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If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, this web site is for you.
Mesothelioma News is dedicated to bringing you comprehensive information on a full range of topics about mesothelioma, including treatment, support, and legal help.
On Mesothelioma News you’ll find a great deal of information including:
• The types and symptoms of mesothelioma and diagnosis of the disease
• Up-to-date information about treatment options for mesothelioma
• Support groups and resources for patients and their families
• The relationship between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma
• Protecting your legal rights
Mesothelioma News is your site for the up-to-date information you need if you or a loved one has been affected by this disease.
The law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C. has been fighting for the rights of mesothelioma victims for nearly three decades. One of the firm’s founders filed one of the first asbestos lawsuits in the country against asbestos manufacturers. With more than 50 attorneys, over 200 staff, and offices in Texas, California, Louisiana, Ohio, and New York, Baron & Budd is one of America’s largest law firms that fights for the rights of people and families affected by mesothelioma. Our firm has successfully represented asbestos victims from throughout the country. Here are just some examples of compensation we have achieved for our clients:
The cases described here reflect the net amounts of the judgments or settlements our clients received after the deduction of attorneys fees and expenses-in other words, what our clients actually received. The actual settlement or verdict would be higher. These cases were all handled by Baron & Budd attorneys serving as lead counsel.
Specific Results Depend on the Facts of Each Case.
$10,603,661.00 Received by Client after Attorney’s Fees and Expenses for a gentleman who developed malignant mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to joint compound as a construction worker. This case went to trial and resulted in a significant verdict in favor of the gentleman, his wife and children that was listed by a national legal publication as one of the top verdicts in the U.S. that year. The case subsequently settled.
$6,356,942.00 Received by Client after Attorney’s Fees and Expenses, for the widow of a man who died at the age of 50 after developing asbestos-related mesothelioma. He was exposed to asbestos while serving in the Navy aboard nuclear submarines during the 1960s. This case went to trial against the manufacturer of an asbestos-containing pipe covering product. The jury awarded a significant verdict, which was affirmed on appeal.
$4,380,755.00 Received by Client after Attorney’s Fees and Expenses, for an ironworker who worked at a number of industrial sites throughout his career and who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 79.
Asbestos exposure can cause a variety of serious illnesses like lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma. While asbestos victims around the country seek justice from the asbestos manufacturers who produced the products that sickened them, asbestos manufacturers have been fighting with their insurance companies about the amount of coverage that is available to pay these
Alfacell Corp. reported recently that company executives have met with officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. At that meeting, FDA officials recommended that before the New Drug Application is submitted for Onconase, the drug should be subjected to another clinical trial involving patients with malignant mesothelioma that cannot be treated surgically (unresectable)
One year after being sentenced to prison time for negligently endangering state inmates by exposing them to asbestos, and not long after the conviction and sentence was upheld by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, Elk City, Okla. city manager Guy Hylton has submitted his resignation, which will become effective February 16th.
Hylton, along with city
Iowa’s Polk County Courthouse is beginning an asbestos removal project because, although asbestos-containing materials at the 102-year-old courthouse are believed to be in safe condition right now, as they age and renovations or repairs are needed, they could deteriorate and present a health risk. The project is expected to cost approximately $200,000.
Pro Environmental Abatement
A Worcester grand jury returned an indictment this week against Boston-based The Mayo Group Development LLC, a real estate investment, development and management firm, The allegations involve improper asbestos disposal at Bancroft Commons on Franklin Street. Other alleged violations of the Clean Air Act include failure to file notices of asbestos removal with
An extensive system of underground tunnels lies beneath Indiana University’s classrooms and sidewalks. The system was originally created a hundred years ago for utility access, and they house steam lines, communication lines, medium and high voltage power lines and chilled water pipes.
The tunnels are full of hazards—from immediate dangers, like sharp corners,
Asbestos was also used at many New York jobsites including Ground Zero and the former World Trade Center site. Common asbestos exposure sites in New York include the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Todd Shipyard, and the Con Edison power plant in New York City.
The two New York contractors alleged to have violated the Clean Air Act have recently been sentenced by United States District Judge David Hurd.
Two buildings scheduled for demolition located in Ansonia, Connecticut will have to be rid of asbestos in order to avoid exposure to the dangerous substance when the buildings are razed.
The date has been determined for the fifth Annual International Asbestos Awareness Conference and will be held in California this year.
