There are a handful of possible sources of financial assistance and/or compensation for people with mesothelioma.
Manufacturers of Asbestos Products Generally, the greatest amount of compensation can be recovered from the asbestos industry. Law firms handling these cases do so on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront expenses and the firm's payment, if any, comes only from the award or settlement amount they secure on your behalf. In the past two years, many major asbestos manufacturing companies have filed for bankruptcy due precisely to these type of cases, and more are expected to follow. It is therefore important to move quickly once the decision to pursue recovery against a manufacturer is made.
Disability Insurance Disability claims may be filed if one has such insurance either privately or through an employer.
Social Security Disability Disability claims can be filed with the federal social security system.
Worker's Compensation Only if asbestos exposure can be linked to a particular job-site can a worker's compensation claim be filed against an employer. It is also possible that a worker's compensation claim will conflict with the pursuit of other legal remedies, so it is advisable to consult with an attorney before pursuing this or any other avenue of monetary recovery.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Mesothelioma Clinical Trials
New mesothelioma treatments are being evaluated in mesothelioma clinical trials, and we all hope for a mesothelioma cure. Mesothelioma clinical trials are research studies that evaluate new mesothelioma treatments for safety, effectively and through the research that is acquired will one day result in a mesothelioma cure. There are no guarantees that a treatment offered through a mesothelioma clinical trial will work, and because the treatments are in the trial stage, there are some risks. However, a mesothelioma clinical trial is not undertaken unless the researchers believe the treatment may have some value.
Benefits of Participating in a Mesothelioma Clinical Trial
Mesothelioma clinical trials offer you the opportunity to receive the best healthcare available and to contribute to scientific evidence that will one day result in a mesothelioma cure.
You can choose to participate in a mesothelioma clinical trial and still work with your current healthcare team.
Some of the benefits you may derive from participating in a mesothelioma clinical trial include:
new treatments with mesothelioma drugs that may be more effective than the standard treatment mesothelioma doctors and nurses who will closely monitor your health status and watch very carefully for any side effects and changes in your condition while in the mesothelioma clinical trial part of your mesothelioma treatment may be free of charge satisfaction knowing that your involvement may ultimately help other people and result in mesothelioma cure.
knowing that, if one of the treatments being tested (either new or old) is apparently much better than the other, you will be switched to the better treatment.
Benefits of Participating in a Mesothelioma Clinical Trial
Mesothelioma clinical trials offer you the opportunity to receive the best healthcare available and to contribute to scientific evidence that will one day result in a mesothelioma cure.
You can choose to participate in a mesothelioma clinical trial and still work with your current healthcare team.
Some of the benefits you may derive from participating in a mesothelioma clinical trial include:
new treatments with mesothelioma drugs that may be more effective than the standard treatment mesothelioma doctors and nurses who will closely monitor your health status and watch very carefully for any side effects and changes in your condition while in the mesothelioma clinical trial part of your mesothelioma treatment may be free of charge satisfaction knowing that your involvement may ultimately help other people and result in mesothelioma cure.
knowing that, if one of the treatments being tested (either new or old) is apparently much better than the other, you will be switched to the better treatment.
Mesothelioma Side Effects
Some patients develop a temporary reduction in bone marrow function. This is generally mild but can occasionally be more severe. If it does occur, it can result in anemia, risk of bruising or bleeding and an increased risk of infection. If a patient develops a temporary reduction in bone marrow function, it will typically begin about 7 days after the treatment has been given and will usually reach its lowest point at about 10-14 days after the chemotherapy. Afterwards, the patient's blood count will increase steadily and will usually return to normal within 21 days.
Some patients will experience illness a few hours after treatment, but generally the symptoms are not severe, are treatable by anti-sickness drugs and will dissipate after a day or so. If more severe symptoms are experienced the patient should get in touch with his or her doctor straight away. For instance, patients who develop a high temperature (above 100.5F), suffer unexplained bruising or bleeding, or suddenly feel unwell (regardless of their temperature), are advised to contact their doctor or hospital immediately.
Some patients will experience a reduction in appetite but generally this is mild and only lasts a day or so. Some patients will experience a temporary effect on their liver and/or kidney functions, but these effects are unlikely to be noticed by the patient, and both liver and kidney will generally return to normal at the end of treatment. Gemcitabine may cause a mild treatable rash in some patients but again this symptom is temporary.
