Mesothelioma Global

Mesothelioma - Alternative Treatment Methods.

2011-08-22T08:46:00.004+05:00

Top 5 Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments

Top 5 Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments There are many traditional mesothelioma treatments available to help ease the symptoms of this deadly disease.Why Consider Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments?Alternative mesothelioma treatments, along with traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy can be very beneficial when it comes to treating mesothelioma. These alternative methods can help ease the pain and give mesothelioma sufferers the relief they need to live a more comfortable life.Take a look at the top 5 alternative mesothelioma treatments:

1. Meditation: Meditation is very helpful in relieving stress and brings peace of mind. Mediation has been around for centuries and is very common in relieving everyday stress and giving a more relaxed feeling to individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
2. Yoga: Yoga is very similar to mediation, except it is a movement form of mediation. Yoga also helps to relieve stress and tension. It eases pain and enhances coordination and flexibility and helps to relax patients’ central nervous system.
3. Massage: Massage can be used to help mesothelioma patients relax. It eases the feelings of depression and anxiety and other symptoms patients may be feeling from having mesothelioma and the various treatments involved.
4. Acupuncture: Acupuncture is often recommended as a palliative form of treatment for mesothelioma patients that are going through chemotherapy treatment. According to research, acupuncture has shown to relief nausea which is a common complaint of mesothelioma patients undergoing chemotherapy. The insertion of needles into the skin at various pressure points also helps to relieve pain in mesothelioma patients.
5. Herbal and Nutritional Supplements: Mesothelioma patients often suffer from loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue, so nutritional supplements and other vitamins and minerals are often recommended. What mesothelioma patients eat will have a direct effect on their daily activities and how they feel from day to day. Herbal, change of diet during mesothelioma can strengthen the immune system and help improve patients’ comfort and quality of life.

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Mesothelioma - CIGARETTES AND ASBESTOS

2011-08-22T08:37:00.004+05:00

CIGARETTES AND ASBESTOS

Smoking cigarettes is one of the most dangerous habits that people can have, and smoking can lead to a number of detrimental conditions including emphysema, COPD, lung cancer and heart disease. One deadly cancer that smoking does not cause, however, is mesothelioma.
Nevertheless, there is a complicated relationship between smoking and asbestos exposure, which is the only known cause of mesothelioma.

Tobacco smoking, while it does not directly lead to mesothelioma, does make a person more susceptible to it if that person has also been exposed to asbestos. In order to understand this susceptibility, it's important to also understand asbestos, the risks of asbestos exposure, and the nature of the asbestos cancer mesothelioma.busch stadium tickets

Asbestos, an organic mineral, is fibrous in nature. It is durable, lightweight, strong and fireproof, and able to resist heat and other biological processes. Asbestos can be woven into fabric, or added to a number of industrial building materials, such as concrete. Perhaps its most well-known applications are as insulation or acoustical ceiling tiles, but throughout history it has been used for cloth, blankets, flooring, wiring, pipes, boilers, automotive parts and thousands of other products for commercial and residential use.
Exposure to asbestos or asbestos-containing products, however, especially when being mined, processed, installed or demolished, can lead to a number of fatal diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is not the same as lung cancer, although it too is a cancer. It targets a membrane known as the mesothelium, which surrounds and protects the internal organs. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs.
That's where smoking comes into play. Smoking weakens the lungs, making them more susceptible to damage from asbestos and other toxins. Although asbestos exposure can cause lung cancer, as can smoking, when a smoker is exposed to asbestos-containing materials, a synergistic effect is created which multiplies the risk of contracting the cancer. Some physicians liken the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure to that of alcohol and prescription drugs: each dangerous on their own, but even more deadly in combination with one another.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, you may feel that having also been a smoker decreases your chances to successfully win a personal injury lawsuit against your former employer or the manufacturer of the asbestos-containing product or material. This is not necessarily so, however. Chances are good that your doctor will attribute your mesothelioma to both your occupational asbestos exposure and your tobacco habit.
The sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the prognosis and likelihood of effective treatment. Sadly, however, mesothelioma is usually not discovered until it has reached advanced stages, since it has an extremely long latency period. Further aggravating diagnosis is the great similarity of mesothelioma symptoms to the symptoms of more commonplace medical issues, such as emphysema, bronchitis and even influenza.
Although mesothelioma is currently considered incurable, it can be treated and managed. The first course of action is to stop smoking, if you haven't already done so. Consult with your health-care practitioner about the advantages of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of these therapies. The effectiveness of any one remedy will depend on the stage and seriousness of your mesothelioma cancer, but many patients have been able to extend their lifespan or alleviate the symptoms of this disease through the right treatment approach. chase field formerly bank one ballpark tickets coors field tickets

Asbestos -Who Is at Risk?

2011-08-22T08:22:00.001+05:00

Who Is at Risk?

Since the early 1940s, millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos in the course of their jobs in the construction trades and in military service. Although it is known that the risk to workers increases with heavier exposure and longer exposure times, asbestos-related illnesses have been found in individuals with only brief exposures. Because of the long latency period, no signs of illness may be apparent for 20 to 50 or more years.

