Causes of cancer

Cancer is a diverse class of diseases which differ widely in their causes and biology. The common thread in all known cancers is the acquisition of abnormalities in the genetic material of the cancer cell and its progeny. Research into the pathogenesis of cancer can be divided into three broad areas of focus. The first area of research focuses on the agents and events which cause or facilitate genetic changes in cells destined to become cancer. Second, it is important to uncover the precise nature of the genetic damage, and the genes which are affected by it. The third focus is on the consequences of those genetic changes on the biology of the cell, both in generating the defining properties of a cancer cell, and in facilitating additional genetic events, leading to further progression of the cancer.

Mutation: chemical carcinogens

Further information: Carcinogen

Cancer pathogenesis is traceable back to DNA mutations that impact cell growth and metastasis. Substances that cause DNA mutations are known as mutagens, and mutagens that cause cancers are known as carcinogens. Particular substances have been linked to specific types of cancer. Tobacco smoking is associated with many forms of cancer,^[4] and causes 90% of lung cancer.^[5] Prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers is associated with mesothelioma.^[6]

Many mutagens are also carcinogens, but some carcinogens are not mutagens. Alcohol is an example of a chemical carcinogen that is not a mutagen.^[7] Such chemicals may promote cancers through stimulating the rate of cell division. Faster rates of replication leaves less time for repair enzymes to repair damaged DNA during DNA replication, increasing the likelihood of a mutation.

Decades of research has demonstrated the link between tobacco use and cancer in the lung, larynx, head, neck, stomach, bladder, kidney, oesophagus and pancreas.^[8] Tobacco smoke contains over fifty known carcinogens, including nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.^[9] Tobacco is responsible for about one in three of all cancer deaths in the developed world,^[4] and about one in five worldwide.^[9] Indeed, lung cancer death rates in the United States have mirrored smoking patterns, with increases in smoking followed by dramatic increases in lung cancer death rates and, more recently, decreases in smoking followed by decreases in lung cancer death rates in men. However, the numbers of smokers worldwide is still rising, leading to what some organizations have described as the tobacco epidemic.^[10]

Mutation: ionizing radiation

Sources of ionizing radiation, such as radon gas, can cause cancer. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun can lead to melanoma and other skin malignancies.^[11]

Non-ionizing radio frequency radiation from mobile phones and other sources has also been proposed as a cause of cancer, but there is little evidence of such a link.^[12] Nevertheless, a few experts caution against prolonged exposure based on the precautionary principle.^[13]

Viral or bacterial infection

Some cancers can be caused by infection with pathogens.^[14] Many cancers originate from a viral infection; this is especially true in animals such as birds, but also in humans, as viruses are responsible for 15% of human cancers worldwide. The main viruses associated with human cancers are human papillomavirus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and human T-lymphotropic virus. Experimental and epidemiological data imply a causative role for viruses and they appear to be the second most important risk factor for cancer development in humans, exceeded only by tobacco usage.^[15] The mode of virally-induced tumors can be divided into two, acutely-transforming or slowly-transforming. In acutely transforming viruses, the virus carries an overactive oncogene called viral-oncogene (v-onc), and the infected cell is transformed as soon as v-onc is expressed. In contrast, in slowly-transforming viruses, the virus genome is inserts near a proto-oncogene in the host genome. The viral promoter or other transcription regulation elements then cause overexpression of that proto-oncogene. This induces uncontrolled cell division. Because the site of insertion is not specific to proto-oncogenes and the chance of insertion near any proto-oncogene is low, slowly-transforming viruses will cause tumors much longer after infection than the acutely-transforming viruses.

Hepatitis viruses, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, can induce a chronic viral infection that leads to liver cancer in 0.47% of hepatitis B patients per year (especially in Asia, less so in North America), and in 1.4% of hepatitis C carriers per year. Liver cirrhosis, whether from chronic viral hepatitis infection or alcoholism, is associated with the development of liver cancer, and the combination of cirrhosis and viral hepatitis presents the highest risk of liver cancer development. Worldwide, liver cancer is one of the most common, and most deadly, cancers due to a huge burden of viral hepatitis transmission and disease.

Advances in cancer research have made a vaccine designed to prevent cancer available. In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a human papilloma virus vaccine, called Gardasil. The vaccine protects against four HPV types, which together cause 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. In March 2007, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) officially recommended that females aged 11-12 receive the vaccine, and indicated that females as young as age 9 and as old as age 26 are also candidates for immunization.

In addition to viruses, researchers have noted a connection between bacteria and certain cancers. The most prominent example is the link between chronic infection of the wall of the stomach with Helicobacter pylori and gastric cancer.^[16][17] Although only a minority of those infected with Helicobacter go on to develop cancer, since this pathogen is quite common it is probably responsible for the majority of these cancers.^[18]

Hormonal imbalances

Some hormones can act in a similar manner to non-mutagenic carcinogens in that they may stimulate excessive cell growth. A well-established example is the role of hyperestrogenic states in promoting endometrial cancer.

Immune system dysfunction

HIV is associated with a number of malignancies, including Kaposi's sarcoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and HPV-associated malignancies such as anal cancer and cervical cancer. AIDS-defining illnesses have long included these diagnoses. The increased incidence of malignancies in HIV patients points to the breakdown of immune surveillance as a possible etiology of cancer.^[19] Certain other immune deficiency states (e.g. common variable immunodeficiency and IgA deficiency) are also associated with increased risk of malignancy.^[20]

Heredity

Most forms of cancer are "sporadic", and have no basis in heredity. There are, however, a number of recognised syndromes of cancer with a hereditary component, often a defective tumor suppressor allele. Famous examples are:

• certain inherited mutations in the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 are associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer
• tumors of various endocrine organs in multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN types 1, 2a, 2b)
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome (various tumors such as osteosarcoma, breast cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, brain tumors) due to mutations of p53
• Turcot syndrome (brain tumors and colonic polyposis)
• Familial adenomatous polyposis an inherited mutation of the APC gene that leads to early onset of colon carcinoma.
• Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, also known as Lynch syndrome) can include familial cases of colon cancer, uterine cancer, gastric cancer, and ovarian cancer, without a preponderance of colon polyps.
• Retinoblastoma, when occurring in young children, is due to a hereditary mutation in the retinoblastoma gene.
• Down syndrome patients, who have an extra chromosome 21, are known to develop malignancies such as leukemia and testicular cancer, though the reasons for this difference are not well understood.

