Mesotheloma Information, Symptoms and Treatment Hospitals

Mesothelioma is a very rare
form of lung cancer that arises in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is made up
of parietal and visceral membranes, thin layers of tissue, which surround
organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane
immediately surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering
the visceral membrane. The visceral and parietal membranes make up the
mesothelium.



This fluid helps organs move easily among surrounding structures. In the case of the lung, it helps reduce friction between the lung and chest wall during normal breathing as the lung expands.

The mesothelium is
referred to by different names, depending on what part of the body it is found
in. In the abdomen, it is called the peritoneum; in the lungs, the pleura, and
in the heart, the pericardium. These correspond to peritoneal
mesothelioma (cancer of the abdomen/stomach), pleural
mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining) and pericardial
mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesotheioma Pictures  




Asbestos
Causes Mesotheloma  

Treatment Options

There are different types of treatment for patients with malignant mesothilioma.

Different types of treatments are available for patients with malignant mesothelioma. The standard treatments are treatments that are currently being used. The other treatment options are being tested in clinical trials. A clinical trial is a research study conducted by doctors and offered to patients with mesothelioma. A clinical trial is meant to help improve the current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer. When clinical trials show that a new treatment is better than the current treatment, the new treatment may become the standard treatment. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment.

Three types of current treatment being used:

1.) Surgery

The following surgical treatments may be used for malignant mesothelioma:

• Wide local excision: This surgery is performed on an area of the body to remove the cancer and some of the healthy tissue around it.

• Pleurectomy and decortication: This type of surgery is removal of part of the covering of the lungs, the lining of the chest, and part of the outside surface of the lungs.

• Extrapleural pneumonectomy: This surgery is the removal of one whole lung and part of the lining of the chest, the diaphragm, and the lining of the sac around the heart.

• Pleurodesis: This is a surgical procedure that uses chemicals or drugs to make a purposeful scar in the space between the layers of the pleura, or the membrane covering the chest cavity. Fluid found in the space is first drained from the space using a catheter or chest tube and the chemical or drug is put into the space. The scarring works by stopping the build-up of fluid in the pleural cavity.

Even if the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given chemotherapy or radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left. Treatment given after surgery, to increase the chances of a cure, is called adjuvant therapy.

2.) Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation which is aimed or directed toward the area of the cancer inside the body. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into the body near the cancer. The type of therapy given, External or Internal radiation therapy, depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. With dedicated treatment, the prognosis can be very good.

3.) Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a malignant cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing or multiplying. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth in pill form or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the entire body (systemic chemotherapy).

When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect malignant cancer cells in those specific areas (regional chemotherapy). Combination chemotherapy is the use of more than one anticancer drug. The way the chemotherapy is given depends on the type and stage of the cancer being treated.

At Risk Jobs and Locations

It is inhalation of asbestos fibers which can cause mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer. Even low exposure levels of the tiny fibers or asbestos dust are very dangerous. After the 1980's workplace exposure to asbestos became rare, but it can take up to 40 years for signs of mesothelioma asbestos lung cancer to be noticed.

Most patients were exposed to asbestos fibers on the job or in the workplace in what is known as occupational exposure. Another form of exposure is called para-occupational exposure. This form of asbestos exposure can be harder to determine the source, but it usually develops from a family member who has been exposed in the workplace.

Typically the family member is exposed to asbestos dust or fibers from the worker's clothing, and when the clothing is handled the dust is released and inhaled. Family members that are exposed in this way, may be exposed to smaller amounts, but are still very much at risk.

In the same way, those that have homes or work near facilities that have asbestos may also be at risk even though there is not obvious direct contact. The fine asbestos dust can easily be carried by the wind over long distances.

Likewise, people who live near these types of sites likely to have asbestos around the facility are also at risk: refineries, power plants, factories, shipyards, steel mills and building demolition. These work sites can release asbestos fibers into the environment and contaminate nearby residential neighborhoods.