Family members of workers heavily exposed to asbestos also face an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. This is most often the result of asbestos dust being brought into the home on the shoes, clothing, skin, and hair of workers. This type of exposure is referred to as paraoccupational or household exposure. There is also a risk of exposure from asbestos in nature.

It is important to remember that not everyone exposed to asbestos will develop diseases related to their exposure. In fact, many will experience no ill effects whatsoever. Asbestos that is bonded into finished products such as walls, tiles, and pipes poses no risk to health as long as these products are not damaged or disturbed in such a way that fibers are released into the air. It is when asbestos fibers are released and inhaled or digested that individuals are at risk for developing asbestos disease. Once these fibers work their way into body tissues, they may stay there indefinitely.

Introduction to Asbestos.

2011-08-22T08:18:00.002+05:00

ASBESTOS

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is the name for a group of six different fibrous minerals which occur naturally in the environment. These fibers are impervious to heat, fire, chemicals, and biological degradation; they do not dissolve in water or evaporate, and they have no detectable odor or taste. Because of these properties, asbestos has been widely used by industry in manufactured products such as building materials, friction products, and heat resistant fabrics.

Asbestos- On tree.

Chrysotile, or white asbestos, belongs to the serpentine family of minerals, and accounts for 95 per cent of all asbestos used in the United States. The other five, amosite, crocidolite, and the fibrous varieties of tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite, belong to amphibole family. While all forms of asbestos are dangerous and may cause cancer, the amphiboles are considered to be the most dangerous. More on the different types of asbestos.

Chrysotile asbestos fibers are flexible and curved, while amphibole fibers are most often brittle and have a rod or needle-like shape. Asbestos fiber masses break apart easily, and become tiny airbourne particles that may easily be inhaled or swallowed and cause serious health problems many years later.

Differentiating Characteristics of Asbestos Fibers

2011-08-22T08:11:00.001+05:00

Questions Regarding the Risk Level of Asbestos Exposure

Research data has shown that there is a definite correlation between exposure to asbestos particles and asbestos-related diseases, especially for those that are exposed to the fibers in their workplace. Even though data shows a connection between these factors, there is ongoing debate as to just “how much of a risk is present” in environments where asbestos fibers can be found.

Questions have been raised because some of the factors relating to asbestos exposure can vary considerably sometimes making it difficult to define absolute asbestos-related exposure relationships. Some of these variables include asbestos fiber sizes and types, the type of asbestos-related disease, and the duration and level of exposure to the fibers.

Even with the uncertainty, progress has been made in regards to these variables and their effects on human health over the last 25 years. This information may present an issue for regulating authorities and agencies because it may require a deviation from their current opinions on asbestos exposure and its effects on health
.

Differing Characteristics of Asbestos Fibers as They Relate to Health Conditions

Asbestos Fibers.

People that have inhaled asbestos fibers have been shown to develop health conditions such as asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. There is confusion as to which asbestos types pose a greater risk of asbestos-related disease and to what degree. Additionally, there are questions regarding which exposure conditions present this risk.

One problem in regards to establishing clear-cut asbestos-related factors may be the use of the term “asbestos”, as a catch-all or general term used to represent various asbestos fibers that have different toxic characteristics and tendencies that cause related diseases.

More than 150 studies of asbestos particles has been used to determine the relationship between incidences of asbestos disease and suspected factors; however, this research has had little value in determining level of risk due to limited data on levels of human exposure, fiber types, and other possible contributing factors (i.e. smoking or other lifestyle practices). Other obstacles that contribute to the limitations of this research include the use of many different fiber types or the lack of defining fiber types used in studies.

Sources for the information on this page:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry – Tremolite Asbestos Health Consultation

National Cancer Institute – Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk

Centers for Disease Control – Work-Related Lung Disease (WoRLD) Surveillance System

American Journal of Pathology – Pulmonary reaction to long and short asbestos fibers is independent of fibroblast growth factor production by alveolar macrophages

American Council on Science and Health

TRADITIONAL CARE -RADIATION THERAPY

2011-08-22T08:02:00.002+05:00

TRADITIONAL CARE

There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma:

Surgery (taking out the cancer)
Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)

Often two or more of these are combined in the course of treatment.

RADIATION THERAPY

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, treats cancer by using penetrating beams of high energy or streams of particles called radiation. In treating mesothelioma, radiation may be used aggressively in combination with surgery, or palliatively to control symptoms.

Tomotherapy- Mesothelioma treatment Technique.

In an aggressive combined modality approach, radiation is used to attack microscopic or residual disease remaining in the chest cavity after extrapleural pnuemonectomy. An example of this is Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), which uses x-rays of varying intensities in conjunction with computer generated images to deliver targeted radiation directly to cancer cells while reducing the amount of radiation to surrounding healthy tissue. More on Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy.

Used palliatively, radiation can help control metastases (spread) of the tumor along tracks left by invasive procedures such as thoracoscopy, needle biopsy and chest tube drainage, or to control disease symptoms, such as pain or shortness of breath.

An exciting new development in radiation oncology is tomotherapy.

