Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment - Asbestos Kills

Mesothelioma cancer is a disease that results from exposure to asbestos related substances. Asbestos usually consists of fibres that can enter the body through the mouth, or the skin, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream.

Mesothelioma cancer has become more widely documented in the last 5-10 years, due to the fact that symptoms of asbestos cancer can take between 20 to 40 years to manifest. Mesothelioma cancer is hard to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to manifest themselves until the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and other secondary illnesses such as pneumonia.

Asbestos cancer most often develops in men between the ages of 50 to 70 years who were exposed to high levels of asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos was mainly used in manufacturing industries such as automotive and ship building as well as in the construction industry. The use of asbestos was only recently banned in the 1990's.

Mesthelioma lung cancer has been found to be the most common form of mesothelioma cancer and it develops in the lining of the lung (pleural). Mesothelioma cancer can also develop in the abdominal area (peritoneal) and around the heart (pericardial). There is a greater chance of malignancy in abdominal asbestos cancer. For a more detailed explanation of mesothelioma cancer, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Mesothelioma lung cancer can be detected through a CT scan which enables it to be sometimes diagnosed earlier than the other two types of mesothelioma cancer. The type of mesothelioma cancer treatment will depend on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, the age of the patient as well as personal preferences. The disease can be divided into four separate stages. The stage in the disease process that is reached will determine the method of mesothelioma cancer treatment. At the first stage when the tumour is confined to the lining of the lungs, surgeons may try to remove the entire tumour surgically. Once the tumour has invaded the surrounding body tissues in the later stages, it is not curable.

Conventionally, the more advanced stages of mesothelioma cancer are treated with either radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy x-rays to destroy cancerous cells and shrink tumours Chemotherapy, on the other hand, uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The aim of these mesothelioma cancer treatments is to prolong the patient's life as the disease cannot be cured in the more advanced stages.

In addition to these conventional mesothelioma cancer treatments, there are also various experimental treatments currently under investigation which offer new hope.

Immunotherapy: This form of biological therapy for mesothelioma cancer treatment uses the patient's own immune system to attack the cancerous cells. Clinical studies have shown that the immune system is able to distinguish healthy cells from cancer cells, and can therefore be used to destroy those cancerous cells.

Gene Therapy: This form of mesothelioma cancer treatment is very much still in the developmental stages. The process involves injecting a specific gene straight into the tumour. This gene renders the cancer cells sensitive to the antiviral drug glanciclovir which under normal circumstances is not effective against these cells. The glanciclovir is then able to destroy all the cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue cells.

Drug Therapy: The drug Alimta is the only chemotherapy drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)for the treatment of patients with malignant mesothelioma lung cancer . This new and exciting drug has been demonstrated in clinical trials to reduce symptoms and increase the life expectancy of patients.

Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light to destroy cancer cells. The patient first is first administered a photosensitizing drug that only collects in cancerous cells. Fibre-optic cables are then inserted in the body in order to focus light of a certain frequency on the tumour. The light stimulates the photosensitizing drug to produce toxic oxygen molecules that destroy the cancerous cells.

These experimental mesothelioma cancer treatments, although still in the developmental stages, offer cancer victims the prospect of a better and longer life. With the likelihood of an increase in the number of people diagnosed with asbestos cancer, further research into other forms of mesothelioma cancer treatment is vital.

Note to Publishers: You may freely republish this article as is, without editing or modification, and all links must be kept live. The author, Gregory De Villiers, writes on a variety of health and wellness topics. For more information on mesothelioma cancer as well as asbestos litigation, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

A Guide to Asbestos Attorneys

Asbestos attorneys help victims of asbestos-related ailments win multi-million dollar compensations. Over exposure to asbestos can result in life-threatening diseases. Medical expenses related to these diseases are often very high, and treatment may extend over a lifetime. Most of the victims are former construction workers. Very often, workers are not informed about the ill-effects of asbestos by their employers. Asbestos attorneys help these victims obtain damages from their former employers.

Asbestos lawsuits involve many complexities and usually take about six months to one year to resolve. These lawsuits require special knowledge and expertise. General practitioners would not suffice for such cases. Only attorneys who have ample experience in asbestos lawsuits can help you through the case. Asbestos attorneys have, therefore, emerged as a specialized lot. These attorneys can recover appropriate damages to cover medical expenses and rehabilitation costs for the victims. Asbestos attorneys usually charge their fees on a contingency basis, in which certain percentage of the compensation amount is given as fee. If the lawsuit fails, attorneys usually do not charge any fee.