Many occupations have an increased risk for developing lung cancer. For example, asbestos insulation workers have 92 times the risk of developing lung cancer, and smelter workers have 3-8 times the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is also increased in people who work in the manufacturing of certain industrial gases, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, paints, inorganic pigments, plastics, and synthetic rubber. The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the amount of exposure to the cancer-causing agent.
Trades:

•Manufacturing of asbestos products (insulation, roofing, building, materials)

•Vehicle repair (brakes & clutches)

•Construction workers and contractors

•Maritime workers

•Miners and drillmen

•Offshore rust removals

•Oil refinery workers

•Power plants

•Railway workers

•Sand or abrasive manufacturers

•Shipyards / ships / ship builders

•Steel mills

•Tile cutters

Occupations:

•Auto Mechanics

•Boiler makers

•Bricklayers

•Building Inspectors

•Carpenters

•Drywallers

•Electricians

•Floor Coverings

•Furnace Workers

•Glazers

•Grinders

•Hod carriers

•Insulators

•Iron workers

•Laborers

•Longshoremen

•Maintenance workers

•Merchant marines

•Millwrights

•Operating Engineers

•Painters

•Plasterers

•Plumbers

•Roofers

•Sand blasters

•Sheet metal workers

•Steam fitters

•Tile setters

•Welders

•United States Navy veterans

•Welders

Many occupations have an increased risk for developing lung cancer. For example, asbestos insulation workers have 92 times the risk of developing of lung cancer, and smelter workers have 3-8 times the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is also increased in people who work in the manufacturing of certain industrial gases, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, paints, inorganic pigments, plastics, and synthetic rubber. The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the amount of exposure to the cancer-causing agent.

For example, the risk of lung cancer in humans is proportional to the number of cigarettes smoked. The risk of developing lung cancer is 8-20 times greater in smokers compared to people who have never smoked. A smaller, but real risk exists for cigar and pipe smokers. Some lung cancer causing agents react together to significantly worsen the risk of developing cancer. The combined exposure to asbestos and tobacco smoke clearly multiplies the risk of developing lung cancer.

The risk of lung cancer is greater for those living in urban areas. This risk is approximately 1.2 to 2.3 times that of people living in rural areas. There is also an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers whose close relatives have had lung cancer. Scarring in the lungs from previous infections or injury can be associated with and increased risk of cancer. At present, many people from these professions are seeking compensation.

Mesothelioma Attorney

The use of asbestos has been widespread for centuries, as even the ancient Greeks and Romans prized the building material due to its utility as an insulator and resistance to fire. However, for just as long, exposure to asbestos has been shown to cause significant health issues, as Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder observed that those exposed to the dangerous material often became sick.

By the mid-1960s, the serious consequences of asbestos exposure had become much more clear, and it was proven that the inhalation of the dangerous mineral fibers could cause asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. With these discoveries, more and more people who feel they unknowingly inhaled the fibers in the workplace have begun to contact a mesothelioma attorney to see if any legal action can be taken.



According to the National Cancer Institute, malignant mesothelioma occurs when cancerous cells are discovered in the mesothelium, "a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs."

Mesothelioma itself refers to the disease in which the mesothelium "become abnormal and divide without control to order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs," according to the Institute.

Despite the fact that mesothelioma is still considered a relatively rare cancer, incidence rates have steadily risen over the past 20 years, mostly due to the fact that symptoms of the disease may not appear for decades after initial exposure to asbestos. For this reason, mesothelioma attorneys can be critical, as they can help pinpoint all of the relevant information including when, where and how the initial exposure occurred.



The National Cancer Institute points out that there are approximately 2,500 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year in the U.S. Because of this, a mesotheloma lawyer has become increasingly valuable to workers who have been employed in a variety of industries, including shipbuilding, auto manufacturing, construction and mining. These are generally the most common industries to be associated with asbestos exposure. In fact, a history of working with asbestos is reported in approximately 70 to 80 percent of mesothilioma diagnoses, according to the Institute. Iowa, Alabama and Minnesota have very high incidence of cases.

However, asbestos exposure can also occur indirectly, and a number of cases have focused on family members who come into contact with those working around asbestos. In these cases, the value of a mesothelioma lawyer cannot be understated, as it is crucial to find the root cause of the disease and the initial asbestos exposure. By contacting a mesothelioma attorney, those suffering from the disease can give themselves an opportunity to secure financial compensation for their family if they ultimately succumb to the illness.

Unfortunately for most diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cure is not possible, mainly due to the fact that it is generally diagnosed at an advanced stage, according to the Mayo Clinic. As such, treatment options generally focus on ensuring the patient is as comfortable as possible.