Other causes

Excepting the rare transmissions that occur with pregnancies and only a marginal few organ donors, cancer is generally not a transmissible disease. The main reason for this is tissue graft rejection caused by MHC incompatibility.^[21] In humans and other vertebrates, the immune system uses MHC antigens to differentiate between "self" and "non-self" cells because these antigens are different from person to person. When non-self antigens are encountered, the immune system reacts against the appropriate cell. Such reactions may protect against tumour cell engraftment by eliminating implanted cells. In the United States, approximately 3,500 pregnant women have a malignancy annually, and transplacental transmission of acute leukaemia, lymphoma, melanoma and carcinoma from mother to fetus has been observed.^[21] The development of donor-derived tumors from organ transplants is exceedingly rare. The main cause of organ transplant associated tumors seems to be malignant melanoma, that was undetected at the time of organ harvest.^[22]

A few types of cancer in non-humans have been found to be caused by transmission of the tumor cells hemselves. This phenomenon is seen in dogs with Sticker's sarcoma, also known as canine transmissible venereal tumor,^[23] as well as Devil facial tumour disease in Tasmanian devils.

cancer

Cancer (medical term: malignant neoplasm) is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth (division beyond the normal limits), invasion (intrusion on and destruction of adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastasis (spread to other locations in the body via lymph or blood). These three malignant properties of cancers differentiate them from benign tumors, which are self-limited, do not invade or metastasize. Most cancers form a tumor but some, like leukemia, do not. The branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer is oncology.

Cancer may affect people at all ages, even fetuses, but the risk for most varieties increases with age.^[1] Cancer causes about 13% of all deaths.^[2] According to the American Cancer Society, 7.6 million people died from cancer in the world during 2007.^[3] Cancers can affect all animals.

Nearly all cancers are caused by abnormalities in the genetic material of the transformed cells^{[citation needed]}. These abnormalities may be due to the effects of carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke, radiation, chemicals, or infectious agents. Other cancer-promoting genetic abnormalities may be randomly acquired through errors in DNA replication, or are inherited, and thus present in all cells from birth. The heritability of cancers are usually affected by complex interactions between carcinogens and the host's genome. New aspects of the genetics of cancer pathogenesis, such as DNA methylation, and microRNAs are increasingly recognized as important.

Genetic abnormalities found in cancer typically affect two general classes of genes. Cancer-promoting oncogenes are typically activated in cancer cells, giving those cells new properties, such as hyperactive growth and division, protection against programmed cell death, loss of respect for normal tissue boundaries, and the ability to become established in diverse tissue environments. Tumor suppressor genes are then inactivated in cancer cells, resulting in the loss of normal functions in those cells, such as accurate DNA replication, control over the cell cycle, orientation and adhesion within tissues, and interaction with protective cells of the immune system.

Diagnosis usually requires the histologic examination of a tissue biopsy specimen by a pathologist, although the initial indication of malignancy can be symptoms or radiographic imaging abnormalities. Most cancers can be treated and some cured, depending on the specific type, location, and stage. Once diagnosed, cancer is usually treated with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. As research develops, treatments are becoming more specific for different varieties of cancer. There has been significant progress in the development of targeted therapy drugs that act specifically on detectable molecular abnormalities in certain tumors, and which minimize damage to normal cells. The prognosis of cancer patients is most influenced by the type of cancer, as well as the stage, or extent of the disease. In addition, histologic grading and the presence of specific molecular markers can also be useful in establishing prognosis, as well as in determining individual treatments.

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure is the single known cause of mesothelioma. Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers may cause an inflammation of internal tissue and disrupt organ function which leads to the development of the disease. Asbestos products were used extensively throughout the 20th century in a wide variety of applications. Many of these products were responsible for asbestos exposure sustained by both the individuals who manufactured the products as well as those who used them at commercial and industrial jobsites including shipyards, refineries, power plants, steel plants and more. Several asbestos companies continued to produce these products even after they were known to be hazardous and harmful to workers and their families. Those who have become sick because of exposure to these products may now be eligible for financial compensation if they were wrongfully exposed.

Asbestos was also used at many New York jobsites including Ground Zero and the former World Trade Center site. Common asbestos exposure sites in New York include the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Todd Shipyard, and the Con Edison power plant in New York City.

mesothelioma treatment

MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT OPTIONS

The treatment program for mesothelioma depends on many factors, including: the stage of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope and the patient’s age and desires.

TIME MATTERS

People diagnosed with this disease are often told the expected survival rate is only eight to twelve months. However, specialists in treating malignant mesothelioma at the leading cancer centers often have better statistics.

For instance, the five-year survival rate has approached 40% for selected patients of Dr. David Sugarbaker at Brigham and Women’s Center in Boston. To qualify for Dr. Sugarbaker’s treatment you must meet certain criteria. One of them is being in the early stages of the disease, so time is of the essence. To find out more about Dr. Sugarbaker and other physicians and cancer centers specializing in mesothelioma click on Finding Specialists.

Keeping track of your medical treatment is useful and a personal medical records file can help.

TRADITIONAL CARE

There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma:

• Surgery (taking out the cancer)
• Chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
• Radiation Therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)

Often two or more of these are combined in the course of treatment. (NEW! Click here for the newest trial of trimodal lung-sparing treatment for pleural mesothelioma: The Columbia Protocol.)

MESOMARK BLOOD TEST

In January 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the MESOMARK assay to help monitor response to treatment in epithelial and bi-phasic malignant mesothelioma patients. A specific protein, or biomarker, called Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptide (SMRP), may be released into the blood by mesothelioma cancer cells. By measuring the amount of SMRP in a blood sample, doctors may be able to better monitor a patient's progress. Based on the limited amount of data currently available, use of this test may be beneficial, but effectiveness has not been determined at this time. The MESOMARK blood test has NOT yet been approved for the early diagnosis of mesothelioma.

This test has been approved as a Humanitarian Use Device (HUD), meaning that physicians must follow certain procedures to qualify their patients for testing. Once the physician is certified, informational brochures will be sent to be distributed to each applicable patient.

Those wishing to take part in

MESOMARK testing will be asked to provide one or more samples of blood. The blood samples will then be sent to a national reference laboratory for testing. In conjunction with other clinical and laboratory data obtained by your doctor, decisions regarding your treatment and care may be simplified. You may discontinue testing at any time.

The costs associated with the MESOMARK blood test may not be covered under health insurance, therefore, you may be required to pay all or part of the costs out of pocket. It is recommended that you check with your insurance carrier to determine whether coverage is available under your policy.