Mesothelioma: Questions and AnswersMesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.
Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.
Yes. Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.
People interested in taking part in a clinical trial should talk with their doctor. Information about clinical trials is available from the Cancer Information Service (CIS) (see below) at 1–800–4–CANCER. Information specialists at the CIS use PDQ®, NCI's cancer information database, to identify and provide detailed information about specific ongoing clinical trials. Patients also have the option of searching for clinical trials on their own. The clinical trials page on the NCI's Cancer.gov Web site, located at http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials on the Internet, provides general information about clinical trials and links to PDQ.
People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies. This booklet describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI Publications Locator Web site at http://www.cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.
For those diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura) or the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), finding a credible source of information about the disease itself and the medical options available, is of the highest priority. After years of research and synthesis of information, we have assembled a web site and packet for patients and their loved ones. We hope you find this web site helpful.
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be overwhelming, and we are here to answer any questions you might have, and to help you take the steps necessary to find the options that are best suited to your individual needs.
Our staff is experienced and knowledgeable in dealing with mesothelioma patients and their family members, and the service we provide is always with appreciation for the difficult time you are facing. Although you have found us on the Internet, rest assured there are real people here to help. Please feel free to contact us at any time at 1-877-FOR-MESO (367-6376). (Please read disclaimer at bottom of page before proceeding.)
"Hope is the companion of power, and the mother of success; for who so hopes strongly, has within him the gift of miracles." -- Samuel Smiles
This segment begins with more information about malignant mesothelioma, including the causes of the disease and characteristic symptoms. Our comprehensive section on mesothelioma treatment options discusses surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy as well as new types under investigation. We discuss ways to find specialists who treat mesothelioma and some advice on choosing your doctor . The Clinical Trials segment details current clinical studies and links to information specific to those trials.
"Too often we understimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." --Dr. Leo Buscaglia
Start planning with Comprehensive Cancer Centers, how to find places to stay near treatment facilities and how to get there in the Travel & Lodging section. Relevant medical journal and mesothelioma news articles are updated regularly. Our SUPPORT segment ends with Survivors & Fighters who have uplifting stories to tell.
"Knowledge is power."-Francis Bacon
This segment provides Leading Cancer Links. In Your Peace of Mind you’ll find resources to help you and your family feel secure in the weeks, months and years ahead. Here you can find links to information on financial assistance, compensation, and legal options.
NEW: A clinical trial for a lung-sparing combined modality protocol is recruiting mesothelioma patients.
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,[1] the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.[2] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.[3] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).
The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.
The statistics are staggering, but it's an issue all too easily ignored, said religious leaders gathered Saturday for the second annual local observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
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Nationwide, African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population, yet they represented 49 percent of new cases in 2005, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In Washtenaw County, the 2008 rate of HIV/AIDS among black Washtenaw County residents was 4 per 1,000 people, compared with a rate of less than 1 per thousand for whites, according to the public health department.
But those who braved snowy roads to attend the event, held Saturday afternoon at Ypsilanti's Brown Chapel AME Church, left with a renewed sense of purpose about raising awareness and urging people to get tested.
Director Phil Volk started his Washtenaw Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network in 2004 after attending a candlelight vigil at the University of Michigan. He said he was struck by the observation made by a young, HIV-positive person, that God and religious organizations had forgotten the disease's victims.
"We're all in this together,'' he said. "Black and white, wealthy and poor. We have to remember this.''
Among speakers was Sheriff Jerry Clayton, who cited statistics illustrating the overwhelming disproportion of HIV cases in the black population.
"It hits all of us,'' he said. "But it hits some communities at different rates, for different reasons.''
"I didn't know it was so bad,'' said Johnnie Joplin, a local lay minister who attended, after hearing the numbers Clayton recited. "Wow. Our work is really cut out.''
Even if it was a painful topic, that didn't prevent the 30 or so people who came from singing, celebrating God and expressing thanks.
Music was sung by Voice of Praise, a gospel group of Wayne County Community College students, and Vellanie Ray, minister and choir director at Burning Bush Church of God and Christ in Ypsilanti.
The local HIV/AIDS Resource Center offered free confidential testing during the event, but volunteers said weather seemed to be keeping people away. Still, a few showed up for testing.
And those who attended were newly galvanized to help spread awareness of the disease and its impacts, particularly on the black community.
"Take the message you learned today,'' Clayton told people in the audience. "And go out and tell 10 people.''
