

There are different kinds of asbestos. The most common forms are:

"White" asbestos or Chrysotile which is obtained from serpentine rocks. Chrysotile is the type most often used in industry. It is more flexible than other types of asbestos and can be spun and woven into fabric. This is the kind of asbestos used in theatre curtains and firefighters' suits.
"Brown" asbestos or Amosite is a trade name for the amphiboles belonging to the Cummingtonite - Grunerite solid solution series, commonly from Africa.
"Blue" asbestos or Riebeckite is also known under the name of Crocidolite. Blue asbestos is commonly thought of as the most dangerous type of asbestos.

In the United States, chrysotile has been the most commonly used type of asbestos. Chrysotile was often present in a wide variety of materials, including but not limited to:

sheetrock taping
mud and texture coats
vinyl floor tiles, sheeting, adhesives and ceiling tiles
plasters and stuccos
roofing tars, felts, siding, and shingles
"transite" panels, siding, countertops, and pipes
acoustical ceilings
fireproofing
putty
caulk
gaskets
brake pads and shoes
clutch plates
stage curtains
fire blankets
interior fire doors
fireproof clothing for firefighters
refractory cements and papers

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER) and www.survivingmesothelioma.com

Treatments and Drugs

2010-01-01T12:41:00.008Z

What treatment you undergo for mesothelioma depends on your health and certain aspects of your cancer, such as its stage and location. Unfortunately, mesothelioma often is an aggressive disease and for most people a cure isn't possible. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage — when it isn't possible to remove the cancer through an operation. Instead, your doctor may work to control your cancer to make you more comfortable.

Discuss treatment goals with your doctor. Some people want to do everything they can to treat their cancer, even if that means enduring side effects for a small chance of an improvement. Others prefer treatments that make them comfortable so that they can live their remaining months as symptom-free as possible.

Surgery
Surgeons work to remove mesothelioma in instances where it is diagnosed at an early stage. Sometimes it isn't possible to remove all of the cancer. In those cases, surgery may help to reduce the signs and symptoms caused by mesothelioma spreading in your body. Surgical options may include:

Surgery to decrease fluid buildup. Pleural mesothelioma may cause fluid to build up in your chest, causing difficulty breathing. Surgeons insert a tube or catheter into your chest to drain the fluid. Surgeons may also inject medicine into your chest to prevent fluid from returning (pleurodesis).
Surgery to remove the tissue around the lung or abdomen. Surgeons may remove the tissue lining the ribs and the lungs (pleurectomy) or the tissue lining the abdominal cavity (peritonectomy) in order to relieve signs and symptoms of mesothelioma.
Surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible (debulking). If all of the cancer can't be removed, surgeons may attempt to remove as much as possible.
Surgery to remove a lung and the surrounding tissue. Removing the affected lung and the tissue that surrounds it may relieve signs and symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. This procedure also allows doctors to use higher doses of radiation against any remaining mesothelioma, since they won't need to worry about protecting your lung from damaging radiation.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Systemic chemotherapy travels throughout the body and may shrink or slow the growth of a pleural mesothelioma that can't be removed using surgery. Chemotherapy may also be used before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy) to make an operation easier or after surgery (adjuvant chemotherapy) to reduce the chance that cancer will return.

Chemotherapy drugs may also be heated and administered directly into the abdominal cavity (intraperitoneal chemotherapy), in the case of peritoneal mesothelioma, or into the chest cavity (intrapleural chemotherapy), in the case of pleural mesothelioma. Using this strategy, chemotherapy drugs can reach the mesothelioma directly without injuring healthy cells in other parts of the body. This allows doctors to administer higher doses of chemotherapy drugs.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy may also be used to reduce the signs and symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma that can't be removed through surgery.

Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy focuses high-energy beams to a specific spot or spots on your body. Radiation may reduce signs and symptoms in people with pleural mesothelioma. Doctors aim radiation at the entire chest to obtain the best result. However, many sensitive organs are in the chest, such as the heart, lungs, esophagus and spinal cord, so doctors must use low doses of radiation to spare these organs. Radiation therapy is sometimes used after biopsy or surgery to prevent mesothelioma from spreading to the surgical incision.

Radiation therapy is used occasionally in people with peritoneal mesothelioma to reduce signs and symptoms caused by the cancer.

Combination therapy
Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be combined. This aggressive therapy can be grueling and may not be appropriate for everyone. Younger, healthier people and those with earlier stage mesothelioma may be more able to endure this treatment. Combination therapy has shown the most promise in treating mesothelioma. However, most people will eventually experience a recurrence of this cancer despite aggressive treatment. Combination therapy has been used in both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

Clinical trials
Clinical trials are studies of new mesothelioma treatment methods. People with mesothelioma may opt for a clinical trial for a chance to try new types of treatment. However, a cure isn't guaranteed. Carefully consider your treatment options and talk to your doctor about what clinical trials are open to you. Your participation in a clinical trial may help doctors better understand how to treat mesothelioma in the future.

Clinical trials are currently investigating a number of targeted drugs. Targeted drug therapy uses drugs to attack specific abnormalities within cancer cells. Targets being studied in mesothelioma include a substance that cancer cells make to attract new blood vessels to bring the cancer oxygen and nutrients. Another target is an enzyme that helps cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy drugs. Researchers hope drugs that target these areas can help kill mesothelioma cells.

Treatment for other types of mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis are very rare and can be very aggressive. Early-stage cancer may be removed through surgery. Doctors have yet to determine the best way to treat later stage cancers, though. Your doctor may recommend other treatments to improve your quality of life.

Content provided by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER)

Surviving Mesothelioma

2009-12-30T12:49:00.006Z

In June 1997, Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma and given only a few months to live. He and his family were stunned by the shocking diagnosis, but they were not ready to give up. They researched different therapies for this cancer and learned about chemotherapy, surgery, radiation and various complementary and alternative treatments. From this knowledge, Mr. Kraus worked with his doctors to create his own regimen to heal his mesothelioma and twelve years later he is alive and enjoys a good quality of life.

In his book Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide, Mr. Kraus offers practical advice on what he did to beat the odds so that others can too. Today, "Surviving Mesothelioma" is the best-selling mesothelioma book in the world. Dr. Bernie Siegel said, "Paul Kraus' book has all the information a cancer patient needs to have in order to learn what survival behavior is about."

Get a free copy of this book from HERE.

Source: www.survivingmesothelioma.com

Asbestos

2009-12-29T12:56:00.006Z

Post moved HERE

Mesothelioma Lawsuit

2009-12-27T14:14:00.003Z

A mesothelioma lawsuit is filed by a victim of mesothelioma in order to recover damages associated with their development of this asbestos related cancer. A mesothelioma case can help a victim seek reparations for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering. Mesothelioma develops almost exclusively as a result of toxic exposure to asbestos. This disease can remain latent in a victim for up to forty years; therefore people who were exposed to asbestos in the environment in the 1950s may still be at risk for developing this disease.

Who Is At Risk?

Asbestos has been used to make more than 5000 products in the last few hundred years. Asbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals that is used to make products such as vehicle brakes and building materials. Asbestos is added to these products because it aids in heat and corrosion resistance. The deadly effects of asbestos have been known for over sixty years, though it continues to be used in a variety of industries. People in the construction, automotive, factory, railroad, shipyard, and custodial industries may all be at risk for the serious health consequences resulting from toxic exposure to asbestos.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal cancer that is caused by this harmful exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium that surrounds and protects the internal organs of the body and can affect any organ in the body including the brain, heart and reproductive organs. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common and affects the lining surrounding the lungs. This lining can become cancerous when asbestos is inhaled at toxic levels. Many times the disease is asymptomatic, though symptoms may include a persistent cough, pain in the chest area or shortness of breath.

Mesothelioma also affects the peritoneal lining of the organs in the abdominal cavity. This type of mesothelioma can also remain latent and asymptomatic for several years. If mesothelioma symptoms do develop they might include pain and swelling of the belly, nausea, bowel problems, weight loss, swollen feet, and anemia.

More Common in Men

Mesothelioma affects men three to five times more often than it affects women. It is diagnosed in patients at an average age of 50 to 70 years. Once diagnosed, mesothelioma is fatal. The average survival time after diagnosis is only one year, because the cancer is usually in its advanced stages by the time it is discovered. For people who are diagnosed earlier, about one half survive for two years and twenty percent make it to five years.

Why File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?

A mesothelioma lawsuit can be filed in the legal system in order to seek reparations for medical expenses, loss of income and pain and suffering associated with the development of this disease. Employers and manufactures of asbestos containing products can be held liable for the injuries that develop as a result, especially when they were aware of the risks associated with the level of exposure they caused or permitted. Contacting a qualified lawyer is often the first step in discovering what your legal rights and options might be in a mesothelioma lawsuit. For more information on a mesothelioma lawsuit, please Contact a Mesothelioma Attorney who is familiar with other mesothelioma cases.

Source: www.asbestosnews.com

Mesothelioma Patient Cures Self with Mushroom Extract

2009-12-26T17:14:00.002Z

A 73-year old malignant pleural mesothelioma patient in Japan has demonstrated that alternative therapies can result in the complete disappearance of a mesothelioma tumor. The patient took a mushroom extract as well as alternative parasympathetic nerve stimulation therapy. The complete disappearance of the tumor was found at the 29-month follow-up.

In September 2003 the patient underwent a cytoreduction pleurectomy, instead of an extrapleural pneumonectomy, due to the aggressiveness of the tumor. By May 2004 the patient was in poor condition, however, he refused continuance of chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

The patient instead began taking a mushroom extract containing Agaricus blazei Murill Kyowa (ABMK) in addition to alternative parasympathetic nerve stimulation therapy. The nerve stimulation is a modified acupuncture treatment that has shown immune system improvement. Four months after the start of the alternative treatments the tumor began to decrease. Over the next two years the tumor completely disappeared.

ABMK is an edible mushroom that has been used in other countries to treat a variety of diseases including cancer. It has been reported to inhibit tumor growth through both anti-angiogenic and immune-modulatory activity.