SURGERY

Diagnostic Procedures

As previously mentioned in the "Symptoms" section of this website, a diagnosis of mesothelioma from fluid is many times inconclusive. Given this fact, diagnostic surgery becomes a necessary next step in confirming and staging mesothelioma.

Thoracoscopy enables a physician to evaluate the pleural cavity and to conduct multiple tissue biopsies under direct vision. In up to 98% of cases, a definitive diagnosis can be obtained. Often, chemical pleurodesis aimed at relieving the accumulation of fluid in the intrapleural space, can be accomplished during the same procedure. It is also possible to gauge the extent of the tumor, and make a determination of surgical resectability. While less invasive than an open biopsy, it can only be performed on patients where tumor has not obliterated the pleural space.

VATS, or video-assisted thoracic surgery is an alternative to thoracoscopy, although because of its more invasive nature, concerns of tumor seeding increase. By utilizing small incisions, the physician can view the pleural space with the assistance of a camera, and obtain sufficient tissue samples for analysis by a pathologist. Extent of the tumor (i.e., pleural involvement, chest wall invasion) may also determined, and recommendation as to the type of debulking procedure necessary can be made at this time.

Mediastinoscopy is sometimes used as an aid in staging extent of disease when enlarged nodes are seen using imaging techniques.

Laproscopy is used in mesothelioma patients in cases where imaging techniques suggest possible invasion of the tumor through the diaphragm. This information can be important in evaluating a patient for potential pleurectomy or extrapleural pneumonectomy.

Palliative Procedures

Palliative surgical procedures are those which treat a symptom of mesothelioma, without aggressively treating the disease itself.

Chest Tube Drainage and Pleurodesis is considered the most common of palliative treatments. Fluid build-up, or pleural effusion, is most often the first symptom which will prompt mesothelioma patients to seek medical attention. Once this effusion has occurred, it is many times persistent, returning rapidly after initial thoracentesis (draining of the fluid). In order to eliminate this problem, the pleural space must be closed. This is accomplished by use of a talc slurry or other sclerosing agent which produces an adhesion.

Thoracoscopy and Pleurodesis is done in conjunction with VATS using a powdered form of talc versus talc slurry. Both this and chest tube drainage and pleurodesis will be only effective if there is no tumor encasing the lung which restricts its expansion.

Pleuroperitoneal Shunt plays a limited role in palliation for several reasons. It involves placement of a catheter run under the skin from the pleural to the peritoneal cavity. Obstruction of the catheter and possible seeding of the tumor into the abdominal cavity may be concerns.

Pleurectomy, used as a palliative procedure, may be performed where more extensive surgery is not an option. In these cases, it is understood that all visible or gross tumor will not be removed. It is considered the most effective means of controlling pleural effusion in cases where the lung's expansion is restricted by disease.

Potentially Curative Procedures

These procedures are performed with "curative intent". Their goal is removal of all gross disease, with the knowledge that microscopic disease will most likely remain. Adjuvant therapy (another form of treatment in addition to the primary therapy) is typically aimed at eliminating residual disease.

For Pleural Mesothelioma:

• Pleurectomy/Decortication is usually performed on patients with early stage disease (Stage I and selected Stage II), and attempts to remove all gross tumor. If it is found that all tumor can not be removed without removing the lung, this may be done at the same time and is called pneumonectomy.
• Extrapleural Pneumonectomy is considerably more radical than other surgical approaches, and should be carried out by surgeons with great expertise in evaluating patients and performing the procedure itself. (See Finding Specialists.) Because in the past surgery alone has failed to effect a cure, or even to help prolong life for any extended period of time, it is currently being combined with traditional chemotherapy and/or radiation, or other new approaches such as gene therapy, immunotherapy or photodynamic therapy.

  General Patient Selection Criteria for Extrapleural Pneumonectomy

  Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a serious operation, and doctors experienced in this procedure choose their patients carefully. It is up to each individual surgeon to advise the patient on its feasibility and to conduct whatever tests he/she feel are necessary to optimize the patient's chances for survival and recovery. Following is a general list of patient selection criteria. This list may not be all inclusive, and may vary according to the preference of the surgeon.

  • Karnofsky Performance Status score of >70. This score relates to what symptoms of disease the patient may be experiencing and how well they are able to conduct their daily activities. Some surgeons may require a higher performance status than others.
  • Adequate renal (kidney) and liver function tests; no significant kidney or liver disease.
  • Normal cardiac function per electrocardiogram and echocardiography.
  • Adequate pulmonary function to tolerate the surgery.
  • Disease limited to the ipsilateral hemithorax (the same side of the chest in which the mesothelioma is located) with no penetration of the diaphragm, extension to the heart or extensive involvement of the chest wall.
  • Age of the patient is taken into consideration, but may not be as important as their overall status.

  Surgeries of this nature should always be done with a complete understanding of the possible benefits and risks involved. If you are considering surgery as a treatment option, speak openly with your doctor about your concerns, and be sure all of your questions are answered to your satisfaction.

For Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

• Cytoreductive Surgery is aimed at removing all or nearly all of the gross or visible tumor in the peritoneal cavity. In order to treat any remaining cancer cells, Intra-Peritoneal Hyperthermic (heated) Chemotherapy (IPHC) is then delivered to the abdominal cavity. The type of chemotherapy drug used may vary according to the physician’s preference. Click here for more on treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma.

TOP

CHEMOTHERAPY

Chemotherapy is defined as the treatment of cancer using chemical substances. When cancer occurs, abnormal cells continue to divide uncontrolled. Anticancer, or chemotherapy drugs, work to destroy cancer cells by preventing them from multiplying. Read more on types of chemotherapy medicines.

Purposes of Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy may be used to achieve different goals, depending on the stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis and the age and health of the patient. Since chemotherapy for mesothelioma is not considered "curative", the goal is:

• To control the cancer by stopping its spread or slowing its growth.
• To shrink tumors prior to other treatments, such as surgery. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
• To destroy microscopic disease which may remain after surgery. This is called adjuvant chemotherapy.
• To relieve symptoms, such as pain. This is called palliative chemotherapy, and is given in cases when a drastic reduction in the tumor is not expected.

The most common use for chemotherapy in mesothelioma patients, is as an option for those who are not surgical candidates, however, various cancer centers are now conducting trials using the neoadjuvant approach. Alimta (pemetrexed) is a drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use with Cisplatin in the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma whose disease is either unresectable or who are not candidates for curative surgery. Alimta is the first drug approval specific to mesothelioma.

