Asbestos Cancer: What You Need to Know

Asbestos Cancer

Gone are the days when the term 'mesothelioma' was not familiar with the masses. These days just a mention of the word brings about uncomfortable picture of factories and mines scattered with asbestos and the hapless victims working over there in dangerous conditions. More insight is thrown into the plight of mesothelioma patients owing to the concern of medical professionals, researchers and other organizations. Still there is a long way to go regarding the early diagnosis and treatment of the fatal condition.

Mesothelioma is commonly referred to as Asbestos Cancer. This is an aggressive cancer which is caused mainly due to the inhalation of dangerous asbestos fibers. The disease affects the mesothelium, a protective two layered membrane which covers the internal organs like lungs, heart and abdominal organs. Between these layers, the cells produce fluid which helps in the easy movement of the internal organs. Mesothelium can affect any of these cells. Most of the victims are usually older individuals since the disease takes almost 25 to 50 years to develop. Even washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can prove fatal.

The symptoms of the disease include shortness of breath, chest wall pain, weight loss etc. Chest X-ray and CT scan can be used as diagnostic tools and the disease can be confirmed with a biopsy and microscopic examination. In spite of treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, complete cure of the disease is not possible. Researchers are trying their utmost for the early detection of mesothelioma. Other treatment options are gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy etc. Since it is very difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stages, the symptoms are quite serious. Later diagnosis means the cancer must have spread making treatment unsuccessful.

Statistics prove that the disease mostly affected men between the ages of 50 and 70 who were employed in asbestos companies before awareness was created in the 1970s. Second hand exposure to asbestos has resulted in more diagnoses of the cases among women, whose family members worked with asbestos. The residents of the localities where asbestos mines and companies are located are also prone to the disease. Shipyard workers, electricians, plumbers, construction industry workers, pipe fitters etc are also in the danger zone.

The reason for this illness is usually lack of protection given to those work with asbestos. If the employers properly take care of the health of the workers the disease can be prevented to a large extent. Even though there is no complete cure for the disease, the helpless victims can avail many options for support. It is the duty of the family and friends to stand with the victim during this terrible time. Legal help can also be sought very easily these days. But it is important to contact a qualified mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible.

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Asbestos Cancer: Asbestos Cancer Attorneys

Asbestos Cancer

Prolonged exposure to asbestos can give rise to lung cancer. Asbestos cancer attorneys are lawyers who represent victims who have contracted this dreadful disease through prolonged contact with asbestos. Their aim is to obtain compensation for their clients from those responsible for causing the damage.

The asbestos cancer lawyers have forcefully and fruitfully fought for asbestos workers and their families. There are a large number of cancer attorney firms in the US, with a sizeable number of asbestos claimants, and they have won substantial compensation for their affected clients. Asbestos cancer attorneys usually employ top medical professionals and scientists to assist them in developing a case.

These attorneys are devoted to making sure that each of their clients obtains the consideration his or her case is worthy of. If one is suffering from cancer due to extensive exposure to asbestos, the straightforward reality is that the more clients the attorneys stand for, the better the chance of negotiating with the companies that caused the dreaded disease.

According to the National Cancer Institute, around 3,000 cases of malignant cancer from asbestos exposure are being reported in the United States each year, and the occurrence seems to be rising. The syndrome is three times more widespread in men than in women. In men, the incidence of asbestos related cancer is ten times higher in men between the ages of 60 and 70 than in men between the ages of 30 and 40. Work-related exposure to asbestos over the past fifty years in the United States is estimated to have happened to roughly eight million people, and up to 300,000 new cases are anticipated to take place by the year 2030.

An exceptional characteristic of asbestos-connected cancer is the long latency phase between exposure to asbestos and the beginning of the disease.

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Asbestos Cancer: Your Protection from the Law and Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Asbestos Cancer

Asbestos-related cancers include asbestosis and mesothelioma which have their roots in exposure to fibrous asbestos materials. Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the mesothelium which is the membrane that lines parts of the body organs. There are three main organs where mesothelium is found in relatively high content and each has its own name in relation to the part of the body. For example, mesothelium found in the linings of the lungs is called the pleura which are also rated as among the most common mesothelioma cancer. Peritoneum is the mesothelium that surrounds the abdominal cavity and the pericardium is the one that lines the heart.

Cancers observed in these linings are rare but the incidence has nevertheless, bulged excessively in recent years. This is not because there is too little risk of developing cancer but only because the risks only increase overtime and the development of the cancer is very slow; usually it takes 20 to 30 years of development before someone is diagnosed with asbestosis or mesothelioma.

The victims, mostly middle aged and older men, were exposed some decades ago. Those people who also have direct contact with these people may possibly develop mesothelioma. This is why it is often difficult to establish a lawsuit as this requires a very long and tedious processes. Fundamental research must be made and the exact culprit must be discovered before cone can actually have high chances of wining a lawsuit. Eventually, men who have worked in places like shipyards and other maritime workplaces, industrial worksites and places where high exposure to mesothelioma have filed lawsuits against the companies they once worked for.

There are many commonalities with regards to lawsuits and mesothelioma. First, the client must get an attorney who will go over the details from some decades past. Very unfortunately, the process of mesothelioma lawsuits is very long and might even take years. This is because the reason of exposure to asbestos is not enough to win the lawsuit. The asbestos attorney must ascertain the exact details of exposure, from the date it is believed to have begun to the types of exposure and the exact products, elements and events that lead to the exposure. Also, it must be proven that the company the victim worked for had willingly allowed or forced their workmen to work in asbestos-exposed sites in spite of the company's knowledge of the risks to make a strong case.

Companies are becoming more efficient at winning lawsuits to the increased number of asbestos lawsuits in the past recent years. Because of this, it is highly possible to lose a claim if not backed by strong evidences and a good case. This is why it is advisable to file lawsuit in groups.

There are various options for filing lawsuits on asbestos cancer and mesothelioma. These include filing an individual lawsuit through a reputable attorney, do it yourself filing of a case, and filing of a lawsuit as a member of a group.

If you are quite not sure of what to do, it is best to seek professional advice from a mesothelioma attorney or personal injury attorney to get advice on what actions to take. Mesothelioma and asbestos cancer law suits are really complex and require much expertise. And remember that you are facing rather large companies who have high willingness to win the case. But keep in mind that hiring a mesothelioma attorney does not mean that you will have to face a long trial. You could also end up with an out of court settlement for the convenience of both parties.

What's good about filing an asbestos cancer and mesothelioma lawsuit is that you don't have to worry about out-of-pocket-expenses, even with an ongoing trial, because personal injury attorneys are paid on the basis of contingency. They will only be paid if they win the case.

Thus, even if the process is tiresome, you still have some chances to put justice in the right order through filing a mesothelioma and asbestos cancer lawsuit.

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Asbestos Cancer: Asbestos Cancer and Mesothelioma Law Settlement

Asbestos Cancer

Asbestos is a material popularly used for fireproofing and insulation in domestic and industrial places. However, many have changed their mind these days about using asbestos since it causes certain cancers including asbestosis and mesothelioma.

