Mesothelioma Know More

How To Remove Asbestos Safely

2009-10-22T04:01:00.000-07:00

This video will guide you on how to remove safely asbestos from an old house and what you should do to protect yourself from the danger of inhaling asbestos particles.

Learn The Different Types Of Asbestos

2009-10-15T20:50:00.000-07:00

As we all know that Asbestos is a cancerous material, and exposure to it may result in later development of diseases such as benign pleural effusion, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, rounded atelectasis, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Most exposure to asbestos has occurred occupationally. However, people have also been exposed to asbestos through common household products, old buildings, and by indirect contact from loved ones who have work with asbestos directly and have carried home asbestos dust on their clothing.

Let me define with you what is "Asbestos" and i will show you what are the different types and give you some photos to give you more information.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word asbestos (ἄσβεστος) is a borrowed Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable. The Greeks termed asbestos the miracle mineral because of its soft and pliant properties, as well as its ability to withstand heat.

Asbestos can be toxic. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant lung cancer, mesothelioma (a type of malignant neoplasm dependent mostly from exposure to asbestos),and asbestosis (a type of pneumoconiosis). Since the mid 1980s, the European Union and most developed countries have banned asbestos. Since January 1 2005 the European Union has banned all types of utilization of asbestos Directive 1999/77/EC and extraction, manufacture and processing of asbestos products Directive 2003/18/E.

There are six minerals that defined as "Asbestos" these include : chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite and comes in 3 different colors.

White

Chrysotile, is obtained from serpentine rocks which are common throughout the world. Serpentine rock is also the state rock of California. Chrysotile fibers are curly as opposed to fibers from amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite which are needlelike. Chrysotile, along with other types of asbestos, has been banned in dozens of countries and is only allowed in the United States and Europe in very limited circumstances. Chrysotile has been used more than any other type and accounts for about 95% of the asbestos found in buildings in America. Applications where chrysotile might be used include the use of joint compound and it can be spun and woven into fabric. The most common use is within corrugated asbestos cement roof sheets typically used for outbuildings, warehouses and garages. It is also found as flat sheets used for ceilings and sometimes for walls and floors. Numerous other items have been made containing chrysotile including brake linings, cloth behind fuses (for fire protection), pipe insulation, floor tiles, and rope seals for boilers.

Brown
Amosite, is a trade name for the amphiboles belonging to the Cummingtonite - Grunerite solid solution series, commonly from Africa, named as an acronym from Asbestos Mines of South Africa. It is found most frequently as a fire retardant in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles.

Blue

Crocidolite, is an amphibole found primarily in southern Africa, but also in Australia. It is the fibrous form of the amphibole riebeckite. Notes: chrysotile commonly occurs as soft friable fibers. Asbestiform amphibole may also occur as soft friable fibers but some varieties such as amosite are commonly straighter.

The riebeckite granite known as ailsite, found on the island of Ailsa Craig in western Scotland, is prized for its use in the manufacture of curling stones. Riebeckite granite was used for the facing stones of the Canton Viaduct from Moyles Quarry (a.k.a. Canton Viaduct Quarry) now part of Borderland State Park in Massachusetts.

Canton viaduct

Other materials

Other regulated asbestos minerals, such as actinolite asbestos (or smaragdite), anthophyllite asbestos, and tremolite asbestos; are less commonly used industrially but can still be found in a variety of construction materials and insulation materials and have been reported in the past to occur in a few consumer products.

Other natural and not currently regulated asbestiform minerals, such as richterite, and winchite, may be found as a contaminant in products such as the vermiculite containing zonolite insulation manufactured by W.R. Grace and Company. These minerals are thought to be no less harmful than tremolite, amosite, or crocidolite, but since they are not regulated, they are referred to as "asbestiform" rather than asbestos although may still be related to diseases and hazardous. (photos left: actinolite)

Anthophylite is the product of metamorphism of magnesium-rich rocks especially ultrabasic igneous rocks and impure dolomitic shales. It also forms as a retrograde product rimming relict orthopyroxenes and olivine, and as an accessory mineral in cordierite-bearing gneisses and schists.

A fibrous variety of tremolite is used as asbestos. This material is toxic and inhaling the fibers can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

The Cancer Health Empowerment For Living Without Pain Study May Benefit Mesothelioma Patients

2009-10-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

Cancer-related pain is common and under-treated. This article describes a study designed to test the effectiveness of a theory-driven, patient-centered coaching intervention to improve cancer pain processes and outcomes.

Methods: The Cancer Health Empowerment for Living without Pain (Ca-HELP) Study is an American Cancer Society sponsored randomized trial conducted in Sacramento, California.

A total of 265 cancer patients with at least moderate pain severity (Worst Pain Numerical Analog Score >=4 out of 10) or pain-related impairment (Likert score >= 3 out of 5) were randomly assigned to receive tailored education and coaching (TEC) or educationally-enhanced usual care (EUC); 258 received at least one follow-up assessment. The TEC intervention is based on social-cognitive theory and consists of 6 components (assess, correct, teach, prepare, rehearse, portray).

Both interventions were delivered over approximately 30 minutes just prior to a scheduled oncology visit. The majority of visits (56%) were audio-recorded for later communication coding.

Follow-up data including outcomes related to pain severity and impairment, self-efficacy for pain control and for patient-physician communication, functional status and well-being, and anxiety were collected at 2, 6, and 12 weeks.DiscussionBuilding on social cognitive theory and pilot work, this study aims to test the hypothesis that a brief, tailored patient activation intervention will promote better cancer pain care and outcomes. Analyses will focus on the effects of the experimental intervention on pain severity and impairment (primary outcomes); self-efficacy and quality of life (secondary outcomes); and relationships among processes and outcomes of cancer pain care.

If this model of coaching by lay health educators proves successful, it could potentially be implemented widely at modest cost. [Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT00283166]

Author: Richard KravitzDaniel TancrediRichard StreetDonna KalauokalaniTim GrennanTed WunChristina SleeDionne Evans DeanLinda LewisNaomi SaitoPeter Franks
Credits/Source: BMC Cancer 2009, 9:319

Unlicensed Asbestos Removal Will Be Penalised

2009-09-21T13:37:00.000-07:00

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is warning the building trade that companies and contractors will face prosecution if they remove asbestos without a licence.

It follows HSE's successful prosecution of three contractors who carried out unlicensed asbestos removal at Kelford School in Rotherham in 2006.

Mansell Build Ltd (previously Birse Build Ltd) of Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire,was fined £12,500 and ordered to pay £12,500 costs. Andrew Brightmore, a former manager of ARB Agriplant Ltd was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £500 costs and Gary Cusack was fined £500 and ordered to pay £250 costs. Both are of Thurcroft, Rotherham. All were prosecuted for health and safety breaches at Rotherham Magistrates' Court.

Mansell Build Ltd, the principal contractor, was employed to carry out work to remove asbestos insulating board ceilings at the school. The work should have been carried out by a contractor licensed by HSE, but the company contracted to carry out the work, ARB Agriplant Ltd, did not have a licence.

Now in administration, ARB Agriplant Ltd then subcontracted the work to Gary Cusack, another unlicensed contractor.

All contractors failed to implement basic requirements to prevent the spread and exposure to asbestos to both those removing the materials and to others working at the school at the time.

After the removal work had been completed, Mansell Build Ltd allowed other contractors to work in those areas without verifying which areas were free from asbestos. It was then found that these areas were contaminated with asbestos.

Following the incident ARB Agriplant Ltd provided a forged asbestos licence and a falsified clearance certificate to Mansell Build Ltd, claiming that the work had been undertaken by a licensed contractor and that the area was free from asbestos.

Speaking after the case, HSE inspector David Bradley said:

"Those responsible for employees have a legal duty to protect their health and safety and in the case of asbestos they should know that any disturbance of such a dangerous material should only be tackled by licensed workers.

"In this case, the contractors responsible put others in a dangerous situation, which could have been avoided had the work been carried out by a licensed contractor.

"Asbestos is the biggest cause of work-related deaths in the UK, which is why there are strict rules in place to prevent exposure. HSE has published a wealth of advice for employers to help them reduce the risks associated with asbestos."

Around 4,000 people a year die from asbestos-related diseases. For more information here.

Notes

1. Mansell Build Limited and Andrew Brightmore were charged under Section 3(1) Health & Safety at Work Act which states: 'It shall be the duty of every employer to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that persons not in his employment who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.'

2. Gary Cusack was charged under section 3(2) of the Health & Safety at Work Act which states: 'It shall be the duty of every self-employed person to conduct his undertaking in such a way as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, Page 5 that he and other persons (not being his employees) who may be affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks to their health or safety.'

Source : HSE

Are You Safe From Vermiculite Insulation?

2009-09-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offices have received a large number of phone calls from citizens concerned about vermiculite insulation in their home that might be contaminated with asbestos. If you suspect vermiculite insulation is in your home, the safest thing is to leave the material alone. If you decide to remove or must otherwise disturb the material due to a renovation project, consult with an experienced asbestos contractor. EPA is gathering more information about vermiculite insulation and other products containing vermiculite. Here are the following information that provides a common sense approach to help you find out what kind of insulation is in your home and decide what to do if you have vermiculite insulation:

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that has the unusual property of expanding into worm-like accordion shaped pieces when heated. The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, absorbent, and odorless material. These properties allow vermiculite to be used to make numerous products, including attic insulation.

Do i have vermiculite insulation?
Vermiculite can be purchased in various forms for various uses. Sizes of vermiculite products range from very fine particles to large (coarse) pieces nearly an inch long. Vermiculite attic insulation is a pebble-like, pour-in product and is usually light-brown or gold in color. The pictures below show several samples of vermiculite attic insulation.

Is vermiculite insulation a problem?
Prior to its close in 1990, much of the world’s supply of vermiculite came from a mine near Libby, Montana. This mine had a natural deposit of asbestos which resulted in the vermiculite being contaminated with asbestos. Attic insulation produced using vermiculite ore, particularly ore that originated from the Libby mine, may contain asbestos fibers. Today, vermiculite is mined at three US Facilities and in other countries which have low levels of contamination in the finished material.

How does asbestos cause health problems?
Asbestos can cause health problems when inhaled into the lungs. If products containing asbestos are disturbed, thin, lightweight asbestos fibers are released into the air. Persons breathing the air may breathe in asbestos fibers. Continued exposure increases the amount of fibers that remain in the lung. Fibers embedded in lung tissue over time may result in lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma. Smoking increases your risk of developing illness from asbestos exposure.

What should I do if I have vermiculite attic insulation?
DO NOT DISTURB IT. Any disturbance has the potential to release asbestos fibers into the air. Limiting the number of trips you make to your attic and shortening the length of those trips can help limit your potential exposure. EPA and ATSDR strongly recommend that:

Vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed in your attic. Due to the uncertainties with existing testing techniques, it is best to assume that the material may contain asbestos.
You should not store boxes or other items in your attic if retrieving the material will disturb the insulation.
Children should not be allowed to play in an attic with open areas of vermiculite insulation.
If you plan to remodel or conduct renovations that would disturb the vermiculite, hire professionals trained and certified to handle asbestos to safely remove the material.
You should never attempt to remove the insulation yourself. Hire professionals trained and certified to safely remove the material.