A lot of asbestos attorneys have their own networks spanning over many states. Many of them even have their own websites, too. Most law firms specializing in asbestos lawsuits maintain a team of asbestos attorneys and investigators. This team is often backed by huge databases of records and depositions. Asbestos attorneys usually have to deal with all sorts of companies that do businesses involving asbestos in one form or other. Among the commonly litigated companies are mining companies, distributors, insulation contractors, brokers, and numerous other contractors where workers handle asbestos products. Contractors and site owners are held responsible for any lack of safety standards implemented for their workers.

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Asbestos Mesothelioma Resource: Get to Know It

For those of you that have no idea what mesothelioma is; or at least knows that it's a type of cancer but would like to know more about it, this article on asbestos mesothelioma resource will attempt to inform you as much as possible. This disease may not be popular but it certainly destroys the lives of people who have mesothelioma and his or her close friends and relatives.

Causes

To start, mesothelioma is caused by exposure to a mineral called asbestos. Fortunately, not many people are at risk of the hazardous asbestos compared to other toxic material. Even so, according to the AJRCCM 1.3 million people are still vulnerable to poisonous asbestos.

These are the people who are most susceptible to be exposed to asbestos and obtain either pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma:

• Workers in mines of asbestos extraction
• People who work in the trade industry
• Workers at shipyards
• Manufacturers of Asbestos products
• Workers in the construction industry
• Workers in heating industry
• Family and friends of all of the above

The depressing part of it all is that getting mesothelioma isn't your fault, but because of negligence from the owners of these mines, shipyards, construction sites, etc. In the past these people have failed to implement safety measures and the consequences are being paid by everyone involved. The workers because of the illness and the owners because of all the compensation money they have to pay for every mesothelioma lawsuit they have had in the years.

Asbestos and the Law

Asbestos mesothelioma legal claims cost around $200 billion in the US. It is relatively easy to win a mesothelioma case because of the implications on how you obtained the disease. However, you must take into account that these people have had thousands of lawsuits throughout the years and they hire the best legal sharks out there. So it must be noted that they have techniques to drag and setback as much as possible the lawsuits.

After certain events in his life, Ermenegildo Billar has dedicated years of his life to understanding and helping people with the malignant mesothelioma. For your comfort he decided to create www.infothelioma.com so you can have easy access to his research.

Asbestos Cancer Disease

The history of the Asbestos Cancer disease ?Mesothelioma? dates back to the early 1960s. The use of the silicate Asbestos can be traced back as early as World War II. However, the risks involved with Asbestos exposure were unknown at that time. With the passage of time, studies revealed that the cancerous disease was common in people of South African origin. Majority of them were mine workers. It was in 1962 that Dr. Mc Nulty made the first diagnosis of the Cancer related disease.

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that occurs in individuals who are exposed for short or prolonged periods to asbestos dust. As a consequence, the disease can cause severe disfigurement and impairment of the lungs. Individuals suffering from the fatal disease, suffer from breathing problems, abnormal blood clotting, unbearable abdominal pain, significant weight loss and high fevers.

Today, the dangers of the asbestos fibres have raised a growing concern among health professionals. To help prevent mineworkers and shipyard workers from transitory exposures to asbestos, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has devised rules and regulations to help win the race in defeating this gruesome disease, which has robbed the precious lives of many of Americans.

Mineworkers working in hazardous asbestos environments are urged to wear protective clothing at their workplaces. To help prevent inflicting their loved ones with the cancerous effects of the asbestos fibers, the OSHA urged asbestos exposed workers to make it a regular habit of showering daily to remove any trace of the cancerous silicate like fiber. Families of asbestos affected workers should be tested for any trace of this cancer-causing material.

For more Articles about Mesothelioma Cancer please click here http://www.mesotheliomaresourceonline.com/articles/Mesothelioma_Asbestos.htm

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Mesothelioma Asbestos Treatment

In spite of the rapid growth of technology and the bright discoveries of the medical fraternity, the treatment of mesothelioma has been far from successful. Conventional therapies have somewhat flopped, and patients survive twelve months, at an average, after being found out having the disease. The following are the options available for a person with mesothelioma:

One is surgery, either by itself, or in conjunction with pre-operative or post-operative therapies. However, this has only a 5-year survival rate of less than 10% of those affected by the disease.