THE ROLE OF PATHOLOGISTS IN THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS

2011-08-22T07:45:00.002+05:00

PATHOLOGY AND THE ROLE OF PATHOLOGISTS IN THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS

Pathology, or the scientific study of cells, tissue, or fluid taken from the body is an integral part of a mesothelioma diagnosis. Most hospitals have their own pathology labs staffed by board-certified pathologists and licensed technologists. The importance of pathological diagnosis can not be underestimated, since the course of treatment is dependent upon an accurate diagnosis.

To make a diagnosis, pathologists examine tissue under a microscope, and based on established criteria, make a determination of benign vs. malignant cells. (More on biopsy tissue processing.) Subsequently, the type of cancer is determined. Although most pathologists have a general expertise of various diseases, a small number acquire training in a subspecialty, such as mesothelioma. These are physicians who have received world-wide recognition as premier experts, and have achieved high acclaim for their research, published articles and abstracts, and teaching. For a list of expert pathologists in the field of mesothelioma diagnosis, please call the MW toll free at 1-877-367-6376 or fill in the form at the bottom of this page specifying your request.

Knowing the stage is a factor in helping the doctor form a treatment plan. Mesothelioma is considered localized if the cancer is confined to the pleura, or advanced if it has spread beyond the pleura to other parts of the body such as the lungs, chest wall, abdominal cavity, or lymph nodes.
Immunohistochemical Markers for Mesothelioma

A diagnosis of any specific type of cancer often means ruling out other cancers in the process. This is true in the case of mesothelioma, where the most common “differential diagnosis” is that of adenocarcinoma versus mesothelioma.

During the biopsy procedure, the surgeon removes tissue samples to be sent to the laboratory. In the lab, slides are produced and then viewed and analyzed by a pathologist. These tissue specimens arrive at the lab with a request form that details patient information and history along with a description of the site in the body from which the specimen was obtained. Each individual specimen is numbered for each patient.

The pathologist then does a “gross examination” which consists of describing the tissue, and then placing it in a plastic cassette. The cassettes are then placed in a fixative that preserves the tissue permanently. Once the tissue has been fixed, it is processed into a paraffin block that will allow the pathologist to slice off thin microscopic sections that will then be stained to determine the patient’s diagnosis.

Immunohistochemistry is defined as “a method of analyzing and identifying cell types based on the binding of antibodies to specific components of the cell”. It is this process that helps diagnose mesothelioma versus adenocarcinoma (or other types of cancer).

Early on, the “markers” which helped distinguish mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma were “negative markers”; those expressed in adenocarcinomas, but not in mesotheliomas. This made it more difficult to confirm a diagnosis, because pathologists were dealing with the absence of, rather than the presence of certain markers. Some of these markers, which are normally “positive” in an adenocarcinoma diagnosis and “negative” in a mesothelioma diagnosis, are carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CD 15 (LeuM1), epithelial glycoprotein (Bg8), tumor glycoprotein (BerEp4) and tumor glycoprotein (MOC-31).

In more recent years, “positive markers” expressed by mesotheliomas have come to the forefront. Some of the markers which are normally “positive” in mesotheliomas and “negative” in adenocarcincomas are calretinin, cytokeratin 5, HBME-1, mesothelin, N-cadherin, thrombomodulin, vimentin and Wilm’s tumor gene product (WT-1). In 2009 the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (a collection of doctors specializing in mesothelioma) put forth “Guidelines for pathologic diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.”

It is important to remember that while the above markers are commonly used to help diagnose the epithelial sub-type of mesothelioma, that they may also be expressed in other types of cancer, and may not necessarily apply to the bi-phasic or sarcomatoid sub-types of mesothelioma. Your doctor can always contact a more specialized lab if he/she feels your diagnosis is in any way inconclusive.

Diagnosis Of Mesothelioma.

2011-08-22T07:35:00.003+05:00

HOW IS MESOTHELIOMA DIAGNOSED?

Dignosis Of Mesothelioma.

A diagnosis of mesothelioma is most often obtained with careful assessment of clinical and radiological findings in addition to a confirming tissue biopsy. (Learn about typical mesothelioma symptoms.) A review of the patient’s medical history, including history of asbestos exposure is taken, followed by a complete physical examination, x-rays of the chest or abdomen, and lung function tests. A CT scan or MRI may also be done at this time. If any of these preliminary tests prove suspicious for mesothelioma; a biopsy is necessary to confirm this diagnosis.

New Cancer Treatment Achieves First Mesothelioma Success:

2011-08-12T09:11:00.000+05:00

New Cancer Treatment Achieves First Mesothelioma Success:

los angeles clippers tickets NASHVILLE, Tennessee—Standard treatments for the care of mesothelioma seemed to have failed to stop or slow the growth of the cancer, but the first mesothelioma patient treated with a new protocol has shown successful results. The results are early and show similarities to the investigative protocol's success against several other aggressive cancers. The patient with mesothelioma is a woman in her late forties. She was exposed to asbestos fiber when she was a child and was diagnosed with the rare cancer in 2008. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber which is extremely strong, flexible and lightweight, and which can be woven into fabric or mixed into building materials such as concrete. It has a remarkable ability to resist heat, electrical conduction, salt water, and other chemical and biological changes. It has been widely used in building materials and insulation, as well as in automotive parts and other industrial capacities.golden state warriors tickets
When the asbestos fibers are released into the air, however, they can be breathed into the lungs, where they may cause damage years after the initial exposure. Among the most common diseases related to asbestos exposure are asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer. Asbestos related diseases, such as mesothelioma, have a long latency period—sometimes decades long—and when the disease is diagnosed, it has usually become incurable. When the patient in question was diagnosed in 2008, tumors already had filled most of the chest space where her right lung had been. She went through the approved treatments, but saw no results from the standard chemotherapy protocols. At that point, she was invited to visit NeoPlas Innovation's Nashville clinic in order to begin a new outpatient treatment. CT scans two months later revealed that her cancer had been stabilized and that the largest of her tumors had actually shrunk in size. NeoPlas Innovation Director of Research Dr. Stephen B. Cantrell said, “These are early results from one patient, so no conclusions can be drawn yet. Mesothelioma is so relentless and uniformly fatal, though, that being able to stop its growth and spread is very exciting. Most importantly, it's a major victory for this patient. It mirrors the success we're seeing for the great majority of our patients with other cancers, as well." Treatment of this kind is available on a case-by-case basis for qualified patients who have colon cancer, renal (kidney) cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma and certain sarcomas. The new treatment is actually an “off-label” combination of two existing medicines: lovastatin and interferon. In 1998 Dr. Jerffrey Rubins and colleagues reported that lovastatin had a significant effect against mesothelioma. According to Dr. Cantrell, “The key to moving from the lab to success in humans has been taking a fresh look and finding the right medicines to combine. When we have administered a precisely time regimen of low-dose interferon with lovastation, the results have been surprising.” The most notable side effect of the treatment is fatigue, but most patients do not experience the side effects common to chemotherapy and radiation, such as vomiting, hair loss, and nausea.oklahoma city thunder tickets

Mesothelioma Lawyers and Attorneys:

2011-08-12T09:07:00.000+05:00

Mesothelioma Lawyers and Attorneys:

Choosing to follow legal recourse and selecting an attorney to represent you in a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit are important decisions that should be made carefully. The facts of your situation and the law firm you select have a dramatic impact in the outcome of your case.

The Facts of Your Situation

Some mesothelioma patients know they worked around asbestos, but many do not know how they were exposed or how often. In fact, many people are not sure if they were ever near this carcinogen. Unfortunately, there have been thousands of products that contained asbestos - cigarette filters, hair dryers, brakes, basement and roof materials, pipes, boilers, insulation, and many other products found throughout the home and at work. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma it is more than likely that you were exposed to asbestos multiple times in your life and that this happened decades before your diagnosis.

In general, the value of your case depends on how many asbestos containing products you were exposed to, the number of identifiable defendants that still exist (many have declared bankruptcy), your age and earning capacity. And the speed of your case can depend on a number of variables including the state where you worked and lived when you were exposed to asbestos.

The Law Firm You Choose

When you have been given the news about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:

A-Statutes of Limitations - There are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.
B-Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.
C-Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available for this disease.
But, picking a lawyer is serious business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma/asbestos cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?

Also, make sure you understand the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.

Finally, for something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive, thoughtful and compassionate.

Stages of Mesothelioma

2011-08-12T09:02:00.004+05:00

Stages of Mesothelioma:

The oldest staging system and the one most often used is the Butchart System which is based mainly on the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesotheliomas into four stages. The more recent TNM system considers variables of tumor in mass and spread, lymph node involvement, and metastasis. The Brigham System is the latest system and stages mesothelioma according to resectability (the ability to surgically remove) and lymph node involvement.

Butchart System – extent of primary tumor mass

Stage I: Mesothelioma is present in the right or left pleura and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side.

Stage II: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or involves the esophagus, heart, or pleura on both sides. Lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved.
Stage III: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Lymph nodes beyond those in the chest may also be involved.
Stage IV: There is evidence of metastasis or spread through the bloodstream to other organs.
TNM System — variables of T (tumor), N (lymph nodes), M (metastasis)

Stage I: Mesothelioma involves right or left pleura and may also have spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Lymph nodes are not involved.
Stage II: Mesothelioma has spread from the pleura on one side to nearby lymph nodes next to the lung on the same side. It may also have spread into the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side.
Stage III: Mesothelioma is now in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side with or without spread to lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor.
Stage IV: Mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, or extends to the pleura or lung on the opposite side, or directly extends into organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Any distant metastases is included in this stage.
Brigham System: (variables of tumor resectability and nodal status)

Stage I: Resectable mesothelioma and no lymph node involvement
Stage II: Resectable mesothelioma but with lymph node involvement
Stage III: Unresectable mesothelioma extending into chest wall, heart, or through diaphragm, peritoneum; with or without extrathoracic lymph node involvement
Stage IV: Distant metastatic disease

Mesothelioma Nutrition Is Considered A Form Of Therapy

2011-08-12T08:52:00.000+05:00

Mesothelioma Nutrition Is Considered A Form Of Therapy:

Mesothelioma Nutrition therefore is also considered as a therapy. And therapeutic benefits of mesothelioma nutrition are based upon the individual condition of the client mostly based on height, weight and the type of cancer. The goal of mesothelioma nutrition is to absorb the nutrients they are eating, have a stable weight in relation to their height called BMI, prevent further muscle wasting leading to loss of weight, able to continuously fight infections, have the necessary energy and strength and of course, to improve or sustain the worth of living

Mesothelioma nutrition for cancer patients always vary. It depends upon the metabolic needs and demands of the body. Nutritionists always tell us to eat fruits and vegetables, have moderation on sweets and carbohydrates, eat lean meat, avoid red meat but in cases of cancer, nutritionists and dietitians recommend a high protein and high caloric diet. How? In accordance with a healthy mesothelioma nutrition, by consuming lots of eggs, milk and cheese is just one way of getting a high protein diet. The primary reason for this type of diet is for the cancer patient to have enough strength and energy to tolerate the effects of major treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and the same with general mesothelioma nutrition.

When a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, mesothelioma nutrition is also considered because treatment begins as well. In treatment, good cells are also killed not only the cancer cells.

Side-effects of chemotherapy common to cancer patients such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset may greatly affect the patient. The patient may lose her appetite if these side effects occur at the same time or one at a time. Mouth ulcerations may also occur leading to infections. Maintaining proper Mesothelioma nutrition may help with side effects.

Mesothelioma Nutrition

2011-08-12T08:50:00.000+05:00

Mesothelioma Nutrition:

Without a current cure for mesothelioma, patients battling the cancer often want to fight it in every way possible. Nutritious eating is a wonderful way to instill mesothelioma hope and equip the immune system with positive fuel. The food and nutrients that we put into our bodies greatly affect our ability to heal and fight disease.

Eating a balanced diet consisting of whole grains, proteins, dairy, fruits and vegetables enables the body to function properly and adequately fight infection and illness. Eating nutritious food while actively fighting mesothelioma through treatment may not cure the cancer, but fighting the disease from every angle will give patients the best possible outlook.

Mesothelioma patients undergoing various treatments may have additional nutritional concerns. Nutrition during chemotherapy is extremely important as the drugs used during treatment kill cancer cells, but simultaneously affect healthy cells as well, leaving the body in a weakened state.

Many patients may experience side effects from the treatment, including nausea and diarrhea. Mild flavored foods such as whole grain toast may settle the stomach and be easier to keep down during treatment. To combat constipation, patients should select foods with a large amount of fiber such as apples, oatmeal and broccoli. Ensuring adequate protein consumption is also important and many patients include egg whites, beans, milk and lean meats in their daily diet.

Patients undergoing radiation therapy may also experience side effects such as vomiting and loss of appetite. Since radiation can zap energy, it is important to eat nutritious foods with healthy calories to fuel the body properly. Limiting the amount of salt, alcohol and caffeine ingested during treatment is also very important. Speaking with a doctor or a nutritionist can help a patient receive guidance about proper nutrition and recommended foods to eat or avoid during radiation.
It is also important for those recovering from cancer to be mindful of their diet. Additional information about nutrition and cancer recovery can be found in the Mesothelioma Cancer and Nutrition section of our Web site.

Mesothelioma Treatments

2011-08-12T08:43:00.002+05:00

Mesothelioma Treatments:

While a cure does not currently exist, intensive treatment can often increase the duration of a patient's survival and alleviate some of the pain and suffering associated with mesothelioma. Patients will typically undergo a combination of treatments to combat mesothelioma. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the most widely used treatments, though alternative therapies such as massage and TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), are often administered to aid in pain relief.

A combination of treatments, such as surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, used in conjunction with chemotherapy to prevent cancerous cell division, is typically recommended. The stage, or maturity level, at which mesothelioma is diagnosed greatly affects a patient's prognosis and treatment options. The earlier the cancer is found and treated, the more likely a patient will positively respond to treatment.

Mesothelioma Survivors

2011-08-12T08:41:00.001+05:00

Mesothelioma Survivors:

Mesothelioma survivor Paul Kraus was determined to fight his peritoneal mesothelioma cancer the natural way. He became a vegetarian and started a rigorous anti-cancer diet which included organic fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, nuts and rice. In addition, he added many vitamins and supplements to his daily routine, consumed freshly squeezed juices and tried a treatment known as "ozone therapy". The rationale for ozone therapy is that cancer cells do not thrive in an oxygenated environment.

Paul Kraus' prognosis was very poor and he was told by his doctors, very honestly, that his chance of success with chemotherapy was not high at all. In addition, he was informed that the quality of his life would be severely compromised by the heavy chemotherapy treatments that would be prescribed. He was given a year to live but has survived a further eleven years by going the natural route.

Mesothelioma survivor Rhio O'Connor contracted pleural mesothelioma after asbestos exposure in his youth. He decided against surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Instead, with some help from physicians, he developed a regimen that included consuming more than 100 supplements daily, following a nutritious diet and practicing holistic, mind-body medicine.

O`Connor was inspired by Hippocrates who, more than 2,000 years ago, said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food". O`Connor is the published author of the book "They Said Months, I Chose Years: A Mesothelioma Survivor`s Story."