Sources:
Journal of Medical Case Reports
Surviving Mesothelioma
www.mesotheliomahelp.net

Mesothelioma Patient Profile: Charlene Kaforey

2009-12-25T13:27:00.002Z

Mesothelioma Patient Profile: Charlene Kaforey

We have traditionally used the “Recent News” section of this website to report on the latest findings in mesothelioma and asbestos research. Most of the stories we’ve covered have been summaries of the latest articles from scientific journals, so the content has been fairly technical. We will continue to report on all of the latest research, but we are also expanding the coverage to include stories about people who are living with mesothelioma. Research into the disease only exists because of the people who are battling it, so we want to highlight the men and women who are bravely fighting pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma, as well as the other, more rare forms of the disease: pericardial mesothelioma and reproductive mesothelioma.

Introduction

Charlene Kaforey is a woman from New York diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in July of 2007. She is currently undergoing immunotherapy under the guidance of a cancer center in the Bahamas and is responding very well to the treatment. We are proud to be able to tell Charlene’s story and believe her fight against mesothelioma is an inspiration to everyone diagnosed with the disease.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

Charlene underwent an abdominal CT in March of 2007 which revealed abnormal spotting in her lower left lung. Her doctors then scheduled a follow-up chest CT the following May, which showed even more spotting. Charlene’s doctors initially suspected lymphoma, but when this was ruled out they wanted to take a wait-and-see approach and then re-examine her in six months. Many people may have simply taken the doctors’ advice and waited, but Charlene demanded a lung biopsy and was given one. Her strength and independence of mind, on display here, will be seen throughout her story.

The results of Charlene’s lung biopsy shocked everyone involved, but her most of all. The biopsy revealed she had pleural mesothelioma and then further testing discovered it had spread to her lymph nodes, which is a sign of more advanced disease. Charlene thus found herself as a Stage III patient for a disease she had barely heard of. Not sure of just how to proceed, she soon began chemotherapy after consulting with some of the finest mesothelioma physicians in New York and Boston, who recommended that she complete the traditional, trimodal mesothelioma treatment protocol of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. However, Charlene was not sure if trimodal therapy was in her best interest. She consulted with her personal physicians and they, too, agreed that the standard therapies were probably not for her. In describing her decision, Charlene said, “When I looked at the research papers, I realized that the conventional approach of surgery, chemo, radiation, would likely give me at most 30 months, and more likely 12-18 months. I had very few symptoms. For me, surgery meant giving up my ‘good health’ forever and then probably having a short survival afterward. It didn’t make sense. Why go through all of that for the little time it gives in return?”

Mesothelioma Treatment with ITL Alternative Cancer Treatment Clinic

This is another example of Charlene’s independence and inner strength. Instead of beginning trimodal theory, Charlene researched alternative mesothelioma treatments and soon found information about the ITL Alternative Cancer Treatment Clinic, a cancer clinic located in the Bahamas that specializes in Immuno-Augmentative therapy, which is treatment that attempts to train the body’s own immune system to fight off the cancer. While this treatment is considered experimental by conventional medicine, ITL has been successfully treating cancer patients with this therapy for over 30 years. When Charlene discovered ITL, she continued to read more and more about the Clinic and its methods and she also took the opportunity to speak with other patients under ITL’s care. She recalled, “When I found the clinic, I talked to women with meso who were out 6 years from diagnosis with more advanced initial cases then mine. It was reason for hope.” Charlene then applied for the treatment through the clinic’s website and was notified of her acceptance into the program a few days later. With renewed hope, Charlene then began to plan for her travel to the Clinic.

ITL is located in the Bahamas, so patients who are accepted into the program must travel to the Bahamas for an eight week initial visit and then must return every 4 months for two weeks at a time. The Clinic itself is an outpatient facility, so people who come to the Bahamas for ITL must secure lodging at a site off the ITL campus. During Charlene’s stays at the Clinic, she has blood drawn every morning which is then analyzed and used to develop the serum and vaccine injections that she will be given to treat her mesothelioma. After the first eight week visit and then each subsequent two week visit, she returns home with sixteen weeks worth of medicine. When she completes this treatment cycle, she returns again to the clinic for a follow-up and the next round of injections, and will continue this process again and again.

When she’s home, Charlene personally manages her treatment injections. She makes six to twelve daily injections of the Immuno-Augmentative therapy, as well as weekly intravenous Vitamin C treatments. When she began therapy, Charlene also received 12 weeks of bi-weekly injections of dendritic cell and heat shock protein vaccines. ITL makes clear that their therapies are not a cure for one’s cancer, but are treatments that train the body’s immune system to mange the cancer and to contain its growth. This system requires one to make these injections for the rest of one’s life. Because of this, Charlene, and others patients at ITL, liken their Immuno-Augmentative treatments to insulin injections for diabetics.

Positive Results of Treatment

When we asked Charlene how the treatment was working for her, she said that her initial results have been very positive. She recently completed her first CT scan since beginning treatment and it has revealed less visible cancer, as well less fluid build-up and less pleural thickening than previously seen. Her physician team back home is excited about her progress, especially her oncologist, who is encouraging her to keep up with the treatments.

Not only is the treatment working, but it’s doing so without any significant side effects. Although some people are often quite tired when beginning the treatments, Charlene said she hasn’t had any treatment effects and feels better overall, especially when compared with the side effects she experienced undergoing chemotherapy.

Hope

We couldn’t be happier for Charlene and her family now that she is responding well to the treatment. A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be a devastating event for any family, but innovative doctors are doing everything in their power to change the treatment equation that has historically been characteristic of mesothelioma. Not everyone may respond to ITL’s treatments, but many people have responded and for them, ITL has offered the one thing that is so rarely found among people undergoing mesothelioma treatment: hope.

Hope is also what emerges most from Charlene’s story: hope for her and for her family, as well as hope for other people with pleural mesothelioma who find her story and are inspired by it. Charlene has spoken of the hope that ITL inspired in her and we can now speak of the hope that she may inspire in others as well.

When we asked Charlene if she would recommend ITL to others, she enthusiastically responded that she would. Her words here are a fitting conclusion to this story:

“I am thrilled with my results so far, even my oncologist said ‘its working! Keep doing it!’ ... I have met so many patients there [ITL] with great success stories. I now have confirmed positive results as well. I would strongly recommend this to others. Any one with cancer needs to give it serious consideration.”

We hope Charlene and her family the best.

Source: www.mesotheliomahelp.net

Mesothelioma Patient Stories

2009-12-24T13:40:00.002Z

Mesothelioma Patient Stories

The stories of patients who have contracted mesothelioma are very similar. Many visit the doctor due to persistent cough or for pain in the chest area and are surprised by the diagnosis. Few suspect the presence of this deadly cancer, as many are unaware of the dangers related to asbestos exposure and have not been exposed to asbestos for many years.

The links below provide insight into the lives of mesothelioma patients. Some of these stories are related to prominent individuals, and the names of these patients are disclosed. For others, the names have been withheld to protect the privacy of these patients.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.

2009-12-24T13:00:00.002Z

Admiral Zumwalt was the youngest Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in history when he took this post in 1970 at the age of 49. He was well known for his efforts to transform the Navy from an aristocratic organization to an egalitarian institution.

During Admiral Zumwalt's tenure as CNO, asbestos-related deaths of shipyard workers escalated dramatically. According to the Sinai School of Medicine in New York, asbestos related deaths, either from asbestos or mesothelioma, grew by 47%, from approximately 1,650 to 2,420 per year. From 1970 to 1979, it is estimated that more than 20,000 tradesmen died of asbestos exposure. And many more became debilitated and were forced to stop working and take disability or early retirement.

Zumwalt himself was exposed to asbestos on many different occasions. He had served on many vessels that contained asbestos insulation. Also, he had been stationed at the Pentagon during renovation that may have stirred up asbestos dust. This would ultimately lead to him contracting mesothelioma.

In an ironic twist, Admiral Zumwalt had campaigned within the Navy to ban the use of environmentally unfriendly chemical agents and became a staunch advocate of new measures to protect the environmental safety of Navy men and women. Much of his fervor derived from his son's untimely death, from cancer, at age 42. His son commanded a river boat in a part of Vietnam where Agent Orange had been used to defoliate vegetation. Admiral Zumalt had given the command to use the defoliant while he was commander of Navy operations in Vietnam. He was convinced that his son's cancer was a result of exposure to Agent Orange.

Admiral Zumwalt had watched a virtual epidemic of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases occur on his watch as CNO. He was taking steps to try to protect Navy personnel from future environmental hazards. His statements in the congressional record are paraphrased below.

…Every man and woman who puts on a Navy uniform faces possible injury or death in the national interest. Risk is part of their jobs, but it is the responsibility of the U.S. senators to ensure that the risk not be increased unnecessarily…

At age 78, almost 30 years after Admiral Zumwalt had assumed the position of CNO, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. After participating in a 5 kilometer run, he experienced a shortness of breath that was unusual for him. Two months later a chest x-ray showed a larger tumor in the lung and the diagnosis of mesothelioma was confirmed. At age 79, within 6 months of visiting the doctor due to shortness of breath, Admiral Zumwalt died of complications related to mesothelioma.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Judge William Forbes

2009-12-24T12:00:00.002Z

William Forbes was from Norfolk, Virginia. As a young man he enlisted in the Army and served in World War II. Returning to the vicinity of his home town, he went back to school, obtained his high school diploma and went to college. During his college years, he spent two summer breaks working as an apprentice in the nearby shipyards. As a rigger's helper, he worked mostly in the deep innards of ships that were under repair.

Of course, these ships were lined with massive amounts of insulation made of asbestos. It was during these summers that he decided to attend law school. It was also during these summers that his exposure to asbestos would later lead to malignant mesothelioma.

After graduating from law school and entering law practice for several years, Judge Forbes ventured into politics. He became the first city attorney for the new City of Chesapeake and, in 1975, became the area’s first judge. In 1980, he became a judge in the Circuit Court.

More than 20 years after becoming a judge, in 1997, he noticed a pain in his left shoulder that was suspected to be arthritis. He underwent treatment, but it persisted. In 1998, a thoracic surgeon noted a large lung tumor on an x-ray. Judge Forbes was given the diagnosis of mesothelioma. The judge learned that mesothelioma was a deadly disease that was related to asbestos exposure. He thought back to the days, almost 50 years earlier, when he had worked in the shipyards and was exposed to asbestos every day during his summer breaks. Late in late 1998, Judge Forbes died of mesothelioma.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Husband and Wife Both Develop Mesothelioma

2009-12-24T11:00:00.000Z

This patient story relates to a sailor who was exposed to asbestos during his long voyages on a battleship during the Korean conflict and during his many years of working in the shipyards in Norfolk, Virginia. The sailor recalls the massive amounts of insulation that lined the vessels' piping and heat-producing areas. He also recalls the "cloud of asbestos" that occurred each time the massive 16-inch guns were fired. The concussion of the guns created a fine haze of asbestos from overhead insulation.

