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

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

Read More...

Unlicensed Asbestos Removal Will Be Penalised

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

Read More...

Are You Safe From Vermiculite Insulation?

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

Read More...

Asbestos Textile Workers Show High Mortality Rates From Occupational Lung Diseases

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.

Read More...

Asbestos Textile Workers Show High Mortality Rates From Occupational Lung Diseases

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.

Read More...

Public Libraries Around Nation Facing Asbestos Remediation

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

Read More...

Mesothelioma Aid : Financial Plan For Mesothelioma Patients - II

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....

Read More...

Mesothelioma Aid : Financial Plan For Mesothelioma Patients

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...

Read More...

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

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

Read More...

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

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

Read More...

Learn Mesothelioma And Its Statistics

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

Read More...

What Are The Stages Of Mesothelioma?

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,

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

Read More...

What Are The Treatments Available For Mesothelioma?

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.

Read More...

What Are The Diagnosis Of Mesothelioma?

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.

Read More...

Learn The Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

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.

Read More...

Who Are At Risk For Developing Mesothelioma

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.

Read More...

Learn The Major Risk Factors For Mesothelioma

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Read More...

What Is Mesothelioma And Where Can It Develops?

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.

Read More...