This happens when a certain amount of asbestos fiber is inhaled which builds up overtime depending on the degree of exposure. Asbestos fiber, which often comes from dilapidated things that contain asbestos materials, does not leave the body of the victim and therefore, a cure has been discovered. However, the development of the diseases needs a long time, even taking decades before any symptoms occur. This is why many asbestos, mesothelioma, and personal injury law suits relating to asbestos are filed only after 20 years or so. Normally, jobs such as mining, working or living in rather old buildings, shipyards, construction sites and other industrial settings expose workers to high doses of asbestos.

Anyone with good grounds of filing an asbestos or mesothelioma law suit, is entitled to bring their case to justice. But this does not imply that everyone will win their case. In fact, the majority of mesothelioma and asbestos law suits end up in settlements.

What exactly is an asbestos or mesothelioma settlement?

Basically, settlement is a process by which the actual trial is cut off to give way to what the two parties have decided without the law interfering. This entitles the victim or victims to receive the compensation, depending on the agreement consented by the parties involved. This will help the victim to recover from any damages, loss or injuries incurred in relation to the effects of exposure to asbestos.

The federal government has issued certain restrictions as to the amount and use of asbestos in a workplace. The OSHA has also outlined that 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter asbestos during a span of eight working hours is the maximum level of exposure while there should only be 1 fiber per cubic centimeter every thirty minutes. This of course will eliminate the possibility of developing any sortsof cancer and diseases related to asbestos exposure. As we have mentioned a while back, there should be a certain degree of exposure to be met before one gets the risk of cancer. There are also a number of protective measures that must be practiced in order to assure the good working condition in an environment with possible asbestos exposure.

If the criteria were not met or there are certain details that were willfully overlooked, it is possible that one could have a good case against the authorities concerned. But again, many of the cases filed in the court do not even reach the actual trial. Some parties decide at the very early stages of filing the case to agree on settlement. This will be very convenient for both parties considering that the settlement will only be settled once the defendant/s and the prosecution arrive at a single contract.

To make the settlement work, the victim must file a case through a qualified asbestos attorney. The latter knows the rules well and will help a great deal in maximizing the interest of the victim or victims to obtain a higher chance of increasing a fair settlement.

During the settlement, the victim must prove and convince the other party that he or she will win. If not, then the other party won't have any interest and may even settle for a long trial where he is sure to win. Nonetheless, personal injury attorneys know other techniques that will make the most out of the case, regardless if he stands by the defendant's or victim's side.

Also, it must be proven that the defendant showed enough negligence that lead to unwanted circumstances, such as that of asbestosis or mesothelioma and sometimes even death. Further, damages caused by the asbestos-related incidences must be calculated and thus be compensated by the amount of the settlement.

The compensation a victim will receive varies depending on many factors including the laws in the state where the case was filed, the losses which may have direct or indirect relation to asbestos exposure, the types of injuries, the people responsible, the party's credibility, the value of the verdict, the manner by which the case was presented, the status of the attorneys and many others. The amount varies anywhere from several thousand dollars to several million. The latter happens more frequently with group cases where there are lots of victims involved.

If you want to file your case related to asbestos, it is best that you consult a professional first and seek legal advice; he would give you better perspectives on the case and will help you arrive with a fair settlement.

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Asbestos Cancer: Finding an Attorney for Asbestos Cancer - Mesothelioma Cases

Asbestos Cancer

Asbestos was used extensively in various industries during the 1900's. This is primarily because of the fact that asbestos has a high tensile strength and that it is fire and heat proof. However, people today are beginning to find out about the price of using such a substance. One of the worst things that people can get from exposure to asbestos is mesothelioma.

What exactly is mesothelioma? It is actually a form of cancer which almost always results from exposure to asbestos. The problem with mesothelioma is that the symptoms do not appear until 20-50 years after exposure to asbestos. Because of this, you might have some trouble bringing those responsible for the illness to justice. Getting an attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is quite essential if you want to succeed in your quest.

Today there are more than 600,000 litigants involved in asbestos cases in the US. Consequently, a lot of lawyers, whether capable or not, attempt to gather as many clients as they can in order to get their hands on some cold cash. This means that you really need to examine many an attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma in order to find one that can actually help you.

What qualities should you look for when getting an attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma?

1) Experience - you need an attorney who has enough experience in dealing with a case like yours. "Experience" here refers to the number of asbestos litigation cases that the lawyer has handled, not to the number of years that he has had the label "Attorney-At-Law". By getting an experienced attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma, you will have a number of advantages. For one thing, an experienced attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma knows his or her way around the courtroom and will thus be able to find you the type of solution you want. It is also the case that inexperienced lawyers will not be able to meet all of your needs as a client. By getting an experienced attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma, you will be able to find someone who can understand you situation and who knows exactly what to do to comfort you and help you.

2) Know-how - The best thing that experience can be combined with would be knowledge. Knowledge enables a person to truly find solutions to problems. When you think about it, the only reason you are actually hiring a lawyer anyway is because he or she knows more about the law than you do. If you knew as much as the lawyer did, would you be spending to hire an attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma? You need to make sure that the attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma you hire will actually know how to defend you. Experience may give layers the gut instinct that allows them to survive in critical situations, but know-how is what they use when their instincts take over.

What should you do next? Here are some things you should remember:

1) Get a proper medical exam - even if you have found the best attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma, if you have no proper proof of the illness then you have no case. It is actually best if you get an attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma even if all you have is a suspicion. The attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma you get will require you to get a thorough medical exam to see if you do have the illness in question.

2) Negotiate fees - some lawyers base their fees on how big a case they think yours is. Before signing a contract, you should definitely try to negotiate your fees properly. Consider the various expenses that you may face and do try to make sure that everything you pay the attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma you hire is properly accounted for. Another issue that you should definitely address would be the issue of payment. There are lawyers which will allow you to defer payments until the end of the case. This will help you concentrate on the case and not on the bills. However, you should also realize a debt is still a debt, especially if you sign for it. You need to make sure that the attorney for asbestos cancer or mesothelioma you get is honest enough to at least charge you the right amount.

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Asbestos Cancer: Laryngeal Cancer and Asbestos- Does Asbestos Exposure Lead to Laryngeal Cancer?

Asbestos Cancer

A very rare disease, laryngeal cancer or cancer of the larynx is believed to have been caused by exposure to asbestos. However, recent medical literature suggests that asbestos exposure is a possible risk factor but no substantial data that can prove the exact relation of asbestos with laryngeal cancer. But this still does not change the fact that in the future, certain data could establish the possibility that asbestos could really lead to laryngeal cancer.

There are a number of asbestos-related diseases that might develop once an individual is exposed sufficiently to high degrees of asbestos fiber. This is because exposure to asbestos works on the dosage-response principle where only a certain quantity must be met before one's health reaches the hazard point. Otherwise, the person is safe, at least for a while. But continuous exposure even to low levels of asbestos fiber might still end up developing diseases.