The tumor is extremely resistant to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; yet these methods are sometimes deployed to alleviate symptoms caused by tumor metastases, like obstruction of a blood vessel.

Treatment methods that involve immunotherapy have brought about inconsistent results. For instance, ?intra-pleural immunization? of Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) to enhance the immune response was found to be of no advantage to the mesothelioma patient. However, those suffering from bladder cancer have benefited from this treatment. Patients undertaking this specific therapy felt major side effects, like fever and cachexia. Nevertheless, other methods using ?interferon alpha? have proven to be more effective, with a fifth of all tested mesothelioma patients experiencing more than half the reduction in tumor mass, with few side effects.

Then there is another procedure called ?heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy?. It was discovered by a surgeon named Paul Sugarbaker, of the Washington Cancer Institute. In this method, the surgeon takes out as much of the tumor mass as possible. This is subsequently followed by using a chemotherapy agent (at about 40 to 48?C) in the abdomen. The agent (a fluid) is inserted for an hour to two hours before being drained. This method allows for the usage of high concentrations of specific drugs into the pelvic surfaces. It also facilitates greater penetration of the medicines into the cancer tissues. Also, heating adversely affects malignant cells more than normal cells.

Mesothelioma Asbestos provides detailed information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos, Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases, Mesothelioma Asbestos Treatment, Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer and more. Mesothelioma Asbestos is affiliated with Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support

What Is Asbestos?

What is Asbestos?

According to the Asbestos Network, asbestos actually refers to several naturally occurring minerals. These minerals have been used in commercial products to increase strength and flexibility. The Asbestos Network claims that these minerals are a mix of metals, silicon, oxygen, and hydrogen. Asbestos, like coal or gold is mined. Some of the countries that mine asbestos include the United Sates, Canada, South America and the former Soviet Union.

Types of Asbestos

Asbestos is not just one substance; in fact it can be divided into several different types, and these types can be divided into two basic groups. These two groups are serpentine and amphibole. Environmental Health and Safety claims that the serpentine group only contains one member: chrysotile. This type of asbestos is the most common form found in buildings and is also known as ?white asbestos.?

Both the Asbestos Network and Environmental Health and Safety list five different types of asbestos within the amphibole group. These five include amosite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, tremolite, and actinolite. Amosite is the second most prevalent type found in building materials and is also referred to as ?brown asbestos.? Crocidolite, ?blue asbestos,? is found in structures where the materials need to be safe from high temperatures. The final three, anthyphyllite, tremolite, and actinolite, are rarely found.

Problems Related to Asbestos

The Asbestos Network explains that contact with asbestos can cause diseases such as asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma. The fibrous nature of asbestos causes much of the problem. The fibers may get caught in the lungs and create lung damage. Or, they may even be swallowed and become lodged in membranes of the gastrointestinal track, according to the Asbestos Network. Again, this could lead to cancer of the lungs or of the GI tract. So while it may be thought that the lungs are the only place that can be damaged, it is other parts of the body can be negatively affected by asbestos.

Who is at Risk?

According to the Asbestos Network, the ?dose? of asbestos that a person is exposed to equals the combination of the concentration, or the amount of asbestos in the air, and the duration, or the length of time that a person is exposed to asbestos. The more asbestos inhaled, the greater the chance of damage to lungs or other internal organs. Also, the Network says that cigarette smoking increases the likelihood of contracting an asbestos disease as it decreases the general health of the lungs. The Asbestos Network also lists several occupations that may be more likely to suffer from asbestos created diseases. These occupations include construction work, ship building, railroad working and automobile engineers.


How To Avoid It

There are several things that those who work around asbestos can do to limit their contact with the cancer causing fibers. The American Lung Association of Georgia insists on no eating or drinking while you are working. The Association also urges workers not to smoke and to follow proper guidelines when handling asbestos. Employers that place their employees in asbestos filled areas should have the employees properly trained on how to handle the substance, as well as how to avoid interacting with it.