Some patients will develop fluid retention that will appear in the form of swelling ankles or breathlessness. In these instances a doctor should be notified immediately.
Less commonly patients will develop mouth sores and ulcers which are easily treated by prescribed medicines. Diarrhea is developed by 19% of patients receiving Gemcitabine but can also be easily controlled with medicine. Hair loss is seen in about 15% of patients but more commonly the patients hair only thins temporarily returning to its natural fullness once treatment is finished. It is imperative that patients relay any side effects or problems to their medical oncologists.
Some patients will experience illness a few hours after treatment, but generally the symptoms are not severe, are treatable by anti-sickness drugs and will dissipate after a day or so. If more severe symptoms are experienced the patient should get in touch with his or her doctor straight away. For instance, patients who develop a high temperature (above 100.5F), suffer unexplained bruising or bleeding, or suddenly feel unwell (regardless of their temperature), are advised to contact their doctor or hospital immediately.
Some patients will experience a reduction in appetite but generally this is mild and only lasts a day or so. Some patients will experience a temporary effect on their liver and/or kidney functions, but these effects are unlikely to be noticed by the patient, and both liver and kidney will generally return to normal at the end of treatment. Gemcitabine may cause a mild treatable rash in some patients but again this symptom is temporary.
Some patients will develop fluid retention that will appear in the form of swelling ankles or breathlessness. In these instances a doctor should be notified immediately.
Less commonly patients will develop mouth sores and ulcers which are easily treated by prescribed medicines. Diarrhea is developed by 19% of patients receiving Gemcitabine but can also be easily controlled with medicine. Hair loss is seen in about 15% of patients but more commonly the patients hair only thins temporarily returning to its natural fullness once treatment is finished. It is imperative that patients relay any side effects or problems to their medical oncologists.
Mesothelioma Drugs Alimta Pemetrexed
Alimta / Pemetrexed
Alimta is a new cancer drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta is given with cisplatin, another anti-cancer medicine. Alimta works by blocking specific enzymes thought to play a role in the rapid growth of these lung tumors. While Alimta is not a cure for malignant pleural mesothelioma in clinical trials patients who were treated with Alimta and cisplatin had a median survival of 12.1 months compared to 9.3 months for patients treated with cisplatin alone.
Alimta is given intravenously (into a vein), about every 21 days. Cisplatin is then infused about 30 minutes after Alimta treatment. To lower the chances of side effects with Alimta, it is necessary to take folic acid and vitamin B12 before, during, and after treatment.
To help your doctor decide if Alimta is right for you, tell your doctor if you:
plan to become pregnant, or if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or do not use effective birth control, because Alimta may harm your unborn baby. have kidney problems. are taking other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your doctor or health care provider if you are taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure, because there are many NSAID medicines. Most patients treated with Alimta will experience some side effects.
The most common side effects of Alimta are:
stomach upset, including nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea a drop in white blood cells, increasing the risk of infection a drop in red blood cells (anemia), causing tiredness or shortness of breath a drop in platelets that results in bruising or bleeding tiredness mouth, throat, or lip sores loss of appetite rash You should contact your doctor if you have signs of infection such as fever (temperature above 100.4F) chills, diarrhea, or mouth sores.
Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with Alimta because Alimta may cause harm to an unborn baby. Avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for at least 5 days before Alimta treatment, during the day of treatment, and for two days after treatment. If you are not sure if a drug you take is a NSAID, ask your doctor or pharmacist. There are many NSAID medicines that are prescription and over-the-counter.
Alimta®/Cisplatin Combination Approved for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Alimta® (pemetrexed) in combination with cisplatin (Platinol®) was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of inoperable malignant mesothelioma. Alimta®/cisplatin is the first and only drug regimen proven to improve the duration of survival for patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma.
The trial that prompted FDA approval of the Alimta®/cisplatin regimen for patients with malignant mesothelioma who are not eligible for surgery involved the direct comparison of the addition of Alimta® to cisplatin, versus cisplatin alone. Patients treated with Alimta® also received daily vitamin B12 injections and folic acid supplements, in order to reduce side effects. The trial included nearly 450 patients from 19 countries who had inoperable mesothelioma and were treated with either Alimta®/cisplatin or cisplatin alone. Overall survival was increased by 30% in the group of patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin (21.1 months), compared to the group treated with cisplatin alone (9.3 months). Furthermore, one-year survival rates were 50.3% for patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin, compared with only 38% of patients treated with cisplatin alone. Lung function was also improved with in the group of patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin compared to those treated with cisplatin alone. Side effects associated with Alimta® included low levels of blood cells, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, skin rash and fatigue.