This sailor encountered this asbestos haze many times during his 21-year Navy career. He had served aboard a number of ships that were put into the Norfolk shipyards for repair. During the repair, he helped remove and replace asbestos insulation so changes or upgrades could be expeditiously made to the boilers and engines.

After retiring from the Navy, he took a job as an air conditioning and refrigeration mechanic at the shipyard. And then went on to become the superintendent of shipbuilding. All of these positions placed him in the presence of asbestos and would eventually lead to his contraction of mesothelioma.

But, the asbestos dust also accumulated in his clothing. So, every night when he returned home from working in the asbestos filled environment, the dust on his clothing would expose his wife and children to asbestos. In 1985, over 30 years after his first exposure to asbestos, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Part of his lung was removed and he came through the surgery well.

He had survived a scare with mesothelioma and was taking time to spend with his wife and family. Fifteen years later, long after his mesothelioma tumor had been removed and the disease seemed to be stable for him, his wife was diagnosed with this deadly cancer. Her asbestos exposure apparently occurred due to the dust in his clothing many years earlier. Within a month of diagnosis, she died of mesothelioma.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Favorite Teacher

2009-12-24T10:00:00.001Z

This story is about a man who always wanted to teach. To obtain money for college, he worked as a laborer in an insulation plant. The insulation produced at this plant was derived from vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral. While generally considered a safe material, some strains of vermiculite are contaminated with asbestos.

The vermiculite mined in Libby, Montana, contains the highly lethal type of asbestos, called tremolite. At the insulation processing plant in Spokane, where this man labored for 23 months hauling tons of vermiculite ore from the railcars to the ovens, dust was constantly in the air. This dust was filled with asbestos laden vermiculite. Although the dangers of asbestos were known at the time, no one suggested that the employees of this plant wear respirators or other devices to reduce the dust inhalation.

Many decades later, this active teacher of middle school children was well liked and was an inspiration for many kids. He felt his health was excellent and spent a lot of time outdoors bicycling and playing basketball. In 1994, 36 years after working with the asbestos contaminated mineral, he started to experience abdominal swelling and shortness of breath.

In January 1995, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. He immediately had to start a process where he spent three days a week in chemotherapy. Then, he started losing weight and was constantly vomiting. Eventually, he had to give up his teaching at the Portland schools where he'd spent 28 years inspiring his students. By September 1995 he was admitted to the hospital and was on pain relievers all day. He died in early November 1995. Many of his seventh and eighth grade students could not understand his sudden passing and could not even spell the word mesothelioma. In the end, W. R. Grace, who owned the vermiculite plant, settled a wrongful death suit with the family of this "favorite teacher." The details of the settlement were not released.

His brother was also employed by the vermiculite plant, but worked outside, not inside where the dust was heaviest. So far, his lungs appear clear, but he and the rest of his family will have an asbestos cloud hanging over their heads for the rest of their lives.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Couldn't Catch His Breath

2009-12-23T23:00:00.000Z

A young man worked for a short time, a long time ago, at a vermiculite processing plant in the Portland, Oregon area. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that has been mined and processed for over 80 years. It is used in the insulation, construction, horticulture and agriculture industries. This substance is plentiful worldwide and is mined on almost every continent.

There are many productive and safe mines in the United States. Unfortunately, certain types of vermiculite also contain asbestos. Vermiculite from the mines in Libby, Montana contained a type of asbestos known as tremolite. The Libby, Montana mines were closed in 1990 due to health hazards related to asbestos exposure.

As a young laborer in Libby in 1951 and 1952, the man of this story worked shoveling wheelbarrows full of vermiculite into large vats and hoppers. Little did he know that this activity would contaminate his lungs with tremolite, a highly lethal type of asbestos. Although the air was filled with vermiculite (and asbestos) dust the whole time he worked at the processing plant, no one suggested he wear a respirator. As a young man, it never occurred to him there could be a serious danger.

Forty years later, he is paying for the two years he worked with vermiculite and asbestos. Due to asbestosis, an asbestos related disease that causes large areas of scar tissue in the lungs, he literally cannot catch his breath. The first time it happened, he was scared to death and had to call 911. As the asbestosis has progressed, he has begun to cough up blood routinely, and has had to call 911 on many occasions.

His heart attack in 1998 was attributed to his poor lung capacity. Now his lungs can transfer only half of the oxygen they could a decade ago. The heart, having to work extra hard to get oxygen to the body, was under great strain and failed, causing the heart attack. He has recovered from the heart attack and doctors have provided inhalers to open his airwaves, but that is all that can be done.

Fortunately so far there has been no sign of the asbestos related cancer, malignant mesothelioma. He and his wife live in fear of that diagnosis. Also, his wife, who routinely shook dust from his clothing while washing his uniform 40 years ago, now also has trouble breathing. Asbestos has dramatically affected how this couple will round out their lives.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Second Generation Victim

2009-12-23T22:00:00.000Z

A woman was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the relatively young age of 49. When she was initially diagnosed with lung problems, she feared the worst – that it was the same asbestos-related cancer, called mesothelioma, that had taken her father only a few years earlier.

She remembers well her father coming home almost every night covered with white dust. He put his clothes in a hamper for her mother to clean. She didn't know at the time the dust was called asbestos. She tries hard to remember how often she and her siblings played with her father and in the hamper area right after he returned from work. She is now convinced that she contracted the disease from inhaling this asbestos dust brought home from her father's workplace. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause for mesothelioma.

Her father worked as an asbestos installer. For 27 years he worked for a private contractor in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area; 25 of these years were spent at the Naval Shipyards in Portsmouth installing asbestos insulation in Navy ships. In his workplace, there were clouds of asbestos dust constantly. Although the risks of asbestos were becoming known, no effort was made by his employers to provide respirators to protect the workers' lungs. Also, no shower or locker room was provided that could have kept the dangerous asbestos dust from leaving the workplace and being carried to the employees' loved ones. He died in September 1991.

As with many mesothelioma patients, her symptoms struck suddenly. While cleaning house, she had trouble drawing a deep breath. She drove herself to an urgent care facility where her lung problem was at first diagnosed as pneumonia. But after X-rays, a much worse problem was suspected and she was hospitalized. Doctors removed fluid from her right lung. A few days later physicians made a preliminary diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.

Within a month she had to undergo surgery to remove part of her lung in hopes of eliminating the cancerous growth from the body. She recovered well from a nine-and-a-half-hour operation that completely removed her right lung, but the long term prospects are still unknown. After surgery, her worse fears were confirmed: She was positively diagnosed with malignant diffuse mesothelioma.

Although she worries about her mesothelioma and her prognosis, she is more concerned about her brother and sister, who also played near the hamper and with their father as he returned from work. Her own children may be at risk as well. They spent many nights in the home of their grandparents. She does not want her family to become three generations of mesothelioma victims.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Asbestos From Many Sources

2009-12-23T21:00:00.001Z

Mesothelioma is known to be caused by exposure to asbestos. When asbestos is inhaled, it becomes imbedded in the lung lining or pleura. Many mesothelioma patients worked in asbestos mines or in locations, such as shipyards or construction sites, where asbestos dust was common and could be easily inhaled. For this patient's story, he never worked in a shipyard or other places where asbestos dust was common. The exposure to asbestos leading to the development of mesothelioma is unknown.

This patient was a fit and athletic man in his mid-forties. He had recently moved from Virginia to San Francisco, where he had been appointed as a high level executive in a San Francisco based office. He spent his spare time in activities including long-distance cycling, canoeing and road racing (he had completed two marathons). Shortly after he moved to Northern California, he and his family were spending time camping in and exploring the Big Sur area of the California coast. This is when he first noticed the pain in his side. Although he tried to ignore it, the pain persisted and soon his breathing became labored. In April 1997, he was diagnosed with metastatic adenocarcinoma, or a cancer of unknown origin.

In November of 1998, the doctors confirmed the worst possible diagnosis: mesothelioma cancer. The man learned that he had contracted a deadly disease, and that this disease had a mortality rate of 100%. The next four years were a struggle against this very persistent foe.

In January 1999, only two months after the confirmatory diagnosis, this patient underwent a twelve hour operation to remove the lining, or pleura, or his left lung and as much of the ever-expanding cancer tumor that could safely be removed. A year later he moved back to Virginia into a house near the coast. He once had been a long distance runner and cyclist, now he could hardly walk the two blocks to the beach without becoming exhausted.

Typically, mesothelioma patients die within a year of the disease onset. This patient was determined to fight it and enrolled in a clinical trial at Duke University for mesothelioma treatments. Initially the cocktail of anti-cancer medications, combined with the radiation therapy, seemed to halt the spread of the mesothelioma cancer cells. But after a short reprieve, the cancer again rapidly expanded.

Shortly after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, this patient met with a group of lawyers. This legal team questioned him extensively to determine the source of the asbestos exposure. He had never worked in an asbestos mine or plant or in an area where asbestos dust was common, such as a shipyard or construction site. However, his father had worked in the shipyards and had come home with asbestos dust on his clothes. But others in his family had not contracted the disease, and it was hard to determine if this asbestos exposure had lead to his condition.

He had also worked on model cars as a younger man, doing his own brake work. Brake pads at that time were lined with asbestos. Additionally, he could have been exposed to asbestos when he worked in an auto parts store, where brake work was also done. But since there is limited scientific knowledge concerning the levels of asbestos required to cause mesothelioma, the source of the deadly disease for this man remains unknown.

In March 2001, he passed away. He had received a large legal settlement for the mesothelioma injury he had incurred, but this settlement could not replace his health or the loss to his wife, family and friends.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

He Wrote the Book on Asbestos Safety

2009-12-23T20:00:00.001Z

As an electrician's apprentice in the Newport News Navy Shipyard, this safety-minded man noticed that welders wore ponchos lined with asbestos cloth to protect their clothing from welding sparks. He also remembered that asbestos dust was mixed with water so that it could be applied to the bulkheads, or walls, and the officers' quarters as a fire retardant.

After working as an apprentice for four years, he went away to college to study safety engineering and returned to the shipyard as its safety engineer. As a safety official, he learned that asbestos companies had known of the dangers of asbestos since the 1930s and 1940s. He learned that when asbestos dust was inhaled, it could lead to asbestos lung cancer and diseases such as asbestosis and pleural mesothelioma. He also remembered that as an apprentice, no one warned the workers, who installed asbestos insulation, to wear respirators, or of the dangers of the asbestos insulation and fire retardant material.