Told that he had less than a year to live and to take his wife on a cruise, he fought mesothelioma the natural way and lived a further 7 years to tell the tale.

Fighting for Victims' Rights

2011-08-11T23:35:00.000+05:00

Fighting for Victims' Rights:

Mesothelioma law falls into two categories: regulatory statutes, which specify what steps industry must now take to protect employees; and personal injury law (known in legal terms as tort), allowing victims to take action against institutions responsible for their asbestos exposure as well as the manufacturers of the substance.

The Fairness in Asbestos Resolution Act (SB 852) was introduced by Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) in April of 2005. This bill would have deprived citizens of the right to file suit against corporations for injuries related to asbestos. Instead, the federal government would have established a private trust fund, financed by insurance companies and responsible corporations, from which malignant mesothelioma and other asbestos victims would be compensated.

The bill's proponents claimed it would speed up the recovery process for claimants. However, such claimants would receive only a fraction of their deserved compensation, while the corporations who willfully and negligently exposed workers and their families to a substance they knew to be toxic would be absolved from any and all liability.

The bill died in the Senate in February, 2006, but was re-introduced by Specter in May of that year as SB 3274. The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the bill ten days later, but no action has been on it taken since.

Nonetheless, federal judges continue to rule in favor of corporate interests. A U.S. District Judge dismissed conspiracy charges against the owners of Montana's infamous Libby Mine, and disallowed scientific evidence as well as asbestos samples - in spite of documented facts showing that Libby residents suffer from respiratory disease and asbestos cancer at abnormally high rates.

Mesothelioma Law

2011-08-11T23:33:00.000+05:00

Mesothelioma Law:

In March of 1941, C.S. Stephenson, Commander of Preventive Medicine for the U.S. Navy, sent a memo to Rear Admiral Ross MacIntyre, which said: "We are not protecting the men as we should." Pearl Harbor was still nine months in the future; although it was generally acknowledged by the Roosevelt Administration that U.S. involvement in the war was inevitable, U.S. servicemen had yet to see combat under their own flag. What was Stephenson's issue?

The heading of the memo was "Asbestosis." This memo, uncovered years later, is one of the many documents proving that the U.S. government as well as Corporate America have long known about the dangers of asbestos, and deliberately withheld that information from the public.

Today, decades later, those suffering from the agony of mesothelioma are asking why their government and/or their employers failed to protect them. Charles Ay, a former shipyard worker understands too well: "Money." Ay has testified in several legal actions and has said that by 1975 (if not earlier), corporations and government alike understood that to fully protect workers would have required the use of special HazMat (hazardous materials) suits such as are used by EPA inspectors.

"By the time you add up the cost of all that protective gear, you are talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars...it was a lot cheaper to let them work unprotected," said Ay.

What is the dollar value of a human life? While this concept should seem an obscenity to most people, the law states quite clearly that asbestos victims and the courts have a right make that determination.

Mesothelioma Related Terms

2011-08-11T23:26:00.000+05:00

Mesothelioma & Asbestos Related Glossary of Legal Terms

A
Additur
Ad Litem
Administrative Agency
Administrative Hearing
Amendment
Amicus Curiae
Answer
Appeal
Appellate
Asbestos Attorney
Assumption of the Risk
Attorney-Client Privilege

B
Bad Faith
Bench Trial or Non-jury Trial
Beneficiary
Best Evidence Rule
Breach
Breach of Duty
Breach of Trust
Breach of Warranty
Burden of Proof or Standard of Proof
Bystander (In Relation to Product Liability)

C
Cause
Cause of Action
Caveat
Circumstantial Evidence
Collateral Source Rule
Complainant
Complaint
Contingent/Contingency Fee Agreement
Corroborating Evidence

D
Damages
Decedent
Decree
Defendant
Deliberate
Demurrer
De Novo
Deposition
Directed Verdict
Disbursement
Discovery
Dismissal
Do-Not-Resuscitate Order (DNR)
Due Diligence
Durable Power of Attorney

E
Estate/Estate Planning
Estoppel
Exemplary Damages or Punitive Damages
Exhibit
Expert Witness

F
Fact Question/Question of Fact
Fiduciary

G
Gross Negligence

H
Hearing
Hearsay

I
In Camera
Mesothelioma & Asbestos Cancer Legal Terms Glossary
Interrogatory

J
Joint and Several Liability
Judgment
Judicial Notice
Jurisdiction

L
Last Will and Testament
Lawsuit
Leading Question
Legal Cause
Liable/Liability
Liberal construction
Living Will
Loss of Consortuium

m
Malfeasance
Mitigating Circumstances
Motion

N
Negligence/Negligent
Negligence Per Se
Nonfeasance
Nuncupative Will

O
Occupational Disease
Out-of-Court Settlement

P
Paralegal
Personal Injury
Personal Representative
Petition
Plaintiff
Pleading
Power of Attorney
Preponderance of the Evidence
Prima Facie
Probate
Product Identification - Asbestos
Product Liability
Proximate Cause

R
Reasonable Care
Recover/Recovery
Remedies
Remittitur
Request for Production
Retainer

S
Settlement/To Settle
Several Liability
Severance
Standard of Care
Statute of Limitations
Strict Construction
Summons
Survivor Action

T
Tort
Trial Calendar

V
Verdict

W
Wrongful Death Action
Wrongful Death Statute

Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

2011-08-11T23:13:00.000+05:00

Mesothelioma Cancer Symptoms:

Knowing what symptoms to look for is important that regular checks and knows a doctor that asbestos exposure so that you perform testing and analysis. Exposure to asbestos simply characterized as increasingly mesothelioma patients be considered before developing cancer cells.

