Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog

The Meso Foundation -- Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation -- recently announced it had added an additional $500,000 to put toward researching mesothelioma, bringing the total investment to about $7.6 million.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have reported recently about several efforts that are being made to increase the amount of funding and research done to try to not only find a cure for mesothelioma, but learn how to better detect it and stop it from developing.

Exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma. And while it is no longer actively used in insulation and other products, as it was throughout the 20th Century, it is still contained in many buildings throughout the country.

There is a constant wave of veterans and older adults who were exposed to asbestos when it was being used throughout the middle of the century. Vermiculite tainted with asbestos was being churned out of mines and shipped to manufacturing plants nationwide, causing many people to be exposed without knowledge of the effects.

As the years went on and people became ill with mesothelioma -- a form of cancer that is incurable -- researchers began looking at what was happening. They found that asbestos was the cause. Many businesses were warned, but did nothing. So, their employees were left to work in this environment without knowing the effects.

While asbestos has now been effectively banned from use in the United States and many other countries, there are still many older buildings, even some that have been renovated in recent years, that still contain asbestos.

This opens up different types of health hazards. For one, if a person lives or works in a building containing asbestos, it's possible that the mineral can flake off and get into the ventilation system and lead to exposure that way. If workers are called in to renovate a building or clear out known asbestos, done improperly, it could lead to workers and the public being exposed.

That's why there are specially trained workers who can remove asbestos from buildings to ensure it is done correctly. Even a small amount of asbestos exposure can lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma one day.

But the Meso Foundation wants to know more about this incurable form of cancer. After 46 applicants attempted to prove that they should get the money to find a cure or at least more treatment options, five were chosen.

All projects were reviewed and ranked by members of the foundation's board. Projects will look at the molecular characteristics of mesothelioma tumors to see how defective genes impact malignant cells. Another project will look at how the body's proteins respond to chemotherapy cell death.

It is everyone's hope that this research continues and researchers and scientists may one day be able to know more about the cancer so that it may be detected and cured in its earlier stages. This will prevent patients from having to hear the bad news of a diagnosis decades after exposure.

Continue reading "Mesothelioma Foundation Awards $500,000 to Research Cure For Mesothelioma" »

As our mesothelioma lawyers have reported time and again, mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that takes decades to develop and is typically deadly within a matter of months once diagnosed.

Research has shown that mesothelioma has a direct link to asbestos, a natural mineral that for the better part of the 21st Century was used as insulation, in brake manufacturing, on naval ships, and in construction and building materials.

While asbestos is no longer actively used, it is still present in many buildings and old products. Laws have been created to regulate the use of asbestos and force both construction workers and developers to properly remove and transport this dangerous material.

When people break the laws and put the environment and human lives in danger, they can be prosecuted. That happened recently in Upstate New York. According to NBC News, a developer violated the Clean Air Act after workers allegedly handled large amounts of asbestos in violation of the law.

The 28-year-old is charged with hiring employees who had no training in asbestos removal to clean out a dumpster at a warehouse he owns in Livingston County. A grand jury indictment states the man now faces two counts of violating the Clean Air Act, which are punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was first investigated in December, when an inspector from the state visited the property after a complaint was lodged. The inspector saw large quantities of asbestos near a dumpster where employees worked. Nearly 100 bags of dried asbestos were found on site and were confirmed to be asbestos after testing.

The Clean Air Act is a federal law, but state laws also regulate how developers and construction workers must dispose of asbestos. It has been recognized as a major hazard, and while it is no longer actively being used, improperly disposing of the material can allow it to go airborne, which exposes all who come in contact with it to the risk of mesothelioma.

Many of the people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma today were exposed to asbestos as long as 50 years ago and didn't know the harmful effects it could cause. The next generation of mesothelioma patients may very well be unknowing people who were exposed to asbestos when workers improperly removed it, resulting in exposure.