What if I occasionally have to go into my attic?
EPA and ATSDR strongly recommend that homeowners make every effort not to disturb vermiculite insulation in their attics. If you occasionally have to go into your attic, current best practices state you should:

Make every effort to stay on the floored part of your attic and to not disturb the insulation.
If you must perform activities that may disturb the attic insulation such as moving boxes (or other materials), do so as gently as possible to minimize the disturbance.
Leave the attic immediately after the disturbance.
If you need work done in your attic such as the installation of cable or utility lines, hire trained and certified professionals who can safely do the work.
It is possible that vermiculite attic insulation can sift through cracks in the ceiling, around light fixtures, or around ceiling fans.
You can prevent this by sealing the cracks and holes that insulation could pass through. Common dust masks are not effective against asbestos fibers. For information on the requirements for wearing a respirator mask, visit the OSHA website

What are the next steps?
The guidance provided in this brochure reflects the current testing technology and knowledge of precautions one may take regarding vermiculite attic insulation. EPA is initiating further studies on vermiculite attic insulation and pursuing other asbestos related issues. Additional information will be provided to the public via the EPA and ATSDR web sites and through additional outreach materials as it becomes available.

Is my health at risk from previous exposures to the asbestos in the insulation?

If you removed or disturbed the insulation, it is possible that you inhaled some asbestos fibers. Also the disturbance may have resulted in the fibers being deposited into other areas of the home. Exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease. That risk is made worse by smoking. In general, the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of developing harmful health effects. Disease symptoms may take several years to develop following exposure. If you are concerned about possible exposure, consult a physician who specializes in lung diseases (pulmonologist).

Where can I get information on testing or removal of the insulation?
EPA and ATSDR strongly recommend using a trained and certified professional to conduct removal work. Removing the insulation yourself could potentially spread asbestos fibers throughout your home, putting you and your family at risk of inhaling these fibers.

For certified asbestos removal professionals in your area, refer to your local Yellow Pages. Your State Environmental Agency can confirm that the company’s credentials are current. You can find your State Agency here.

Currently, there are specific technical issues involving vermiculite sampling that can complicate testing for the presence of asbestos fibers and interpreting the risk from exposure. EPA and ATSDR are not recommending at this time that homeowners have vermiculite attic insulation tested for asbestos. As testing techniques are refined, EPA and ATSDR will provide information to the public on the benefits of testing that produce more definitive and accurate test results.

What if I have work-related exposure to vermiculite?
Workers who have had significant past exposure, or have significant ongoing exposure to asbestos, to vermiculite from Libby, or to other asbestos contaminated materials should consider getting a medical exam from a physician who knows about diseases caused by asbestos. For more information and to obtain a fact sheet concerning occupational exposure to vermiculite, contact the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) at: 1-800-35-NIOSH.

Where can I get more information?
Information on the Agency’s guidance on asbestos and vermiculite, including insulation and horticultural products, has previously been available on EPA’s website. Additional information on vermiculite and asbestos is available from the following sources:

General Information EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Assistance Information Service: Asbestos Line:

1-800-471-7127 EPA Asbestos Ombudsman: 1-800-368-5888 EPA's Asbestos Home Page

Health Information

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Worker Safety

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

For Consumer Products:

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

For Mineralogy

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Prepared by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute for Occupational Safety and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, May 2003. EPA publication 747-F-03-001

Learn The Different Treatments Used For Pleural Mesothelioma

2009-08-24T20:55:00.000-07:00

Treatment of mesothelioma differ according to a stage that a patient has progressed to at the time of diagnosis. Provided below is an example of the types of treatment that a pleural mesothelioma patient will undergo at various stages of the disease. We have identified the stages using the Butchart staging system.

Stage I Mesothelioma Treatment
Surgical intervention is most commonly recommended for pleural mesothelioma patients having a Stage I diagnosis. The procedures that are likely to be performed are pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy. Post surgery, doctors may further evaluate the patient to determine if chemotherapy or radiation treatment is necessary. It is often determined with stage I mesothelioma that those adjunct therapies are not required.

Stages II, III Mesothelioma Treatment
When mesothelioma has progressed to stages II and III the cancer cannot be cured. At these stages medical treatment focuses on alleviating the severity of the symptoms and keeping the patient as comfortable as possible in order to optimize quality of life. For example, if there is significant fluid build-up in the chest the doctor may order that it be drained. Additionally, there may be instances where removing some or all of the tumor and / or undergoing chemo or radiation treatments will provide symptom relief. Clinical trials at some of the larger cancer centers in the country may also offer different treatment options for patients in these stages.

Stage IV Mesothelioma Treatment
When a patient has been diagnosed with stage IV mesothelioma the prognosis is very unfavorable. At this stage, the cancer has usually metastasized throughout the body to other organs and as with stages II and III, cannot be cured. In this stage, symptoms generally increase in severity and pain management becomes the primary focus of the medical team.

Therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation are typically not offered at this stage unless they are needed to support pain management objectives. Oftentimes families find that it is most helpful to seek out additional support through a local Hospice program. Hospice programs focus on providing patient care, developing a pain management protocol and providing support for both the patient and family members at this difficult time. Patients with stage IV mesothelioma may also be interested in participating in specialized clinical trials offered at leading cancer hospitals and centers and are encouraged to seek out those programs if desired..

Foundation Announces Grant To Help Hospitals Create Palliative Care Programs

2009-08-16T00:42:00.000-07:00

The most fragile patients often receive the most intensive medical care, and research shows their comfort too often takes a back seat to curative treatment or intervention. Unveiling its signature philanthropic program, Sojourns, The Regence Foundation aims to foster best practices, leadership and collaboration that help people with life-threatening and incurable illness to access quality palliative care in their own community.

Palliative care is a holistic approach that treats the whole person, including management of pain and other discomfort, at any stage of disease while supporting caregivers and families. Depending on a patient’s needs and goals for care, palliative care may be combined with or supplant curative therapies.

“Increasingly, research shows that patients’ treatment desires and comfort are overlooked,” said Michael Alexander, Regence Foundation board chair. “The Regence Foundation seeks to identify best practices in which treatment and care meet with patient and family desires, and to extend those practices to our members, whether they are suffering years with a life-threatening illness or facing a limited prognosis.”

The Regence Foundation’s Sojourns Pathway grants will promote hospital- and community-based palliative care services that help patients, families, and medical and other health professionals get a clear understanding of effective treatment options and patient desires, increasing patient engagement in treatment decisions.

Grants target three phases: Hospitals that need to plan a palliative care program; those that seek to implement a plan for a program and those with a program that seek to expand it through partnerships with other community organizations. Deadlines vary, but the Foundation began accepting proposals for “Innovation” grants on July 20, 2009.

Through an arrangement with the University of California San Francisco Palliative Care Service and Palliative Care Leadership Center, hospitals that receive planning grants will receive training in how to build and sustain an effective palliative care program. Palliative Care Leadership Centers (PCLC) is a national training and mentoring initiative, with direction and technical assistance provided by the Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC).

To learn more about Sojourns and to download the Requests for Proposals (RFPs), visit the Regence Foundation Web site.

The Regence Foundation is the corporate foundation of The Regence Group, the largest health insurer in the Northwest/Intermountain region and a not-for-profit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. A 501(c)3 grantmaking organization, the Foundation partners with organizations driving significant change in health care delivery and accessibility in Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington.

List Of Mesothelioma Doctors In USA

2009-08-16T00:31:00.000-07:00

Here are the list of mesothelioma doctors you can find in USA.

Mesothelioma Doctor in Alabama

James W. Ballard, MD
4012 Greystone Drive
Birmingham, AL 35242
email: jwballard@albreader.com

California Mesothelioma Doctor

Robert Cameron, MD
P. O. Box 951741
Los Angeles, California 90095–1741
Phone: 310–794–7333
email: rcameron@mednet.ucla.edu

David Jablon, MD
UCSF Mt. Zion Medical Center
2330 Post St., Suite 420
San Francisco, CA 94115
415–885–3882

Theirry Jahan, MD
2356 Sutter, 7th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94115
415–567–5581

Connecticut Mesothelioma Doctors

Mark Cullen, MD
Yale University School of Medicine
Occupational and Environmental
135 College Street, 3rd floor
New Haven, CT 06510–2483

Jack A. Elias, MD
Pulmonary Medicine
Yale Cancer Center
203–785–4163

Michael Grey, MD
UConn Health Center
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06032

Bruce G. Haffty, MD
Therapeutic Radiology
Yale Cancer Center
203–785–2959

Graeme L. Hammond, MD
Cardiothoracic Therapy
Yale Cancer Center
203.–785–2699

Michael Kashgarian, MD
Pathology
Yale Cancer Center
203–785–2750

Ronald Ponn, MD
Thoracic Surgeon
333 Orchard St., Suite 107
New Haven, CT 06511

Carrie A. Redlich, MD, M.P.H.
Occupational Medicine
Yale Cancer Center
203–737–2817

Washington, DC Mesothelioma Doctors

Cesar A. Moran, MD
Department of the Army
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
Washington, DC 20306

Paul Sugarbaker, MD
Sugarbaker Oncology Associates, P.C.
110 Irving St., NW
Washington, DC 20010
Phone: 202–877–3908

Mesothelioma Doctor in Florida

Lary A. Robinson, MD
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
At The University of South Florida
12902 Magnolia Dr.
Tampa, FL 33612

John Ruckdeschel, MD
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, FL 33612–9497

Mesothelioma Doctor in Massachusetts

Richard Kraiden, MD
Pulmonary Pathologist
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, MA 02114

David Sugarbaker, MD
Dana Farber Cancer Institute &
Brighams & Womens Hospital
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115

Michigan Mesothelioma Doctors

Harvey Pass, MD
Karmanos Cancer Institute
Detroit, MI
313–745–8746

Gregory P. Kalemkerian, MD
Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Co-Director of Thoracic Oncology
Cancer Center Member
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center/Ann Arbor, MI
Phone: (734) 936-5281

Mesothelioma Doctors in Minnesota

Arkadiusz Dudek, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant professor of medicine
Phone: 612-624-0123
Email: dudek002@umn.edu

Nebraska Mesothelioma Doctor

Brian Loggie, MD
Creighton University Medical Center
Cancer Center, Suite 2321
601 N. 30th Street
Omaha, NE 68131
Phone: 402–280–5009

New York Mesothelioma Doctors

Manjit Bains, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021

Philippe A. Chihanian, MD
Mt. Sinai Hospital
5 East 98 St.
New York, NY 10029
212–241–6368

David Ilson, MD
Borys Mychalczak, MD
Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center
New York, NY

Valerie Rusch, FACS
Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Phone: 212–639–5873
email: ruschv@mskcc.org

Stephen Rush, MD
North Shore University Hospital
Manhasset, NY

Roman Perez–Soler, MD
NW York University Kaplan Cancer Center
550 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016
212–263–8043
212–263–6485