The Alimta/Cisplatin chemotherapy regimen is the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment specifically for malignant pleural mesothelioma. This is currently considered the most effective first-line treatment for mesothelioma patients who are not surgical candidates. A multi-targeted antifolate drug, Alimta works by blocking the enzymes necessary for DNA copying and cell division. During the clinical trial process, Alimta/Cisplatin improved median survival for pleural mesothelioma patients by approximately three months over treatment with Cisplatin as a single agent. Eli Lilly's information on treatment with Alimta.

As with any medical treatment, it is important to discuss the use of Alimta with your doctor. This conversation should include all pertinent information regarding effectiveness, administration and possible side effects of the drug combination. It is also important to begin vitamin supplementation of B12 by injection during the week prior to treatment (to be repeated every 9 weeks), and folic acid by mouth daily (to be continued until 21 days after the last cycle of Alimta). Additionally, you will be given an oral steroid medication to minimize the risk of skin rash or other possible side effects. Your doctor will have information on the correct dosages of each medication. Be sure to tell your doctor of any other medications you are taking (including non-prescription drugs) so he may be aware of any adverse interactions.

Alimta/Cisplatin is administered to patients on an outpatient basis every 21 days. This cycle of treatment involves a 10-minute IV infusion of Alimta followed by a 2 hour infusion of Cisplatin. How many cycles of treatment you receive will be dependent on your response rate to the drug (regression of the tumor or halt to progression of the disease) and the side effects you might experience.

Side effects of Alimta/Cisplatin are mild to moderate for most mesothelioma patients, i.e., nausea, vomiting and fatigue, and can usually be managed by your doctor. For some patients, however, side effects may be debilitating, and may require a decrease in dosage or removal from the program. All potential side effects should be mentioned to your doctor. Never assume any complaint is minor.

Mesothelioma Resource Online

Mesothelioma Resource Online is a site that is dedicated to you, the people and their loved ones who suffer from Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium).

Mesothelioma may be a relatively rare disease but for those effected, it can alter your lives and the lives of your loved ones, drastically and irrevocably.

While Cancer, is a painful disease in any form, the most tragic and unacceptable aspect of Mesothelioma is that 80 % of the time it is contracted due to asbestos exposure in the environment. Yes, its true, if you or someone you know was diagnosed as having Mesothelioma, it might have been because of the environment hazards.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), has set certain limits for exposure to Asbestos which is considered safe. However, sufferers of Mesothelioma may not realize that the pain they are enduring was caused due to the negligence of those around them.

Those at an increased risk of developing Mesothelioma are

Workers at a shipyard
Workers at an asbestos mine and mill
Producers of asbestos products
Workers in the heating and construction industries
Trades people
Friends and family of the workers in the above listed fields.

Mesothelioma Resource Online, presents information that will help you understand the disease; its causes, effects and how you can best cope with it. We will also suggest resources where you can reach people, organizations and committees dedicated to helping patients of Mesothelioma in every way possible ---from emotional to legal perspectives and more!

Mesothelioma is sometimes misspelled as mesotheliomia, mesotheelioma, mesothilioma, mesothelimoa, mesotheloma, mesotheleoma, mesotheiloma, and mesotheliom. Before you start your search make sure that you know exactly how mesothelioma is spelled to get the best search results.

About Mesothelioma

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in individuals exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma victims have either inhaled or swallowed asbestos fibers which then travel through the lung and become lodged in the pleura (the thin, saran wrap-type membrane lining the lungs.) Each year 2,500 to 4,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.

While many uses for asbestos were banned in the mid-1970’s, the risk from exposure continues today due to mesothelioma’s long latency (inactive) period of anywhere between 15 – 50 years. Today, asbestos continues to be a threat to workers exposed through their occupations and in buildings that were erected prior to the ban. Experts predict that mesothelioma diagnoses will continue to increase in the United States for at least another 10 to 20 years.

Asbestos fibers are so toxic, that industrial and trade worker’s families may be exposed to mesothelioma through particles that cling to the worker’s clothing, shoes, skin and hair. This type of “second-hand” exposure to asbestos is known as Para occupational exposure.

Mesothelioma – The Disease

The National Cancer Institute defines mesothelioma as a rare form of cancer in which (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining of the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium). The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body and is made up of a layer surrounding the organ and another that forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid between these layers that enables moving organs (such as the beating heart the expansion and contraction of the lungs) to move smoothly against adjacent structures.

Cancerous cells can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs, and may also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body.

Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Symptoms

Because symptoms are generally non-specific and some patients do not even experience symptoms, a mesothelioma diagnosis may be delayed. The early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may resemble viral pneumonia and there may be persistent cough and pain in the chest area. As the disease progresses, the accumulation of fluid (pleural effusion) in the chest cavity causes pain and is accompanied by difficult breathing and shortness of breath. Other pleural mesothelioma symptoms may include with fever, loss, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, night sweats, weight loss, blood clotting problems and anemia. Pain, difficulty swallowing and swelling of the neck or face may indicate that the cancer has metastasized beyond the mesothelium. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms may include the above, as well as swelling or abdominal pain due to a fluid build-up

Diagnosis

Doctors use a variety of diagnostic procedures to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. These exams may include imaging tests, visualization tests, biopsies and pulmonary function tests. Because of the difficulties in diagnosing mesothelioma, doctors may perform other tests to confirm the presence of the disease. If the pathologist confirms a diagnosis of Mesothelioma, the doctor may request tests such as a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan to evaluate the stage or extent of the disease for an appropriate course of treatment.

Treatment

There is presently no known cure for Mesothelioma. As the disease progresses, the cancerous cells harden the lung area and spread. As time passes, breathing, sleeping and eating become more difficult, and it becomes increasingly more challenging for the victim to engage in normal activities and enjoy life.

There are three traditional types of treatment for mesothelioma patients: surgery to remove the cancerous masses from the body; chemotherapy, which uses potent drugs to destroy the cancer; and, radiation therapy using high doses of x-rays to kill the cancer cells. Doctors will often use two or more of these treatment courses jointly to provide the maximum likelihood of success.

Recently, the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center released the results of a yearlong clinical trial of Pemetrexed Disodium (Alimta). A clinical study has shown positive results when Alimta was used with vitamins and the traditional chemotherapy drug, Cisplatin, for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma. Because of its ability to reduce tumors, prolong survival and reduce pain, Alimta is available to some pleural mesothelioma patients on a “compassionate use” basis. Patients who have not yet received treatment for mesothelioma may be eligible to obtain Alimta free of charge prior to the Food and Drug Administration’s completion of its formal review of the drug in 2004.

