Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog

Mesothelioma has plagued our nation for decades, yet it only recently seems to be getting the kind of attention it deserves.

It is an odd form of cancer unlike lung, breast or prostate cancer. With mesothelioma, it can take only a little exposure to asbestos, whether at work in a shipyard, in an old factory or even in the insulation of a person's own house, to cause the illness.

But mesothelioma is different because the victim likely won't know they are affected for years or even decades after the fact. It isn't until they feel the typical symptoms, such as chest pain, trouble breathing or heavy coughing, that they get checked out by a doctor. And it can take several doctor visits before the diagnosis is given. Typical survival time after diagnosis is only about 12 months.

But there is hope.

As the Zimbabwe Guardian is reporting, researchers in the Netherlands are looking in to whether it's possible to detect mesothelioma from a breath testing machine. Others have also published research into early detection devices for this terrible disease.

Based on scientific articles written on the topic, the article reports that it's possible a new technology -- electronic nose -- could be the least invasive way to detect mesothelioma. Because it typically isn't diagnosed until decades after exposure to asbestos the elderly are often at risk. And because of their frail state, exploratory surgery often isn't an option.

Doctors in Amsterdam have been experimenting with a device called the Cyranose 320, which they hope will be able to tell the difference between a person who is healthy, one who has mesothelioma and one who has been exposed to asbestos, but who hasn't been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

The device is handheld and has a 32-sensor chip inside. It can be used to recognize many molecules with scent; there are more than 3,000 organic compounds in a single exhaled breath.

The study used 13 people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and another 13 people who were exposed to asbestos, but who haven't been diagnosed, the article states. Another 13 people who were healthy were considered the control group.

The article reports that the device distinguished the mesothelioma patients from those who have been exposed to asbestos with ease. Mesothelioma patients were also distinguished from the control group of healthy people as well. Several measurements and tests repeated results.

This is encouraging news as it means there may be a quicker, easier way for people to determine if they have mesothelioma. Rather than going from primary care physician to lung or breathing specialists, wasting months of wondering what could be the problem, it's possible that a simple breath test and analysis could hold the key to diagnosis. The quicker a person is diagnosed, the longer they may have to live and that's something everyone wants.

Continue reading "Breath Test Technology Could Lead to Mesothelioma Diagnosis After Asbestos Exposure" »

The Iron Range is a part of Minnesota in the northeast region of the state that borders on Canada and Lake Superior and is rich with bands of iron ore.

Yet, many people in this beautiful area of the country are being diagnosed with mesothelioma, at a far greater rate in 2011 compared to previous reports, the Duluth News Tribune reports.

Mesothelioma lawyers have helped victims throughout the country, from the west coast to the east coast, deal with the effects of mesothelioma and the asbestos exposure that leads to the deadly diagnosis.

Often diagnosis comes decades later when a victim is in retirement; some fail to ever make the link between illness and exposure at work. Median survival time after diagnosis is about one year.

Health officials in Minnesota have reported that 63 people died of mesothelioma last year and another 19 have died in 2011. Death records checked in other states by former Iron Range residents who have since moved away has increased the number of cases.

The mesothelioma rate, experts believe, is higher than it should be. Researchers have been working since 2008 to try to find the link between the region and the deadly cancer.

Some believed early on that the asbestos came from workers who dealt with commercial asbestos, such as insulation and piping, furnaces and boilers. But some speculate that the asbestos came from taconite rock that was released during processing.

Lawmakers in 2008 approved a $4.9 million study to look into the issue and try to determine why so many people from that region are dying of the incurable cancer. Some results show that about 1,700 of the 46,000 workers who worked in that industry developed a form of lung cancer. It's unclear what caused that cancer.

The five-part series includes an exposure assessment to determine where the asbestos came from, a mortality study to look at causes of death, a cancer study to see where cancer rates are higher, an environment study to look at what is in the air now and a respiratory health study of living taconite workers and their spouses.

Researchers will continue to figure out where the exposure came from and how to prevent future problems. But the number of mesothelioma cases is expected to soar as baby boomers hit the doors to retirement.