Robert N. Taub, MD
Professor of Clinical Medicine, Program Director
Columbia–Presbyterian Hospital
Atchley Pavilion Room 907
161 Fort Washington Ave.
New York, NY

North Carolina Mesothelioma Doctor

David H. Harpole, Jr., MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Director of General Thoracic Surgery (DUMC)
Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Durham VAMC)
Appointments (919) 684-3683

Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Doctors

Larry R. Kaiser, MD
University of Pennsylvania
4th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
Phone: 215–662–7538
Email: Kaiser@mail.med.upenn.edu

Joseph S. Friedberg, MD
Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Philadelphia, PA
Phone: (215) 955-2996 or 1-800-JEFF-NOW (1-800-533-3669)

Rhode Island Mesothelioma Doctors

David Ettensohn, MD
Pulmonary Medicine
109 Beechwood Avenue
Pawtucket, RI

David Kern, MD
Memorial Hospital of RI
Occupational Health Clinic
111 Brewster Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860

John Pella, MD
St. Joseph Hospital
Pulmonary Fatima Unit
200 High Service Avenue
North Providence, RI 02904

S.T. Sambandan, MD
Oncologist
1180 Hope Street
Bristol, RI

Anthony Testa MD
Oncologist
100 Highland Avenue
Providence, RI 02904

South Carolina Mesothelioma Doctors

James Bradof, MD
406 Tiffany Park
Gaffney, SC

Spencer McCachren, MD
Thompson Cancer Center
Knoxville, TN
423–541–1812

Texas Mesothelioma Doctors

W. Roy Smythe, MD
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 39, Rm. R7.2215
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 713–792–6933

Claire Verschraegen, MD
Department Of Clinical Investigation
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Box 39, Rm. R7.2215
Houston, Texas 77030
Phone: 713–792–7959

Washington Mesothelioma Doctors

Samuel Hammer, MD
700 Lebo Road
Bremerton, WA 98310
360–479–7707

Eric Vallieres, MD
Box 356310
1959 NE Pacific
Seattle, WA 98195–6310
Phone: 206–543–3093

What Are The Alternative Treatment Available For Mesothelioma Patients

2009-08-11T00:56:00.000-07:00

Many types of therapy are available to mesothelioma patients that can be used in addition to traditional medical treatments. Many patients have found these alternative therapies to be an excellent way to manage pain, improve general health, and get relief from other disease symptoms. These treatments cannot cure the disease, but they can assist patients in living more comfortably by relieving pain and stress. Alternative treatments that have had value for some mesothelioma patients include acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, meditation, dietary supplements, TENS therapy, yoga and pet therapy.

Acupuncture
Acupuncture is so widely accepted as an alternative therapy that many insurance companies provide coverage for it. Acupuncture is performed by inserting very fine needles into pressure points at specific locations on the skin. Acupuncture is routinely used to give relief from pain and inflammation and from anxiety or stress. You can find more information on acupuncture at The American Association of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine.

Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy uses fragrance to boost physical and psychological well-being. Distilled and highly concentrated plant-based oils are blended and used by aromatherapists to give relief from pain and other symptoms of the disease. Aromatherapy is often combined with massage therapy, which allows patients to receive a massage with oils that have been mixed with small amounts of the fragrant plant-based oils.

You can find out more about aromatherapy at the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy and Precious Aromatherapy, Inc.

Massage
Massage therapy is known to promote blood and lymphatic flow, boost circulation, and aid in relieving muscle tension. In addition, massage stimulates the digestive and nervous systems, and can relieve chronic pain. Many patients report that massage also reduces anxiety and feelings of stress. Get more information about the benefits of massage therapy at HolisticOnline.com and Alternative Medicine Online.

Meditation
Meditation has long been used as a means to reduce anxiety, feelings of stress and depression. It is also believed that meditation can assist in managing pain and other symptoms of mesothelioma. Many cancer patients who supplement their traditional treatment with meditation find that the practice relieves pain, stress, and anxiety.

Supplements
Many patients feel that the use of supplements is beneficial to their overall health during treatment. Vitamins, minerals, herbs, and amino acids are all dietary supplements. The body requires vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to perform essential life functions, and supplements may provide necessary chemicals when such substances are missing from a patient’s diet. In fact, in one clinical trial of chemotherapy for treating mesothelioma patients, the participants’ average survival and time to cancer progression was improved by the vitamin supplementation of B12 and folic acid.

In addition, many herbs can help to provide relief from symptoms of the disease. Of course, when taking any kind of supplement, a patient should discuss the matter first with his or her physician. Supplements can affect the performance of certain prescription medications. Some supplements may even be dangerous when taken with certain medications. For more information on the use of dietary supplements, visit the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and About.com’s Common Herb Mistakes.

TENS Therapy
TENS therapy stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. TENS therapy is somewhat similar in principle to acupuncture, in that it stimulates defined body locations. In contrast to acupuncture, which uses fine needles, TENS therapy uses electrodes that deliver very mild electrical shocks to the body location to be stimulated. Like acupuncture, TENS may provide relief from pain and inflammation and from anxiety or stress. Unlike most other alternative therapies, TENS has been approved by the FDA. This means that, according to the FDA, the procedure is safe and that TENS therapy may be covered by insurance. You can find more information on TENS Therapy at Health Scout and BBC Health.

Yoga
Yoga began in India, where it is practiced more to promote spirituality than physical well-being. But in the U.S., yoga has been recognized as a form of exercise that is also psychologically calming. Simple yoga techniques can help improve a patient’s general health and state of mind.

Pet Therapy
Pet therapy is also referred to as animal-assisted therapy or animal-assisted activities. The goal of pet therapy is to improve a patient’s general health and well-being by allowing the patient to interact with animals. The soothing effects of simply stroking a dog or cat have long been known to improve a patient’s mood and lift the spirits. In addition, the interaction even offers some physical benefits, such as, for example, the temporary lowering of blood pressure. Get more information at The Delta Society.

What Is Pallative Treatment?

2009-08-10T00:50:00.000-07:00

Aside from surgery, radiotheraphy and chemotheraphy, mesothelioma patients can be be treated also with Palliative treat.

Palliative treatment, which is also called palliative care, is treatmen t designed to relieve the symptoms of disease and improve quality of life. It can address psychological, social and spiritual needs as well as physical symptoms. With regard to physical symptoms, it aims to treat the symptoms of disease but is not meant to cure the illness. In cases of advanced cancer, palliative treatment may sometimes extend life and help the patient live more comfortably, even if the cancer cannot be cured.

Palliative treatment goes well beyond painkillers and anti-nausea drugs. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormone therapy, biological therapy and surgery can all be used as palliative treatments under the right circumstances. Often, the level of pain associated with mesothelioma is quite high. Thus, pain control is usually one of the first symptoms addressed by palliative care, and it is important for the patient to be able to help the doctor accurately assess the pain the patient is experiencing. This may include traditional pain management programs, involving several different pain medications. Palliative care can also focus on behavior modification, managing stress, meditation or massage therapy. Palliative surgery may be performed to reduce pain caused by the tumor or to prevent fluid from building up and causing discomfort. Radiation therapy is also useful in relieving pain caused by mesothelioma. Palliative care plays an important role in maximizing the quality of life for mesothelioma patients.

Asbestos Textile Workers Show High Mortality Rates From Occupational Lung Diseases

2009-08-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

A new study by Duke University, in conjunction with the University of Nevada (UNR) and the University of North Carolina, shows that former North Carolina workers employed in asbestos-textile plants have a definitively higher rate of asbestos-related diseases than the population at large.

The study, headed by Dana Loomis, Interim Director, UNR's School of Community Health Sciences, examined 5,770 employees who worked at least one day between January 1, 1950 and December 31, 1973.

The results, which showed that the mortality rate was significantly higher for all causes (1.47 as compared to a value of 1.00 for the general population), also showed that deaths from lung cancer ranked at 1.96 (as compared to a value of 1.00).

The pleura are the membranes that line the inside of the chest cavity and surround the lungs, enabling the lungs to expand to the appropriate degree inside the diaphragm when people breathe. Pleural mesothelioma is a type of pleural cancer caused primarily by asbestos fibers, and is the most common type of mesothelioma.

Asbestos fibers, inhaled, result in irritation of the pleura, or mesothelial lining. Because the body has no way to expel the fibers, the persistent irritation leads to lesions, which in turn lead to cancer.

Pneumoconiosis, the second category of occupational lung diseases, is an interstitial disease, a classic example of which is pulmonary fibrosis. Interstitial diseases affect the walls of the air sacs inside the lungs, rather than the pleural lining over the lungs, and result in scarring. This, in turn, limits a lung's ability to expand properly. Medication can occasionally slow the progress of pneumoconiosis, but many individuals, once affected, never regain the full use of their lungs, and lung transplants are the only option.

Asbestosis is a breathing disorder specifically caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, and is usually a cumulative effect, arising after years of exposure. The fibers cause lung scarring, which can gradually restrict breathing to such an extent that patients are unable to walk more than a few feet without stopping, and require constant oxygen. The symptoms, which can range from mild to severe depending on exposure and a person's general stamina, commonly don't appear until years after exposure to asbestos fibers.

The Duke, UNR study demonstrated a statistical risk across the entire spectrum of 2 to 3 percent higher for each year asbestos fibers were inhaled - figures which were more consistent among white males than for any other group surveyed. The second at-risk category was white females, and both groups scored higher in the risk assessment categories than black males, presumably because the latter group saw fewer smokers and workers who occupied different regions of the asbestos textile plants, namely preparation and carding operations, where fibers were shorter than in the spinning and twisting sections where white males generally worked, according to transmission electron microscopy, or TEM, analyses.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations (limiting asbestos to 1 percent of product by weight or volume) have driven the asbestos textile industry overseas. This is good news for American workers, but not so good for workers in places like Korea and Egypt, for example.

Attempts by the United Nations to add asbestos to the list of hazardous substances already on the Rotterdam Convention have been consistently opposed by Canada, which is the world's largest supplier of chrysotile asbestos.

Asbestos Textile Workers Show High Mortality Rates From Occupational Lung Diseases

2009-08-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

Japanese Court Awards Compensation To Former Military Base Employee

2009-08-04T14:11:00.000-07:00

A district court has awarded 76 million yen (approx. 800,000 dollars) to the family of a former US naval base employee who died of lung cancer after being exposed to asbestos.

Hitoshi Taimi worked at the United States naval base in Yokosuka for 18 years and during that time he was exposed to asbestos while performing work on air conditioning and ventilation systems.

In April 2006, 11 years after he last worked on the base, Taimi was diagnosed with lung cancer and proceeded to file a lawsuit the next year. Sadly he passed away 10 days later at age 51.

Two years later a district court ruled that the Japanese government was liable for his death because it manages the hiring of base workers and knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure but failed to take appropriate safety measures.

Japan's defense ministry has not indicated whether it plans to appeal the verdict but if the decision stands, it will set an interesting precedent for future lawsuits.

The Future Of Asbestos In The World

2009-08-04T14:01:00.000-07:00

While the risks of asbestos continue to come to the forefront of society, a number of major industrial countries continue to use or allow asbestos to be manufactured, imported, and used in everyday products.