The latency period of most asbestos cancer, including laryngeal cancer, is somewhere between 20 to 50 years. The minimum length of time is 5 years. So this means that symptoms of laryngeal cancer or any cancer, will only surface after several years of the first infliction. This is the main reason why most patients of asbestos-related cancers are not aware of their diseases in the early stages of it.

Everyone who has close contact with asbestos may possibly inhale asbestos fiber. But those who are most exposed will likely develop diseases faster. However, exposure alone is not reason enough for a person to contract a disease. As we have earlier said, one should be exposed to a relatively high level of asbestos fiber before his or her body begins to react. With continuous exposure one's at a greater risk of being ill 20 to 50 years ahead. Even families of the person who were directly in contact with asbestos fiber might suffer from risk factors.

Laryngeal cancer begins from the infection of the larynx. This is the passageway of both air and food during breathing and swallowing. Anyone who is exposed to asbestos-filled air runs the risk of taking in asbestos fiber which might be trapped in the larynx and the succeeding passages of the air or the food. Unfortunately, there is no way to remove the asbestos fiber from the body of the victim once it has entered.

Asbestos kills some thousands of people every year. Most of these have worked in mines, shipyards, factories, and construction sites and many come from people who have family embers working in these industries. Every year, however, there are around 10,000 people diagnosed with laryngeal cancer and almost half of them die due to the cancer. Because laryngeal cancer and asbestos are considered as occupational diseases, men are likely to develop the disease more than women since nearly all occupations using asbestos are dominated by men.

The average age of individuals diagnosed with laryngeal cancer is somewhere around 50 years old to 70 years old and above. This further establishes the relationship between asbestos and laryngeal cancer since both require nearly the same period of latency. Period of latency is the length of time for the full maturation of the disease. Also, it has been noted that asbestos can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer alongside the more dominating ill effects of smoking.

Further, other asbestos diseases and larynx cancer have the same symptoms such as hoarseness of the voice, lumps in the affected areas due to tumors, observed development of cancerous cells, ear pain, difficulty of swallowing and breathing, persistent coughing and sore throat.

Several treatment options for laryngeal cancer and asbestos are chemotherapy for more aggravated diseases, radiation therapy that removes immature cancer cells and small tumors, surgery for both small and large tumors, combination of CAMS or Complementary and Alternative Medicines, and life modification practices.

To know more of your options for treatment it is wisest to seek more comprehensive medical advice. Seek a specialist in asbestos or laryngeal cancer to know more about your disease.

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Asbestos Cancer: Asbestos Legislation

Asbestos Cancer

Since the introduction of the first Asbestos bill in Congress some 30 years ago, the scenario has changed tremendously. The number of claims that are filed today are many times greater than in previous years. Of these numerous cases, some hold the stand of real human sufferings while others hold the place of real forged means. This has made the efforts of legislation tougher and has initiated the need to implement certain general rules for all the people who are suffering or have suffered from the carcinogenic Asbestos exposure.

On May 26, 2005, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would establish a $140 billion fund for a no-fault, administrative program to provide compensation to the people afflicted with Asbestos-induced disease. The trial lawyers protested for the low amount being put for the victims of Asbestos, while the experts benefited their stand by commenting that it was not to be inclusive for the fraudulent cases. Many states in America are taking crucial and well-designed steps to prevent legal fraud.

Asbestos is a carcinogen to humans. It is a highly particulating fiber. When pressed with the hand, microscopic dust is released and is inhaled into the lungs. This produces a number of diseases relating to the lungs, including mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is one of the most common diseases associated with asbestos. There is much litigation surrounding mesothelioma.

To this day asbestos exists. It is near the end of being phased out from all public use. However, the fiber is more or less a naturally occuring substance, so it will never be completely eradicated.

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Asbestos Cancer: Getting the Advice of a Lawyer for Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer Settlement

Asbestos Cancer

If you have been exposed to the danger of asbestos in the past, there is a strong chance that you have developed one illness or another which is said to root from asbestos. You might be feeling very angry and are looking for some way to make those responsible for your illness to own up to what they did. It is because of this that people hire lawyers and sue various companies.

Because of what happened to you, you might be so wrapped up in the quest to bring the company to justice that you want to go all-out in the legal battle with them. Because of this, when you hear the advice of a lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case, you immediately reject this path.

Before you let your emotions prevail, however, you should really turn your mind inward and try to examine the various possible reasons which may be behind such an advice. You should realize that lawyers are also quite often as full of pride as their clients are in terms of litigation. They will also rather fight all the way if they see the chance that you will win the case outright. This means that there must be something about your case that causes your lawyer to lose a bit of confidence.

There are two sides to this. The first one is that he or she has found a weakness in your case. When you get advice from a lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case, then you know that there could be something wrong with the strength of the case. There could be some weak link which your counselor has spotted and he or she is just trying to get you out of the case before your opponent catches sight of the same weakness and crushes you.

You can also take the advice from your lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case and interpret it as a sign that there may be something being planned by the company which would leave you hanging dry. By negotiating for a settlement while you still have the advantage, you are at least able to make sure that you will get something for your troubles. If you choose not to settle and you lose the case then you might end up wishing that you had listened to the advice of your lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case.

A settlement is also a quick and quiet way to wrap up a case. If you are fighting a large corporation, then you have to realize that taking it into court may have very profound effects. For one thing, they could actually bury the case underneath so much paper work that it would be hard for you to actually get a trial started. Even if your case does go to trial, the case could drag on for months, consuming and exhausting your resources without you even seeing one cent of the anticipated damages.

Many companies opt to settle because everything is kept quiet during a settlement. This means that a company's stock will not lose its value. However, if you opt to go for the "public trial" route, then you should know that it will leave the company no chance but to try to crush your case utterly. This means the company will hire the best lawyers in town. If you don't give the company a quiet way out, you might find yourself facing the wrath of a cornered wild cat. Remember to always give your opponent a graceful way out since a person with nothing to lose makes a very dangerous opponent.

Some people complain that the advice from lawyers for settlement of mesothelioma asbestos cancer cases is unreliable as they often end up with less money than they would have gotten if they had taken the case into court. You have to realize that this is the whole point of settlement. When you receive advice from your lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case, you should see it as the exchange of certainty for uncertainty. That is, the possibility of getting paid for damages versus the reality of being paid now in settlement. The decision is always up to you.

When you get advice from your lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case, you should definitely listen hard. This is because you should not take settlement as a sign of giving up. You should, instead, take it as a sign of a skilled opponent yielding when that opponent knows that he has been defeated.

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Asbestos Cancer: Mesothelioma: How Do Doctors Diagnose Asbestos Cancer? Part 1

Asbestos Cancer

As we discussed in our previous article, you might have been exposed to asbestos airborne particles if you have been building ships, working with heat insulation and changing old brakes pads. There are many dangerous occupations exist, such as, asbestos plant workers, automobile mechanics, boiler workers, plumbers, drywall workers, electricians insulators, painters, even hairdressers and teachers. Many other professions might give an occasional exposure to the asbestos particles.

