Mesothelioma

by Matthew Candelaria

According to statistics, more than 30% of Americans suffering from mesothelioma–a deadly asbestos-induced lung cancer–were exposed to asbestos while serving their country. Veterans and shipyard workers face the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma or similar diseases because of the extensive use of asbestos in military equipment and products, buildings, ships, and submarines. This is especially true for veterans who served during or after World War II and before the1970s when the government began regulating use of asbestos.

Sadly, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American veterans have suffered exposure to asbestos, putting them at higher risk of developing asbestosis, mesothelioma, or other illness.

Veterans who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-induced lung cancer such as mesothelioma have legal rights and may be able to recover compensation for their losses and suffering. Only an experienced mesothelioma lawyer will know if you have a valid legal claim.

Navy Veterans at Risk

Asbestos-induced lung cancer is a significant problem among Navy veterans, particularly because the use of asbestos was so very extensive on ships. Virtually no area on a Navy ship built before the 1970s is safe including: · Fire and engine rooms
· Boiler rooms
· Navigation rooms
· Mess halls
· Sleeping quarters Additionally, commonly used products such as gaskets, cables, insulation, adhesives, valves, and numerous others contained asbestos. Navy veterans, like other veterans, were prone to carry asbestos dust home on their clothes, thereby exposing their loved ones to the dangerous fibers.

Rights of Veterans

Veterans groups across the country have started taking action to ensure their rights are protected. For instance, some veterans organizations have called on Congress to fund early lung cancer detection programs, which is especially important given the long latency period for mesothelioma–usually 30 to 50 years. Individual veterans, and, in some cases, their families, are filing legal claims to hold responsible parties accountable for the suffering caused by asbestos-induced lung disease.

About the Author
If you or a loved one is a veteran who has been diagnosed with asbestos-related disease or illness, please contact an experienced Chicago Workers Compensation Lawyer at the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C., serving residents of Chicago, Rockford, Aurora, and surrounding areas of Illinois.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Cancer mesothelioma - causes, symptoms and treatment

Most people who have or have had mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos about 35-40 years before contracting the disease. Asbestos have been known to come from certain insulators, cements, roofs and household cleaners, among other things. An exposure to asbestos for as little as 2 or 3 months can result in mesothelioma, however most asbestos have been removed from products since the 1980’s. The symptoms of this disease are not specific, which can result in a delay in diagnoses. Some early symptoms of mesothelioma are pneumonia, shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough. This cancer can be fatal and spread to other areas of your body through your blood. Cat scans, X-rays and MRI’s are used to diagnose this cancer.

If you are aware of being exposed to asbestos in the past, please contact your doctor immediately, as the sooner you are diagnosed, the more successful treatment will be. If you are not sure that you were exposed to asbestos, but have worked in construction or with house held cleaners before the 1980’s, you should ask your doctor to get tested just to be safe. Mesothelioma is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

If you are diagnosed with the disease while it is in a late stage, the expected survival rate is only 8-12 months, however patients who are diagnosed early have been known to have a much better survival rate, about 40% living for five years. This is a very serious disease, and people with any suspicion of being exposed to asbestos before should immediately contact their doctors, in order to catch the disease while it is still in it’s early stages.

Bart Samuri writes about various topics. This article is free to re-print as long as nothing is changed, all links remained intacked, the bio remains in full and the rel=”nofollow” tag is not added to any of the links. Thank-you - Please visit Asbestos and Mesothelioma Awareness.com

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Cancer mesothelioma - causes, symptoms and treatment

by Faithe Thomas

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms are chronologically far apart. This creates a lot of confusion among some doctors because some symptoms could be attributed to other common diseases. Well-timed diagnosis can be extremely difficult due to the dormant period between getting infected and manifestation of indications. This could take up to 40 years to fully show itself and the damage it has caused. When symptoms are apparent, this cancer is already in the advanced state. By that time, treatment can do little for the patient. Treatment choices differ according to the stages of the cancer. Pleural mesothelomia has around four stages while peritoneal mesothelomia is not staged.

Stage I shows the presence of mesothelomia either on the right or on the left pleura or the stomach. Stage II assaults the chest wall or the esophagus, heart or pleura on both sides. At stage III, lymph nodes can be found further and may involve the chest. This is also the stage when mesothelioma has penetrated the abdomen down to the lining of the abdominal cavity. Stages II to IV is categorized as the advanced state of cancer. Stage IV is considered advanced mesothelioma and most of the time it is an open/close surgery, as it is no longer helpful. The cancer of mesothelioma is difficult to the point of being impossible to treat. Initially tumors can be seen in the membranes that enclose the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. It then metastasizes to the organs nearby.