Mesothelioma Was Preventable

Scores of corporations that manufactured and profited from the sale of asbestos-containing products knew the health hazards as early as the 1920's. During the same period, there were alternatives to asbestos available. Ignoring the deadly risks and repercussions associated with asbestos, corporations chose to sell and recklessly use it through the 1980's. These manufacturers did not advise workers of the dangers of asbestos and consequently, many Americans who have unnecessarily and tragically contracted Mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Attorneys San Diego

What Do You Need To Know Before Finding A Mesothelioma Attorney in San Diego?
To begin, the attorney must specialize in Mesothelioma cases and that has handled a large number of similar cases. You would also want the attorney to have enough staff to handle the legal process. Thirdly, you want a lawyer that will explain to you step by step the process and exactly what is details, as far as price, time and dedication.
What Is The Full Process?

Fees

The attorney must go through and explain all fees upfront. They should explain if your case should be handled as an individual case or as part of a class action. The attorney must explain if they work on a contingency fee and how much that percentage is. They must also tell you about any other fees entailed.

Steps

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask you, where and when you were exposed to asbestoses. The answer to this question is also critical to the Mesothelioma Attorneys San Diego for investigating the claim. The doctor's diagnosis and treatment plan is also key in determining compensation sufficient to cover the cost of that treatment.

Investigation

The law firm will need to have specialized investigators research the potential sources of the asbestos exposure. The investigators will also research the exposure sites and products, the manufacturers, the distributors and sellers of the asbestoses materials and products responsible for the exposure to asbestos.

The Filing Of The Law Suit

The attorney will then be in a position to file a suit and a claim for damages against the parties responsible for the client's exposure to asbestoses.

Client's Deposition

Soon after the filing of the law suit the attorney will ask to provide testimony concerning the merits of the case including patient's medical condition and circumstances of exposure.

Trial / Settlement?

The case will either go to trial or a settlement will be agreed to.

Appeals

Should either the client or the defendant not accept the judgment they have the right to appeal. The law firm the patient chooses should include the appeals process as part of the agreement.

Asbestos Exposure in San Diego

San Diego has ranked high over the years in the number of cancer-related deaths due to mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Because San Diego was a hub of activity for the United States Navy, many people were unknowingly exposed to asbestos fibers at ship repair facilities and naval bases. Over 400 people in San Diego County have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last 20 years. Yet mesothelioma isn’t limited to San Diego. Elsewhere in Southern California mesothelioma has affected workers and their families.

Communities such as Orange County, Ventura, San Bernardino and Los Angeles all harbor their share of mesothelioma cases. Los Angeles County reported 366 cases of mesothelioma between 2001 and 2005. Orange County reported 145 cases in the same period. San Diego County reported 157 cases. In fact nearly half the cases in all of California during those five years have been discovered in Southern California.

The attorneys at Clapper Patti Schweizer & Mason, who have represented mesothelioma patients for more than 25 years, are specialists in obtaining substantial settlements in asbestos lawsuits. In San Diego alone, for instance, our attorneys have obtained millions in compensation for residents with asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.

In our vast library of information about risk sites we have evidence of the types and brands of asbestos products used at each location, including the following:

• 32nd Street Naval Base
• North Island Naval Air Station
• Campbell Industries Shipyard
• San Diego Marine Shipyard
• Triple A Shipyard
• National Steel Shipyard
• San Diego County Courthouse
• San Diego County Jail
• San Diego Juvenile Courthouse Complex
• San Diego County Mental Health Center
• University of San Diego Hospital
• San Diego Health Services Complex

Mesothelioma is a very serious form of cancer. Those who have been touched by mesothelioma have tough challenges. There are many treatment options but treatment is expensive. Mesothelioma diagnosis can often mean financial hardship unless patients receive some kind of legal assistance.

Our Resources Are Available to You

This is where the legal expertise, experience and resources of Clapper Patti Schweizer & Mason can help. We make substantial financial resources available to our clients to fight mesothelioma and obtain fast compensation. Our experienced asbestos attorneys, coupled with our database and staff of investigators, provide the basis of a successful lawsuit and prompt settlements to San Diego and Southern California families impacted by mesothelioma.

We get to know each client personally, learn his personal history of asbestos exposure and determine which asbestos companies were responsible. Investigation is key to identifying the responsible companies, since each person’s exposure to asbestos varies based on when and where he or she worked.

Some workers, such as insulators, shipyard employees or boilermakers had jobs that obviously involved working with asbestos. However, many mesothelioma victims whom we have represented have not known how or when they were exposed to asbestos fibers until our lawyers completed an extensive investigation into their work history and likely exposure.

If you are unsure how you were exposed to asbestos, it does not mean you do not have a strong case. You should call Clapper Patti Schweizer & Mason immediately for a free consultation.

Many people with mesothelioma who contact us mistakenly believe the asbestos companies did not know their products caused cancer until it was revealed to the public in the 1970’s. This is not true. Documents we have obtained in litigation show that asbestos manufacturers knew for certain that their factory workers were afflicted with asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma as early as the 1930’s and 1940’s. Yet the companies hid this information.

It is a modern tragedy that most cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers could and should have been prevented. While we cannot undo the harm that the use of asbestos has caused, our mission as mesothelioma attorneys is to hold the wrongdoers accountable, and to recover the maximum compensation possible for our mesothelioma clients.

Representing Families

Our attorneys also represent spouses, sons and daughters of people who have died from mesothelioma. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, please contact us as soon as possible. One of our lawyers will fly to your home within a few days. In most cases you will not have to travel or appear in court.

Our lawyers will meet with you, take video depositions and investigate your case thoroughly. You will not be subject to any attorneys’ fees unless or until we obtain a financial settlement for you.

Call our toll-free number, or fill out the contact form, to consult with an experienced asbestos lawyer about financial assistance available to mesothelioma patients. Remember, there is no cost to you to begin the investigation and bring your case to a successful conclusion. The number is 1-800-440-4262. We will respond right away.

Mesothelioma Attorneys serving clients in San Diego California and across the United States

We are California mesothelioma attorneys with years of success recovering millions for San Diego mesothelioma patients and their families. Because San Diego has been such a hub of activity for the United States Navy, many people who were exposed to asbestos at San Diego ship repair facilities and Naval bases have been afflicted with mesothelioma.

Our attorneys have been representing mesothelioma patients for 25 years.