Such exposure is preventable. Construction companies must do a better job of following the law. Regulations require that companies must hire specially-trained people who know how to remove asbestos without it damaging the area or getting into the air. When employers cut corners to save money, it puts everyone in danger. In other cases, apartment residents, students at school, or employees in older buildings where removal operations are ongoing could be unknowingly exposed to deadly conditions.

Continue reading "New York Developer Indicted On Charges After Asbestos Exposure" »

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are looking to figure out if there is a connection between the measles virus and mesothelioma in order to possibly find a cure.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have reported time and time again on our Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog that researchers are picking up the pace in terms of looking at mesothelioma. While this is a rare form of cancer, it is one that is devastating because it has no cure.

Mesothelioma is a cancer caused primarily by exposure to asbestos. It is unique in that a person can be exposed to this natural mineral and not feel any symptoms of the cancer for 20 to 50 years later. Typically, this cancer isn't discovered until it is in its most advanced stages.

Symptoms include heavy coughing, fluid built-up in the lungs, chest pain and other signs that could point to a variety of ailments. That is another reason why this cancer is so dangerous -- it can be masked as something less serious.

But researchers are hopeful that recent work may be able to put a dent into the number of people who die from this form of cancer. Typically, people with mesothelioma are treated with chemotherapy because surgery often isn't a sound option. This is because the cancer tends to form near major organs, such as the heart, lungs and abdomen.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic are reporting there has been an increase of mesothelioma cases in Minnesota, so the clinic there is doing extensive research to find a cure. This is attributed to taconite mining in the Iron Range region, which is a large economic booster, but has shown to have some unknown medical risks.

The latest version of the measles virus vector is an engineered version of the measles virus that is safe to the patient, but carries a toxic payload and is targetable. Doctors are able to conduct imaging studies to follow the virus in a treated patient. And they believe that they may be able to administer a more toxic version into a mesothelioma patient to destroy the cancerous tumor.

Researchers have found that mice with mesothelioma were given treatment that doubled the life span compared to mice that didn't receive any treatment. The potential treatment was found by lab workers testing drugs approved to treat other forms of cancer.

When applied to mesothelioma cells, it seemed to make a difference. But researchers warn that this isn't a cure for mesothelioma. Still, they hope that the treatment could improve for these patients.

One researcher said the hope is that within four years, after proper testing and trials, that treatment can be offered in the form of a pill that could outperform chemotherapy. That would allow patients to have a less turbulent time getting help for this cancer. They also predict that this treatment would increase the patient's lifespan by about six months.

Continue reading "Researchers Working to Determine if Measles Help In Treating Mesothelioma" »

CanBas Co., a Japanese-based clinical-stage pharmaceutical company was recently granted orphan drug status by the United States Food and Drug Administration for a new drug that treats advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma, pharmabiz.com reports.

Treating mesothelioma is difficult because there is no known cure for this particularly aggressive form of cancer. While pharmacists, scientists and researchers attempt to find one, like they are doing for all forms of cancer, the best mesothelioma patients can get at this point are drugs that can soothe their pain.

Most research has shown that the illness can live in a person's body for up to 30 or 40 years before a person feels the symptoms and seeks a doctor's opinion on what is causing it. By the time a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, they typically only live another 12 months, on average.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have seen the pain and frustration this form of cancer has caused families. For many, they are so scared to learn they have this disease and they don't know how to react to the news. For others, they are angry because they discover that working with asbestos decades ago, for a company that knew the ill effects of the product but never told employees, is the cause for their disease.

Asbestos was used in the United States for decades until the early 1990s. Researchers began studying this natural mineral -- used as insulation, in car parts products, hair dryers, crock pots, piping and other products to resist fire and heat -- decades ago because people who were around it were getting sick. It wasn't long before they realized asbestos is a direct link to mesothelioma.

But perhaps this new drug could help. According to pharmabiz, CBP501 is in a late development stage to treat people with advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma who aren't eligible for surgery. This is the case with many mesothelioma patients. Because the cancer attacks major organs, such as the lungs, heart and stomach lining, it's typically difficult to operate.