This background lead this patient to be the first to publish a book about asbestos exposure safety at the Newport News Shipyard. He was responsible for ensuring that the workers were wearing the proper protective respirators and overalls. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) had recently created standards for occupational exposure of hazardous materials, including asbestos exposure, and he used this as a model to create the safety manual for the workers who were his responsibility.

In an ironic twist of fate, this patient awoke one morning with a pain in his right side, like a hot knife slicing through him. A month later the biopsy showed that he was suffering from malignant pleural mesothelioma. He was furious with the diagnosis because he knew the callous way in which the employers had exposed workers, including him, to asbestos. His mind flashed back to his years as an apprentice when he wore the asbestos ponchos without a second thought, and when he watched as asbestos dust was applied as a fire retardant. He also thought about how he heckled the insulation workers to wear their respirators and to properly remove their coveralls before going home.

Shortly after the diagnosis, he underwent a lengthy operation where surgeons removed his right lung and most of the surrounding tissue. After the surgery, this vibrant man can no longer use his right side and has trouble speaking.

His asbestos safety book may have protected many asbestos workers who followed him, but unfortunately his own book came too late to help protect him

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Asbestos Accountant

2009-12-23T19:00:00.001Z

The asbestos mines of South Africa are where the mesothelioma epidemic was originally discovered in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer, yet an inordinately high number of cases have been diagnosed in the asbestos mining region of South Africa. The high number of cases led researchers to specifically investigate the link between asbestos exposure and the onset of mesothelioma. Since there is a delay between asbestos exposure and the early symptoms of mesothelioma, development of a causative link between the two was difficult. The research was further complicated by the political powers. They did not want evidence that linked asbestos to mesothelioma lung cancer to cause a negative economic impact in this region.

The first scientific paper was presented and published in 1962 showing that the inhalation of asbestos lead to the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma and asbestosis. Even though it was well known that many asbestos workers had asbestos lung cancer and conclusive evidence pointed to asbestos as the cause of mesothelioma, little was done to stop asbestos exposure in and around the minds.

This patient story is about a man who now owns an architectural cement company, but was once an accountant in Johannesburg. His company did auditing work for several asbestos mining companies. He personally worked at several of these mining companies where he received asbestos exposure. He worked at some of the mines two days a week and others once a month, consolidating the financial records.

This patient remembers his visits to the mines well, where he noticed workers packing bags of asbestos by hand as asbestos dust filled the air. The storeroom where he went to cross-check information had asbestos dust on all the surfaces and even in the rafters. Anyone who worked in this facility would have been exposed to massive quantities of asbestos dust on a regular basis. Inhalation of this dust and getting it on clothing was inescapable. He worked in this environment two days a week for six years, beginning the same year when the conclusive scientific evidence showed the link between asbestos and mesothelioma: 1962.

Now, 40 years later, he has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. The blue dust and asbestos fibers he had inhaled while at the mines had settled in his lungs. Over time, the asbestos fibers caused inflammation and the development of cancerous tumors. Mesothelioma cancer cell tumors grow rapidly after the onset of the disease, causing the lungs to fill with fluid and considerable pain and discomfort. The asbestos accountant must now visit the doctor regularly to have the lungs drained.

Courses of chemotherapy and radiation have been started, but the prognosis is not good. There is no cure for this disease, and most patients perish within a year of the mesothelioma diagnosis. This patient had hoped to wind down his time at this architectural cement firm, leaving the company to his sons. Now he and his family take each day at the time, not bothering to ask the doctors his true prospects.

He will claim compensation for his mesothelioma injury, and his medical bills are covered by insurance. However, no amount of money can restore his health or buy back the time he would have had with his family.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

He Didn't Even Work With Asbestos

2009-12-23T18:00:00.001Z

Trenton, New Jersey has never had any plants that processed asbestos. Even workers who knew about the dangers of asbestos would not have hesitated from taking a relatively high paying job in the W.R. Grace vermiculite processing plant.

Exposure to asbestos is known to be the primary cause of serious lung diseases known as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestos consists of many tiny fibers, when inhaled, lodge in the lungs. Over time, these lodged fibers cause inflammation and lead to debilitating asbestos lung cancer.

Vermiculite is a commonly mined and processed mineral, with safely operating plants on virtually every continent. However, certain types of vermiculite contain significant portions of asbestos. Most notable is the vermiculite that originated in the Libby, Montana. Libby, MT vermiculite mines contained tremolite asbestos, one of the most dangerous forms of asbestos fibers. This vermiculite plant was closed in 1990 after it was found that the mines in Libby were dangerous due to the high levels of asbestos.

This story is about a young man from Puerto Rico who moved to New Jersey in hopes of a better life for himself and his eventual family. He worked as a mixer in a W.R. Grace zonolite processing plant. This plant processed some 350,000 tons of vermiculite ore that was shipped from the vermiculite mine located in Libby, Montana. The vermiculite was used for fireproofing and concrete filler from 1948 until the plant closed in 1994. By 1970, he was making enough money to send some back to his family in Puerto Rico and settle down with his wife in Trenton.

But, now, long after the plant closed, asbestosis afflicts this worker. His breathing is labored and daily tasks are difficult. He has also suffered a stroke. Although there is no direct relationship between asbestos exposure and the occurrence of his stroke, it is well known that patients who suffer from asbestosis typically have highly stressed cardiovascular systems. This is due to the asbestosis filling the lungs constantly with fluid. Blood pressure rises and the heart must work extra hard to force blood through the filled lungs. The stroke could be related to this cardiovascular stress.

This worker and his family are troubled by the fact that W.R. Grace provided little information about the dangers of the plant. Although he was provided with routine medical examinations, the results were inconsistent and contradictory. Examinations in the early 1980's indicated that he had early signs of asbestosis, but as recently as 1991 the physicians cleared him for work with hazardous materials. And, says his wife who now speaks for him because of the stroke, By the time we knew that he definitely had asbestosis, the damage was already done.

He and his wife have three children and the idea of relaxing into retirement is now no longer possible. He can no longer do the woodworking hobby that he loves and their dreams of traveling to Puerto Rico to visit relatives will never happen. They feel like their world has been taken from them due to the deadly asbestos fibers that contaminated the plant

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

USS Forrestal (CV-59) Evolution 1981

2009-12-23T16:00:00.001Z

Asbestos was widely used in the ship building industry from the 1930's until asbestos use was discontinued in the early 1970's. Asbestos use was particularly high during the build-up of the United States Navy during World War II. Asbestos was a primary building component of every ship. Its high tensile strength, combined with its characteristics as an excellent fire retardant and temperature insulator, made it a common material in almost every section of each ship.

Asbestos is also now known to be one of the primary causes of mesothelioma, and another serious and deadly lung disease, asbestosis. Both of these diseases derive from the inhalation (or ingestion) of asbestos and the subsequent lodging of the asbestos fibers in certain membranes in the body organs. Over time, the lodged asbestos fibers lead to scarring and in some cases, malignant mesothelioma cancer.

This story relates to sailors, primarily radiomen, who worked in MAINCOMM (or main communication room) of the USS Forrestal. These men may have had exposure to high concentrations of asbestos dust over a relatively short time period. The routine on the USS Forrestal, as with other major Naval vessels, was to deploy on cruises for typically 6 to 9 months. Upon the return from a cruise, the ship would undergo an evolution. During this evolution, maintenance would be done on the ship and the equipment to extend the working life of the vessel. This maintenance would include stripping and repainting many areas of the ship, replacing the flight deck, etc.

On one such evolution in 1981, the tiles in the MAINCOMM area were removed and replaced. Although the initial evaluation of the tiles suggested that they were not made of asbestos, this was incorrect. Typically, asbestos tiles measured 9 X 9. The green tiles on the Forrestal were larger and thus it was assumed that they were not made of asbestos. During this evolution, as the tiles were removed with jack hammers and other pneumatic equipment, dust became thick in the air of MAINCOMM. Furthermore, after the first layer of tiles was removed, it was discovered that there were multiple layers of tiles underneath, increasing the amount of asbestos dust that circulated in the air. MAINCOMM, by virtue of the highly sensitive information that flows through this communication center on an aircraft carrier, is a tightly enclosed area. This enclosed area did not allow for much circulation or clearing of the dusty air.

At first, the men working on the tiles in the MAINCOMM area were provided thin paper masks and eye protectors. But, as several men become ill from the heavy dust concentration in the air, it was determined that this protective equipment was insufficient. Eventually the Navy supplied the crewmen with the appropriate breathing masks to guard against the dust inhalation. Although the exposure to the dust occurred for a relatively short time period, many of these crewmen inhaled large quantities of the dust.

Now, years later, the crewmen have learned that the short time and heavy concentration of asbestos exposure could be associated with the development of asbestos-related diseases, such as asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma. Although the asbestos tile removal required only about two weeks, the crewmen are now reporting lung problems.

One such crewman, who was a supervisor in the MAINCOMM, has been diagnosed with asbestosis. This radioman was directly involved with the asbestos tile removal during the 1981 evolution and has had no other known exposure to asbestos. Studies now show that there is no minimum time period of asbestos exposure that can lead to asbestos lung cancer. It is thought that the primary factor related to the incidence of these diseases is the amount of asbestos inhaled, not necessarily the time period of the inhalation. Other crewman of the Forrestal, and other ships, should be aware of how this type of asbestos exposure can potentially lead to asbestos-related diseases. During physical and medical examinations, the examining physicians should be told of the previous asbestos exposure.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Asbestos Blue

2009-12-23T15:00:00.001Z

He was only a child when it begun
And he played as children do
In his yard with his toy cars and tip trucks
But his sand was asbestos blue…

In December 1999, my husband and I were walking home from a game of lawn bowls when I became aware of his shortness of breath. I was surprised and concerned when he told me that he had experienced this on several occasions. Believing this to be due to chest a infection, I made a doctor's appointment for him the next day.

Chest X-rays revealed fluid on the lungs, over two litres of which was drained, giving Brian immediate relief, but it was a tense wait for the pathology results. Through the Internet I had become aware of several conditions which may have been responsible for fluid on the lung; these included asbestos-related diseases. Brian had lived in Wittenoom as a child and I was afraid of his diagnosis; I prayed that he had pleurisy or pneumonia but the pathology results revealed that there were mesothelioma cancer cells present.