In many cases, military veterans are at high risk -- particularly those who worked in shipyards, boiler rooms and other areas below deck, where asbestos was used in abundance because of its insulating and heat-resistant qualities. In other cases, contractors and subcontractors may be at fault for exposing workers to asbestos. Some of the nation's largest mining and chemical corporations have lost million dollar court cases accusing them of hiding the risks of exposure faced by employees.

Mesothelioma can be particularly cruel because of the long wait and the fact that it often strikes a victim in retirement -- robbing them and their family of too many good years.

Continue reading "Minnesotans in the Iron Range Dying of Mesothelioma" »

National Mesothelioma Awareness Day was recognized on Sept. 26, but there are more than a few people hoping to ensure that mesothelioma care and prevention are year-around efforts.

One such group is the family of Lance Ruble, a former mesothelioma lawyers client who died in 2008, about a year after being diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. His family has made it their mission to spread the word about mesothelioma and the dangers of asbestos.

Ruble owned a construction company in South Florida and spent much of his time giving back to his community. But once he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, it only took a year for the incurable cancer to take his life.

What his family quickly discovered is that there is an enormous lack of funding for research, as many people haven't taken the time to look into this form of cancer. Mesothelioma just hasn't gotten the type of exposure as other forms of cancer, like those of the breast, lung, mouth or prostate.

The treatment options aren't very good and there are few skilled medical professionals who are quick to diagnose -- which is the best way to give those affected by this form of cancer a fighting chance at life.

The Ruble family created Mesothelioma Mission, a non-profit group designed to spread awareness of the cancer and raise money for medical research about it.

Mesothelioma, for those who are unaware, is a rare form of cancer that is developed by exposure to asbestos, a mineral that has never officially been banned by the United States, but one that is rarely used anymore. It was used for insulation, in brake pads, piping and other every day products until researchers discovered decades ago how toxic it could be.

Simple exposure to asbestos can lead to a fatal diagnosis decades later. After diagnosis, average survival is about 12 months.

As asbestos.com wrote, the Ruble family traveled to New York to wear bright orange "Cure Meso" t-shirts to wear on the set of NBC's Today Show in order to expose the world to mesothelioma's effects.

The family has held fund-raiser and awareness events in South Florida, got Fort Lauderdale to recognize the day locally, and funded research projects on mesothelioma nationwide. Their goal is to help others avoid the painful time Lance Ruble endured at the close of his life.

About 50 people showed up at the Today Show set early Sept. 26, hoping to catch the eye of a cameraman that day. Even a few shots on national television could reach millions of viewers, where curiosity could expose them to the truth about asbestos and mesothelioma.

Perhaps if only a few people recognized the painful experience of a mesothelioma patient from watching the show that day, it could lead to many more understanding the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Ideally, no one will have to suffer like Lance Ruble did. Or the many people diagnosed each year with this preventable form of deadly cancer.

Continue reading "Mesothelioma Requires More Than One Day of Awareness of the Effects of Asbestos" »

Until about 30 years ago, the general consensus was that only exposure to asbestos caused mesothelioma.

But when an area of Turkey began experiencing an increased number of mesothelioma cases, researchers found that another mineral, besides asbestos, could be at fault -- erionite. Because the mineral was abundant and easy to work with, natives began using it to build their homes.

As mesothelioma lawyers reported in July, researchers from Hawaii have traveled to parts of Turkey for years now to research erionite and determine how much of it is in the area and how it is linked to mesothelioma.

Some believe that erionite is actually more toxic than asbestos. But this isn't an issue Turkey only is dealing with. According to a U.S. Geological Survey, erionite has been found in every state in the western United States, including North and South Dakota. And the mineral has been used in road paving across the United States, MSNBC reports.

In some villages that have been studied for their high mesothelioma rates, 40 to 50 percent of all deaths were caused by mesothelioma. Studies in animals show erionite is 100 to 800 times more toxic than asbestos.

While U.S. researchers had a flicker of interest researching the mineral in the 1980s, they have mainly moved on to other things. That has left this toxic mineral used in many projects throughout the country and sprayed across the western coast without warning to citizens who could be at risk.