The first Symptoms of Mesothelioma:

Mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until it reaches an advanced stage due to the fact that almost no symptoms at first. This leads to a poor prognosis and a shorter life expectancy of the patient. Early detection is the key when it comes to mesothelioma.
Sometimes the development of mesothelioma cells by routine chest X-ray and lung function tests are recognized. Mesothelioma cells suspects have to be removed and a biopsy to obtain a definitive diagnosis. Due to the lack of patients, the symptoms are often surprised when they are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a serious disease and has a short life expectancy, if not caught early. However, there are many contributing treatments and therapies for mesothelioma, the change in mortality from this cancer.
The symptoms of mesothelioma developed
Once cancer cells have developed and begun to grow there are many different symptoms that may occur. Initially when the doctor is not known, asbestos misdiagnosed because the symptoms are often associated with other diseases easier.

• No production of dry cough that does not seem to go away. • Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing • Night sweats and fever • Unexplained weight loss

• Fatigue • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing at rest • hemoptysis, or coughing up blood • Anemia • Diarrhea or constipation • Nausea or vomiting

These are all common symptoms that a patient may have mesothelioma. The absence of a particular symptom does not exclude the possibility of mesothelioma.

The pleural effusion is the main cause of the symptoms that people are aware of the possibility of mesothelioma. A pleural effusion is the accumulation of fluid between the layers of the tissues to the lungs and chest. This can be caused by many things and he is suffering from pneumonia, but is a known predictor of mesothelioma.

Risk Factors

2011-08-11T23:02:00.000+05:00

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

A risk factor is anything that affects a person's chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or family history, can't be changed. But risk factors don't tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several risk factors, does not mean that you will get the disease. And some people who get the disease may have few or no risk factors.

Researchers have found some risk factors that increase a person's risk of mesothelioma.

Asbestos:

The main risk factor for mesothelioma is contact with asbestos. In fact, most cases of mesothelioma have been linked to asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as bundles of fibers.

In the past, asbestos was used in insulation, and in other things like floor tiles, door gaskets, roofing, patching compounds, and more. Since asbestos is a natural mineral, it can also be found in dust and rocks in certain parts of the United States. Most asbestos use stopped after 1989, but it is still used in some products.

When asbestos fibers are breathed in, some can travel to the ends of the small air passages and reach the lining of the lungs. There they can damage the cells lining the lungs and, with time, lead to pleural mesothelioma. If swallowed, these fibers can also reach the lining of the abdominal cavity (belly) where they play a part in causing peritoneal mesothelioma.

People who may be at risk for asbestos exposure include some miners, factory workers, makers of insulation, railroad workers, ship builders, gas mask makers, and construction workers. Studies have shown that family members of people exposed to asbestos at work have an increased risk of mesothelioma, too, because asbestos fibers are carried home on the clothes of the workers.

Asbestos was used in the insulation of many older homes and public buildings around the country, including some schools. Because the asbestos is contained within the building materials, a large amount is not likely to be found in the air. The risk is thought to be much less unless the asbestos is somehow released into the air, such as when building materials begin to rot over time, or during remodeling or removal.

The risk of getting mesothelioma depends on how much asbestos a person was exposed to and for how long. Mesotheliomas take a long time to develop. The time between the first exposure and finding the disease is often between 20 and 50 years. Also, once you have been exposed to asbestos, the risk of mesothelioma appears to be lifelong and it does not go down over time. To learn more, see our document called Asbestos.

Other risk factors

Radiation: There have been a few published reports of mesotheliomas that developed after exposure to high doses of radiation to the chest or abdomen as a treatment for another cancer. But this is very rare. There is some evidence linking thorium dioxide (Thorotrast) to mesothelioma. Thorotrast was once used in certain x-rays. It has not been used for many decades.

SV40 virus: Some studies have suggested that infection with simian virus 40 (SV40) might increase the risk of mesothelioma. Some polio vaccines made between 1955 and 1963 were contaminated with SV40. Research into this is still going on.

Age: Mesothelioma is rare in people under age 45. The chance of having it goes up with age. About 3 out of 4 people with mesothelioma are over 65 years old.

Gender: The disease affects men about 4 times more often than women. This is most likely because men more often worked in jobs with heavy exposure to asbestos.