According to the report, the company is testing 63 patients and hope to have the patients treated by the beginning of 2012. The FDA's orphan drug program allows for drugs to get special status to treat a rare disease or a condition that affects a small portion of the public. It provides tax breaks and marketing incentives to companies who are working on drugs that won't be mass-marketed, but only will treat a small number of patients.

According to the source, pleural mesothelioma makes up about 70 percent of all mesothelioma cases and 80 percent of all pleural mesothelioma cases involve a history of asbestos exposure. The latency period is 20 to 50 years and therefore the diagnosis usually comes in the advanced stages. Chemotherapy is typically the only treatment option for patients.

Our mesothelioma lawyers hope that this drug could provide hope for the thousands of mesothelioma patients in the United States who wonder what went wrong and why they have to suffer at the end of their lives. While this form of cancer doesn't get the exposure that others do, it is ruthless and more treatment options must be developed.

Continue reading "New Drug Granted Orphan Drug Status to Treat Malignant Mesothelioma" »

President Barack Obama recently signed an executive order that calls for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to address a shortage of prescription drugs that are designed to treat diseases and forms of cancer, The Washington Post reports.

The Mesothelioma Center believes that the executive order could benefit mesothelioma patients who may be struggling to get the medication they need to delay the effects of the cancer.

Mesothelioma lawyers certainly believe that there should be an abundance of medications and treatment options for those suffering from mesothelioma. As we have reported time and time again on our blog, there is no known cure, but those who are suffering from this form of cancer should have full and unfettered access to the treatment options and medications that are available.

Mesothelioma patients tend to find out about their cancer decades after they were first exposed to asbestos. The exposure can be over a period of months or years or a very short-term contact with the natural mineral.

When asbestos gets inside a person's body, it can cause tumors, attaching to the lining of the heart, lungs and stomach, as well as other major organs. Tumors form and yet symptoms can be hidden for years. And even once they present themselves -- chest pain, coughing, fluid build-up -- they can be masked as symptoms of old age or years of smoking.

Obama's executive order, The Post reports, forces the FDA to begin looking into why there is an unknown shortage of at least 232 drugs through October. This is a record number and includes drugs used to care for cancer patients, heart attack victims, accident survivors and scores of other ill people. The shortage has caused a spike in cost of medications.

The order, in part, calls on an end to price gouging and consumer protection. Experts believe the main cause for the shortage is that there are few manufacturers, so if there is a shortage of material to make the drugs, government crackdowns or a break down in machinery, a drug shortage is born.

The Mesothelioma Center believes that the order could help those seeking help for mesothelioma as well. Where intravenous chemotherapy is used, the order will help those patients get the care they need.

The drug Cisplatin is on the FDA's drug shortage list and it is commonly used to treat mesothelioma patients. Alimta is not on the list, but is extremely expensive -- $1,700 per vial in some cases -- and the order may help lower the costs.

The shortage of Cisplatin comes because of an increased demand. With the order, the FDA will be able to more quickly review a drug application and streamline the process of providing information of price gouging to the Justice Department to ensure consumers are protected.

We certainly hope this order can not only provide the drugs and treatment that mesothelioma patients need and deserve, but ensure that they are more affordable. Mesothelioma patients who have been exposed to asbestos were usually impacted through no fault of their own and they deserve to have as peaceful a treatment period as possible.

Continue reading "Obama Executive Order Could Benefit Mesothelioma Patients" »

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" »

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" »

National Mesothelioma Awareness Day just passed and many communities throughout the United States celebrated the lives of loved ones who succumbed to this deadly and incurable form of cancer. This cancer continues to be linked to exposure to asbestos in New York, Washington D.C., Miami and elsewhere in the country.

Yet, people often think of asbestos as an old material no longer in use. Sadly, that's not the case. Not only is it still found in many old buildings, it is still being actively mined and exported and has never been officially outlawed in the United States. Our neighbors to the north in Canada still make plenty of money mining and exporting this clearly dangerous material to third-world countries, which are willing to put their people at risk, despite clear evidence that it kills.