When Brian finally received his diagnosis, my worst nightmare became reality. He had pleural mesothelioma, a terminal cancer of the lung caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust. We found it inconceivable that the disease was the result of Brian inhaling asbestos dust as a child and that it had lain dormant for forty-five years before becoming lethal.

Throughout the course of our married life my deep love for Brian and my determination to resolve difficulties had seen us through many trials. I found it hard to believe that nothing could be done to save his life and begun surfing the Internet for information regarding mesothelioma, all the time praying for a miracle, hoping against hope to find a doctor who had successfully operated on or cured someone of it.

It was a sad realization to discover that for Brian there were no miracles; however, I learned a lot and it helped me to accept that he was dying. With my acceptance came a fierce determination to ease his burden. I continued to seek information regarding mesothelioma and the pain and symptoms Brian would experience, due to the progression of his disease. In this way, I came to understand the importance of pain management and symptom control and realized that although I could not stop Brian from dying - I could help him to live.

Together, we achieved for Brian, a quality of life few thought possible considering the nature of his disease. Testament to this, despite his prognosis of three to nine months, Brian survived for 2 years, remained active and alert, drove his car for eighteen months after diagnosis and was not bed bound until three short days prior to his death.

Brian's courageous battle with mesothelioma came to an end on the 24th December 2001; he passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was 54 years old.

This article was written by: Lorraine Kember - Author of Lean on Me Cancer through a Carer's Eyes. Lorraine's book is written from her experience of caring for her dying husband in the hope of helping others. It includes insight Pain Management and Symptom Control plus excerpts and poems from her personal diary. Highly recommended by the Cancer Council. Lean on Me is not available in bookstores - For detailed information, Doctor's recommendations, Reviews, Book Excerpts and Ordering Facility - visit her website http://www.cancerthroughacarerseyes.jkwh.com

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Steve McQueen

2009-12-23T14:00:00.000Z

The average post-diagnostic survival time of malignant mesothelioma sufferers is between one to two years. Traditional mesothelioma treatments have had limited success in eradicating the disease and minimal success in extending patients' survival time. Mesothelioma sufferers are looking for new and experimental treatment options through which to beat the disease that has thus far been incurable.

Twenty-five years ago, malignant mesothelioma took the life of Hollywood legend Steve McQueen. McQueen is remembered for his roles in such movie classics as The Great Escape, The Sand Pebbles, Bullitt, The Getaway, and Papillon. What few people realize is that the superstar's life was cut short at the age of 50 by the asbestos-related disease.

The development of mesothelioma is related to asbestos exposure. A patient's history of asbestos exposure can range from short-term to long-term prior to the development of mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is a highly-aggressive cancer that can rapidly metastasize (grow/spread) in patients, limiting post-diagnosis survival time.

McQueen had been surrounded by asbestos all of his life. As a young adult, McQueen was employed in the construction industry, where asbestos was often present at job sites. While serving as a Marine, McQueen worked at shipyards where he was responsible for stripping asbestos off the pipes used in naval ships (asbestos was used in the insulation of modern ships built before 1976). It has also been suggested that McQueen, an avid car racer, may have been exposed to asbestos when repairing the brake linings of race cars and/or wearing the protective helmets and driving suits associated with the sport.

McQueen developed a chronic cough in 1978 and had difficulty breathing on a movie set the following year. McQueen barely ran 15 yards during the filming of an action sequence before requesting oxygen assistance. Later in 1979, doctors diagnosed him with mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lining of the lungs related to asbestos exposure.

The chief of oncology at a prominent hospital in Los Angeles told McQueen that he contracted a high-grade malignancy of mesothelioma. He was told that such a cancer could be virulent, spreading from his lungs to other organs throughout his body. The oncologist knew of no patient who had been cured of mesothelioma. After the gloomy prognosis, McQueen's doctor treated him with radiation therapy to try to shrink the tumor.

Frustrated by the results from his treatments, McQueen met with Dr. William D. Kelley, an orthodontist who had devised a controversial treatment regimen to cure his own pancreatic cancer. The treatment was based on the notion that cancers arose and grew from a lack of enough pancreatic enzymes.

At the time he was diagnosed in 1979, McQueen's doctors told him that there was no cure for malignant mesothelioma. They ruled against mesothelioma chemotherapy and surgery as treatment options, leaving McQueen with no choice but to seek out alternative treatments. In July of 1980, McQueen traveled to Rosarita Beach, Mexico, to be treated in clinic by doctors using Dr. Kelley's regimen. He underwent a torturous three-month regimen that involved fetal animal injections, laetrile treatments (controversial drug made from apricot pits), ingestion of over 100 vitamins per day, coffee enemas, massages, and spiritual sessions.

In October of 1980, McQueen was encouraged by the improvement of his condition. He publicly thanked Mexico for showing the world a new alternative to treat cancer and for saving his life.

McQueen's resurrection was short-lived. In November of 1980, doctors operated to remove cancerous masses from McQueen's abdomen and neck. McQueen survived the surgery, but he died the next day.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Auto Mechanic

2009-12-23T13:00:00.001Z

Malignant mesothelioma is a latent disease that can take anywhere from 30- to 50-years to become fully developed and symptomatic. The average post-diagnostic survival time of malignant mesothelioma sufferers is between one to two years. Traditional mesothelioma treatments have had limited success in eradicating the disease and have produced minimal success in extending patients' survival time.

Malignant mesothelioma sufferers, when faced with such dyer news, often tend to sit back and wait for the disease to claim them. There are victims who choose not to sit back, instead fighting to live and embrace each moment while striving to defy the odds by recovering from a disease that has thus far been incurable. This is the story of one such man.

In 1963, a Guatemala native moved to the United States in search of a better life. He found steady employment from the City of Los Angeles as an automobile mechanic. In 1982, he proudly became a United States citizen. He had indeed found a better life, until the summer of 2002, when surgeons informed him that a biopsy revealed a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.

Asbestos, a naturally occurring fiber, was widely used by the auto industry as an insulator and all-purpose fire retardant throughout the 1970s. Its heat-resistant properties made it the perfect material for brake pads and shoes. The use of asbestos waned in the 1980s and 1990s when federal safety officials warned that the inhalation of asbestos can lead to serious respiratory diseases like mesothelioma.

That summer, the ex-automobile mechanic developed a dry, hacking cough that he could not shake. He began to feel unusually fatigued. He continuously sought medical attention to address his concerns. Repeatedly, his true pleural mesothelioma diagnosis was missed or misdiagnosed. Asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis he was misdiagnosed with them all.

By August, his symptoms had not improved, so a tuberculosis test was scheduled. A positive reading prompted the ordering of a chest x-ray. The image revealed extensive pleural thickening as well as a pleural effusion in the left cavity. He was admitted to a local hospital where he underwent a tissue biopsy.

After diagnosis of mesothelioma, oncologists offered him several treatment options, two of which included radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Surgery was not recommended at the time because the tumor nodule inside the lung was too large to remove. Surgeons recommended using mesothelioma chemotherapy in hopes that the tumor, over time, would shrink enough in size to be surgically removed. However, they could only promise a small chance of his survival being extended to 18-months after the surgery. Before deciding on a treatment, he had to consider that recovering from chemotherapy could take five months and recovering from surgery could take an additional five months. He was left with the grim reality that the amount of pain and discomfort he would be forced to endure would only add a few months onto his life (discounting 10 months of pain and suffering as living).

Selecting to shrink the tumor, Alimta chemotherapy treatments (designed to attack malignant mesothelioma) were initiated. The treatments involved the intravenous injection of Alimta through a vein for a 10-minute period, once every three weeks. The dosage was based on medical condition, body size, and response to medication.

After months of chemotherapy treatment with Alimta, his body weight withered away to 124 pounds and he lost the desire to eat. In January of 2003, a chest x-ray revealed a small shrinkage to the tumor. Hearing the encouraging news regarding the x-ray renewed his fight to eat more and regain some strength.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Paul Gleason

2009-12-23T12:00:00.000Z

Best known for his sardonic performances in movies like The Breakfast Club, Trading Places and Van Wilder, Paul Gleason was more than just an actor; he was an athlete, poet, husband and father. After a long and courageous battle against malignant pleural mesothelioma, Mr. Gleason finally succumbed to the rare asbestos cancer on May 29, 2006 — he was 67.

Malignant mesothelioma is a relatively rare type of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells that make up a tissue lining that lubricates and protects three of the body's largest cavities: the chest cavity (the pleura), the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) and the heart sac (pericardium). The only known cause of the fatal disease is exposure to a hazardous mineral group called asbestos.

Before Mr. Gleason decided to pursue a career on the big screen, he had aspirations of becoming a Major League Baseball star. He starred for years in the minor leagues before happening upon the film that would change the course of his life: 1961's Splendour in the Grass. It was to be the start of an illustrious 40 years in Hollywood starring in film and television of all genres.

Little is known about how and when Mr. Gleason might have come into contact with asbestos and exactly how much exposure caused him to develop malignant pleural mesothelioma. It is known that mesothelioma is a latent asbestos disease that can take anywhere from 30- to 40-years to fully develop and become symptomatic. As such, Mr. Gleason's development of pleural mesothelioma could be attributed to some type of asbestos exposure the actor faced as a young man between the ages of 25 and 35 (mesothelioma is typically fatal within one to two years after the onset of symptoms).

Paul Gleason's death at the hands of malignant pleural mesothelioma further underscores the need for additional mesothelioma research and the development of new mesothelioma treatment modalities. Thus far, mesothelioma has proven to be an incurable disease when treated using traditional cancer therapies. It is believed that additional research and study could yield a breakthrough in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma.

Paul Gleason is survived by his loving wife and his two daughters. He was truly loved and will be missed.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Australian Law Firm Finds Source of Asbestos Exposure

2009-12-23T11:00:00.001Z

The latent nature of most asbestos diseases makes it incredibly difficult for certain victims to pinpoint their source of exposure. Asbestos lawyers are adept at determining the link between a given patient's asbestos disease and the source of exposure. Such was the case of an 83-year old Australian man who recently passed away after a courageous yearlong battle against malignant mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the serous membrane lining three of the body's largest cavities: the lung cavity (pleura), the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) and the heart sac (pericardium). A given case of mesothelioma is classed in accordance with the cavity it affects, yielding three distinct types of mesothelioma: pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. The development of malignant mesothelioma has been exclusively linked with exposure to asbestos.