The United States continues to allow asbestos to be used EPA regulated the substance beginning in 1989 allowing only 6 forms to be used.

Recent actions within the United States have been the formation of a number of political action groups lobbying for its removal. This recent groundswell has been reinforced by Sen. Patty Murray D-Wash who proposed the Ban Asbestos in America bill in May 2003 which would outlaw the substance and increase funding for treatment and research for those suffering from asbestos related conditions like mesothelioma.

Here is a list of countries that have completely banned asbestos and no longer engage in the production or trade of it: (As of 2005)

Chile	Cyprus	Finland
Ireland	Kuwait	Latvia
Malta	Monaco	New Zealand
Norway	Slovenia	Sweden

The following is a list of countries that have banned asbestos but still produce it in small quantities or trade it:

Argentina	Australia	Austria
Belgium	Croatia	Czech Republic
Denmark	Estonia	France
Germany	Greece	Hungary
Iceland	Italy	Japan
Lithuania	Luxembourg	Poland
Portugal	Saudi Arabia	Slovakia
South Africa	Spain	Switzerland
The Netherlands	United Kingdom	Uruguay

The following countries have ratified ILO 162. The International Labor Organization holds conferences that aim to address a specific workplace concerns and convened in 1986 to formulate rules on asbestos in the workplace. They created a set of rules to encourage employee safety from asbestos exposure by focusing on setting standards and responsibilities for company’s and governments. The following countries as of 2005 have signed their proclamation:

Belgium	Bolivia	Bosnia & Herzegovina
Brazil	Cameroon	Canada
Chile	Colombia	Croatia
Cyprus	Ecuador	Finland
Germany	Guatemala	Japan
Macedonia	Portugal	Russia
Serbia & Montenegro	Slovenia	Switzerland
Uganda	Uruguay	Zimbabwe

Public Libraries Around Nation Facing Asbestos Remediation

2009-08-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

As the nation's public libraries age, they - like schools - face updates that result in closures, often because older buildings like schools and libraries contain significant amounts of asbestos that represent a threat to public health.

Asbestos, a fibrous mineral widely used in insulation, floor and roofing tiles, tile glues, and some ceiling panels up to the 1970s, when U.S. health officials began to recognize its dangers, is the most common cause of certain illnesses, namely asbestosis - a severe, debilitating respiratory disease - lung and digestive system cancers, and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a particularly lethal form of cancer that commonly lies dormant for several decades before producing enough symptoms to allow for diagnosis. When finally diagnosed, however, most patients are given about a year to live. Fewer than 10 percent live five years, even with second generation chemotherapy agents like Alimta, combination therapies, and radical surgery to remove tumors.

The Wilson Library in Bellingham, Washington - which was closed for asbestos remediation and remodeling recently - was reopened and then closed again from approximately 8:45 a.m. to 9:25 a.m, Pacific time, Friday morning due to an error in the ventilation system's automatic programming.

The remediation and remodeling was scheduled to be completed on Thursday, and the ventilation system automatically set to run again on Friday morning.

Unfortunately, the project was not completed on time, but the ventilation system went on again regardless.

Students and library employees were evacuated as soon as the error was realized, about 8:45, and allowed to return about an hour later, after air quality tests were conducted to insure that the library's air was free of asbestos particles.

The Wilson Library, as part of Western Washington University (WWU), falls under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPAs) Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) guidelines in terms of asbestos management, so students, faculty and staff were sent e-mails informing them of the nature of the event and the reasons behind the closure and re-opening.

AHERA guidelines mandate that all schools, whether public private or denominational, inspect for asbestos; create an asbestos hazard plan; provide yearly information on asbestos hazards and the plan; inform of any abatement actions that take place (or are planned); designate a contact/liaison person to manage the asbestos plan; and provide custodial staff with asbestos-awareness training.

Western Washington University's Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Gayle Shipley, and WWU staff acted in accordance with the university's AHERA planning by advising of the action taken; i.e., the 8:45 closure, but clearly one step in the process was missed or the ventilation system would not have come back on when it did, and this may be why the EPA strongly recommends its six-step plan to insure that at least one individual is cognizant of all phases of asbestos remediation, monitoring and information dissemination.

That more libraries, both public and collegiate, will face asbestos remediation of some kind in the near future is a given. In Minnesota, the Waseca Public Library is getting ready to close from July 30 to August 23 to enable workers to remove old asbestos tiles and replace them with carpeting. And in Minneapolis, the historic Southeast Library - designed by renowned Minnesota modernist architect Ralph Rapson in 1964 - was closed in 2006 as part of budget reorganization but now faces reopening thanks to the Minneapolis/Hennepin County Library systems merger.

Southeast Library will admittedly need asbestos abatement and a new roof, but its demolition (which was discouraged by historians who appealed to the City of Minneapolis Heritage Preservation Commission and the City Council to designate the building as an historic landmark) has been avoided.

According to one study, it is as costly and time-consuming to demolish a building with asbestos and remove the debris to an approved landfill as it is to perform asbestos remediation and return the structure to use. This is primarily because asbestos abatement has to take place even where demolition is planned, and because hazardous waste landfills are becoming increasingly crowded, leading to higher and higher costs for dumping asbestos debris.

n fact, the real cost of restoring, reusing and re-purposing older buildings lies in renovation and retrofitting, not in asbestos remediation.

Sources: KEYC, Minnesota Independent, The Western Front, Preservation Alliance of Minnesota

Tips On How To Beat Mesothelioma

2009-07-30T20:58:00.000-07:00

Managing a rare cancer diagnosis presents unique challenges. One survivor shares her tips for navigating the sometimes-murky waters.

Sun Safety During Cancer Treatment

Shielding your skin from the sun’s potentially harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays should be a concern for everyone, especially if you spend time outdoors, but if you’re undergoing treatment for cancer, you may need to be especially vigilant when it comes to sun protection; some of the treatments you’ve received may make your skin more vulnerable to UV damage and might also be associated with side effects that can worsen in hot, sunny conditions.

Understanding the Goals of Cancer Treatment with Chemotherapy

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your healthcare team may have prescribed chemotherapy as part of your treatment plan. The goals of treatment with chemotherapy will depend largely on the type and stage of your cancer. If you’re currently undergoing or about to begin treatment with chemotherapy, you may want to understand the goals of your prescribed therapy.

What to Tell Children when Facing a Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

If you have children in your life, you already know that they tend to be creatures of habit who rely on their daily routine. There may be unexpected changes in their routine with your fight against cancer, and you may be concerned about the best way to talk to them about it.

Chemotherapy for Older Patients with Mesothelioma: What You Should Know About the Risk of a Low White Blood Cell Count

As you may already know, chemotherapy works by attacking the rapidly dividing cells it finds in the body, particularly cancer cells because they multiply quickly. However, chemotherapy can't differentiate between cancer cells and other rapidly dividing healthy cells, such as bone marrow cells. As a consequence, many chemotherapy patients, especially older patients, experience a drop in the levels of their blood cells, including their infection-fighting white blood cells. This may lead to the patient's chemotherapy being stopped or reduced until the white blood cell count recovers enough to resume treatment, which can give cancer cells a chance to grow. A low white blood cell count, a condition called neutropenia, may also increase a patient's risk of infection, which can lead to delays in treatment, or hospitalization.

Mesothelioma Cases In Australia Estimated To Rise Between 2014 and 2017

2009-07-28T07:24:00.000-07:00

The Safe Work Australia Council posted a new report on mesothelioma at their inaugural June 10th meeting in Sydney. The report, titled "Mesothelioma in Australia: Incidence 1982 to 2005, Deaths 1997 to 2006," suggests that new incidences of mesothelioma are not expected to peak until after 2010. Specifically, the report predicts that the peak will occur sometime between 2014 and 2017.

As we all know that Mesothelioma is a rare type of lung cancer that is associated with the inhalation of asbestos. Asbestos is a natural fiber that is frequently used in construction, automotive and other products. When inhaled, the asbestos fibers become lodged in the lungs. Over time, this results in scarring and the formation of cancerous cells in the lung walls.

Though the safe production, use and control of asbestos has been dramatically improved in Australia over the years, the continued growth of mesothelioma incidence rates can be attributed to the long latency period of the disease. In many cases, symptoms of mesothelioma do not manifest until 20 to 50 years following initial asbestos exposure. This means that many aging Australians are still manifesting the disease from exposure that occurred prior to the initiation of Australian asbestos regulation.

Australia has been tracking the number of new mesothelioma cases in the country since 1982. Between the years of 1982 and 2005, the number of new mesothelioma cases rose from 156 to 597. This number is expected to continue to rise through at least 2014.

Additional statistics cited in the report include:

80 to 90 percent of all new mesothelioma cases in Australia were reported in men
Age standardization of mesothelioma cases rose from 1.2 per 100,000 in 1982 to 2.8 per 100,000 in 2005
Mesothelioma death rates rose between the years of 1997 and 2006, with a maximum of 545 in 2004

Source: OHS Online

How To Choose A Mesothelioma Lawyers?

2009-07-21T17:35:00.000-07:00

Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is a long and dwindling process. Selection of a mesothelioma attorney whom you trust and have a good rapport with is very important. However, choosing from a long list of mesothelioma lawyers can be a daunting task, so here is a guide that will help you go through the process:

1. Start the Search.

Look for a qualified mesothelioma attorney in the following places:

Bar Associations
Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (found in most public libraries)
Yellow Pages
Internet (many firms have their own sites)

2. Narrow Down the Field

Once you have found the names of some mesothelioma attorneys in your area, begin by contacting each firm by telephone for further information.

Describe your legal issue to each attorney and inquire as to whether he/she can handle your situation. Don’t forget to ask whether there is a fee for an initial consultation, and the approximate cost to handle a mesothelioma lawsuit.

It is advisable to schedule appointments with two or three different attorneys before making your final selection.

3. Meet the Prospective Attorneys

The initial consultation is an opportunity for you and the lawyer to get to know each other. After listening to your case, the lawyer should be able to outline your rights and offer you alternative courses of action.

The initial consultation is the mesothelioma attorney's opportunity to explain what he or she can do for you and how much it will cost. You should not hesitate to ask about the attorney's experience in handling previous mesothelioma lawsuits.

Feel free to ask about the lawyer's fees and the likely results. If you are considering going beyond the initial consultation and hiring the lawyer, request a written fee agreement before proceeding.

It is also important to ask each attorney for a list of references that you may contact.

4. Making Your Decision

After each initial consultation, ask yourself the following questions about the mesothelioma attorney you just met:

Did the attorney listen to me?
Was the attorney knowledgeable about asbestos law?
Did the attorney give me a firm understanding of my alternative courses of action?
Do I understand the range of possible results associated with each course of action?
Did the attorney seem trustworthy?

If possible, take notes after each consultation, indicating your initial reaction to the mesothelioma attorney you have just met.