We have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury awards for our clients in asbestos lawsuits.

San Diego sites where our clients have worked include the 32nd Street Naval Base, North Island Naval Air Station, Campbell Industries Shipyard, San Diego Marine Shipyard, Triple A Shipyard, National Steel Shipyard, San Diego County Courthouse, the San Diego County Jail, San Diego Juvenile Courthouse Complex, San Diego County Mental Health Center, University of San Diego Hospital, San Diego Health Services Complex, among many others. We have a vast library of information about these and many other San Diego sites, that includes information about the types and brands of asbestos products used at each location.

We represent mesothelioma patients and their families. Mesothelioma is a very serious form of cancer, and families who have been touched by mesothelioma have many challenges ahead. Whatever treatment options a mesothelioma patient chooses, treatment is expensive. A mesothelioma diagnosis can often mean financial hardship without some kind of legal assistance. Our experienced asbestos attorneys can help provide fast compensation to San Diego area families impacted by mesothelioma. The financial resources we make available allow our clients to focus on fighting mesothelioma, beating the odds, and enjoying time with their loved ones.

Every mesothelioma patient’s exposure to asbestos is different. Some, such as insulators, shipyard workers, or boilermakers, had jobs that obviously involved working with asbestos. However, many mesothelioma victims we have represented have not known how or when they were exposed to asbestos until our lawyers completed an extensive asbestos exposure investigation.

By getting to know each client as an individual, and by learning each client’s personal story of asbestos exposure, we can show which asbestos companies were responsible for causing the mesothelioma. As lawyers for people with mesothelioma we hold the asbestos industry accountable for the damage their asbestos products have done. Many people with mesothelioma who first contact us mistakenly believe the asbestos companies did not know their asbestos products caused cancer until the 1970's or 1980's.

This is unfortunately not true. Documents our lawyers have obtained in litigation show that manufacturers of asbestos products knew the workers in their own factories were getting asbestos related lung cancer and mesothelioma from asbestos as early as the 1930's and 1940's, yet they hid this knowledge. It is a modern tragedy that most cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos cancers could and should have been prevented. While we cannot undo the harm that asbestos has caused, our mission as mesothelioma attorneys is to hold the wrongdoers accountable, and to recover the maximum compensation possible for our mesothelioma clients.

Our lawyers represent not only people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, but also spouses, sons and daughters of people who have died from mesothelioma. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, please contact us as soon as possible. One of our lawyers will fly to your home within a few days. In most cases, you will not have to travel or even appear in court. Our lawyers will investigate your case, meet with you and take video depositions. You will not have to pay any attorneys’ fees unless we obtain a financial settlement for you. Call our toll-free number or fill out the contact form on this page to consult with an experienced asbestos lawyer at no cost about financial assistance available to mesothelioma patients.

Mesothelioma Attorney Recovering Compensation For Years

More Client Verdicts & Settlements

Specific Results Depend on the Facts of Each Case.

Danziger & Dellano, P.C. has been working on many significant legal victories and settlements for mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer victims. Here are some examples of cases we have been involved with to achieve results for our clients.

The cases described here start with the approximate date of diagnosis. Many of these cases have recovered some compensation from different defendants and amounts will be filled in at a later point to reflect the net amounts of the judgments or settlements our clients receive after the deduction of attorneys fees and expenses-in other words, what our clients actually receive. The actual settlement or verdict would be higher. These cases were all handled by various attorneys serving as lead counsel.

10,17,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former Navy man and nuclear engineer who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 64. He was exposed to asbestos while serving in the Navy as a nuclear submarine engineer, and at various nuclear plants after his service in the Navy.

3,4,2005 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former navy man and maintenance mechanic, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 57. He was exposed to asbestos as a machinist mate in the Navy, and later as an HVAC mechanic.

12,2,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former navy man, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 61. He was exposed to asbestos as a machinist mate serving on various Navy ships in the 1960’s.

6,2,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Laborer at marble company, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 48. He was exposed to asbestos as a laborer working around boilers and as a roofer.

12,1,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Drywaller and pipefitter, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 81. He was exposed to asbestos as a drywaller using joint compounds, and as a pipefitter at an oil refinery.

2,11,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Reporter for TV station, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 68. Her only known exposure to asbestos was in the laundry room in the basement of her apartment building, where asbestos insulation was in disrepair.

10,10,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Grain sacker, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 63. He was exposed to asbestos products while sacking grain products in the boiler room of a plant.

5,7,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former Navy man, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 64. He was exposed to asbestos products as a electronics technician in the Navy.

1,30,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former Navy man, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 64. He was exposed to asbestos products while serving in the Navy, and as an electronic technician.

10,17,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Wife of refinery worker, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 91. Sh was exposed to asbestos products through contact with the clothes of her husband, who worked as a foreman at an oil refinery.

10,29,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Wife of floor layer, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 79. She was exposed to asbestos products through contact with the clothes of her husband, who worked with flooring materials.

1,30,2005 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Carpenter, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 76. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a carpenter and maintenance mechanic at various work sites.

9,30,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Wife of a contractor, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 65. She was exposed to asbestos products through contact with the clothes of her husband, a building contractor, and her brother, a merchant marine.

11,24,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Oil refinery worker and former Navy man, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 84. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a general laborer in an oil refinery, and during his service in the Navy.

7,14,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Wife of a machinist, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 63. She was exposed to asbestos products through contact with the clothes of her husband, a machinist.

2,23,2005 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Power plant worker, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 74. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a general laborer at a power plant.

10,22,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former plumber and navy man, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 67. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a plumber, and through his service in the Navy.

9,23,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former warehouseman, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 59. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a warehouseman at a shipyard.

12,8,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Electrician and former Navy man, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 77. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as an electrician and through his service in the Navy.

1,1,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Railroad and papermill worker, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 70. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work for the railroad, and as a mechanic and pipefitter at papermills.

2,15,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Wife of a utility company worker, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 81. She was exposed to asbestos products through contact with the clothes of her husband, who worked as a lineman and foreman for a utility company.

2,12,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Grinder, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 78. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a grinder and laborer at different work sites.

2,16,2005 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former brickmason, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 77. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a brickmason at various work sites.

12,3,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Cement worker and former Navy man, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 57. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a cement finisher, and during his service in the Navy.

11,18,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Career welder, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 55. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a welder at various power plants.

10,2,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former power plant worker, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 84. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a pipefitter at a power plant.

7,27,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former electrical engineer and electronic technician, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 67. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a electronic fuel technician in the Air Force, and through his work as an electrical engineer.