Robert Michael is a writer for ABE Mesothelioma which is an excellent place to find mesothelioma links, resources and articles. For more information go to: http://www.abemesothelioma.com

Asbestos Removed from Capitol Hill Tunnel

On September 20, 2006 licensed asbestos abatement workers were scheduled to remove about 1,000 bags of asbestos-containing materials from the Capitol tunnel -- a site which has generated much controversy in regards to workers and asbestos exposure.

Smaller amounts of asbestos began to be removed earlier in the year, shortly after it was discovered that 10 men who work in the tunnels were exposed to what would be considered dangerously high levels of asbestos. According to an article in The Hill, earlier this year three senators introduced and passed an amendment to the emergency supplemental spending bill that would provide nearly $28 million in federal funds to begin to repair the infrastructure. It has been estimated that the abatement work and repair of the tunnels may cost as much as $200 million.

Lawmakers have been extremely irate that Capitol workers have suffered ongoing exposure to this toxic material, which is known to cause such lung diseases as asbestosis and mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer which carries little chance of long-term survival. A complaint filed with OSHA in February prompted the current clean-up, which could continue for months.

For more information on this, see: http://www.mesotheliomasos.com/newsCapitolremoval.php

Monheit Law, Anapol Schwartz Weiss Cohan Feldman & Smalley, Michael Monheit Esq., represent victims of occupational exposure to toxic substances such as Asbestos

Asbestos Lawyers

If you are one of the many victims of greedy asbestos manufacturers and now you or your relatives have developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, a common course of action is to find an asbestos lawyer and start a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

While asbestos lawyers are not very common, there are hundreds of them in the United States and this is the most logical choice to make when you are on the verge of starting a lawsuit.

When you hire a lawyer to represent you in court, you need first to gather information about his or her experience with asbestos cases. Although asbestos litigation is not a separate branch of law, choosing a lawyer with experience in it is much better than trusting a divorce lawyer, for example.

Choosing a lawyer who has had experience with asbestos cases has one other benefit ? it is likely that he or she might have other clients who will file a similar lawsuit, and you can have a class action against the manufacturer.

Additionally, an experienced asbestos lawyer will be able to tell you how long the previous cases took to settle, what was the compensation, were there any intricacies, etc. Even if the experienced lawyer charges more than his or her less experienced colleagues, it is better to trust him than go and fight in court with somebody who is not so competent.

There are experienced asbestos lawyers in every state, so if you are searching hard enough, it will not take too long to find one. Having a local lawyer has the advantage that you can easily communicate with him or her when necessary. Since a typical lawsuit can take up to 3 years, be prepared for a long battle for your compensation!

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Asbestos Exposure Causes Mesothelioma

Although asbestos is no longer a commonly used material for building there has been a rise in the number of diseases caused by asbestos exposure. This is because the fibers that cause the problem take about 20 to 30 years to manifest. Thus, after a long period of dormancy the symptoms show up dramatically. What is even more dangerous is the fact that many of the symptoms are similar to other diseases, and so it is all the more difficult to find the real cause.

Asbestos is a material that was very popular as an insulator. It insulates very well, and it is fire retardant. As a result, it has been used in many buildings. Because asbestos is not a problem as long as it is not stirred up, many building that were built using it as insulation have not replaced the asbestos. But, exposure to this substance years ago may only now be manifesting itself in the form of cancer or even asbetosis (which cannot be cured).

People who work around old construction sites that involve demolition or remodeling are exposed to asbestos, as they inhale the small fibers. These microscopic fibers, inhaled through the mouth or nose are breathed into the body and come to rest in the lining of the lungs.

Since the illness takes decades to manifest, the damage is not immediately apparent. This can explain the rise in the number of poisoning cases today. Initially, the poisoning is likely to be diagnosed as lung disease since the symptoms are common.

The symptoms of diseases caused by asbestos fibers include increased shortness of breath over time and coughing. These symptoms come with other diseases, and are mistaken for less deadly illnesses. Since the symptoms do not appear to be too serious, they are often ignored. That is dangerous! So, when you experience a persistent cough or shortness of breath, get it checked at once.

Other symptoms related to asbestos disease include chest pain, hoarseness, and coughing up blood. These symptoms can be considered more dangerous if persisting, although their cause not often construed to be asbestos. It is important to have proper tests run if you experience these symptoms and know that you have probably been exposed to asbestos at some point in your life.

