News: Fear over asbestos compensation

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)

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Tests and diagnosis of mesothelioma

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)

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Preparing for your appointment

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)

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

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

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

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

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Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

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

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Mesothelioma Definition

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)

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The symptoms of mesothelioma

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)

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Surviving Mesothelioma

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

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Asbestos

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Mesothelioma Lawsuit

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

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Mesothelioma Patient Cures Self with Mushroom Extract

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

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Mesothelioma Patient Profile: Charlene Kaforey

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

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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.

• Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.
  
  
• Judge William Forbes
  
  
• Husband and Wife Both Develop Mesothelioma
  
  
• Favorite Teacher
  
  
• Couldn't Catch His Breath
  
  
• Second Generation Victim
  
  
• Asbestos From Many Sources
  
  
• He Wrote the Book on Asbestos Safety
  
  
• Asbestos Accountant
  
  
• He Didn't Even Work With Asbestos
  
  
• "Take Home Hazard"
  
  
• USS Forrestal (CV-59) Evolution 1981
  
  
• Asbestos Blue
  
  
• Steve McQueen
  
  

• Auto Mechanic
  
  
• Paul Gleason
  
  
• Australian Law Firm Finds Source of Asbestos Exposure
  
  
• Record Win in Asbestos Exposure Wrongful Death Suit
  
  
• Para-occupational Asbestos Exposure — The Subtle Killer
  
  
• Mesothelioma Victim Fighting for His Life

Source: www.allaboutmalignantmesothelioma.com

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Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.

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

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Judge William Forbes

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

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Husband and Wife Both Develop Mesothelioma

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

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Favorite Teacher

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

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Couldn't Catch His Breath

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

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Second Generation Victim

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

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