7,28,2005 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Floor covering installer, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 73. He was exposed to asbestos through his work installing asbestos tiles.

9,9,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Career welder, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 73. He was exposed to asbestos through his work as a welder at various chemical plants.

2,5,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former sheet-metal worker and machinist, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 87. He was exposed to asbestos through his work a machinist and also doing sheet-metal work.

6,29,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former welder, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 56. He was exposed to asbestos through his work as a welder and shipyard worker, and also during his service in the Navy.

9,15,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Wife of a paper-mill worker, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 51. She was exposed to asbestos through contact with the clothes of her husband, who worked in the power plant of a paper mill.

10,22,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former pipefitter, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 70. He was exposed to asbestos through his work as a pipefitter at various work sites, and also during his service in the Navy.

11,5,2003 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Wife of a maintenance mechanic, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 51. She was exposed to asbestos through contact with the clothes of her husband, who worked as a maintenance mechanic for a utility company, and she was also exposed to asbestos at a building where she worked.

4,22,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Former Navy man and boilermaker, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 73. He was exposed to asbestos through his work maintaining boilers at various work sites, and also during his service in the Navy maintaining boilers and turbines.

1,17,2004 Client is still recovering Attorney's Fees and Expenses. Wife of an auto mechanic, who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 78. She was exposed to asbestos through contact with the clothes of her husband, who worked as an automobile mechanic.

Please note:
Our lawyers specialize in lawsuits seeking compensation for mesothelioma victims. Persons with this disease may be entitled to compensation from the companies that manufactured the asbestos products that caused a person to develop mesothelioma. Even if the exposure to asbestos fibers was caused by the negligence of an asbestos company years ago, mesothelioma lawyers can still fight for compensation. Because every affected person that is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma has a unique exposure history to asbestos fibers, our attorneys must devote sufficient time and attention to investigate this exposure in detail. Although most persons are exposed to asbestos in the work place, a significant percentage are exposed in the household through contact with a household member’s clothing.

Legal Information about mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The disease might have been preventable had the asbestos industry acted responsibly decades ago to protect the public from the dangers of asbestos. Unfortunately for the estimated 3,000 Americans diagnosed with mesothelioma each year, the asbestos industry hid the dangers of asbestos from the public for decades after it knew of the risks.

In these pages you will learn about the asbestos tragedy in the United States and how it has affected the lives and health of countless American workers and their families. You will also read about how people are exposed to asbestos, including the types of work sites where asbestos was once common and the trades that worked with and around asbestos-containing products. And you will learn how Baron & Budd was one of the first law firms in the country to fight for the rights of asbestos victims and is still widely recognized as a national leader in asbestos litigation to this day.

For nearly three decades, in courtrooms across the country, Baron & Budd has championed the rights of mesothelioma victims. Here are just a few examples of some of the results we have achieved for our mesothelioma clients:

The cases described here reflect the net amounts of the judgments or settlements our clients received after the deduction of attorneys fees and expenses-in other words, what our clients actually received. The actual settlement or verdict would be higher. These cases were all handled by Baron & Budd attorneys serving as lead counsel.

Specific Results Depend on the Facts of Each Case.

$10,603,661.00 Received by Client after Attorney’s Fees and Expenses for a gentleman who developed malignant mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to joint compound as a construction worker. This case went to trial and resulted in a significant verdict in favor of the gentleman, his wife and children that was listed by a national legal publication as one of the top verdicts in the U.S. that year. The case subsequently settled.

$6,356,942.00 Received by Client after Attorney’s Fees and Expenses, for the widow of a man who died at the age of 50 after developing asbestos-related mesothelioma. He was exposed to asbestos while serving in the Navy aboard nuclear submarines during the 1960s. This case went to trial against the manufacturer of an asbestos-containing pipe covering product. The jury awarded a significant verdict, which was affirmed on appeal.

$4,380,755.00 Received by Client after Attorney’s Fees and Expenses, for an ironworker who worked at a number of industrial sites throughout his career and who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 79.

Mesothelioma Lawyers

Many Mesothelioma attorneys have asbestos cases based on the contamination of vermiculite, a hydrous silicate mineral, shipped by WR Grace to about 240 plants across the country. Federal authorities in 22 states are investigating 28 plants stretching across from North Dakota to Florida and Massachusetts to California, including one plant in Hawaii.

As Mesothelioma attorneys continue to prove the correlation between clients' illnesses and asbestos contimination, legislators struggle to approve a bill that will provide enough compensation for all victims who worked at mining plants and all neighboring residents who were exposed to the toxic chemicals. Currently legislators are having trouble determining how the funding will ensure compensation for victims who will continue to develop asbestos-related illnesses for years to come. The bill has yet to be approved.

Mesothelioma Attorneys

Because Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can take up to 20 years to develop, Mesothelioma attorneys need specific training and experience when seeking compensation for clients. Mesothelioma attorneys have a specific team of medical professionals who interpret health records and testing documentation to prove the specific correlation between a patient's side-effects and the Mesothelioma diagnosis.

Once the illness has been properly identified, Mesothelima attorneys must prove that the cause of the illness is the particular exposure to the toxic chemical, at a duration and amount significant enough to cause the health-related symtoms. Often it can take up to 50 years for a person to show the type of dehabilitation necessary for Mesothelioma attorneys to obtain compensation.

Not everyone who works with or was exposed to asbestos can prove that they have suffered injuries related to asbestos contamination. With years of prosecuting the cases that have bankrupted hundreds of asbestos companies, Mesothelioma attorneys have intimate knowledge of the specific evidence necessary to prove the direct correlation between absestos and asbestos-related illnesses such as Mesothelioma and lung cancer. Most recently, WR Grace & Co and its seven executives were charged in conspiring to hide asbestos contamination at a mine in Libby, Montana, which prosecutors claim was responsible for the illnesses of 1200 people resulting in 200 deaths.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Mesothelioma lawsuits require Mesothelioma attorneys experienced in this special type of case. Mesothelioma attorneys are ready and available to assist you with your mesothelioma lawsuit claim. If you have ever been exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible for a mesothelioma lawsuit claim. Contact a LawInfo Lead Counsel qualified mesothelioma attorney today.

As the U.S. Senate considers a bill to protect companies from lawsuits brought by hundreds of thousands of Americans harmed by asbestos, the first-ever analysis of federal mortality records finds that 10,000 Americans die each year from asbestos exposure, and projects that up to ten times that many will die in the next decade.