However, some treatment options that have been explored include a variety of surgeries to help alleviate fluid buildup, remove tissues around the abdomen or lungs or to simply remove as much of the cancer as possible, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Other treatment options are currently being studied by scientists around the world, but those suffering from the disease should consult a mesothelioma attorney in order to ensure that their family is protected in the worst case scenario. Many times, asbestos exposure occurs unwittingly and can be a result of an employer's negligence. By utilizing the services of a mesothelioma attorney, sufferers can protect their family financially, make sure that any offending parties are brought to justice and help to eliminate the occurrence of similar cases in the future.

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 mesotheloma 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 mesothilioma 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.


For an Oncologist/Cancer doctor in your area, please call us at 1-800-780-2686 or email us below and we will send you a list of Oncologist's in your area.

Cancer Hospital Locations By State

Alabama
UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center
1802 6th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205) 934-5077

Arizona
Arizona Cancer Center
1515 North Campbell Avenue
Tuscon, AZ 85724
(520) 694-2873

California
Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
101 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868
(714) 456-5033

Colorado
University of Colorado Cancer Center- Anschutz Cancer Pavilion
1665 Aurora Court, Mailstop F704
Aurora, CO 80045
(720) 848-0300

Connecticut
Yale Cancer Center
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 785-6879

District of Columbia
Lombardi Cancer Center
3970 Reservoir Road, N.W.
#E501
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 687-2110

Florida
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer & Research
12902 Magnolia Drive
Tampa, FL 33612
(813) 745-4673

Georgia
Winship Cancer Institute
1365C Clifton Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30322
(404) 778-5000

Hawaii
Cancer Research Center of Hawaii
651 Ilalo Street, #231D
Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 586-2963

Illinois
Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center
303 E. Superior Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 908-5250

Indiana
Indiana University Cancer Center
535 Barnhill Drive, # 473
Indianapolis, IN 46202
(317) 278-4822

Iowa
Iowa City Cancer Treatment Center
601 East Bloomington Street
Iowa City, IA 52245
(319) 354-8777

Maine
Eastern Maine Medical Center: Cancercare of Maine
417 State Street, # 20
Bangor, ME 04401
(207) 973-7478

Maryland
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
1650 Orleans Street
Baltimore, MD 21287
(410) 955-8839

Massachusetts
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
44 Binney Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 632-3000

Michigan
University of Michigan Cancer Center
1500 E. Medical Center Drive, # 5841
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 647-1417

Minnesota
Mayo Clinic Cancer Center
200 First Street Southwest, # W4
Rochester, MN 55905
(507) 284-2511

Missouri
Siteman Cancer Center
660 South Euclid Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 362-5654
Nebraska
Eppley Institute-Research-Cancer
600 South 42nd Street
Omaha, NE 68131
(402) 559-4495

New Hampshire
Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
21 East Hollis Street
Nashua, NH 03060
(603) 577-3460

New Jersey
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
195 Little Albany Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-2465

New Mexico
Cancer Research & Treatment Center University of New Mexico
500 Redondo West Drive Northeast
Albuquerque, NM 87106
(505) 272-2885

New York
NYU Cancer Center
160 East 34th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 731-5452

North Carolina

Duke Cancer Center Raleigh
3404 Wake Forest Road # 301
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 862-5400

Ohio
Comprehensive Cancer Center
OSU James Cancer Hospital
300 West 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
(800) 293-5066
Oregon
OHSU Cancer Institute
3181 Southwest Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, OR 97239
(503) 494-1617

Pennsylvania
Kimmel Cancer Center
233 South 10th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 503-5692

South Carolina
Holling Cancer Center
86 Jonathan Lucas Street
Charleston, SC 29425
(843) 792-9300

Tennessee
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
2220 Pierce Avenue, #1903
Nashville, TN 37232
(615) 322-6053

Texas
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 792-6161

Utah
Huntsman Cancer Institute
2000 Circle of Hope Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
(801) 581-6365

Virginia
UVA Cancer Center
1300 Jefferson Park Avenue
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 924-9333

Washington
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
1100 Fairview Avenue North
Seattle, WA 98109
(206) 667-5000

Wisconsin
UW Carbone Cancer Center
600 Highland Ave., Rm. K4/610
Madison, WI 53792
(608) 263-6400