As the consequence of asbestos exposure you may get asbestosis, but you may also start do develop mesothelioma - relativity rare but deadly type o cancer.

So, how do doctors diagnose the mesothelioma?

When you see your doctor, the first think he does to suspect the mesothelioma is asking about your occupational history. The paramount importance is to catch the asbestos cancer in the early stages of the disease, so time is of the essence. The survival rate is eight to twelve months on average. However, catching and treating the mesothelioma early at some cancer centers gives better results.

Doctors look for signs and symptoms of the cancer. The mesothelioma symptoms often delay up to 20 and more years after asbestos exposure. Yet, in rats intra-pleural introduction of asbestos chrysotile fibers may cause mesothelioma in several months.

People with mesothelioma complain on breath shortness, persistent cough, sputum, and chest pain. The pain comes from pleura - the lungs lining that is very sensitive to irritation. Mesothelioma tends to cause fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity.

Peritoneal mesothelioma causes weight loss, pain and ascites (belly swelling due to fluid in the abdominal cavity). Peritoneal mesothelioma also may block bowels and cause all kinds of troubles with gut obstruction. As many cancers, asbestos cancer also changes blood clotting, causes blood cells decrease (anemia), night sweats, and fevers. Ascites may lead to nausea and feet swelling. Spreading of the cancer will bring pain, difficult swallowing, and neck swelling. This symptom happens because of compression of some great veins going to the heart in your chest. In general mesothelioma symptoms are not very specific. They may characterize any other type of cancer as well as many other non-cancerous diseases. This problem delays diagnosis. Sometimes patients think that they have viral pneumonia. Some patients don't have any symptoms at all. Mesothelioma in advanced stage, as well as majority of cancers, will cause fatigue.

An x-ray may show a fluid accumulation.

What is a pleural effusion? Pleural effusion means the accumulation of fluid between the pleura on inside chest wall and diaphragm and pleura covering lungs. What is pleura? Pleura is the thin layer of special cells covering the lung and inside of the chest wall. It has an idea of closed plastic bag with some small amount of fluid inside. Basically, this bag helps lungs to slide easily against chest wall during expansion from breathing. The membranes of pleura consist from mesothelial cells. Exactly these cells produce a small amount of the lubricant. The amount of fluid is always in balance. Extra pleural fluid is quickly reabsorbed. When there is too much fluid, it is the effusion. Abdominal cavity has similar lining named peritoneum, which covers abdominal organs the way pleura covers the lungs. Mesothelioma leads to fluid build up, which is caused by cancer cells irritating the pleura or peritoneum. This fluid leads to sickness in your abdomen or difficulty breathing.

Transudation is a pleural effusion with clear fluid. It usually results from imbalance of fluid production and removal. It is more characteristic for some other disease. Doctors would think first about congestive heart failure. Mesothelioma would rather cause an exudate. Exudates are a cloudy pleural effusion with many cells and proteins. Exudates happen after the pleura is irritated and inflamed, as it happen in mesothelioma. To check the type of effusion, doctors would stick a needle and get the fluid sample. This stick is called diagnostic thoracentesis. The fluid will be checked in the lab. If mesothelioma is the cause, cancer cells may be found in the fluid

Why shortness of breath develops? The dyspnea (breath shortness) happens exactly because too much fluid is accumulated and press on the lung, pushing it away form the chest wall inside and thus making the lung smaller. Also the pain from inflamed pleura prevents patient from deep breathing. The receptors in inflamed pleura also cause dry cough. Listening to the lungs with a stethoscope reveals decreased breath sounds. Tapping on the chest sounds dull. This all is the consequence of fluid accumulation.

During your doctor's visit, you should discuss your concerns about asbestos exposure in the past. Your doctor should check the area of pain and swelling; he also should listen to your breath sounds and check for fluid collection. If your doctors suspect the effusion he may send you for tests and X-rays or refer to a specialist.

If a doctor suspects mesothelioma, he dose not have many specific tests on hands. Many of the usual tests may show no results in mesothelioma. Simple chest x-ray does not always show small pleural effusion. A lateral decubitus film may be required for smaller effusions (the same x-ray but the side view). Otherwise CT scan or ultrasound may show the effusion.

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Asbestos Cancer: Mesothelioma. How do doctors diagnose Asbestos Cancer? Part 2

Asbestos Cancer

Continued from part 1.

If the effusion is suspicious for some infection or cancer, sample of the fluid may give the clue whether the cause is benign or malignant. However, four out of five tests may miss the cancer. Eventually, the biopsy of the pleura by a needle or by a surgical procedure confirms the diagnosis of the mesothelioma.

For abdominal mesothelioma, an abdominal x-ray checks the fluid in your belly.

Sometime an x-ray may show not only effusions, but also mass, or signs of asbestos accumulation, pleural plaques and calcifications or scarring due to asbestosis and chronic inflammation.

Drain of the fluid is done by needle in the chest or abdominal cavity. The name is thoracocentesis or pleural aspiration from chest, and abdoparacentesis or peritoneal aspiration in tummy.

At modern days the CT (computerized tomography) scan is used more often. CT is a special x-ray machine that shows sliced images of your body. CT scan of chest or abdomen shows the swellings in organs, cavities, and lymph nodes. A contrast dye may help to the scan. CT scans show pleural effusion, pleural thickening, pleural calcification, spreading of tumor into chest wall. However, CT do not really distinguish benign asbestos disease, lung cancer or mesothelioma. Doctors also use CT scans for guiding needle aspiration of suspicious pleural masses.

Thoracoscopy is the procedure when a surgeon makes small cut in your chest wall between two ribs and looks through a thoracoscope (a tool with a video camera). The biopsy (tissue sample) goes to a lab to check for cancer cells.

Bronchoscopy allows doctors to look inside the airways. A thin flexible tube (bronchoscope) helps to get samples of tissue and send them sent to a lab for testing for cancer cells.

Mediastinoscopy checks mediastinum (the area in chest containing heart, great blood vessels, lymph nodes, esophagus, nerves and so on). Mediastinoscopy allows sampling lymph nodes in your body to look for metastases.

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure when doctors look inside of your belly with a small camera-fitted tube. The surgeons will biopsy suspicious areas. The bioptate (the tissue sample) goes to the laboratory. A pathologist checks it under a microscope. Laparoscopy leaves a small cut on the skin of your belly. Another name of the same procedure is peritoneoscopy. The tool is named peritoneoscope.

Putting a needle into your abdomen and removing the fluid inside is named paracentesis Putting a needle into your chest and draining the fluid is named thoracentesis.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan gives a sliced picture of the inside of your body. It is better than X-ray or CT scan because there is no radiation of your body. However it requires significant time. Sometimes it takes up to 20 minutes. And some people afraid to stay in the machine for half an hour required for the test. Besides MRI has a limitation. The test requires avoiding metals in your bodies (like metal joints and other metal implants). MRI is not a routine test, so sometime it is not ordered. Magnetic Resonance Imaging is most commonly ordered to determine the extent of tumor to plan the surgery. MRI also easier than CT scans shows enlarged lymph nodes and surface of diaphragm and this is important for surgical planning.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) came recently for diagnosing different type of cancers and mesothelioma as well. PET uses special radioactive substances that emit positrons. Localized mesothelioma is confined to the pleura. Advanced mesothelioma spreads to the lungs, chest wall, abdomen and lymph nodes.