Although many Americans believe that asbestos has already been banned and its victims have been compensated by the courts, the EWG Action Fund study reports that 30 million pounds of asbestos are used in the U.S. each year, lists dozens of widely-used consumer products that still contain it, and says more than one million workers are exposed every year. Are you one of them?

In 1991, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned what was commonly known as the "Asbestos Ban and Phaseout Rule of 1989." Consequently, scores of asbestos products remain on the market today. The 2001 Mineral Commodity Summary for Asbestos from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported 61% of the asbestos used in the United States (in 2000) was in roofing products, 19% in friction products, 13% in gaskets, and 7% was classified as "other."

Despite the court's actions, a short list of products still remain banned under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Clean Air Act. These include: corrugated paper, rollboard, commercial paper, specialty paper, flooring felt, sprayed-on materials containing more than one percent asbestos, and all new asbestos applications are banned.

Selecting a Mesothelioma Attorney

These pages provide consumer tips for how to deal with the financial aspects of selecting a mesothelioma attorney. They do not provide any information regarding the medical aspects of this serious disease.

Since so much is at stake, selecting the right mesothelioma lawyer is very important. According the Wall Street Journal, lawyers say a typical mesothelioma award in a mesothelioma settlement is $1 million, and attorneys get 40% of this amount. If the case actually goes to trial, the average award was $6 million in 2001, which was triple the amount awarded just two years earlier.

So, mesothelioma attorneys are very eager to find mesothelioma patients. And it's vital that patients select the mesothelioma attorneys that are best for them.

A Brief Background on Your Legal Rights Regarding Mesothelioma

Companies that manufacture products that contain asbestos have known for over 60 years that asbestos can cause serious diseases.

Unfortunately, because many of these companies wanted to increase their profits, they kept this information quiet, thereby seriously endangering their workers.

There are now laws that help protect the workers who have been harmed by their exposure to these asbestos-related products.

However, since representing mesothelioma can be so profitable to attorneys, it is important that people who have mesothelioma be especially careful selecting attorneys who are really qualified to represent them. Therefore, we have created a list of...

Important Questions to Ask When Selecting a Mesothelioma Attorney

Question #1 to Ask When Selecting a Mesothelioma Attorney:

What is your personal experience in representing mesothelioma patients? Your goal is to find out how many cases the attorney has actually handled.

You also want to know: how many of these were settled, and how many of these went to trial? What were the results of each case?

You should ask the same questions about his or her law firm. You're goal is to find out about the firm -- is this an area the firm specializes in?

Question #2 to Ask When Selecting a Mesothelioma Attorney:

Next, you want to ask if the lawyer intends to actually handle your case him or herself. Many attorneys simply refer these cases to another law firm and receive part of the fee in exchange. This may not be in your best interest.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A doctor 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 laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

• chest wall pain
• pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
• shortness of breath
• fatigue or anemia
• wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
• blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

• abdominal pain
• ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
• a mass in the abdomen
• problems with bowel function
• weight loss

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

• blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
• disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
• jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
• low blood sugar level
• pleural effusion
• pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
• severe ascites

A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. It occurs after long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos, e.g. in mining, and is therefore regarded as an occupational lung disease. Sufferers have severe dyspnea (shortness of breath) and are at an increased risk regarding several different types of lung cancer.

As clear explanations are not always stressed in non-technical literature, care should be taken to distinguish between several forms of relevant diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), these may be defined as; asbestosis (the subject of this article), lung cancer, and mesothelioma (generally a very rare form of cancer, but increasing in frequency as people exposed to asbestos age).

Signs and symptoms

The primary symptom of asbestosis is generally the slow onset of shortness of breath on exertion.^[1] In severe, advanced cases, this may lead to respiratory failure. Coughing is not usually a typical symptom, unless the patient has other, concomitant respiratory tract diseases.

People with extensive occupational exposure to the mining, manufacturing, handling or removal of asbestos are at risk of developing asbestosis.^[2] There is also an increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma. Asbestosis and lung cancer require prolonged exposure to asbestos. However, cases of mesothelioma have been documented with even 1-3 months of exposure,^[3][4] and only indirect exposure (through air ventilation system.) Most cases of asbestosis do not become apparent until 5-10 years after the initial exposure to the material.

Pathogenesis

Asbestosis is the scarring of lung tissue (around terminal bronchioles and alveolar ducts) resulting from the inhalation of asbestos fibers.^[5] There are two types of fibers, amphibole (thin and straight) and serpentine (curved). The former are primarily responsible for human disease as they are able to penetrate deeply into the lungs. When such fibers reach the alveoli (air sacs) in the lung, where oxygen is transferred into the blood, the foreign bodies (asbestos fibers) cause the activation of the lung's local immune system and provoke an inflammatory reaction. This inflammatory reaction can be described as chronic rather than acute, with a slow ongoing progression of the immune system in an attempt to eliminate the foreign fibres. Macrophages phagocytose (ingest) the fibers and stimulate fibroblasts to deposit connective tissue. Due to the asbestos fibres' natural resistance to digestion, the macrophage will die off, releasing certain cytokines and attracting further lung macrophages and fibrolastic cells to lay down fibrous tissue, which eventually forms a fibrous mass. The result is interstitial fibrosis. The fibrotic scar tissue causes alveolar walls to thicken, which reduces elasticity and gas diffusion, reducing oxygen transfer to the blood as well as the removal of carbon dioxide.

Asbestosis presents as a restrictive lung disease. The total lung capacity (TLC) may be reduced through alveolar wall thickening. In the more severe cases, the drastic reduction in lung function due to the stiffening of the lungs and reduced TLC may induce right-sided heart failure (cor pulmonale).^[6][7]

More than 50% of people affected with asbestosis develop plaques in the parietal pleura, in the space between the chest wall and lungs. Clinically, patients present with dry inspiratory crackles, clubbing of the fingers, and a diffuse fibrotic pattern in the lower lung lobes (where asbestosis is most prevalent).

Treatment

There is no curative treatment.^[8] Oxygen therapy at home is often necessary to relieve the shortness of breath. Supportive treatment of symptoms includes respiratory physiotherapy to remove secretions from the lungs by postural drainage, chest percussion, and vibration. Nebulized medications may be prescribed in order to dilute secretions.

Legal issues

Main article: Asbestos and the law

The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers ^[8] , for neglecting to implement safety measures after the link between asbestos, asbestosis and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898 in modern times). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars. The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases.

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,^[1] the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.^[2] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.^[3] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.