Mesothelioma Patients : Know Your Legal Rights

2009-07-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

As i have mentioned in my previous post that Mesothelioma is a disease associated with exposure to asbestos. You and your loved ones may have legal rights to seek compensation from the companies responsible for your exposure to asbestos. It is important that you consult a n Asbestos lawyers or mesothelioma lawyers as soon as possible if you wish to seek compensation for your diagnosis of mesothelioma. Because the law imposes a statute of limitations, which varies from state to state, you have a limited amount of time in which a lawsuit can be filed.

How can Mesothelioma Attorneys help?

Mesothelioma attorneys can help victims in recovering funds related to asbestos-caused mesothelioma. Many of the mesothelioma attorneys with experience in this field have successfully claimed costs from those responsible for asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma attorneys can regain medical costs, lost wages, and punitive fees for victims and their families.

A mesothelioma attorney can meet with victims to discuss liability in mesothelioma cases; using their prior experience, mesothelioma attorneys can often predict the likelihood of success of a particular case. A good mesothelioma attorney will have the legal knowledge and connections to pressure reluctant parties into accepting accountability; many mesothelioma attorneys end up enabling their client to collect without ever having to go to trial. Mesothelioma attorneys can also help put their clients in touch with the clients of other mesothelioma attorneys if both parties agree, so that the parties represented by both mesothelioma attorneys may exchange information and supportespecially important with such a rare disease.

List Of Mesothelioma Lawyers

2009-07-21T16:18:00.000-07:00

Deciding who should represent you is one of the most critically important decisions that you might ever make. You are entitled to an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has a track record of success in mesothelioma lawsuits on your side through the entire claim process. You also should expect personal service and individuals committed to your case.

Here are some of the Mesothelioma Lawyers available in your respective state. This is updated regularly once i find a new list of mesothelioma lawyers for your reference :

Levy Phillips & Konigsberg LLP ("LPK")

If you or someone you know has mesothelioma and has ever lived (or performed any work) in NY or NJ, call LPK for a free consultation, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (1-800-637-6529) or visit their website. LPK has over three decades of experience, including many top mesothelioma jury awards in NY and NJ.

The Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, P.C.

If you or someone you know has mesothelioma and has ever lived or performed work in Md., De., D.C., Pa. or Tn. please call or email the The Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, P.C. for a free consultation, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-800-556- 5522, www.angeloslaw.com. The Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, P.C. has specialized in asbestos litigation since the early 1980's.

Paul & Hanley, LLP

Call us today for a confidential and free consultation with Paul & Hanley, LLP. We are one of the nation's leading toxic tort litigation law firms We'll discuss your specific case and give you honest answers to your important questions. Our toll-free number is: (800) 933-2244. At Paul & Hanley we look forward to helping you.

The Maune Raichle Law Firm

Handling only mesothelioma cases. We will meet you personally and immediately in your home or office. Let us show you why we are best suited to represent you in a mesothelioma case. Contact us today for a no obligation discussion about how we can serve your family. Call Toll Free today at 866-532-6000 or submit a free online contact request form.

William Kherkher
Over 25 years of helping asbestos and mesothelioma victims nationwide. Call for a FREE consultation 800-781-3955 or 713-230-2200 or contact us.

8441 Gulf Freeway, Suite 600
Houston, TX 77017-5051
Phone: 800-781-3955 or 713-230-2200
Fax: 713-643-6226

The law office of Roger G. Worthington P.C.
Mesothelioma Empowerment
273 W. 7th Street
San Pedro, California 90731
Office : (310) 221-8090 Fax : (310) 221-8095
Call Us Now! (800) 831-9399
1-800-831-9399

Steigerwalt & Associates

With over two decades of trial experience, Kerry Steigerwalt has become one of the most well-known attorneys in America. Mr. Steigerwalt is also highly respected by members of the legal community, as he is a recognized leader in personal injury matters. No stranger to the courtroom, Mr. Steigerwalt has appeared in more than 100 jury trials. Visit their site for more information .

more to come...

Gene Test Predicts Survival with Mesothelioma

2009-07-19T20:00:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A 4-gene expression ratio test accurately predicts survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to a report in the May 6th Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

"Molecular profiling may seem complex, but it can be easily simplified for specific cases for clinical use so that any physician can find it useful," Dr. Raphael Bueno from Harvard Medical School, Boston, told Reuters Health.

Dr. Bueno and colleagues used results of a prospective clinical trial to evaluate the ability of the 4-gene expression ratio test to predict overall survival and cancer-specific survival in 120 patients undergoing surgery for malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Patients assigned by the test to the good outcome group had significantly better median overall survival (16.8 months) and median cancer-specific survival (21.9 months) than did patients assigned by the test to the poor outcome group (9.5 months and 15.9 months, respectively), the authors report.

Based on a multivariable analysis, the gene ratio test appeared to provide additional predictive information beyond that provided by current pathological staging methods.

The repeatability of the test results was 88.5% for tumor specimen analyses and 93.4% for pleural biopsy specimens, the researchers note.

Within-patient reproducibility of prognosis predictions was 96.1% using tumor specimens and 94.1% using pleural biopsies.

"Patients assigned to the predicted poor outcome group, particularly when other established prognostic factors such as histology and lymph node status are also suggestive of poor outcome, could be counseled to forgo surgery, which would not benefit them, and to seek best supportive care," the investigators propose."

Patients whose gene ratio test results predict a good prognosis after surgery may more confidently select the treatment option that includes surgery."

Dr. Bueno said that similar tests could prove useful in "lung cancer, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, etc." He added that the test is already being used at their clinical lab.

J Natl Cancer Inst 2009;101:678-686.

Mesothelioma Aid : Financial Plan For Mesothelioma Patients - III

2009-07-16T19:24:00.000-07:00

Compensation from Asbestos Industry

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which is associated with exposure to asbestos. Those who are diagnosed most often worked in construction trades, or at industrial sites such as shipyards, power plants, refineries, paper mills, manufacturing plants, and foundries. Many Navy retirees who served their country proudly aboard ships in World War II and Korea were exposed to asbestos as machinist mates, firemen, and boiler tenders. Wives were exposed when they did the laundry of husbands who brought asbestos fibers into the home on work clothing. Because of the long latency period involved in asbestos cancer (mesothelioma), those exposed to products in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and early 70s, are just now being diagnosed.

People are often surprised to find out that compensation may be available to mesothelioma victims from the asbestos industry. This compensation can provide financial security and allow for peace of mind while families try to come to terms with the results of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

It has been proven in part through internal company documents, in part through the testimony of company employees, and in part through medical literature compiled by these companies, that product manufacturers were aware of the dangers of asbestos as early as the 1920s. For over 50 years, until the government stepped in the1970s, manufacturers actively conspired to keep their knowledge of the hazards of asbestos secret. Now, many of these manufacturers are willingly negotiating settlements.

Filing for Compensation Early

Taking care of your medical needs is always the most important matter to consider when you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, but sometimes financial pressures can make treatment decisions more difficult. Compensation from the asbestos manufacturers is one way to help ease financial concerns over the cost of treatment as well as seeing that your family’s future is made more secure. It is generally a good idea to look at compensation in the same way that you approach your medical decisions – as an option you have to maintain control over your life.

Filing your claim early on is important for several reasons:

Freedom of Choice for Treatment - Mesothelioma is still considered a relatively rare cancer, and therefore, it is sometimes important to seek a second opinion or surgical option from a mesothelioma specialist. Unfortunately, these doctors may be located some distance from where you live, and there may be costs for transportation and lodging as well as for medical services. You may also wish to participate in a clinical trial which are normally offered only at a limited number of cancer facilities. In short, not every medical option may be available locally, and having the financial freedom to consider every option soon after diagnosis is important.

Statute of Limitations - Every state has a Statute of Limitations, or a time period in which you may file a claim. Once the Statute of Limitations has expired, you forfeit the right to compensation. The rules governing when statues go into effect may vary from state to state.
Information Necessary for the Claims Process - There is information relative to your work history and asbestos exposure that you can supply better than anyone else. If you become too ill or pass away before filing a claim, it will be that much more difficult to establish how, when, where and to what products you may have been exposed.

For more information on state statutes of limitations or information related to the claims process, contact a mesothelioma attorney.

Mesothelioma Aid : Financial Plan For Mesothelioma Patients - II

2009-07-16T19:11:00.000-07:00

Type of Insurance and Care Provider for Mesothelioma Patients:

Conventional insurance allows a patient to choose any doctor, and go to virtually any hospital anywhere in the country. You have the assurance that your doctor's medical recommendations are made entirely in your best interest. Managed Care plans are corporations serving large groups of people through a method of financing and delivering health care for a set fee using a network of physicians and other health care providers. The network coordinates and refers patients to its health providers and hospitals, and monitors the amount and patterns of care delivered. Managed care plans usually limit which services patients may receive by using "gatekeepers", or primary care physicians, to make sure services considered unnecessary, or referrals outside the network are kept to a minimum.

An HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) is the most common form of "managed care". It is a group that contracts with medical facilities, physicians, employers and sometimes individual patients to provide medical care to a group of individuals. This care is usually paid for by an employer at a fixed price per patient. Patients generally do not have any significant "out-of-pocket" expenses. An HMO may, however, control the amount of health care the doctor is allowed to provide. Many HMOs require that you choose a primary care doctor from their list. Unless this practitioner decides your medical problem is outside his expertise, you may not receive approval to see a specialist. Likewise, many HMOs limit patients to selected hospitals.

A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) is a managed care organization that contracts with a network of doctors, hospitals and other health care providers who deliver services for set fees, usually at a discount to the managed care organization. In a PPO, consumers must choose primary health providers from an approved list and must pay extra for specialty services received outside the PPO group.

A POS (Point of Service Plan) is a health plan whose members can choose their services when they need them, either in the HMO or from a provider outside the HMO, at some cost to the member, or a plan in which the primary provider directs services and referrals.

Medicare is a health insurance program for people 65 years of age and older, some people with disabilities under age 65 and people with end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or transplant. Medicare has two parts, Part A and Part B.

Part A covers hospital insurance; most people do not have to pay for Part A. This helps pay for care in hospitals as an inpatient, critical access hospitals (small facilities in rural areas with limited inpatient and outpatient services), skilled nursing facilities, hospice care and some home health care.

Part B covers medical insurance; most people pay monthly for Part B. This helps pay for doctors, services, outpatient hospital care and some other medical services that Part A does not cover, such as physical and occupational therapy and some home health care. Part B helps pay for these services when they are medically necessary.

Medicaid is a jointly funded federal/state health insurance program for certain low-income and needy people. It covers approximately 36 million individuals including children, the elderly, the blind and/or disabled and people who are eligible to receive federally assisted income maintenance payments.

to be continued....

Mesothelioma Aid : Financial Plan For Mesothelioma Patients

2009-07-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

Being diagnosed with mesothelioma can impose a heavy financial burden on both the patient and their family. Few patients can afford to completely pay their own way when it comes to treatment, relying on medical insurance to cover at least a portion of the cost; individuals who are uninsured or under insured, generally need to seek financial assistance from other sources. Although there is no typical cost for cancer care, it is not unusual for medical bills to escalate quickly beyond six figures.