If you suspect asbestos exposure in your line of work, you must share your concerns with your doctor who can then refer you to a specialist. A specialist will help you figure out whether your problem is asbestos related or not. It is crucial to catch the signs and symptoms of asbestos early and start addressing the problem.

Although there is no cure for asbestos related illness the symptoms can certainly be treated. However, if it develops into lung cancer, you may have to go in for surgery. In other cases chemotherapy can be tried. Essentially, a healthy lifestyle is crucial in controlling asbestos symptoms.

David Neelhy is a respected contributing author for "Mesothelioma Free Help" You'll find all the latest Mesothelioma news there. Get all David's latest Mesothelioma articles by going to http://MesotheliomaFreeHelp.com/articles

Asbestos - What It Is And How It's Used

In this, and a series of articles that will follow, we will cover asbestos, what it is, how it's made, what it's used for, the health risks of asbestos exposure and how to protect yourself against asbestos.

Asbestos isn't actually one thing. It is a name given to a group of minerals. These minerals occur naturally in bundles of fibers that can be separated into thin threads. These fibers are completely resistant to heat and any kind of chemical and do not conduct electricity. Because of these attributes asbestos is has been used in many industries.

There are basically four types of asbestos that are used.

1. Chrysotile, or white asbestos 2. Crocidolite, or blue asbestos 3. Amosite, which usually has brown fibers 4. Anthophyllite, which usually has gray fibers

The problem with asbestos fibers is that they tend to break very easily and the dust made up of these fibers floats into the air and gets on our clothes and in our lungs. When this happens serious health problems can occur.

Asbestos was first mined and commercially used in the United States in the late 1800s. During the second world war its use increased dramatically. Since then it has been used in many industries. To give some examples, the building and construction industry uses it to strengthen cement and plastics. They also use it for insulation, fireproofing and sound absorption. The shipbuilding industry uses asbestos to insulate boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes. The automobile industry uses it in its brake shoes and clutch pads. There are over 5000 products that contain asbestos including sewage piping, roofing and siding, electric switchboards, table pads, heat protective mats, heat resistant blankets and curtains, paints, adhesives, caulking, and the list goes on and on.

But when the dangers of asbestos became known in the 1970s the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned the use of asbestos in wallboard patching compounds and gas fireplaces because the asbestos fibers in these products could be released into the air from its use. Also during that time, asbestos was removed from electric hair dryers. In 1989 the EPA finally banned all new uses of asbestos. Uses prior to 1989, however, are still allowed. Since that time, the EPA has established regulations that require school systems to inspect for asbestos that has been damaged in order to eliminate, or at least reduce, the exposure to students and faculty, by removing the damaged areas.

In the year 2000 the EPA concluded that the current risk to children from asbestos in schools was very low, however, it was agreed that their products would have to be reformulated within a year. By August of that same year products were being made that greatly reduced the amount of dust that was released during use. The amount of metric tons of asbestos generated in a year dropped from 719,000 metric tons in 1973 to only 9000 metric tons by the year 2000.

In the next instalment we'll go over the health risks from exposure to asbestos.

Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Asbestos

Beryllium The New Asbestos?

It was American workers on the world's first atomic bomb who became the first industrial victims of beryllium, a rare but especially light, stable and strong metal whose toxic dust can kill those who breathe it.

Now Seafarers doing ship maintenance and have used Jasons De-rusting and de-scaling guns (also known as J-gun or Jasons pistol) raise concerns about exposure to beryllium.

Unlike other metals, beryllium does not spark and was therefore used on tanker ships containing fuel.

Beryllium can cause a long-term lung disease (berylliosis) in some people by triggering an immune (allergic) response in the body. In general, significant exposure to beryllium in a respirable form is required for any disease to occur, and symptoms may take up to 20 years to develop even after exposure has stopped.

Beryllium dust can cause fatal and untreatable lung disease, similar to asbestosis.

The symptoms of berylliosis include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, weight loss and fatigue. These symptoms are common, so that most people who have these symptoms do not have berylliosis. Occasionally, other areas of the body like the skin, eyes, mouth & nose may develop a rash following contact with dust containing beryllium.

There is no preventive or curative treatment available for berylliosis or chronic beryllium disease. Richard Wassell
More information can on Beryllium, Mesothelioma and Asbestosis can be found at
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