New York mesothelioma lawyers have seen many clients who have died because of this painful and debilitating form of cancer. The most common cause is asbestos exposure working in plants, old factories, shipyards and while serving in the military.

Decades ago when asbestos was a popular material in this country for insulation, brake pads, piping and other fire-resistant needs, manufacturers continued to use the material, and failed to adequately protect employees, long after the hazards were known.

Many companies -- in an effort to save money -- refused to acknowledge the problem and didn't clean up their buildings, Instead, they simply left their employees at high risks of exposure. With a latency period of 30 to 40 years, those employees are now in retirement and being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer that most often affects the lining of internal organs.

In the case of Canada -- and Russia, which is another large exporter of asbestos -- they know the risks and are mine the material for those entities still willing to buy it. Third-world countries -- such as India with a large poor population -- continue to use asbestos because of its durability and convenience.

According to the story out of Toronto, an asbestos mine that was set to close now has new life with $25 million to finance it from investors. The Quebec government is providing a $58 million loan guarantee to keep it going. One of those involved with the project tells the newspaper he is "not exporting death.'

Yet, the evidence suggests otherwise. The plan is to increase sales to $150 million within two years and $3.4 billion over the next two decades. Last year, Canada was almost completely alone in opposing a United Nations treaty that would have added asbestos to a list of hazardous materials restricted worldwide.

"Asbestos is causing death and it can be prevented by stopping the export of it," said Paul Lapierre, vice-president of public affairs for the Canadian Cancer Society. At least there are critics. But apparently their voice isn't as influential as the millions of dollars that will keep this plant in operation and continue to put people at risk.

Some call it borderline racist to be exporting asbestos to the poorest people in the world, who may not have the same information about the dangers of the product -- nor the power to stop it.

Officials supporting the move say that today's asbestos is tightly "bonded" and is much different than looser asbestos widely used as insulation. Either way, it's still asbestos, it can still come apart and it still poses a deadly risk for unsuspecting victims.

Continue reading "Despite Obvious Risks, Canada Still Large Exporter of Asbestos" »

The United States Congress has set Sept. 26 as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day, which is a good step in making sure Americans know about this fatal cancer.

It sometimes takes an act of Congress to make people aware of the dangers of mesothelioma and the chief causes of asbestos exposure in Florida or elsewhere in the United States. As our New York Mesothelioma Lawyers have pointed out during the summer, many cities and states imported asbestos to be processed in plants, thus exposing countless people to this deadly material.

After exposure to asbestos, a victim can go about their life for decades before forming tumors lead to chest pain, fluid in the lungs and coughing. These symptoms often lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma, which is rare, incurable and deadly. Once diagnosed, the median lifespan is 12 months.

And with the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 on our minds, it is relevant to point out a recent Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog that commented on a study's findings that firefighters who responded to Ground Zero after the terrorist attacks were more likely to get cancer than those who didn't.

Because of the toxins, including asbestos, that were released into the air following the collapse of the World Trade Towers, firefighters were exposed to extremely high quantities. This exposure led to firefighters who responded being 19 percent more likely to get cancer than those who didn't -- and that was only over an eight-year period following the attacks.

Asbestos exposure can lead to a diagnosis decades later, so there's no telling how many firefighters, police officers, construction workers and others may have been put at risk.

It's not just these people who could succumb to mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. Those living in old buildings may be exposed as piping, boiler equipment and insulation may have been coated with asbestos, putting occupants at risk. Older factories may have been made the same way and many consumer products, such as brake pads, floor and ceiling tiles and peat moss all may have contained asbestos.

While the United States has never officially banned asbestos from use, companies rarely use it anymore because of the documented effects on a person's health. It was used largely for its fire-resistant features and was used extensively by the U.S. Navy in ships and on shipyards.