The gauge of the stages is done through CAT scans, MRI testing, and other use of mechanisms like x-rays. By way of these tools the physician can see how far the cancer has has spread. Through theses measures the physician will be able to translate what level and type treatment is appropriate for which stage. Once stage and treatment has been defined, the doctor then talks it over with the patient and his family. By the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, most of the treatment is pain management and control, drug therapy, and psychological methods to help the patient deal better with the effect of pain.

Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery are not sufficient without supplementary medications. But when conventional methods are no longer an option, experimental methods might be considered. Clinical trials are being done on humans to see how effective new drugs are with human beings. If a patient will agree to participate in a clinical trial the patient benefits in return for helping scientists analyze its efficacy of the research.

By and large, treatment would always depend on the location of tumor, what stage the cancer is in, its spread and how mesothelomia cancer metastasized. Factors like age and the overall health condition of the patient may well be considered during treatment.

Management and handling of mesothelomia cancer is a very difficult procedure. The patient needs to be physically and emotionally ready for the consequences of having mesothelioma cancer. Whatever the doctors’ prognosis will be, the patient needs to be able to prepare for what will happen next.

About the Author
Faithe Thomas has prepared a website to help people find info on asbestos-related illness and possible litigation. Please see http://www.asbestos-litigation.net/

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Cancer mesothelioma - causes, symptoms and treatment

by Faithe Thomas

Mesothelioma is a disease which you should not take lightly. This ailment is a deadly and rare type of cancer. It can start in the heart and abdomen; however, it usually starts from the lungs. The latter is commonly known as pleural mesothelioma, where the membrane lining of the chest cavity has accumulated plaque. Because of this, cancer-causing cells increase out of control. Usually, these cells invade other bodily organs and tissues. The symptoms of this medical condition manifest themselves after 3 to 5 decades of being exposed to asbestos. Since it is already at its advanced stage, it is hard to treat and can lead to death. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there is a greater likelihood that you or your loved one will die within a year.

Like most mesothelioma patients, you might not be aware that you have contracted this type of disease. There are a lot of patients who do not know that exposure to asbestos is the reason why they are affected with mesothelioma.

Unfortunately, many company owners and employers know of the hazards that asbestos fibers bring. However, they have not done anything to protect their workers from the risks. With this fact, certain state laws allow you to file a lawsuit claim against the company you were working for when you were exposed to asbestos. There are also individuals who have not been warned of the hazards of the asbestos-laden product that they have been using. If this is your case, you are also entitled to file a claim.

If you want to file a claim, you have to remember that you have to do this right away. You will only be able to do this within a specific time after you have been diagnosed with the problem. You will know whether you have gone past the statute limitation of your state when you ask for the guidance of a mesothelioma lawyer within your state.

When you are exposed to the fibers of asbestos, you will be carrying the effects for the rest of your life. You cannot reverse the effects. Generally, the law asks the liable party to return your life back to its original state, before you have been exposed to asbestos. However, this is not possible. On the other hand, you will be provided with monetary compensation, which covers the damage that you have been through. If you have adequate evidence to prove that you have been exposed to asbestos fibers, you will be offered non-monetary and monetary compensation. These are usually based on the following:

* the pain and anguish due to your condition

* emotional distress

* loss of life enjoyment

* loss of your capability to work

* loss of previous and future income

* rehabilitation and medical care expenses

* hospital bills

You will also be able to obtain another type of recovery damage. This comes in the form of “punitive damages”. This is provided to the claimant as a punishment to the bad conduct of the defendant. This has received great attention from the media; however, this is rarely given to the victims.

If you or your loved one has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma; it is important that you act right away. This way, you will still be able to obtain the rightful compensation that you need. Although the total amount of compensation will not be able to cover for all of the pain that you have gone through, the money will allow you to pay for medical and legal expenses.

About the Author
Faithe Thomas has prepared a website to help people find info on asbestos-related illness and possible litigation. Please see http://www.asbestos-litigation.net/

Originally Syndicated via RSS from Cancer mesothelioma - causes, symptoms and treatment