The man in question spent his younger years working a blue-collared job at an ice cream factory based in Carrington St, Adelaide. The factory was operated by Adelaide Milk Supply Co-operative Ltd, or Amscol, a now-defunct ice cream producer and milk distributor. The plant was once the major supplier for the southern part of Australia, though it folded in 1986 when it was deregistered because of waning financial success.

After being diagnosed with mesothelioma in July of 2005, the man immediately sought answers as to how and when he might have come into contact with asbestos. Believing he had never been exposed to asbestos, the man opted to contract an asbestos lawyer specializing in mesothelioma lawsuit litigation to shed light on his case. The asbestos lawyer and his team of experts conducted an extensive investigation of the man's personal and occupational history and concluded that he was exposed to asbestos while working at the Amscol factory.

As night shift manager at the factory, the man routinely came into contact with insulated pipes lining the various machines operating within the factory. Not surprisingly, these pipes were insulated with asbestos, a material that was commonly used for such industrial purposes. It was further discovered that asbestos was used in the roofing materials, adding to the overall workplace presence of the hazardous mineral. Asbestos dust riddled the factory air, where it was continuously inhaled by unsuspecting employees. The workers were not made aware of any possibility of asbestos exposure; nor were any safeguards set in place to ensure their safety. As such, Amscol and any related entities find themselves liable for all injuries and/or deaths resulting from occupational asbestos exposure within the factory.

The man's personal injury asbestos lawsuit was filed in January of 2006, at which point it was fast-tracked because of his rapidly deteriorating health. His son was now required to take care of him and his lungs had weakened to such an extent that he was forced to use an oxygen machine to help him breath during his final months. The overwhelming proof of occupational exposure was such that the man's lawsuit was quickly settled for an undisclosed amount of money. Unfortunately, he lost his battle with malignant mesothelioma within two weeks of the decision. His lawsuit is viewed as a groundbreaking triumph, opening the door to future lawsuits filed by other former Amscol employees suffering from asbestos disease. His son believes that to be his father's true victory.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Record Win in Asbestos Exposure Wrongful Death Suit

2009-12-23T10:00:00.000Z

One of the difficulties in treating malignant mesothelioma is the latent nature of the rare asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to fully develop and become symptomatic after initial exposure to asbestos. As such, patients diagnosed with mesothelioma are often surprised to learn that they have developed the fatal disease after so many years.

One such mesothelioma victim learned of his development of the disease approximately 35 years after having been initially exposed to asbestos. The patient worked for Northrop Grumman Newport News in Virginia where he was routinely faced with exposure to asbestos for a period of four years. He noted that asbestos shavings consistently littered the floor and that asbestos fibers blanketed the air. Even after learning of the potential health hazards associated with asbestos exposure some 20 years later, the victim never gave his past exposure a second thought — that is, until 2005 when, at 59, he was diagnosed with a case of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of a number of diseases caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma presents as one of three distinct types:

pleural mesothelioma (affecting the pleural membrane lining the lungs)
peritoneal mesothelioma (affecting the peritoneal membrane lining the abdomen)
pericardial mesothelioma (affecting the pericardial membrane lining the heart)

Mesothelioma has thus far proven to be an incurable asbestos disease, typically causing death within two years of diagnosis.

The man in question led a relatively healthy life during which he never succumbed to any real health scares. When he suddenly developed a slew of symptoms surrounding his lungs (fatigue, dyspnea, chest pain), his doctor assumed that he was suffering from pneumonia. While conducting a patient history, it was discovered that the patient had worked with asbestos for more than four years, making malignant mesothelioma a prime suspect. Chest imaging scans revealed tumor growths on and around the man's lungs. After a histopathological examination confirmed suspicions, he was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The victim died within a year of his mesothelioma diagnosis at the age of 60. Following his death, the man's wife contacted a mesothelioma attorney to discuss filing suit against the companies responsible for her husband's hazardous exposure to asbestos. The three companies targeted by the wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuit filed by the woman's mesothelioma lawyer included John Crane Inc. (maker of asbestos-based sealing products), Johns Manville Corp. (maker of asbestos-based roofing, insulation and industrial materials), and Garlock Sealing Technologies (maker of asbestos-based sealing products). Although the companies had all fazed out use of asbestos within their products, it was determined that they still faced liability for pre-regulation occupational asbestos exposures.

While working at Northrop Grumman Newport News, the man revealed that he conformed with all the safety precautions that he was provided with / informed of. These included the wearing of a hard-hat, safety goggles and steel-toed boots. What he was not provided with was a dust mask that could have limited his inhalation of stray asbestos fibers. While the companies refused to accept liability in the man's death, a Newport News jury found otherwise, awarding his widow with the largest single wrongful death verdict in Newport News history: $10.4 million.

While the malignant mesothelioma victim's wife is thankful for the verdict, it does little to compensate her for the loss of her husband — something no amount of money will ever replace. One thing she can take solace in is the fact that the liable parties are finally being held accountable. Johns Crane Inc. faces more than 100 claims from similar families who have suffered at the hands of the company's negligence.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Para-occupational Asbestos Exposure — The Subtle Killer

2009-12-23T09:00:00.000Z

The most common way through which people have been exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos dust is occupational exposure. Prior to regulation that was enacted in the early 1970s, asbestos and asbestos-laden materials were routinely used throughout a variety of industries for a number of industrial and commercial purposes. As such, a great many workers found themselves faced with routine asbestos exposure that has come back to haunt them decades later. Occupational exposure to asbestos is a tragic commonality; para-occupational exposure to asbestos, as one woman's story relates, is simply devastating.

The woman from this patient story was a typical 56-year old woman; the mother of a beautiful daughter who is the mother of three beautiful children. This grandmother lived a healthy lifestyle and had never encountered any serious health problems, so it was more than a little shocking when she was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in May of 2004.

The woman's symptoms presented in the form of a reoccurring cough that had been pestering her for several months. The ongoing problem led her to schedule another visit with her doctor. Previous checkups had been unable to determine the cause of the chronic coughing; however, on this day, diagnostic tests revealed that mesothelioma was the cause of her symptoms. Upon hearing the mesothelioma diagnosis, the woman immediately fell into a state of shock, unable to comprehend how she could possibly have developed the fatally incurable cancer. Her shock soon gave way to anger, which in turn gave way to a deep depression.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of incurable cancer that has been linked exclusively with asbestos exposure. The woman believed that she had never been exposed to asbestos in her life and was utterly confounded as to how she may have developed the asbestos disease. It was later revealed that her husband, who had died four years earlier from lung cancer, had routinely been exposed to asbestos through his work as a carpenter. The woman recalled her husband coming home from work riddled with what she assumed was drywall dust. In fact, the powdery substance was none other than asbestos dust. It was therefore determined that the woman had become exposed to excessive levels of asbestos during her regular washing of her husband's work clothes. This type of secondary asbestos exposure is commonly referred to as para-occupational asbestos exposure.

At age 58, the woman has already outlived the average post-diagnostic mesothelioma survival time of one to two years. She has come to terms with her incurable disease through the assistance of mesothelioma support groups where she has been able to share her fears with other terminal patients. While she believes that the support group has helped her come to terms with the eventuality of her death from mesothelioma, she has yet to come to terms with losing her family. The thought of not being able to spend future holidays with her loved ones while watching her grandchildren grow is truly the worst part of her disease. As it is, she is determined to live each of her remaining days to the fullest.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

Mesothelioma Victim Fighting for His Life

2009-12-23T08:00:00.000Z

Mesothelioma victims are faced with the grim reality that there is no curative treatment through which to attack the deadly asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma support groups are designed to provide sufferers with an outlet through which to cope with the realization of their predicament.

One man was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in April of 2004 at the age of 64. He spent many years of his professional life working in the manufacturing plant of a large automobile company. Asbestos was commonly used at the facility for a variety of industrial purposes. Asbestos friction materials were a component in brake pads, putting automobile manufacturing employees at risk of coming into routine contact with the hazardous carcinogen.

The man's mesothelioma diagnosis resulted, as most do, from the development of a number of chronic mesothelioma symptoms. Ongoing breathing difficulties (dyspnea) and minor chest pain led him to schedule an appointment with his doctor. Aside from their chronic nature, the man's symptoms were not severe or debilitating. He was therefore surprised to learn of the serious nature of his condition. It was determined that his symptoms were caused by the development of mesothelioma tumors in the serous membrane lining the lung cavity (mesothelioma of the pleura).

After learning that the development of the disease was caused as a result of his workplace exposure to asbestos, the man said he felt angered and betrayed by the negligent behavior of his employers. He worked hard spending as many as 10- to 12-hours each day overseeing work on the factory floor. His work ethic was such that he eventually held the position of Automotive Plant Manager, devoting 50 (+) hours each week towards ensuring the quality of his employers' product. Little did he know that he was exposing himself to enough asbestos dust to ensure the eventual development of a serious asbestos disease.

Asbestos use has been strictly regulated because of a great many instances of occupational exposure that have resulted in the development of an asbestos disease. Although asbestos regulation was enacted in the early 1970s, mesothelioma is a latent disease that can take anywhere from 20- to 50-years to fully develop and become symptomatic. Once diagnosed, the disease has typically reached an incurable stage during which treatment can do little save offering a brief extension of life.

With the support of his family, the man of this patient story managed to move beyond his initial feelings of anger, betrayal and eventual depression. He has since turned his energy towards his mesothelioma treatments. Taking an aggressive approach, he underwent a highly invasive surgical procedure called a pneumonectomy, through which the lung most impacted by the mesothelioma cancer is removed. Pneumonectomies have proven capable of significantly increasing mesothelioma patient survival time. Additionally, the man has undergone several radiation / chemotherapy treatments designed to slow the spread of his mesothelioma cancer.

More than two years after having been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the man continues his fight against the deadly asbestos disease. Although he is realistic about the end result of his mesothelioma diagnosis, the man remains optimistic that his mesothelioma treatments can continue to prolong his life and allow him to make the most of each and every one of his remaining days.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

"Take Home Hazard"

2009-12-22T14:31:00.000Z

Environmental and epidemiology experts have confirmed a risk related to take home hazards. These hazards are related to poisonous materials that contaminate the clothing, food or vehicle of the worker. The worker then inadvertently brings these poisons home to the family members. Asbestos is known to be a take home hazard. Exposure to asbestos dust can cause the inhalation and lodging of this dust in the lungs. Once lodged, the asbestos fibers cause inflammation in the lungs, leading to deadly asbestos lung cancer and diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Asbestosis occurs when there is heavy scarring in the lungs due to the inflammation, while mesothelioma is a highly aggressive form of cancer that starts in the lining of the lungs, where the asbestos fibers settle after inhalation.