Having the knowledge that resources are available, is the first step in coping financially with a diagnosis of mesothelioma. There are organizations and programs on the local, state and federal levels that can help, and compensation is also available to those diagnosed with mesothelioma through the manufacturers of the products that caused their illness. Making sound financial decisions for the future of your family is important, and addressing these issues early on will give you the peace of mind to concentrate fully on your medical care.

Paying For Your Treatment

Part of dealing with mesothelioma realistically involves thinking through how you will pay for your treatment, and ultimately, how your family will be taken care of. Diagnosis, treatment and sometimes support services are expensive, and you may not be able to work full-time during this period, or you may be retired.

Without insurance it may be difficult to obtain the medical treatment of your choice, and even people who have medical insurance will need to do some finanical planning at this time. Resolving financial issues early on will lift the burden of worrying about your medical care and the well-being of your family.

If you are covered under an individual or group health plan, you should talk with your claims representative to find out exactly what your plan will cover. Plans can vary greatly on what types of treatment are covered, on the length of hospital stays and on the amount you must pay before your coverage begins. Some plans cover home care services, others do not.

If you are over the age of 65 or are disabled, the Medicare program may provide some health care benefits. Many people on Medicare have supplemental insurance policies to cover what Medicare does not. You can inquire about your eligibility for Medicare by contacting your local Social Security Office or the Medicare Hotline,1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Some people on Medicare are also eligible for Medicaid. You can find out about eligibility requirements for their services by contacting your state or local department of social services or through the federal government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly known as the Health Care Financing Administration) website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/

Financial compensation may also be available to mesothelioma patients and their families through claims against the manufacturers of products which contained asbestos. It is widely acknowledged that asbestos is the cause of mesothelioma. For more information on your legal rights, legal services and compensation for which you may be eligible, contact a mesothelioma lawyer.

to be continued...

Alimta (Pemetrexed) Mesothelioma Treatment

2009-07-13T02:09:00.000-07:00

In July 2002, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Eli Lilly Company announced that Alimta (pemetrexed) would be made available to patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The drug, a chemotherapy treatment is not fully FDA approved but will be made available to "qualified patients who have been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and have not yet received treatment." The FDA allows Alimta to be used under a so-called "Expanded access program," that allows new treatments available to patients with diseases like mesothelioma, for which there is no other treatment or satisfactory alternative therapy. Under this program, patients with mesothelioma will be given access to Alimta while the FDA review process is going forward and the treatment is pending review.

The FDA agreed to allow patients use of Alimta under the "expanded access program" based on the initial results from clinical trials. The results of a Phase III trial discussed at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, showed that patients treated with Alimta and cisplatin had better survival rates, had less pain and shortness of breath. Pemetrexed (Alimta) is a new antifolate, a type of drug that targets the folic acid metabolic pathway, inhibiting the availability of certain B complex vitamins. The downside, in the trial was that in some patients there was decrease in the number of white blood cells used to fight infections.

The clinical trial was the largest ever conducted in the US for a mesothelioma treatment.

The findings: Tumors shrank in 41 percent of patients on Alimta (pemetrexed) in combination cisplatin, a more common chemotherapy treatment. Cisplatin resulted reduced to tumors in 17 percent of patients receiving it. Patients on the Alimta (pemetrexed) cisplatin combination lived nearly three months longer than those on cisplatin alone.

According to lead author of the study, Nicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D., University of Chicago Cancer Research Center, "This is the largest clinical trial ever conducted in this disease and the 25 to 30 percent improvement in survival for patients on the combination therapy is the first time anyone has documented a significant improvement in patients treated for mesothelioma."

Under the current expanded access program, Alimta may be available free to patients who qualify. Additionally, patients with mesothelioma may be entitled to large settlements against employers or asbestos makers.

If you would like more information about Mesothelioma or your legal rights please contact us here.

Innovative Treatments For Mesothelioma Patients

2009-07-13T02:07:00.000-07:00

Aside from the standard or traditional treatment options for mesothelioma patients, the following are the innovative treatment options that can be applied accordingly to the patient:

Alimta (pemetrexed) now available to patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. New chemotherapy drug treatment....read more.

Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a type of cancer treatment, is premised in the theory that single-celled organisms, if first treated with certain photosensitive drugs, will die when exposed to light at a particular frequency. Through PDT, doctors attempt to destroy cancerous cells through the use of fixed frequency light to activate photosensitizing drugs that have accumulated in body tissues.

In PDT, a doctor administers photosensitizing drug intravenously. In a matter of days, the drug selectively concentrates in diseased cells, while rapidly being eliminated from normal cells. Doctors then expose the treated cancer cells to a laser light chosen for its ability to activate the photosensitizing agent. Doctors deliver this laser light to the cancer site, (in the case of mesothelioma, the pleura), through a fiberoptic device that allows the doctor to control the laser light. As the agent in the treated cells absorbs the light, an active form of oxygen destroys the surrounding cancer cells. A doctor must carefully time the light exposure so that it occurs when most of the photosensitizing drug has left the healthy cells, but remains present in cancerous ones.

Skin sensitivity is the major side effect of PDT. Doctors usually advise patients undergoing this type of therapy to avoid direct and even indirect sunlight for at least six weeks. Other side effects may include nausea, vomiting, a metallic taste in the mouth, and eye sensitivity to light.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is designed to repair, stimulate, or enhance the immune system's natural anticancer function. Through immunotherapy, sometimes called biological therapy, doctors use the body's own immune system to protect against disease. Researchers have found that the immune system may recognize the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells, and eliminate those that become cancerous.

Substances used in immunotherapy, called biological response modifiers (BRMs) alter the interaction between the body's immune defenses and cancer, thereby improving the body's ability to fight disease. Some BRMs, such as cytokines and antibodies, occur naturally in the body, however, pharmaceuticals can now make BRMs in the laboratory that imitate or influence natural immune response agents. These BRMs may enhance the immune system to fight cancer cell growth, eliminate, regulate, or suppress the body's responses that permit cancer growth, make cancer cells more susceptible to destruction by the immune system, alter cancer cell's growth patterns to behave like normal cells, block or reverse the process that changes a normal cell into a cancer cell, and prevent a cancer cell from spreading to other sites. BRMs doctors currently used in cancer treatment include interferons, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, colony-stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, and cancer vaccines.

Specific immunotherapy research has concentrated on the SV40 virus. Some researchers believe that the presence of this virus makes the formation of mesothelioma tumors more likely. Having identified this virus, researchers now hope to develop a vaccine, which could prevent the development of mesothelioma in those a risk by prompting the body to produce antibodies that would attack the SV40 virus.

Gene Therapy
Gene therapy treats mesothelioma, and other diseases, by manipulating an individual's genes to achieve a therapeutic goal. The premise of gene therapy is based on correcting disease at the DNA level and compensating for the abnormal genes.

Replacement gene therapy replaces a mutated or missing gene, most often a tumor suppressor gene, with a normal copy of that gene to keep cell growth and division under control. The most common gene mutated in cancer has become a prime target for gene replacement. Researchers have met with some success in inhibiting cell growth, inhibiting angiogenesis (the development of a tumor's blood supply), and inducing apoptosis (cell death). Knockout gene therapy targets the products of oncogenes (a gene that can induce tumor formation) in an effort to render them inactive and reduce cell growth.

Brachytherapy

Innovative new radiation treatment, that is less invasive....read more

Alternative Medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine covers a wide range of treatments that conventional medicine does not commonly accept or make available to its patients. Acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, therapeutic massage, and Far Eastern medicine are among those treatments considered alternative.

Patients can use these therapies alone as an alternative to conventional medicine, or in addition to conventional medicine. Many focus on treating the whole patient physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These treatments are not generally used in hospitals, and, for the most part, are not covered under insurance policies.

Mesothelioma Updates : New Technology To Detect Asbestos-Related Lung Disease

2009-07-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Michael Harbut, M.D., MPH, co-director of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers (NCVAC) at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, MI, and chief of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine Wayne State University, announced the use of a new technology to aid in the diagnosis of asbestos-related lung disease. The announcement was made at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organizations annual conference, Saturday, March 28, in Manhattan Beach, CA.

"Radiographic approaches developed by Carmen Endress, M.D., FACR, Associate Professor of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and radiologist at the NCVAC, allow us to visualize lesions caused by asbestos exposure in three dimensional detail and often at a much earlier stage than that of the current standard radiographic techniques," said Harbut.

This new approach involves taking images obtained on the 64-slice high resolution CT scan and enhancing them using the Vitrea imaging software program developed by Vital Images, Inc.

Harbut explained, "The benefits of this new approach include the possibility of earlier detection; better differentiation between patients with scarring on the lungs and other diseases; assistance in determining why some people who have thickening on the covering of the lungs have uncontrolled, unrelenting pain; and potentially increased success in the overall diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related disease.

According to Harbut, this approach could also have a significant public-health impact.

If we can identify the sentinel or first cases of asbestosis or lung cancer at an early stage, then we can help identify asbestos exposures in places where it might not have previously been suspected. Such identification of early detection could help to reduce the death rate from asbestos-related diseases."

Harbut added that this new technology approach to chest radiography could also help reduce cases of fraud which have been reported in asbestos litigation, due to the clarity and sophistication of the images that can help identify which cases are asbestos-related and which are not.

Dr. Endress added, "Its my sincere hope that with this new approach and enhanced technology we will help reduce the death rate caused by asbestos-related diseases, reduce the suffering by patients and their loved ones, and make a significant contribution to medicine."

The use of this technology in the diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related cancers and high-malignancy potential asbestos-related diseases represents another first for Karmanos Cancer Institute scientists and physicians. Previously, NCVAC researchers were among the first to discover the value of osteopontin a tumor marker of mesothelioma and published this finding in the New England Journal of Medicine. Karmanos workers have also reported the potential value of soluble mesothelin-related peptide, another tumor marker, in screening for mesothelioma.

Michael Harbut, M.D., MPH, Chief of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, is co-director of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, in Detroit, MI. In response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) identification of major sources of public asbestos exposure in Michigan, and to address the need for early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of asbestos-related diseases, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM) affiliated with Wayne State University, joined forces to establish The National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers (NCVAC). COEM has had a long interest in asbestos-related diseases and the Karmanos Cancer Institute is heavily involved in both clinical and basic research on asbestos-related cancers enabling the two centers to rapidly bring together the expertise and resources necessary to study the problem immediately.

Source: Karmanos Cancer Institute

Scientific And Medical Facts About Chrysotile Asbestos Will Be Presented To US Congress

2009-07-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

The Environmental Information Association (EIA) and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) today announced the development of the Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet (CAFS). The EIA and ADAO concluded, along with the majority of scientific agencies, that there is sufficient evidence to support that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are carcinogenic and are responsible for asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, laryngeal and ovarian cancers.

The CAFS provides clear, easily digested information on the dangers of chrysotile, compiled by asbestos medical experts and scientists with a collective 300 plus years of experience and hundreds of peer review scientific publications on asbestos among themselves.

The Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet will be presented to the United States Congress as a scientifically developed paper in support of the continued efforts to ban asbestos. The Environmental Information Association and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization continues to educate the public and government representatives to the dangers of asbestos.