Pathological examination checks biopsy samples under the microscope It is difficulty to diagnose mesothelioma sometime. The cells of the tumor may be of many different types. These cells may look similar to other cancers. Peritoneal cells may look similar to pleural mesothelioma or other types of lung cancer and even ovarian cancer. Epithelioid type of mesothelioma is more common and considered better for treatment more than aggressive sarcomatous type. Biphasic mesothelioma is the mixture of both.

Doctors and scientists also proposed some immunological makers to find mesothelioma, however majority of the markers are not very specific. Just to mention: Epithelial membrane antigen, CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen √ very unspecific, may happen in many different cancers), Calretinin, Mesothelin, Cytokeratin, osteopontin and some others.

Look also: http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact, http://www.nlm.nih.gov, http://www.rdoctor.com

So, to recap, the tests used by doctors:

*X-rays

*CT scan

*Thoracocentesis

*Paracentesis

*Thoracoscopy

*Bronchoscopy

*MRI scan

*Mediastinoscopy

*Laparoscopy

*All kinds of biopsy

The diagnosis is done after careful evaluation of complaints, physical exam and imaging in addition to the biopsy.

Keywords: Diagnosis, asbestos cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, mesothelioma symptoms, peritoneal mesothelioma, lung cancer

Aleksandr Kavokin, MD, PhD. Medical Articles http://www.kavokin.com, Free On-line diagnostics at http://www.symptomat.com, http://www.rdoctor.com.

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Asbestos Cancer: The History of the Asbestos Industry

Asbestos Cancer

The history of asbestos as we know it dates back 2000 years. It was the Greeks who named this mineral asbestos, meaning inextinguishable. The ancient Greeks observed the harmful biological effects but continued to use the mineral said to have magical properties. Pliny (Roman naturalist) and Strabo (Greek geographer) noted an appearance of “sickness of the lungs” in slaves who wove asbestos into cloth. The Greeks also used asbestos for the wicks of the eternal flames of the vestal virgins, as the funeral dress worn by kings and for napkins. They were so impressed with the magical properties of the mineral that they were willing to overlook its harmful symptoms for humans. They went as far as calling asbestos "amiantus", meaning "unpolluted.

During the middle ages, it was believed that the Frankish king, Charlemagne had asbestos tablecloths. Asbestos products were used in the 1700 hundreds but did not really become popular until the late 1800’s. The industrial Revolution demanded new uses for the mineral. It was used as insulation for steam pipes, turbines, boilers, kilns, ovens, and other high-temperature products.

The history of asbestos use continued into the twentieth century and researchers began to investigate the harmful toxic affects. It was first noticed in 1917 and 1918 that a great number of young people in asbestos mining towns prematurely died. Researchers in England carried out clinical studies on asbestos workers in 1924, after the recorded death of a young woman who had been diagnosed with the new disease they called asbestosis. Twenty-five percent of the test subjects showed evidence of asbestos-related lung disease. Legislation was enacted in 1931, to increase ventilation and to recognize asbestosis a work-related disease.

The 1930’s brought in with it, the surge of major medical research articles, warning about the asbestos connection with lung cancer partially due to a new disease, silicosis, caused by in haling silica dust particles. Much of this research continued to be ignored. Large Asbestos companies continued to use asbestos in manufacturing and construction, despite that fact that safer alternatives such as fiberglass insulation were created to replace it. These companies hid their lung cancer findings to avoid the million dollar lawsuits brought upon them by asbestos cancer victims. The history of asbestos use and company profiteering has no doubt exploited asbestos workers then and now. Today, victims exposed to asbestos are faced with mesothelioma cancer and certain death.

What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber mined from the earth. It is strong, flexible, and resistant to heat, chemicals and electrical conditions.

Forms of Asbestos
The three most common forms of asbestos are divided into two groups. The serpentine group includes white (chrysotile) asbestos. The amphibole group includes brown (amosite) and blue (crocidolite) asbestos.

Asbestos Properties
Asbestos has many properties that once made it attractive to industry. It is stable when heated, it provides strength under tension, it is resistant to chemicals and does not absorb water (depending on type of asbestos). Asbestos is suitable for weaving and can be used to reinforce materials such as concrete. And lastly, it is a good resistance to electricity.

Asbestos Categories
'Bonded' is used to refer to asbestos being so firmly embedded in a material that these materials are unlikely to release measurable levels of asbestos fiber into the air if they are left undisturbed. Therefore, they generally pose a lower risk to health.

Bonded asbestos-containing materials include asbestos cement products (flat and corrugated sheeting used in walls, ceilings and roofs, molded items such as down pipes), vinyl floor coverings.

'Friable' is used to refer to asbestos-containing materials that can be easily reduced to powder by hand, when dry. These materials are more likely to release measurable levels of asbestos into the air when disturbed, and generally pose a greater risk to health. Friable asbestos-containing materials include sprayed asbestos fire retardants

Asbestos Industry
In the past, the asbestos industry used around 3000 products manufactured worldwide, most commonly in the construction, car manufacturing and textile industries. It was generally manufactured in the following forms: fibrous (limpet asbestos), woven (cloth, tape or sleeving), wound (rope) or mixed with a binder, such as calcium silicate (to make asbestos cement or vinyl floor products containing asbestos).

Because of its strength and its ability to resist heat and chemicals, asbestos was used in a range of insulation materials.
Older commercial industrial buildings and private dwellings may contain a variety of asbestos products, such as asbestos-cement sheeting in walls and ceilings, or roof cladding made from corrugated asbestos-cement. Asbestos may be found in structures built as late as the mid- to late 1980s.

Asbestos Related Occupations
Asbestos has been used in association with a number of occupations such as the US military and armed forces, particularly the Navy. Massive amounts of asbestos were used in shipbuilding and commercial construction prior to the mid-1970's.

Other workers in occupations which have been associated with asbestos use are:

Insulators, Pipe Fitters, Plumbers, Electricians, Painters, Crane Operators, Floor Coverers, Pot Tenders, Welders, Paper Mill Workers, Custodians, Steam Fitters, Tile Setters, Aerospace Workers, Mechanics, Building Engineers, Demolition Crews, Former US Navy Personnel, Packing/Gasket Manufacturing Workers, Protective Clothing Manufacturing, Rubber Workers, Warehouse Workers, Home Improvement, Hospitals, Schools, Loading Docks, Glass Factory Workers, Building Inspectors, Bulldozer Operators, Manufacturing Workers, Excavating machine operators, Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Job and Die setters, Contractors, Building Managers, Mixing Operatives, Laborers, Sawyers, Teachers, Tinsmiths, Weavers, Excavators, Technicians

Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Humans come into contact with asbestos when they swallow or inhale the fibers. These particles can then become embedded in the tissues of the respiratory or digestive systems.