So, as you can see, people from all walks of life and in any situation can be exposed to asbestos and suffer from illnesses, including mesothelioma. And given the relatively short life span after diagnosis, mesothelioma can be a devastating form of cancer. There is no cure and it can lead to a painful end. Ensuring that companies that used asbestos despite knowing the side-effects are held accountable is vital for families seeking justice.

Continue reading "National Mesothelioma Awareness Day is Sept. 26" »

A recent study found that genetics may play a role in causing mesothelioma, though exposure to asbestos is still thought to be the main reason people get the fatal and incurable form of cancer, according to most respected studies.

Florida Mesothelioma Lawyers have seen how exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma in New York and nationwide, though researchers know relatively little about this fatal illness.

What experts do know is that the median life expectancy after diagnosis is about 12 months. There is no cure. After being exposed to asbestos, the microscopic flakes can linger for years and sometimes decades before causing the symptoms that lead to a mesothelioma diagnosis.

The recent study, conducted by the Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, was published online, but not in a medical journal. The researchers studied two families where mesothelioma was common. Researchers determined that eleven people had a gene called BAP1, Philly.com reports.

The researchers believe that the finding could lead to new drugs and earlier detection, which can increase survival rates. The disease is fatal and incurable and late detection leads to death. Researchers, though, have found that earlier detection, before a tumor has spread, can extend survival as long as five years.

The study also found that in 26 mesothelioma patients who didn't have any hereditary link to the cancer, some had a rare form of eye cancer. In the families studied, other forms of cancer, including breast cancer and kidney cancer, were present.

What should be considered is that researchers are still learning about this awful form of cancer. What they do know is that there is a clear link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. What they don't know for sure is why some people get mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos and some people don't.

But what is undeniable is that many companies used asbestos in insulation and other common products, such as brake pads, ceiling and floor tiles and heavy boiler room equipment for years because it was fire-retardant and inexpensive. But as workers began getting sick, research showed that exposure to asbestos was the cause.

Yet, many corporations were slow to remove the asbestos from their products and old buildings and factories, leaving their employees exposed because it was a cost-saver. Even the U.S. Military was a large importer of asbestos for use in Navy shipyards and on ships.

The asbestos flakes are ingested and can linger for years and sometimes as long as three to four decades before a person can begin to experience the common symptoms of mesothelioma. They include chest pain, coughing, fluid in the lungs and other symptoms.

And because a late diagnosis is fatal within 12 months, on average, the disease can be heart-breaking for a family. And the quick death was likely no fault of their own, but happened because they were exposed to asbestos on the job.

Continue reading "Study: Mesothelioma May Be Tied to Genetics, Asbestos Exposure" »

An anonymous donor recently gave $3.58 million to University of Hawaii Cancer Center researchers to try to figure out how asbestos triggers mesothelioma, a deadly and incurable form of cancer.

Mesothelioma Lawyers hope that the research helps to determine how exposure to asbestos, a natural mineral that was used for decades in the United States to insulate houses and manufacture products, causes mesothelioma. Often, a mesothelioma diagnosis is the result of exposure that could have been prevented.

According to aboutmesothelioma.com, researchers have made some significant scientific breakthroughs in their understanding of how asbestos causes the cancer.

What we already know is that microscopic asbestos fibers can be inhaled or otherwise ingested into the body before traveling through the bloodstream and attaching to the walls of major organs, such as the heart and lungs. There they stay for sometimes 30 to 40 years before a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma. And once a diagnosis is made, the median survival is only 12 months.

According to the Mesothelioma Cancer Network, here are some common mesothelioma symptoms:

• Persistent cough without phlegm
• Coughing up blood
• Difficulty swallowing
• Inexplicable weight loss
• Fatigue
• Sweating or fever
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Lumps under the skin on the chest

What the Hawaii researchers have found over a decade of research is that asbestos kills cells through a process called cell necrosis that leads to the release of a protein molecule HMGB1. People exposed to asbestos have elevated levels of the protein in their blood and the protein begins a chain reaction in tissue that causes the release of mutagens that promote tumor growth.