This story relates to a man from Texas who inadvertently contaminated his family with asbestos. Working in the large chemical and oil refinery plants along the gulf coast of Texas, he installed and maintained the insulation used to cover large areas of high heat in these plants. Unfortunately, that insulation consisted of asbestos, and each day he worked with insulation, asbestos fibers filled the air he breathed. His family remembers the white dust being everywhere, in their father's clothes and in his car, even in his lunch box.

The children vividly remember the daily ritual, as they waited at home for their father to arrive from work. He would come home and hug each of them. Then he would strip off the clothes that were coated with the white dust, fold them and lay them in the washroom.

At age 56, the father contracted mesothelioma and died a short time later. The family was very saddened by his early and sudden passing. The daughter had unwittingly also been contaminated with these asbestos fibers. When she reached her early forties, she noticed that she tired easily. When breathing became labored and the coughing spells started, doctors gave gave her a diagnosis of tuberculosis and then pneumonia. After surgery to remove part of her lungs, she was sent home. A short time later she was diagnosed with mesothelioma. Doctors asked if she had ever worked in or around asbestos insulation or an asbestos plant. Of course, the answer to these questions was no.

When she realized that she had contracted the same disease that had caused her father so much pain and suffering, she felt completely defeated. Now, she would suffer the same fate. This anguish turned to anger as she and her husband's research revealed that the asbestos manufacturers knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure long before her father brought the white dust home on his clothing.

The family has now suffered through two grave losses. The three grandchildren are left without a mother or grandfather. Luckily, at least for the time being, the uncle, who also worked with plant insulation in his younger years, still appears to be healthy. This take home hazard of asbestos will continue to inflict suffering for many years, as the generations of workers' offspring contract this disease without ever working in the plants or directly with asbestos.

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

MESOTHELIOMA SPECIALISTS

2009-12-22T10:00:00.002Z

FINDING A MESOTHELIOMA SPECIALIST

The following physicians are specialists in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. You will find links to their web sites, when available and to some of their published articles.They are listed in no particular order with no particular endorsement.

Mesothelioma is typically treated by an interdisciplinary team of doctors rather than by a single physician. You may run into professionals called oncologists, thoracic surgeons, and pulmonologists. Glossary of members of a thoracic oncology care team. More on choosing your mesothelioma doctor.

W. Roy Smythe, MD

Professor and Chairman/Department of Surgery, Texas A&M University System Health Sciences Center, Scott & White Hospital, Temple, TX
Phone: 254-724-2595

Dr. Smythe is currently accruing patients for a protocol involving extrapleural pneumonectomy and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). (Click here for an abstract of this trial).

Biography

David C. Rice, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O.; F.R.C.S.I

Associate Professor, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Division of Surgery/The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Phone: (713) 794-1477

Dr. Rice's main area of clinical interest lies in the surgical management of mesothelioma. In collaboration with colleagues in Radiation Oncology, he has furthered research into intensity modulated radiation therapy after surgical resection of mesothelioma. His research has lead to improved ways of preoperative staging of mesothelioma, and he has participated in neoadjuvant trials of chemotherapy and novel targeted agent.

Biography

David J. Sugarbaker, MD

Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery/Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA Chief, Department of Surgical Services/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
Phone: (617) 732-6824

Dr. Sugarbaker believes in aggressive treatment of pleural mesothelioma. He is a proponent of tri-modal therapy; extrapleural pneumonectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

Click here for an article by Dr. David J. Sugarbaker that appeared in the The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, January 1999 (12 pages in Adobe PDF format).

Biography

Lambros Zellos, MD, MPH

Attending Thoracic Surgeon; Clinical Co-Director of the International Mesothelioma Program/Brigham & Women's Hospital/Dana Farber Cancer Institute Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Phone: (617) 525-9657

Dr. Zellos is an Attending Thoracic Surgeon and the Clinical Co-Director of the International Mesothelioma Program. Dr. Zellos is a proponent of tailored multimodality therapy for each individual patient. Appropriate therapy may include surgery such as pleurectomy or extrapleural pneumonectomy with chemotherapy or radiation. Dr. Zellos has published several papers on multimodality therapy as well as methods to improve surgical techniques.

Valerie W. Rusch, FACS

Attending Thoracic Surgeon/Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Phone: (212) 639-5873

Dr. Rusch is known for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma. She has published several papers comparing pleural decortication to extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Biography

Raja M. Flores, MD

Attending Thoracic Surgeon/Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
Phone: (212) 639-2806

Dr. Flores is currently the Principal Investigator on a clinical trial of neoadjuvant gemcitabine and cisplatin followed by extrapleural pneumonectomy and high dose radiation, as well as being involved in a trial of neoadjuvant Alimta/cisplatin, extrapleural pneumonectomy and high dose radiation. He has also compiled a 1,000 patient database to research areas of failure, and how to improve treatments for mesothelioma.

Biography

Paul H. Sugarbaker, MD, FACS, FRCS

Director, Surgical Oncology/Washington Cancer Institute, Washington, DC
Phone: (202) 877-3908

Dr. Sugarbaker is a specialist in the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Brian W. Loggie, MD

Professor of Surgery, Creighton University Medical School; Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology; Director of Cancer Center/Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Phone: (402) 280-4100

Dr. Loggie specializes in the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma and peritoneal carcinomatosis. His protocol, based on eligibility, involves surgical debulking in combination with intraperitoneal heated chemotherapy.

Biography

David L. Bartlett, MD

Professor of Surgery, Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology/UPMC Cancer Pavilion, Pittsburgh, PA
Phone: (412) 692-2852

Dr. Bartlett has particular expertise in the management of advanced, complex abdominal malignancies. He also has a research interest in treating advanced carcinomas in the peritoneal cavity, including peritoneal mesothelioma.

Claire F. Verschraegen, MD

Director, Clinical Trial Office and Investigational Drug Program/Cancer Research and Treatment Center, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Phone: (505) 272-4551

Dr. Verschraegen is currently conducting a front-line Alimta/gemcitabine trial for peritoneal mesothelioma patients. She also offers the following Phase I trials for patients who have already been treated with Alimta:

Phase I Study of Capecitabine with Cisplatin and Irinotecan in Patients with Advanced Malignancies
Phase I Study of Intravenous TZT-1027 and Gemcitabine, Administered on Day 1 and Day 8 of a Three Week Course in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors
Phase I Study of Flavoperidol in Combination with Gemcitabine and Irinotecan in Patients with Metastatic Cancer

Biography

David P. Mason, MD

Staff Surgeon, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery/Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
Phone: (216) 444-4053

Dr. Mason is a proponent of aggressive multimodality therapy for malignant mesothelioma. This includes extrapleural pneumonectomy, chemotherapy and radiation with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). Cleveland Clinic Foundation has a multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology team with extensive experience and clinical trials in the management of malignant mesothelioma.

Biography

David M. Jablons, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery Chief, General Thoracic Surgery/UCSF Mt. Zion Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
Phone: (415) 885-3882

Dr. Jablons treats pleural mesothelioma with a radical pleurectomy/decortication and is researching other therapies.

Biography

Lary A. Robinson, MD

Director, Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Principal Thoracic Surgical Oncologist/H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL
Phone: (813) 972-8412

Dr. Robinson is a member of the multidisciplinary thoracic oncology group at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center which evaluates and treats all stages of mesothelioma. He is also involved in clinical research programs for lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Biography

Craig W. Stevens, MD, PhD

Division Chief, Radiation Oncology/H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute/Tampa, FL
Phone: (813) 972-8424

Biography

Robert N. Taub, MD

Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons/New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY
Phone: (212) 305-4076

Dr. Robert Taub is a medical oncologist who directs the Connective Tissue Oncology Program at the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, where there are a number of ongoing multimodality studies of patients with pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. The Center is based at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Click here for a press release announcing a new multimodality study.

Biography

Daniel Sterman, MD

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine/University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
Phone: (215) 614-0984

Dr. Sterman is the co-author of several informative articles on treatment and clinical trials for pleural mesothelioma.

Biography

Eric Vallieres, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery, Section of General Thoracic Surgery/University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA
Phone: (206) 598-4477

Dr. Vallieres uses a multidisciplinary approach to thoracic malignancies and related clinical trials. Please see Medical Journal & News Articles for an article Dr. Vallieres co-authored on Induction Chemotherapy, Extra Pleural Pneumonectomy And Adjuvant Fast Neutron Radiationtherapy For Pleural Mesothelioma (Dmm).

Biography

Stephen C. Yang, MD

Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery/Associate Professor of Surgery and Oncology/Surgical Director, Lung Transplantation Program/Director, Thoracic Oncology Program/Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD
Phone: (410) 614-3891

Biography

Mark J. Krasna, MD

Medical Director of the Cancer Institute at St. Joseph Medical Center/Towson, MD
Phone: (410) 427-2220

Dr. Krasna is the former Head of the Division of Thoracic Surgery, Professor of Surgery and Associate Director for Surgical Oncology in the Greenebaum Cancer Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Dr. Krasna is a leader in the development of thoracic surgery. He is the author of the first textbook on thoracoscopic surgery and has instructed surgeons worldwide on his techniques.

Biography

David H. Harpole, Jr., MD

Associate Professor of Surgery, Thoracic Oncology Program/Assistant
Professor of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Phone: (919) 668-8413

Biography

Harvey Pass, MD

Professor and Chief, Division of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Oncology, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery/NYU School of Medicine and Comprehensive Cancer Center/New York, NY
Phone: (212) 263-7417

Gregory P. Kalemkerian, MD

Co-Director of Thoracic Oncology/University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center/Ann Arbor, MI
Phone: (734) 936-5281

Dr. Kalemkerian directs the multidisciplinary thoracic oncology clinic at the University of Michigan Cancer Center, in addition to collaborating with the thoracic oncology team at Karmanos Cancer Institute, to develop novel clinical trials for mesothelioma patients.