Three Main Diseases Caused by Asbestos Exposure

Asbestosis
Asbestosis causes widespread scar tissue between the alveoli, or spread over the lung. It is difficult to distinguish from other causes of interstitial fibrosis. Only confirmation of exposure to asbestos or detection of unusually high numbers of asbestos fibers in the lung is considered conclusive evidence of this disease.

Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a tumor of the chest lining, abdominal lining and occasionally the heart lining. Asbestos is not the only cause of this disease, but it is the most important cause in modern times. Crocidolite is the most important asbestos-related factor, but amosite, chrysotile and tremolite are also linked. This disease takes 20-50 years to appear, with the highest risk around 30-35 years after exposure. It is typically dose-related, but in rare cases has been known to occur in patients with little known occupational exposure to asbestos.

Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is relatively common among the general public and is the cancer most frequently associated with asbestos. Tumors grow and eventually obstruct airways. No characteristics specify a lung cancer as being caused by asbestos; we cannot distinguish a 'cigarette' lung cancer from an 'asbestos' lung cancer or 'another' lung cancer. Smoking increases the risk of death due to lung cancer for asbestos workers.

The history of asbestos and how it is has endangered human mortality has plagued different societies since ancient times. Throughout history must of these warnings have been ignored. Today, the use of asbestos is banned in the US and many other countries. This ban applies to manufacture, supply, storage, sale, use, reuse, installation and replacement of asbestos, except in special circumstances (e.g. removal and disposal of asbestos, and research work).

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Asbestos Cancer: Asbestos Danger - Just What Is Asbestos, Anyways?

Asbestos Cancer

Unknown to most people, asbestos is a natural mineral which is mined like ore or similar substances. It is found in rocks around the globe, including the Canadian-U.S. border. It is also found in place like Africa and Russia. Often, when miners are trying to reach one kind of rock, they get asbestos instead.

Types Of Asbestos

There are a number of different kinds of asbestos. Amphibole asbestos contains small microscopic fibers that are like long, thin needles. Chrysotile asbestos contains tiny curly needles. Chrysotile asbestos is considered less dangerous than amphibole asbestos and is more commonly used nowadays.

What Makes Asbestos Such A Useful Material?

Asbestos really is an amazing material. They're an engineer's dream. Not only do they withstand extremely high heat, they also tolerate acid and electricity. Additionally, asbestos have an extremely long lifespan.

Moreover, asbestos doesn't seem to care what form it’s in. It can be woven into cloth, poured like powder, mixed into cement or formed into shapes such as bricks. It doesn't matter what form it's in. It also works as a natural insulator of electricity and heat.

Asbestos In Different Industries

Insulators use asbestos to protect newly-applied insulation to seal cracks while Welders used asbestos cloth to build box-like structures so the sparks from their torches wouldn’t fly around refineries and chemical plants. They wore asbestos gloves and used asbestos-containing welding rods. Sometimes they even took naps on stacks of asbestos cloth.

Foundry workers adorned themselves with aprons and gloves made from asbestos to protect themselves while pouring hot metal. Technicians in laboratories used asbestos protective clothing when they handled hot glass.

Bricklayers lined the interiors of boilers with asbestos-containing bricks called firebricks and anchored them in place with asbestos-containing mortar. Their helpers swept up the dust with push-brooms in a shower of dust. This was in an enclosed space.

Steel girders in industrial facilities and high-rise buildings were sprayed with liquid fireproofing materials, mixed with asbestos.

However, what many of these workers may not have known, is that inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to serious disease such as mesothelioma cancer.

For a no non-sense approach to understanding Mesothelioma Cancer, visit my mesothelioma support pages for the no-hype, factual information you need for understanding asbestos cancer.

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Asbestos Cancer: Mesothelioma Cancer Stages Explained

Asbestos Cancer

Mesothelioma cancer is a type of cancer that attacks the lungs and chest cavity. Also known as asbestos lung cancer, it forms deadly tumors where mesothelial cancer cells form a protective lining over the lungs, heart, and abdominal organs. It is a type of lung cancer that takes many years to develop and produce symptoms. Roughly 3,000 cases per year (mostly men over the age of 40) are reported. It is estimated that number will grow to about 300,000 cases before 2030.

Types of Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer

Epithelial mesothelioma is a rare and fatal form of cancer affecting the membrane lining of the chest cavity, heart, lungs, and abdominal cavity. There are three forms of epithelial mesothelioma: the most common is Pleural Mesothelioma, the second most common, Peritoneal Mesothelioma (accounting for only a quarter of the cases), and the rarest form, pericardial mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of this disease involves the pleura, a thin membrane located between the lungs and the chest cavity. The pleura provide a lubricated surface so that the lungs do not rub and chafe against the chest walls. There are two types of pleural mesothelioma the first being 'diffuse and malignant'. This type is cancerous and is generally fatal within a year of diagnosis. The second type is 'localized and benign' and is generally non-life threatening. It can usually be removed through surgery.

Lung Lining cancer is not to be confused with lung cancer. In lung lining cancer, the effected area of the body is called the mesothelium, a thin membrane that covers many of the internal organs of the body. The mesothelium of the lungs is called the pleura. Lung Lining cancer is also sometimes called mesothelioma after the area in which it occurs.

This thin membrane is comprised of two layers - one that surrounds the organ and another that forms an exterior sac around the first layer. Between the layers of the mesothelium is a fluid that allows vital organs to glide easily against objects that come in contact with them.

Localized pleural mesothelioma is not always caused by asbestos exposure. However, if it has spread to other parts of the body, for instance the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs, then it is considered malignant and is more often than not the result of asbestos exposure.

Peritoneal mesothelioma appears as a tumor in the peritoneum membrane of the abdomen. This type of mesothelioma is very rare, comprising less than a fourth of all known cases of the disease. There are no effective treatments for this condition, and most patients live less than a year after diagnosis.

Mesentery cancer is likened to peritoneal cancer (mesothelioma). This cancer primarily affects the sections of the peritoneum that attach different organs to the wall of the abdominal cavity, (i.e. mesogastrium for the stomach, mesojejunum for the jejunum). Mesentery cancer includes all abdominal peritoneal extensions. Tumors rarely originate in the actual mesentery, though it is a frequent route for the spread of mesothelioma through the abdominal cavity.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma, affecting the membrane around the heart (called the pericardium or pericardial sac). In this disease, solid masses and effusion (fluid) develop around the pericardium. Not all effusions are strictly related to mesothelioma.

The Causes

Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers or dust. Workers in the asbestos industry are prime targets for attracting this deadly disease. Asbestos fibers enter the body, either by breathing in the tiny asbestos fibers or by swallowing them. The fibers cause healthy cells to mutate into cancer. Since the body is unable to dispel these fibers, the lungs become inflamed (asbestosis). This condition worsens and eventually becomes malignant. Asbestos exposure is thought to be responsible for roughly 75% of all cases of lung lining cancer.

Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a very difficult cancer to detect in early stages. The early symptoms tend to be generic and even nonexistent in some cases, and it can take as much as 15 to 50 years after exposure to develop. The first symptom is often constant chest pain, followed by coughing, lung damage, and shortness of breath. Patients who have peritoneal mesothelioma (a less common form of mesothelioma) generally experience abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling, often in addition to the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. They may also develop bowel obstruction or further breathing obstruction.

Stages and Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

There are three staging systems used to determine treatment for mesothelioma: Butchart System, TNM System, and the Brigham System

Butchart Staging System

The Butchart System is the oldest system and the most common. This system concentrates upon determining the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesothelioma into four stages.

Stage I of the Butchart System consists of the presence of mesothelioma in the lining of the right or left lung and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side. Stage II includes the progression of mesothelioma into the chest wall, esophagus, or lung lining on bother sides. There may also be lymph nodes in the chest. The onset of Stage III begins when the mesothelioma surpasses the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. In this stage the cancer may also affect the lymph nodes extending beyond those in the chest. Doctors identify Stage IV, the final stage, when evidence of the spread of cancer to other organs (metastasis) is confirmed.

TNM System

Stage I of the TNM System involves the lining of the right or left lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. At this stage, lymph nodes are not involved. Stage II begins when mesothelioma spreads from the lining of the lung on one side to a lymph node on the same side. At this stage, the cancer may also spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Stage III begins when mesothelioma is present in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side as the primary tumor. In the final stage, Stage IV, the mesothelioma has travelled into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, into the lung opposite the primary tumor, or directly into the organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Metastasis is the final result in this stage.

Brigham System

The Brigham System determines the resectability (the ability to surgically remove) the mesothelioma mass. In Stage I the tumor is resectable, while lymph nodes remain unaffected. In Stage II the tumor remains respectable but the mesothelioma affects the lymph nodes. In Stage III the tumor becomes unresectable. It has penetrated through the diaphragm, or peritoneum. Stage III can occur with or without lymph involvement and extends into the chest wall and heart. Stage IV occurs when doctors discover metastatic disease involving distant organs.

After doctors identify the stage of a patient's malignant mesothelioma, the patient and doctor consider the various treatment options available. Mesothelioma treatment programs are contingent upon many factors, including the stage of the cancer, the location of the cancer, the spread of mesothelioma cancer, the characteristics of the cancer cells under a microscope and the patient's age and concerns.

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Asbestos Cancer: Asbestos Cancer Information You May Find Useful

Asbestos Cancer

Information is the new lifeblood of the industry. With enough information today, a person may be able to gain control over his or her life. The right type of information can help a person achieve anything from achieving supremacy over his opponents to finding comfort in time of need. If you are looking for mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information, then you should know that there are a lot of places you can search.

Internet - As we all know, the internet today is the largest trove of information that ever existed on the planet. It is even bigger than the Famed Library of Alexandria because the internet exists on no physical plane. There are several places on the internet where you can search for the mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information you need. You could go with the usual method and just Google the information you need. You could also try to visit an online wiki which is the collective knowledge of people and experts from all over the world.

You could also try to access the various support sites for people who are somehow involved in the issue of asbestos litigation. All of these options are actually very viable. The best thing about looking for mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information over the internet is that you don't even have to actually get up and search. You can just point click and type and voila, the mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information you need is right before your eyes.

Books - Of course, nothing still beats books when it comes to delivering in-depth information regarding different things. If you are looking for mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information, then your best bet would either be a medical book or a law journal, depending on what type of information you want. The great thing about books is the fact that you will be able to verify the sources of information contained inside. There is also the convenience of being able to look for the information you want wherever you are.

As said before, the effectiveness of the sources of your mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information all depends on the type of information you are looking for. Here are the two main types of mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information that people look for:

Medical - People look for medical mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information for various reasons. Some people are merely doing research works for their jobs. Other people research on mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information simply because they need the information to help them with their education. Medical mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information should tell exactly what the disease is. Just this information will help calm down the agitation felt by someone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Medical mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information should contain information regarding what exactly causes the various symptoms of the illness. This is great if you want to gain an insight regarding what goes on inside your body. People are very much afraid of the unknown and just the reassurance that asbestos fibers aren't turning into little snakes inside their lungs can help relieve a lot of people.

In looking for medical mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information, you should also look for the various treatments that can be done to treat people suffering from this illness. You should research on old and tested methods and also explore information pertaining to some new treatments being developed by technology.

Legal - There are also people who look for legal mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information. Why, you ask? Well, place yourself in the position of the person who had just found out that he or she has cancer because of a job that he took more than 2 decades ago. How would you feel in this situation? Of course, you would lash out at the people whom you think are responsible for your condition.

People research for legal mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information mainly because they believe that arming themselves with the different laws surrounding asbestos litigation can help them better cope with the pain of being a victim of something they had absolutely no idea about. Looking for legal mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) information will also help a person prepare for litigation. By learning about the legalities surrounding his or her case, a person would be able to understand exactly what a lawyer is talking about when the time comes to sue.

For more information on mesothelioma and lung cancer, please go to:
http://mymesotheliomacancer.com/?page_id=619
http://mymesotheliomacancer.com
http://www.drnathaliefiset.com

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Asbestos Cancer: Odds of Linking Asbestos and Laryngeal Cancer

Asbestos Cancer

The link between laryngeal cancer and asbestos are yet to mature but there are indications that both are actually related. It is not yet known however, if asbestos truly causes laryngeal cancer since there are still insignificant materials to ultimately conclude that it is actually one of the major causes. Nonetheless, authorities are continually searching for further indications to draw absolute conclusions on the esophageal cancer and asbestos exposure. But it has been proven that asbestos exposure could elevate a person's risk towards developing laryngeal cancer.

Asbestos is used as a material for fireproofing. This is why it is often found in ordinary houses where extreme measures for fire protection is used. But the major sources of asbestos come from places where it is used primarily in the work field. Workplaces know to expose people to high degrees of asbestos materials are shipyards, factories, automotive, construction sites and other industrial sites and workplaces.

Cancer of the larynx is a relatively rare disease. In every 100 cases of cancer, only 1 is likely to appear as a laryngeal cancer. In United Kingdom, there were only 2,200 laryngeal cancer patients diagnosed in 2002. In the United States however, the laryngeal cancer translates from a minimum percentage of 2% for all cancers per year to a maximum of 5%. This accumulates only around 10,000 laryngeal cancers diagnosed a year. From this number comes the 4,000 who suffer death from the disease. Even with this high toll of mortality, there are still higher numbers of asbestos cancer cases than that of laryngeal cancer. The age in which laryngeal cancer is normally diagnosed is anywhere from 50 to 70 years of age which furthers the relationship between the development of cancer and asbestos. This is because most asbestos cancer patients develop the diseases fully during these ages when the asbestos fiber had completely damaged the affected areas.

Laryngeal cancer of course affects the larynx. This is basically the passageway of air. Thus it is easy for the larynx to contract diseases from materials that are floating in the air. It is also responsible for giving protection to the lungs during the passage of food during swallowing.