"The Environmental Information Association is proud to collaborate with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization to produce the EIA/ADAO Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet, in an effort to clarify the misinformation released on the very real dangers of asbestos exposure," said J. Brent Kynoch, Managing Director, Environmental Information Association. "We will continue our endeavor for full acknowledgement by the asbestos industry, and widespread education of the public, of the risks associated with asbestos."

"Somberly, we honor and remember victims today on Worker's Memorial Day who have died from asbestos exposure," said Linda Reinstein, Executive Director, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "Asbestos exposure is the world's leading cause of cancer in the workplace and the United States Congress must act now and ban asbestos. Prevention is our only cure for asbestos-caused diseases."

The contributors of the document include: Michael Breu CIH, Dana Brown, Dr. Ronald Dodson, William Ewin, Joy Finch, Sean Fitzgerald, Dr. Arthur Frank, Steve Hays PE CIH, Dave Hogue, Brent Kynoch, Tom Laubenthal, Dr. Richard Lemen, Dr. James Millette, Linda Reinstein, Andreas Saldivar, and Dr. James Webber.

Source: Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers In USA

2009-07-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here are the detailed listing of mesothelioma treatment centers located throughout the United States and explains some of the unique asbestos risks for each state to help you learn more about your risk of developing mesothelioma.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Learn Mesothelioma And Its Statistics

2009-07-12T18:58:00.000-07:00

From 1965 - 1999 there are already 159,000 recorded deaths due to asbestos exposure and it's increasing each year. This number represents approximately 4,000 deaths per year. Starting in 1965, the number of deaths increases by 400-500 a year and by the mid-1900s it is approximately 9,700 deaths per year.

Why the steady increase?
Asbestos-related diseases are typically diagnosed 15 to 40 years after initial exposure to asbestos. In the 1960s, there was a spike in the number of asbestos- related diseases reported by shipyard workers who had worked in close contact with asbestos during WWII.

What does the future hold?
The definitive 1982 epidemiological study projected that between 1999 and 2030 there would be approximately 166,000 additional asbestos-related deaths.

Annual Projected Deaths From Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer (selected industries**)

Year	1972	1982	1992	2002	2012	2022	2027
Total	3,286	5,055	5,497	4,693	2,987	1,254	646

Annual Projected Deaths, Asbestos-Related Gastrointestinal/Other Cancers (selected industries)

Year	1972	1982	1992	2002	2012	2022	2027
Total	1,034	1,376	1,494	1,274	812	340	176

Annual Projected Deaths From Asbestos-Related Mesothelioma (selected industries)

Year	1972	1982	1992	2002	2012	2022	2027
Total	1,082	1,775	2,748	3,060	2,661	1,495	917

Note: 80 percent of mesothelioma (the most lethal form of asbestos-related disease -- cancer of the chest cavity lining) cases are caused by asbestos exposure, and these cases are usually fatal.

**Primary asbestos manufacturing, secondary manufacturing, insulation work, shipbuilding and repair, construction trades, railroad engine repair, utility services, stationary engineers and firemen, chemical plant and refinery maintenance, automobile maintenance, and marine engine room personnel.

Note : The above was provided by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1999

What Are The Stages Of Mesothelioma?

2009-07-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

Doctors often determine treatment options depending on the stage of mesothelioma. Doctors currently use one of three staging systems. Each system measures somewhat different variables.

Doctors most often use the Butchart System, the oldest staging system and t. The more recent TNM system . The Brigham System,

Butchart System ( the oldest staging system and the one that mainly considers the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesothelioma into four stages)

Stage I 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 invasion of mesothelioma into the chest wall or esophagus, hear, or lung lining on bother sides. In addition, lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved. The onset of Stage III begins when the mesothelioma penetrates through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. In this stage the cancer may also affect lymph nodes beyond those in the chest. Doctors identify Stage IV, the final stage, when evidence of metastasis or the spread of cancer to other organs exists.
TNM System (considers tumor in mass and spread, lymph node involvement, and metastasis)

Stage I 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 exists 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 spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, or extends into the lung opposite the primary tumor, or directly into the organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Metastasis is included in this stage.
Brigham System (the latest system, stages mesothelioma according to resectability or ability to surgically remove and lymph node involvement)

The Brigham System concerns itself primarily with the resectability or the ability surgically remove the mesothelioma mass. In Stage I the tumor is resectable and lymph nodes are unaffected. In Stage II the tumor remains respectable but the mesothelioma affects the lymph nodes. In Stage III the tumor becomes unresectable and extends into the chest wall, heart, or through the diaphragm, peritoneum. Stage III can occur with or without lymph node involvement. Stage IV occurs when doctors discover metastasic disease of distant organs.
Once doctors identify the stage of a patient's malignant mesothelioma, the patient and doctor can discuss and consider the various treatment options available. The treatment program for mesothelioma depends on many factors, including: the stage of the cancer, the location of the cancer, the spread of the cancer, the characteristics of the cancer cells under a microscope and the patient's age and desires.

What Are The Treatments Available For Mesothelioma?

2009-07-12T18:06:00.000-07:00

Once the doctor has finalized the diagnosis of mesothelioma, treatment can be done accordingly. Treatment is based on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. However, standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.

Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).

Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. This procedure is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

What Are The Diagnosis Of Mesothelioma?

2009-07-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Learn The Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

2009-07-12T17:48:00.000-07:00

Do you know that symptoms of mesothelioma may only appear 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos? This is very dangerous, however here are the symptoms that we should know:

For Pleural Mesothelioma (These are due to an accumulation of fluid)

Shortness of breath
Pain in the chest

For Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Weight loss
Abdominal pain
Swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
Bowel obstruction
Blood clotting abnormalities
Anemia
Fever.

If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:

pain
trouble swallowing
swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Because only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Who Are At Risk For Developing Mesothelioma

2009-07-12T00:46:00.000-07:00

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

Learn The Major Risk Factors For Mesothelioma

2009-07-12T00:24:00.000-07:00

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.

What Is Mesothelioma And Where Can It Develops?

2009-07-11T23:50:00.000-07:00

First we must know what is Mesothelioma? This is based on the definition given by the National Cancer Institute. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium. Where the cancer gets its name. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

Moreover, 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 is responsible in producing 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.

Mesothelioma cancer can develop in the tissues covering the lungs or the abdomen.

Mesothelioma in the chest
The tissues lining (or covering) the lungs are called the pleura. There are two pleura. These can be called pleural membranes. The gap between them is called the pleural space. The pleura are fibrous sheets. They help to protect the lungs. They produce a lubricating fluid that fills the gap between the two pleura. This helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when they are inflating and deflating as we breathe.

Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in the pleura. This is known as pleural mesothelioma. Because it is so close, pleural mesothelioma can also affect the sheet of tissue covering the heart - the pericardium. Doctors call the pericardium the lining, although it is on the outside of the heart. It protects the heart and allows it to move smoothly within the sac that surrounds it. So it does much the same job for the heart as the pleura do for the lungs.

Mesothelioma in the abdomen
The tissue lining the abdomen (tummy) is called the peritoneum. It helps to protect the contents of the abdomen. It also produces a lubricating fluid. This helps the organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen as we move around.

Mesothelioma of the tissues lining the abdominal cavity is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. It is much less common than pleural mesothelioma.

It is unusual for mesothelioma to spread to other parts of the body. But if it does, it does not usually cause troublesome symptoms.

Benign mesothelioma

There is a form of non cancerous (benign) mesothelioma that can develop in the lining of the lungs, or in the lining of the reproductive organs. It can occur in either men or women. These non cancerous tumours are very rare.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

2009-07-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

Asbestos is a cancerous material, and exposure to it may result in later development of diseases such as benign pleural effusion, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, rounded atelectasis, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Most exposure to asbestos has occurred occupationally. However, people have also been exposed to asbestos through common household products, old buildings, and by indirect contact from loved ones who have work with asbestos directly and have carried home asbestos dust on their clothing.

Although the manufacturing of asbestos products has been greatly reduced in the United States due to increasing governmental regulations since the late 1970's, asbestos still remains present today in old structures, buildings, and even warships that were built before this time. For this reason and due to the long latency period between the initial symptoms of the disease and diagnosis, asbestos-related disease still remains a serious public health hazard.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is one of many diseases categorized as an “environmental lung disease” or “occupational lung disease”. It is a lung condition referred to as diffuse pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestosis results from coming in contact with asbestos and inhaling its deadly fibers into your lungs. These asbestos fibers, once inhaled, accumulate in the lung tissue, thus distinguishing it from other fibrotic diseases. Additionally, asbestos fibers have been found in small numbers beyond the lungs; such as the tonsils, thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes, pleura, peritoneum, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, liver, stomach, esophagus, small and large intestines. This disease is progressive and irreversible in nature and typically leads to subsequent respiratory disability. In most severe cases, asbestosis may even lead to death from pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure.

Any accumulation of dust in the lungs, whether is asbestos or not, is referred to as “pneumoconiosis”. Pneumoconiosis also refers to the pathologic response of the human body to the presence of the accumulated dust in the lungs, which results in asbestosis. Some of the symptoms of asbestosis are; shortness of breath, dry cough, X-Ray changes, and pulmonary function deficiencies. The latency period for asbestosis is generally several decades and it can occur in individuals exposed to large amounts of any of the three commercial forms of asbestos (chrysotile, amosite, or crocidolite) for extended periods of time. This disease may also develop even if the exposure was as brief as three years or less, if the level of exposure was heavy. There are also two other types of asbestos, which are non-commercial, and they are amphibole and anthophyllite.

Mesothelioma

The term Mesothelioma is used to describe a cancerous tumor that involves the “mosothelial” cells of an organ, usually the lungs, heart or abdominal organs.

Mesothelioma is classified into two types, pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type and it is a very rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. The “pleura” is a thin membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity, which serves as a lubricant to prevent the lungs from chafing against the chest walls. Peritoneal mesothelioma, although less common, is more invasive and therefore results in a shorter life expectancy for the patient. Mesotheliomas have also been found in other abdominal organs.

As with other types of cancer, there are benign and malignant mesothelioma. The most common of the two is by far the diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. This particular type of tumor is very aggressive and invasive, spreading quickly over the surface of the lungs, abdominal organs or heart. Depending at which stage this disease is detected and the general health and strength of the patient, the life expectancy for the victims is between four and twenty-four months. The average person diagnosed with this aggressive type of tumor survives for between four and twelve months from the onset of symptoms. These symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and sleeping, pain in the chest and abdominal regions, progressive loss of weight and appetite and pleural effusions (fluid in the chest cavity). However, some victims have survived for several years with the proper treatment.

Lung Cancer

Smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer. Tobacco smoke causes more than 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Tobacco products contain harmful carcinogens (cancer causing agents) that can damage the cells in the lungs. The longer a person has been smoking and the more cigarettes a day smoked, the greater the chances are of contracting lung cancer. Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, which is called involuntary or passive smoking, can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer. If a person stops smoking before lung cancer develops, the lung tissue slowly returns to normal.