Cancer Information

2011-08-11T22:55:00.000+05:00

Cancer Information:

CancerCompassLearnCancer InformationCancer InformationLearn more about common cancer types and treatments. Here you’ll find information about specific cancer diagnoses, and conventional and complementary treatment options. While everyone’s experience with cancer is different, learning more about the disease can help empower patients, caregivers and survivors alike.
Cancer Types:

Bile Duct Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Bone Cancer
Brain Cancer
Breast Cancer
Cervical Cancer

Colon Cancer
Endometrial Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Gallbladder Cancer
Head and Neck Cancer
Hodgkin's Disease
Kidney Cancer
Laryngeal Cancer
Leukemia
Liver Cancer
Lung Cancer
Lymphoma
Melanoma
Multiple Myeloma
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Oral Cancer
Other Cancer Information
Ovarian Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Pharyngeal Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Rectal Cancer
Renal Cell Cancer
Skin Cancer
Stomach Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Thyroid Cancer
Uterine Cancer
Vaginal Cancer
Vulvar Cancer
Conventional Treatments
Biological Therapy
Chemotherapy
Hormone Therapy
Local Hyperthermia
Photodynamic Therapy
Radiation Therapy
Radiofrequency Ablation
Stem Cell Transplantation
Surgical Oncology

Complementary & Alternative Treatments
Pain Management
Physical Therapy
Mind-Body Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine
Nutritional Support
Spiritual Support

Main types of Mesothelioma

2011-08-11T22:52:00.000+05:00

Main types of Mesothelioma

There are 4 main types of mesotheliomas based on how the cells look under a microscope.

Epithelioid: This is the most common type. It tends to have a better outlook (prognosis) than the other types.
Sarcomatoid (fibrous): About 1 to 2 out of 10 mesotheliomas are of this type.
Mixed (biphasic): This type has features of the 2 types above. About 3 to 4 out of 10 mesotheliomas are the mixed type.
Desmoplastic: These are rare.
About 3 out of 4 mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. These are called pleural mesotheliomas. Another 10%-20% begin in the abdomen (belly). These are called peritoneal mesotheliomas. Those starting around the heart are very rare. This cancer can also start in the tissue around the testicles, but this is also very rare.

More About Mesothelioma.

2011-08-11T22:44:00.000+05:00

More About Mesothelioma:

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that is becoming more and more common. Affecting the mesothelial cells that make up the mesothelium – the outer lining that protects the body’s major organs such as the heart, stomach and lungs – this form of cancer is a direct result of regular and unprotected exposure to asbestos. The symptoms and the latency period of this disease mean that it is difficult to diagnose. Treatment for mesothelioma is still being investigated through clinical trials and research, but as a rule it responds poorly to the treatments that are currently used.

The people most at risk from being carriers of this cancer are those have worked with asbestos over the past thirty to fifty years.
Because of this, the disease is most common in men between the ages of sixty and seventy as this is the group that commonly worked with asbestos during those years. Because of the lack of protection and regulations in those days, these workers were constantly exposed to the dust and fibres from the asbestos, which caused the cells of the mesothelium to become abnormal. However, because the disease takes decades to develop fully and manifest, many of them were oblivious to this until thirty to fifty years later. It is these men who are now lodging multi-million dollar lawsuits against the unscrupulous companies that exposed them to the dangers of asbestos, even though they were aware that it could cause harm to the employees.

There are also other people at risk from the disease; namely those who have had regular contact with a person who has worked with asbestos. Because these workers regularly carried dust and fibres on their clothes, skin and in their hair, they fibres and dust could be ingested by family members, who were then at risk of developing mesothelioma, respiratory problems or another asbestos related disease.

The organs most affected by mesothelioma are the lungs and the surrounding tissue. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the type affecting the lining of the lungs, is the most common variation of this cancer with symptoms which include breathing and swallowing difficulties, coughing, shortness of breath, fever and weight loss. The abdomen is another area affected by this cancer, and this variation is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is not as common as pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include nausea and vomiting, weight loss and loss of appetite, fever, bowel obstruction and pain or swelling of the stomach area. The last variation of the cancer is pericardial mesothelioma, which is where the cancer affects the heart and the tissue surrounding it. This variation is a rare one, and symptoms can include palpitations, breathing difficulties, and persistent coughing.

The symptoms of mesothelioma are very common to a number of other diseases which are more well-known in society. Therefore, it is not unusual for the patient to be misdiagnosed when he or she goes in displaying any or all of these symptoms. People who have worked with asbestos should always let their doctor know this so that the doctor is more aware and more conscious of the possibilities in the event that the symptoms do manifest. A speedy diagnosis is important to the effective treatment of mesothelioma, and without being aware of the facts your doctor may not be able to make the diagnosis as quickly as he would if he is aware of the situation.

Although there are treatments for mesothelioma, they do not have a high success rate particularly on patients in whom the cancer is in its later stages. The faster the mesothelioma is diagnosed and treated, the more chance of success, which is why it is important to get as fast a diagnosis as possible.

Current treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy, palliative therapy and chemotherapy. The National Institute of Cancer along with a variety of other organizations and sponsors are currently conducting research into mesothelioma and carrying out clinical trials to try and find a treatment that will not only be more effective but will enable the successful treatment of the disease even in its later stages.

What is mesothelioma?

2011-08-11T22:38:00.000+05:00

Malignant mesothelioma is cancer that starts in the cells that line certain parts of the body, especially the chest and belly (abdomen). The lining formed by these cells is called mesothelium. These cells protect organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move. For instance, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move during breathing.