Cancer often occurs in the presence of chronic inflammation, so by interfering with the reaction, it may be possible to decrease occurrence of mesothelioma. The research is being conducted in a region of Turkey called Cappadocia, where nearly 50 percent of residents die of mesothelioma from exposure to eronite, a mined fiber that is more toxic than asbestos. Eronite has been used in the United States in road paving. Researchers hope to conduct a clinical trial in Cappadocia in an effort to identify people who are likely to develop mesothelioma based on elevated biomarkers, thereby blocking chronic inflammation which could reduce the risk of mesothelioma among workers exposed to asbestos.

The area sounds similar to Libby, Montana, where from 1919 to 1990, miners pulled vermiculite, some of which contained asbestos, and shipped it to plants throughout the country, where other workers manufactured insulation, floor and ceiling tiles and other products. In Libby, thousands have gone ill and hundreds have died after being exposed to asbestos. The Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog has outlined many cities across the country that have been exposed to this deadly mineral.

Between 2,500 and 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year and so it is important to hold accountable those who knew about deadly asbestos exposure and still used it in their buildings and products.

Continue reading "Hawaii Researchers Try to Figure Out Mesothelioma-Asbestos Link" »

There is a growing base of research that suggests some woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer may be suffering from misdiagnosed peritoneal mesothelioma.

Our mesothelioma cancer attorneys note a recent study by scientists at the University of Western Australia made the determination while studying links between asbestos and ovarian cancer. Exposure to asbestos may cause any number of health issues, and has been almost exclusively linked to causing mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the lining of internal organs. Because diagnosis often occurs 30 or 40 years after exposure, patients often have difficulty linking their health crisis with exposure to asbestos in the workplace or elsewhere, for which they deserve compensation. Mean survival after diagnosis is only about one year, making it critical to seek out experienced legal advice as early as possible after being diagnosed with this terrible disease.

As we reported previously on our Mesothelioma Blog, peritoneal mesothelioma is diagnosed in about 20 percent of cases. In this form, the cancer develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane. Pleural mesothelioma is more common -- accounting for about 75 percent of all new cases. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining around the lungs, called the pleural.

Other forms are pericardial mesothelioma, which develops in the lining of the heart, and testicular mesothelioma.

In the recent study, researchers at the Western Australia Institute for Medical Research examined 16 cases of diagnosed ovarian cancer. In two cases, they found peritoneal mesothelioma. That is an error rate of about 16 percent, though the sample was admittedly very small.

Researchers continue to look for a link between mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. And, while they believe a link may exist, they note misdiagnoses make a determination more difficult. They did find that woman in the study who had ovarian cancer were more likely to have been exposed to asbestos than those in the general population.

Besides mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos has been linked to a number of other types of cancer, including gastrointestinal, kidney, throat and gallbladder.

The National Institutes of Health reports peritoneal mesothelioma continues to be regarded as universally fatal. While the number of cases has increased over the last two decades, peritoneal mesothelioma continues to account for only about 20 to 33 percent of cases.

Median survival is 6 to 12 months -- with symptom to survival time being 345 days. About 400 new cases are reported annually. Those ages 50 to 69 are most affected. The main risk factor is exposure to asbestos.

A diagnosis that was exceedingly rare until 1930, industrial use of asbestos has been primarily to blame for modern cases.

Continue reading "Those Diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer May Suffer From Peritoneal Mesothelioma" »

This year, an estimated 3,000 patients will be diagnosed with mesothelioma -- representing about 3 percent of all cancers.

As our Mesothelioma attorneys reported recently on our Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog, medical science continues to seek treatment options. However, the cancer is categorized as terminal because there is no known cure. The average dormancy period of 30 to 40 years between exposure and diagnosis can also make it difficult for a victim to link the cancer to asbestos exposure decades earlier.