Even though smoking is mostly responsible for causing lung cancer, it is not the sole cause of it. Asbestos exposure can also cause lung cancer. People who work with asbestos are already in danger of getting lung cancer, and by smoking, the risk is greatly increased. Although the manufacturing of asbestos has slowed down significantly due to government regulations, it is still present in some products and old buildings. However, if left undisturbed, asbestos poses no danger. Asbestos is only dangerous when it has been disturbed and its raw form (fibers) is released into the air and breathed in.

Asbestos Products

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The following are the products of asbestos:

Acustical Plaster
Acoustic Finishes
Adhesives
Agricultural Filler
Air Cell Pipecovering
ASB Weatherproof Jacket
Asbestos Gloves
Asbestos Cord
Asbestos Canvas
Asbestos Curtains
Asbestos Felt
Asbestos Finishing Cement
Asbestos Flatboard
Asbestos Lap
Asbestos Micarta
Asbestos Millboard
Asbestos Mineral Wool
Asbestos Pads
Asbestos Panel
Asbestos Packing
Asbestos Roalboard
Asbestos Seals
Asbestos Sheets
Asbestos Sponge Block
Asbestos Rope
Asbestos Tiles
Asbestos Tape
Asbestos Wick
Asbestos Yarn
Attic Insulation
Automotive Breaks
Automotive Clutches
Automotive Hoodliners
Baby Powder
Base Flashing
Boiler Insulation
Boiler Wall Coat
Blown-in Insulation
Bonding Cement
Breaching Insulation
Brick and Block Mortar
Calcium Silicate Insulation
Caulking
Ceiling Tiles
Cement Pipes

Cement Siding
Cement Wallboard
Clay
Cigarette Filters
Construction Mastics
Cooling Towers
Corrugated Paper
Cork Board
Cork Overing
Cork-Filled Mastic
Crock Pots
Decorative Plaster
Duct Tape
Ductwork Connectors
Duplex block
Duplex pipecovering
Dry Mix Joint Compound
Ehret Asbestos Fiber Felt
Ehret Block
Ehret Pipecovering
Ehret Products
Electrical Cloth
Electrical Panel Partitions
Electric Wiring Insulation
Elevator Brake Shoes
Emulsion Adhesive
Expansion Joint
Fertilizers
Firebrick
Firefoil Board
Firefoil Panel
Fireproofing Materials
Flex Board
Flexible Duct Connectors
Flooring Backing
Fire Blankets
Pipe Insulation
Pipe Covering
Pumps
Putties
Fire Curtains
Fire Dampers
Fire Doors
Fume Hoods
Furnace Cement

Gasket Material
Generators
Glassbestos
Glassblower Mitts
Gold Bond Adhesive
G.B. Asbestos Paper
G.B. Asbestos Sheets
Gold Bond Cement
Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte
Gold Bond Plaster
Gold Bond Products
Gold Bond Spackle Paster
Gold bond Tar Paper
Gunning Mix
Hair Dryers
Heating Ducts
Heat Guard
Heat Seal
Hitemp block
Hitemp board
Hitemp pipecovering
Hitemp Insul. Cement
HVAC Duct Insulation
Insulation Coating
Insulation Duct
Insulation Jacketing
Insulating Mix
Insulation Seal
Iron Rests
Joint Compounds
Laboratory Gloves
Laboratory Hoods
Lagging adhesive
Lagging cloth
Lagging tape
Machine Room Ducts
Machine Room Ceillings
Machine Room Floors
Machine Room Walles
Marine Panels
Masonry Fill
Metal Mesh Blanket
Mittens
Mitts
Navy Sealer

Packing Materials
Paint
Patching Fiber
Patching Plaster
Potting Mixtures
Popcorn Popers
Permaboard
Refractory Cememt
Rollboard
Rope
Rope Packing
Roofing Felt
Roofing Shingles
Sheet Packing
Sheet Rope
Sheetrock
Silicate Calsilite
Spackle
Spackle Paster
Spackling Compounds
Spray Fireproofing
Stone Corrugated Sheets
Stone Sheathing
Stove Mats
Spry-Appliend Insulation
T-bar Ceiling Tile
Taping Compounds
Textile Garments
Textile Cloths
Textured Paints
Textured Coatings
Thernal Paper Products
Thermal Spray
Transite
Troweled Coating
Turbines
Valve Rings
Valve Stem Packing
Valves
Vermiculite Compounds
Vinyl Floor Tile
Vinyl Wallpaper
Welding Blankets
Welding Rods
Wood Fiber Plaster

What Is Asbestos?

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The term asbestos comes from the Greek word for “inextinguishable” or “indestructible.” Asbestos is a fibrous mineral with thermal and chemical resistance, flexibility, and high tensile strength properties. Although its use has been reduced since the 1970's, today asbestos is still present in many common household items and old buildings.

The first use of asbestos dates back to 2500 B.C., when it was used as a wick material for oil lamps and also in pottery making. Asbestos was also used in cloths for retaining the ashes of the dead during cremation. Mats were also made from asbestos by both the Chinese and Egyptians. Combining asbestos with clay and other materials was also one of its earlier applications.

Asbestos is classified into many different types, which include; chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), tremolite, anthopyllite, and actinolite.

However, only chrysolite is the most widely used asbestos type in the United States. Other asbestos types used commercially are crocidolite and amosite, but in a limited capacity. Tremolite, anthopyllite, and actinolite are the most abundant, but they have been used primarily as contaminants of other minerals, such as chrysotile, verniculite, and talc.

Since its discovery, asbestos has found widespread use in part due to its unmatched engineering and commercial performance. Due to its thermal resistant qualities, asbestos has been used as a frictional material in break pads. It has also been used in specialized products such as gaskets, pads, fabric sheets, and asbestos paper due to the length and pliability of its fibers. Mixed into a slurry, asbestos has been applied to building surfaces for fire protection and heat retention, such as in furnaces and kilns. As a fortifying additive, which is it's major present day use, asbestos is a component of cement, concrete, paint, vinyl, and tar mixtures, accounting for 70% of current applications worldwide.

Glossary Of Terms Used By Insurance and Medical Billing

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Following are some of the most common terms you may hear that are associated with your insurance plans and medical billing.

Ambulatory Surgery	Surgery done in the doctor’s office or at a surgical center, and not requiring an overnight stay.
Ancillary Providers	Services over and above physician services, including laboratory, radiology, home health and skilled nursing facilities.
Authorization	Approval of care required before a service is provided. Pre-authorization may be necessary before hospital admission, or before care is given by non-HMO providers.
Balance Billing	Billing a patient for charges not paid by their insurance plan because the charges are above the Usual and Customary Rate or because the insurer considered a procedure medically unnecessary.
Carve-out Policy	A contracted agreement between an insurance company and another company which provides special services to its members, such as prescription drugs or cancer treatment.
Claim	A record of medical services provided to a patient and submitted by the provider to the insurance company for payment.
Claims Review	The method by which a patient’s health care service claims are reviewed before reimbursement is made. This is done to validate the appropriateness of services given and that the cost is not excessive.
Coinsurance	A provision which limits the amount of the coverage paid by an insurance plan to a certain percentage, with the remaining costs paid by the member.
Co-payment	The portion of a claim that a member must pay out-of-pocket.
CPT-4	A 5-digit code that applies to medical services delivered.
Deductible	The amount an insured member must pay before the insurance company pays benefits.
EOB (Explanation of Benefits)	A statement describing medical benefits and account activity, including explanation of why certain claims may or may not have been paid.
Exclusion	Services or supplies not covered under a health plan.
Fee Schedule	A listing of the maximum fee which a health plan will pay for services based on CPT billing codes.
ICD-9	A 3 to 5-digit number code describing a diagnosis or medical procedure.
Inpatient	A patient who is admitted to a hospital and receives medical services from a physician during at least a 24-hour period.
In-Network Provider	Physicians and other service providers who are contracted with a managed care plan.
Out-of-Network Provider	Physicians who are not contracted with a managed care plan.
Outpatient	A patient who receives health care services, but is not admitted to a hospital during a 24-hour period.
Primary Care Physician	A physician, usually a general, family practitioner or internist, who delivers general health care, and is most often the first doctor a patient sees. This physician treats the patient directly, refers them to a specialist (or secondary care physician) or admits them to the hospital.
Provider	A physician, hospital, laboratory, pharmacy or other organization that provides health care, goods or services.
Pre-Certification	Also known as pre-admission certification, is the process of obtaining authorization from the health care plan for routine inpatient and outpatient admissions. Failure to obtain pre-certification may result in penalty to the provider or the subscriber.
Referral Authorization	Approval for a member to see a physician or access services outside of the participating medical group.
Referral Physician	A physician who sees a patient after another doctor has sent them for specialty care or services.
Referring Physician	A physician who sends a patient to another doctor for specialty care or services.
Subscriber	A person who enrolls in a health care plan and agrees to pay for premiums, co-payments and deductibles that are part of the plan.
Treating Physician	A physician who provides care to the patient while in the hospital, and usually works at the hospital or comes in as a specialist.

Informed Consent for Treatment of Mesothelioma Cancer

Informed Consent is the term used to describe the communication between health providers and patients, particularly in clinical trials for new treatments. Informed Consent laws vary greatly from state to state, and also according to the specific case. In many states, Informed Consent laws may be more stringent in cases that involve experimental treatment. Additionally, some informed consent laws require written documents, while others do not.

Most laws require that patients be physically and mentally capable of understanding their condition and the ramifications of the proposed treatment. Therefore, in cases where the patient is unable to give their consent, the legal guardian of the patient makes treatment decisions for the patient. In the case of minors, parents are involved in any Informed Consent issues.

The primary purpose of informed consent is for the patient to have a complete understanding of their treatment, the possible risks of treatment, and the long term consequences of treatment. The goal is for the patient to have reasonable expectations of the effectiveness of treatment, and to understand any possible limitations there may be. As with nearly all cancer treatments, there are usually significant side effects that must be discussed and understood, as there may be instances where patients may find possible side effects too severe when compared to the potential benefits.

Costs associated with treatment are also a major factor when considering possible treatments. Some patients may need time to determine the financial impact. Additionally, the treatment itself may have logistical issues that the patient might want to consider. Certain treatments may be too draining for some malignant mesothelioma patients, who may prefer to spend their time and energy with friends and family.

With Informed Consent, patients are given alternative treatment options as well, helping to give them a full perspective on their available options. Although offering alternative options is a part of Informed Consent, many doctors encourage patients to independently research and explore all their options. Informed Consent does not stop after the initial pre-treatment dialogue. The process of Informed Consent is ongoing, which is essential because patients may change their feelings about a treatment during the clinical trial. These trials are highly regulated, including by the FDA, which has many regulations applicable to trials regardless of whether they have received federal funding. Additionally, many hospitals have Institutional Review Boards that monitor and regulate the clinical trials conducted under their supervision. Clinical trials may also be subjected to peer reviews prior to patient trials. All of these measures are part of the Consent process, and help ensure that the trials run smoothly and safely.

Privacy Policy

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If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at great_franchise@hotmail.com.

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