Joseph S. Friedberg, MD

Chief of Thoracic Surgery/University of Pennsylvania at Presbyterian, Philadelphia, PA
Phone: (215) 662-9195

Dr. Friedberg is currently the Principal Investigator on a trial of photodynamic therapy for pleural malignancies, and also on a trial combining Alimta/cisplatin, surgery and XRT.

Robert Cameron, MD

UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
Phone: (310) 794-7333

Source: www.mesotheliomaweb.org

Mesothelioma Settlement

2009-12-21T15:15:00.000Z

How Much Can You Expect In Your Mesothelioma Settlement?

The amount recovered in a mesothelioma settlement is dependant on a number of factors, including the state in which you are filing suit.

Presented below are jury verdicts and the mesothelioma settlement amounts the victims were awarded. These cases were handled by various law firms across the country. The settlement amounts below do not guarantee that you or your family will receive the same. You could receive more. You could receive less. Every case is different.

Mesothelioma Settlement Amounts

$20 Million Dollar Mesothelioma Settlement
A 42 year-old Southern California woman was exposed to asbestos-filled flooring for 18 years. The company was also found guilty of malice and fraud.The jury awarded the woman $20 Million plus punitive damages.

$2 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A 69 year old gentleman was diagnosed with asbestosis as a result of his exposure to asbestos as a self-employed contractor. The jury found the defendant liable because of his exposure to its joint compound product.

$11.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A Northern California man was awarded this settlement as a result of his mesothelioma that was caused by exposure to asbestos. The breakdown of the settlement reveals $500,000 in economic damages and $6,000,000 for pain, suffering and other non-economic damages. His wife and the second plaintiff in the case was awarded $5,000,000 for the loss of her husband's consortium and companionship caused by his mesothelioma.

$18 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A gentleman developed asbestosis as a result of his 30-year career as a laborer at a copper smelter. The jury found the defendant responsible for his asbestos-related disease, and awarded him $3 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages. On appeal, compensatory damages award was confirmed, but punitive damages award was reversed.

$9.25 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
Two men - one an iron worker and the other a pipefitter and insulator - who developed mesothelioma as a result of their exposure to asbestos at a refinery and other industrial sites. The jury found the defendant and others liable and awarded $9.25 million in combined damages to the victims' families. Appeal is pending.

$20.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A jury awarded this amount to a Northern California man who contracted mesothelioma.

$1.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
An individual who developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos-containing products he bought at a department store in the 1950s, was awarded $1.5 million in damages by a New York jury. Judgment was affirmed on appeal.

$17.035 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
Less than a week after a Tyler, Texas jury awarded over $9 million to eight of their co-workers, a Dallas, Texas jury awarded $17.035 million to seven foundry workers who developed asbestosis as a result of their exposure to asbestos at the foundry where they worked. The jury found that the defendant failed to provide a safe work place to these gentlemen, and that their hazardous work conditions resulted in the development of their asbestos-related diseases. Final judgment is pending.

$6.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
In a rare case, a jury awarded a Northern California woman this amount because of the mesothelioma she contracted as a result of exposure to asbestos fibers as a child. The fibers came from her parents' clothing. Her parents worked at a shipyard in South San Francisco in the 1940's.

$6.3 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
During his working career, a custodian was exposed to asbestos-containing products during the construction and remodeling of three school buildings. He developed malignant mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos and died at the age of 60. Following a two-week trial, a verdict of $6.3 million against the defendants was reached.

$4.2 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
This man was exposed to the defendant's asbestos products while serving in the US Navy. The jury in Northern California found that the products were a cause of his mesothelioma, and they returned a verdict in the amount of $4,245,763.

$1 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
An auto mechanic, developed asbestosis as a result of his exposure to asbestos, including asbestos-containing clutch facings manufactured by the defendant. The jury found the defendant liable for his disease, and awarded $800,000 in compensatory damages and $200,000 in punitive damages. The case was affirmed on appeal.

$9.35 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A longshoreman and an employee of the defendant company, were exposed to asbestos-containing products while on the job. One died of mesothelioma at the age of 63; the other, age 69 at time of trial, suffers from asbestosis. The jury found that a fireproofing product was a cause of these gentlemen's diseases and awarded a total of $6 million and $3,350,000 respectively. Both cases settled shortly after the verdict.

$1.704 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A laborer, age 61 at the time of trial, developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos while working as a laborer and fork lift driver for a corrugated box manufacturer in the Dallas, Texas area. As part of his treatment for the disease, he had a lung and half of his diaphragm removed. The jury awarded this gentleman and his wife a total of $1,704,000 in damages. Trial defendant settled the case shortly after trial.

$3.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A mechanic for the defendant in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was exposed to fireproofing spray on the job between 1970 and 1972. He developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos. The jury found the manufacturer liable to this gentleman and his wife and awarded $1.75 million to him and $1.75 million to his wife for her loss of consortium. The case settled shortly after verdict.

$1.8 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
Two shipyard workers in this trial against the defendant company. One developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos at the shipyards; the other developed asbestosis. The jury awarded a total verdict to these gentlemen and their wives in the amount of $1.8 million, which was affirmed on appeal. The defendant eventually paid the amount on the bond pending writ.

The content of this web site has not been prepared or endorsed by any physicians or other licensed medical or legal professionals. Nothing on this site should be taken as medical or legal advice. The purpose of this site is to provide victims and their loved ones with useful information and access to other resources.

Mesothelioma victims are encouraged to consult with their physician for medical advice and with a mesothelioma attorney for legal advice.

Source: www.mesotheliomaattorney.us

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA

2009-12-20T15:24:00.000Z

Pages	:	260
Price	:	$28.95(USD)
ISBN	:	059783475X
Published	:	2002
(cancer Mesothelioma; Malignant Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma)

Synopsis

A comprehensive manual for anyone interested in self-directed research on malignant mesothelioma. Fully referenced with ample Internet listings and glossary.


	Related Conditions/Synonyms

cancer Mesothelioma; Malignant Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma


	Description

This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to malignant mesothelioma (also cancer Mesothelioma; Malignant Mesothelioma; Mesothelioma), from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research. The title of this book includes the word official. This reflects the fact that the sourcebook draws from public, academic, government, and peer-reviewed research. Selected readings from various agencies are reproduced to give you some of the latest official information available to date on malignant mesothelioma. Given patients' increasing sophistication in using the Internet, abundant references to reliable Internet-based resources are provided throughout this sourcebook. Where possible, guidance is provided on how to obtain free-of-charge, primary research results as well as more detailed information via the Internet. E-book and electronic versions of this sourcebook are fully interactive with each of the Internet sites mentioned (clicking on a hyperlink automatically opens your browser to the site indicated). Hard-copy users of this sourcebook can type cited Web addresses directly into their browsers to obtain access to the corresponding sites. In addition to extensive references accessible via the Internet, chapters include glossaries of technical or uncommon terms.


	Table of Contents

Introduction

Overview

Organization

Scope

Moving Forward

PART I: THE ESSENTIALS

Chapter 1. The Essentials on Malignant Mesothelioma: Guidelines

Overview

What Is Malignant Mesothelioma?

Stages of Malignant Mesothelioma

How Is Malignant Mesothelioma Treated?

Treatment by Stage

To Learn More

About PDQ

More Guideline Sources

Vocabulary Builder

Chapter 2. Seeking Guidance

Overview

Associations and Malignant Mesothelioma

Cancer Support Groups

The Cancer Information Service

Finding Cancer Resources in Your Community

Finding Doctors Who Specialize in Cancer Care

Selecting Your Doctor

Working with Your Doctor

Finding a Cancer Treatment Facility

Additional Cancer Support Information

Vocabulary Builder

Chapter 3. Clinical Trials and Malignant Mesothelioma

Overview

Recent Trials on Malignant Mesothelioma

Benefits and Risks

Clinical Trials and Insurance Coverage

Clinical Trials and Medicare Coverage

Increasing the Likelihood of Insurance Coverage for Trials

If Your Insurance Claim Is Denied after the Trial Has Begun

Government Initiatives to Expand Insurance Coverage for Trials

Keeping Current on Clinical Trials

General References

Vocabulary Builder

PART II: ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCED MATERIAL

Chapter 4. Studies on Malignant Mesothelioma

Overview

Federally Funded Research on Malignant Mesothelioma

E-Journals: PubMed Central

The National Library of Medicine: PubMed

Vocabulary Builder

Chapter 5. Books on Malignant Mesothelioma

Overview

The National Library of Medicine Book Index

Chapters on Malignant Mesothelioma

General Home References

Vocabulary Builder

Chapter 6. Multimedia on Malignant Mesothelioma

Overview

Bibliography: Multimedia on Malignant Mesothelioma

Vocabulary Builder

Chapter 7. Physician Guidelines and Databases

Overview

NIH Guidelines

What Is Malignant Mesothelioma?

Cellular Classification

Stage Information

Treatment Option Overview

NIH Databases

Other Commercial Databases

The Genome Project and Malignant Mesothelioma

Specialized References

Vocabulary Builder

Chapter 8. Dissertations on Malignant Mesothelioma

Overview

Dissertations on Malignant Mesothelioma

Keeping Current

PART III. APPENDICES

Appendix A. Researching Your Medications

Overview

Your Medications: The Basics

Learning More about Your Medications

Commercial Databases

Drug Development and Approval

Understanding the Approval Process for New Cancer Drugs

The Role of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA)

Getting Drugs to Patients Who Need Them

Contraindications and Interactions (Hidden Dangers)

A Final Warning

General References

Vocabulary Builder

Appendix B. Researching Alternative Medicine

Overview

What Is CAM?

What Are the Domains of Alternative Medicine?

Finding CAM References on Malignant Mesothelioma

Additional Web Resources

General References

Vocabulary Builder

Appendix C. Researching Nutrition

Overview

Food and Nutrition: General Principles

Finding Studies on Malignant Mesothelioma

Federal Resources on Nutrition

Additional Web Resources

Vocabulary Builder

Appendix D. Finding Medical Libraries

Overview

Preparation

Finding a Local Medical Library

Medical Libraries Open to the Public

Appendix E. Your Rights and Insurance

Overview

Your Rights as a Patient

Patient Responsibilities

Choosing an Insurance Plan

Medicare and Medicaid

Financial Assistance for Cancer Care

NORD’s Medication Assistance Programs

Additional Resources

Vocabulary Builder

ONLINE GLOSSARIES

Online Dictionary Directories

MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA GLOSSARY

General Dictionaries and Glossaries

INDEX

More information at: www.icongrouponline.com