Except for benign mesothelioma, life expectancy after diagnosis is generally less than one year. However, diagnosis and treatment can depend on the type of mesothelioma. There are four types of malignant mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma: Develops in the lining of the lung, and is known as pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, accounting for about 75 percent of new cases. Symptoms may include shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough and lumps under the skin.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This diagnosis accounts for about 20 percent of all cases. The mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane. Symptoms include weight loss, abdominal pain, selling, bowel obstruction and nausea.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. It accounts for about 5 percent of all new cases. Symptoms include heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, night sweats, and difficulty breathing.

Testicular Mesothelioma Is the rarest form of mesothelioma and develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles. Symptoms include painful and Painless testicular lumps.

Continue reading "Mesothelioma a Devastating Diagnosis Regardless of Form " »

As our mesothelioma attorneys continue to report, doctors and scientists continue to look for ways to better treat this grim diagnosis. And, because a diagnosis frequently comes 30 or 40 years after exposure, victims are typically in retirement.

The retiring Baby Boomers likely means an explosion in such cases, as many remained at high risk of asbestos exposure well into the 1980s. Recently we reported on our Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog about the ongoing efforts of the federal government to push for expanded treatment options.

Now a new report has found the breath testing for mesothelioma shows greater promise for detecting the disease at earlier stages.

The report found that many of the current methods of diagnosing mesothelioma, including biopsies and surgery, carry a high risk of complications, particularly among the elderly. Diagnosis the disease in its earliest stages of ofter patients the best chance of recovery.

Scientists know that inhaled asbestos cause inflammation, DNA damage and cellular death. Some of that damage can be detected by machine through exhaled breath. Another new technology with the potential to help in diagnostics testing is the electronic nose. More than 3,000 organic compounds can be present in exhaled breath; researchers have been able to train a group of dogs to distinguish between the breath of patients with lung cancer and breast cancer with an accuracy rate of 99 percent.

Another report is highlighting the use of intense light through photodynamic light therapy (PDT) to treat mesothelioma and improve survival. The light has the power to disrupt cellular function and kill cells. Because it works differently than the traditional treatments of chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, doctors hope to use it as part of a multi-modality approach.

The treatment has shown promise in esophageal cancer, as well as some types of lung cancer and skin cancer, the light cannot go further than a few millimeters into the tissue, which limits its effectiveness for thicker tumors or those that are harder to reach.

Continue reading "Science Scrambles to Find New Treatments for Mesothelioma as Baby Boomers Retire" »

As our mesothelioma attorneys have reported, the long incubation period between the time of asbestos exposure and a mesothelioma diagnosis can result in a patient not seeking legal advice or the compensation he or she deserves.

Recently, we looked at some answers to some common questions on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. Today we look at diagnosis and treatment options as identified by the National Cancer Institute.

Diagnosing mesothelioma
Making a proper diagnosis is often difficult, which can lead to a delay in diagnosis of mesothelioma or failure to diagnose. Either can be devastating because of the aggressive nature of the disease.

Typically, diagnosis will include a complete physical exam, x-rays and lung tests. A CAT scan or MRI will also be useful. To confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma, a biopsy will need to be performed. This may be done via a thoracoscopy, which involves a small chest incision, or a peritoneoscopy for cases in which the suspected cancer is in the abdomen. In some cases, more extensive surgery may be necessary.

In cases in which a diagnosis of mesothelioma is confirmed, a Stage of the disease will need to be determined. The cancer is localized if it is found only where it originated. Advanced mesothelioma will be diagnosed in cases where the cancer has spread to lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall or abdominal organs.

Treating mesothelioma
Treatment options depend on a number of factors, including the age and health of the patient, the stage of the disease and the location of the cancer.

Surgery: Typically, the doctor removes part of the lining of the chest and the tissue around it. A lung or part of the diaphragm may also be removed.

Radiation therapy: Is used to attempt to kill the cancer cells and shrink the tumor.

Chemotherapy: Involves the use of anti-cancer drugs. Most are given by injection.

Advanced Treatment Options:
Clinical trials are ongoing in an effort to find new and better treatment options. People interested in taking part in clinical trials should talk to their doctor.

Continue reading "Government looking for advanced treatment options for mesothelioma patients" »