Asbestos, on the other hand, could never endanger the health of a person unless it is inhaled as asbestos fiber. This fiber comes from damaged materials containing or are made of asbestos. The two are connected, namely asbestos and laryngeal cancer, because the larynx serves as the passageway of the asbestos fiber when it is being swallowed or inhaled.

Laryngeal cancer and asbestos cancer also project similarities of symptoms. These include signs such as difficulty of swelling, hoarseness of the voice, breathing difficulty, weight loss, ear pain, persistent cough and development of mass somewhere in the neck.

The treatment of any asbestos related cancer in the larynx is dependent on the degree of aggravation, the extent of damage, location and size of the cancerous cells, and the time when the cancer was diagnosed. There are several treatment options that are the same with treatment for other types of cancers. These include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and removal of the larynx, either partial or full removal. But the latter options are applied only on extremely serious conditions. If the removal of the larynx is elected, other means of speaking and breathing could be used.

Laryngeal cancer, just like mesothelioma and other asbestos relayed cancers could also be filed as a case in the court of law. If you are a victim of asbestos exposure that led to laryngeal cancer, it is best to seek legal advice immediately to know your options in filing a case. However, substantial relation between asbestos exposure, the root cause of the exposure such as working for a company that uses asbestos and laryngeal asbestos must be established.

If so, you are entitled to compensation either through full court trial or settlement. The average amount of asbestos cases compensation is $6 million in 2001 and the amount increases overtime. This is also dependent to other major factors such as the credibility of the claim, the reputation of the lawyer and the degree of liability the company has towards the person.

The value of liking asbestos to laryngeal cancer varies depending on the perspective you want to look at it. So long as there is evidence that will support the claim, linkage could always be established.

For more information on mesothelioma and lung cancer, please go to: http://mymesotheliomacancer.com/?page_id=605 http://mymesotheliomacancer.com http://www.drnathaliefiset.com

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Asbestos Cancer: Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment - Asbestos Kills

Asbestos Cancer
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
href="http://www.lung-canceradvice.com">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

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Asbestos Cancer: Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases

Asbestos Cancer

The most common diseases caused by asbestos are asbestosis and pleural disease. The most general forms of asbestos cancer are mesothelioma and lung cancer. The former is also occasionally called mesothelioma cancer or simply “meso”.

Asbestos dust is also responsible for numerous types of throat cancer, including pharyngeal cancer, esophageal cancer, and laryngeal cancer. Stomach and colon cancer are two other types of cancer related to asbestos.

It is vital to note that the latency period, which is the period between actually being in contact with the mineral and the onset of asbestos cancer or a disease related to asbestos, can be quite long. In some cases, it can be over 50 years after an individual’s first contact with asbestos that symptoms of asbestos cancer or any other asbestos disease is seen. Owing to this latency period, individuals exposed to this mineral decades back are still in jeopardy, today, to catch this illness. A trained medical professional can correctly conclude whether a person has asbestos disease or asbestos cancer. It is prudent for anybody working with asbestos to frequently consult a medical professional.

Asbestosis is another well-known disease caused by inhaling high volumes of asbestos fibers. Protracted gathering of fibers in the lungs can lead to the scarring of lung tissues. The most common complaint by a person who has contracted asbestosis is shortness of breath upon exertion. This condition is also called dyspnea. Also, a dry cough becomes more bothersome as the disease progresses. Asbestosis can lead to many other lung diseases, particularly pneumonia, that has a propensity to target weakened lungs. Furthermore, for individuals with asbestosis, the chances of getting lung cancer are multiplied by about 5 times.

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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Gluckman

Asbestos Cancer: Exposure of Your Child at Your Home

Asbestos Cancer

Issues on asbestos are perhaps one of the most top rated in both the medical communities and the legal communities. As you may have noticed in the past couple of years, there have been a great sprouting of cases against companies who allow the usage of asbestos in any forms. However, do you know that your house could also be a good source of asbestos?

No wonder, there are lots of children, who are definitely not exposed in asbestos in industrial areas where it is frequently used but are still at high risk to asbestos cancer and mesothelioma. Many experts believe that even the homes could be said as culprit to the various diseases directly caused or triggered by this industrial element. But of course, it would take a specific amount of asbestos ingested or inhaled before a person shows symptoms of any asbestos-related diseases.

The mere presence of asbestos in the home is perceived to be a minimal problem and is therefore not considered very hazardous. But once the materials made of or has the material asbestos becomes damaged overtime, that's when real problems occur since a deteriorated asbestos material could possibly release asbestos fibers which are the main perpetrator of diseases relating to asbestos. In this case, the best advice is to leave the material untouched or undisturbed. This would prevent the exposure of your home and children from asbestos fibers.

Asbestos fiber is known to cause two types of cancer- mesothelioma and asbestosis. The former shows symptoms of cancer on the abdominal cavity and lining of the lungs, while the latter has the main symptom of scars in the lungs.

If there are high amounts of asbestos in your home, it is likely that exposure would cause adverse effects on the health of your child. This risk increases over a period of time when a specific degree of exposure is observed. In fact, the probability that your child will develop lung cancer with asbestos is much higher than that of exposure from cigarette smoke. To make matters worse, signs disease development would only occur after 20 to 30 years when the disease is aggravated enough to eliminate the possibilities of healing.

If your home does not contain large doses of asbestos fiber though, even long period of exposure would mean nothing against your health. Nonetheless, it is still better for you to protect your child from the risk of developing cancer.

So if you think your home contains asbestos material, don't make any moves yet. It is best to leave these materials alone or the fibers would spread inside your house. Sawing, scraping and any types of abrasive treatments on materials that contain asbestos would likely promote the spread of the fiber.

If the asbestos material remains untouched, there is no actual risk of your child, or you, of developing cancer.

Check the materials in your house that probably contain asbestos. In any case like this, you need to protect the material from any sort of damage or disturbance. If you have observed any signs of damage on the material containing asbestos, it is best that you limit the access to the particular part of the house where the damage is found because it is likely that there are higher exposure risks in places like this.

If the material is detachable like stove-top pads and board covers, it is best to discard these items and purchase products that make use of alternative materials. If, however, you have discovered that there are parts of your home where damages on the asbestos materials are severe or you need to get these materials off your house due to replacement, it is best to let professionals handle the work and stay as far away from the affected site as possible for as long as the work is ongoing.

In case you are truly sure that your house has asbestos materials used in its construction, it is advisable that you call an expert and have it observed.

There is no known cure yet for asbestos exposure this is why it is very crucial that you protect your child from these fibrous materials at a very early stage through assuring that your home is free of fibrous asbestos.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nathalie_Fiset

Asbestos Cancer: Asbestos and Cancer

Asbestos Cancer

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos related cancer, you may want to seek legal advice. Typical legal settelements can reach five million dollars.

Mesothelioma 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.

What is the mesothelium?

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.

What is mesothelioma?

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.

How common is mesothelioma?

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.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

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.

Source article: Karen Brown