While erionite-related medical incidents haven't been widely reported, that doesn't mean we're all safe. Like asbestos-related mesothelioma, it takes sometimes 30 to 50 years to develop, so many people may have been exposed and are dealing with a potential disease without knowing it.

The MSNBC story reports that workers in North Dakota used the mineral in gravel to cover hundreds of miles of unpaved roads, parking lots and recreation sites, including areas that children frequent.

While erionite doesn't get quite the same media exposure that asbestos does, it is important that citizens pay attention to this potentially dangerous mineral and one that has been linked to mesothelioma.

If asbestos can cause people to die prematurely and suffer awfully painful deaths, and researchers believe erionite is 100 to 800 times as dangerous, we must heed the warnings. And while western states have been tested, it's possible that rural parts of the Eastern seaboard and Midwest have erionite present.

Like asbestos, this mineral can become very dangerous once it breaks up and becomes airborne. Government officials must not ignore this dangerous mineral. If for 30 years officials knew of the dangers and did nothing, residents shouldn't be punished by getting sick and having no recourse.

Federal policies must be established to ban the use of eriointe, a step that has never been taken for asbestos. There is no good reason that this dangerous mineral should be used in the United States. We should stop the talk now so we're not talking about how it killed us in the future.

Continue reading "Along with Asbestos, Erionite Considered Linked to Mesothelioma" »

President Barack Obama's American Jobs Act by and large will provide $25 billion to invest in school infrastructure to update facilities and provide better learning experiences for children in 35,000 schools across the country.

"Every child deserves a great school - and we can give it to them," the President said. "We can rebuild our schools for the 21st century, with faster internet, smarter labs and cutting-edge technology."

Mesothelioma lawyers at The Ferraro Law Firm are on-board with this plan because a major component of the plan is asbestos clean-up at our nation's schools. As the Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog has reported time and time again, exposure to asbestos in New York, Florida, or anywhere else in the United States is a precursor to the deadly cancer mesothelioma.

When most people hear that a school is outdated, they probably first think of technology, such as computers or internet connections, maybe even what type of books children are using or what lesson plans teachers are using.

But what about the structure of the building itself? Many older school buildings are extremely outdated and many contain asbestos. For years, schools were built with asbestos in the insulation, piping, boiler room equipment and other areas that school children (and their parents) don't normally see.

When older schools were built, it's likely the contractors didn't know the dangers of asbestos. It was used regularly for decades in the United States -- from as early as the 1910s throughout the 1970s, when production steadily declined until it ended in the 1990s. While asbestos has never been officially banned in the country, it is no longer used.

But that has left half a century or more of buildings that were made with asbestos, which is fire-resistant and can keep the cold or hot weather out. But as people -- including children -- began getting sick, officials realized the source was the asbestos.

Even today, schools across the country are having to dedicate millions of dollars to cleaning up asbestos that has been discovered in gymnasium floors, ceiling tiles and back rooms.

When asbestos breaks up and gets into the atmosphere, it gets into people's systems and forms tumors, typically along the lining of the heart, lungs or stomach. But this form of cancer is different than other forms. Instead of relatively quick movement, the cancer can develop over years or even decades.

Ultimately, the tumors cause fluid build-up, chest pain, heavy coughing and other symptoms. Victims visit doctor after doctor to figure out what's wrong, if they end up with a mesothelioma diagnosis, the end is near. The average lifespan after diagnosis is only 12 months.

So, it is critical that schools do the right thing -- despite financial hardships -- and clean up their facilities of asbestos. As the Obama plan states, asbestos cleanup, greening and energy efficiency upgrades and modernization of science and computer labs are all key components of the plan.

While schools are always looking for new teaching techniques, new books, new lesson plans, new products and other ways to enhance learning, officials must look at what else is important -- the health of our children. We can't teach them all the newest things while setting them up for health problems that will render that knowledge useless.

Continue reading "President's Plan Calls For Asbestos Removal From Schools in New York, Nationwide" »