Onconase
Onconase is a new chemotherapy drug that is being tested for efficacy in the treatment of mesothelioma. The drug with widespread acceptance for use in treatment is Doxorubicin. The benefit of Onconase over Doxorubicin is that Onconase is relatively free of the crippling side effects of traditional chemotherapy. The clinical trials for this drug are being held at several sites around the country.
Gemcitabine
Gemcitabine is a new chemotherapy drug for the treatment of mesothelioma. It is currently in clinical trials with many mesothelioma patients in combination with Cisplatin, Alimta and
Epirubicin.
It is believed to be the most effective drug in treatment of pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma patients have shown good responses. Gemcitabine is a clear liquid administered by an infusion that usually takes no longer than half an hour. It may also be given through a central line into a vein near the collarbone.
The method and schedule by which this drug is administration is determined by the type and extent of the cancer and is a decision made by the medical oncologist. Generally, it is given once a week for as long as the patient responds to the drug. The degree and severity of the side effects depend largely on the dosage administered.
Alimta is a new cancer drug used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Alimta is given with cisplatin, another anti-cancer medicine. Alimta works by blocking specific enzymes thought to play a role in the rapid growth of these lung tumors. While Alimta is not a cure for malignant pleural mesothelioma in clinical trials patients who were treated with Alimta and cisplatin had a median survival of 12.1 months compared to 9.3 months for patients treated with cisplatin alone.
Alimta is given intravenously (into a vein), about every 21 days. Cisplatin is then infused about 30 minutes after Alimta treatment. To lower the chances of side effects with Alimta, it is necessary to take folic acid and vitamin B12 before, during, and after treatment.
To help your doctor decide if Alimta is right for you, tell your doctor if you:
plan to become pregnant, or if you are pregnant, might be pregnant, or do not use effective birth control, because Alimta may harm your unborn baby. have kidney problems. are taking other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Tell your doctor or health care provider if you are taking NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure, because there are many NSAID medicines. Most patients treated with Alimta will experience some side effects.
The most common side effects of Alimta are:
stomach upset, including nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea a drop in white blood cells, increasing the risk of infection a drop in red blood cells (anemia), causing tiredness or shortness of breath a drop in platelets that results in bruising or bleeding tiredness mouth, throat, or lip sores loss of appetite rash You should contact your doctor if you have signs of infection such as fever (temperature above 100.4F) chills, diarrhea, or mouth sores.
Women should avoid becoming pregnant while being treated with Alimta because Alimta may cause harm to an unborn baby. Avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for at least 5 days before Alimta treatment, during the day of treatment, and for two days after treatment. If you are not sure if a drug you take is a NSAID, ask your doctor or pharmacist. There are many NSAID medicines that are prescription and over-the-counter.
Alimta®/Cisplatin Combination Approved for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Alimta® (pemetrexed) in combination with cisplatin (Platinol®) was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of inoperable malignant mesothelioma. Alimta®/cisplatin is the first and only drug regimen proven to improve the duration of survival for patients with advanced malignant mesothelioma.
The trial that prompted FDA approval of the Alimta®/cisplatin regimen for patients with malignant mesothelioma who are not eligible for surgery involved the direct comparison of the addition of Alimta® to cisplatin, versus cisplatin alone. Patients treated with Alimta® also received daily vitamin B12 injections and folic acid supplements, in order to reduce side effects. The trial included nearly 450 patients from 19 countries who had inoperable mesothelioma and were treated with either Alimta®/cisplatin or cisplatin alone. Overall survival was increased by 30% in the group of patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin (21.1 months), compared to the group treated with cisplatin alone (9.3 months). Furthermore, one-year survival rates were 50.3% for patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin, compared with only 38% of patients treated with cisplatin alone. Lung function was also improved with in the group of patients treated with Alimta®/cisplatin compared to those treated with cisplatin alone. Side effects associated with Alimta® included low levels of blood cells, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, skin rash and fatigue.
Onconase
Onconase is a new chemotherapy drug that is being tested for efficacy in the treatment of mesothelioma. The drug with widespread acceptance for use in treatment is Doxorubicin. The benefit of Onconase over Doxorubicin is that Onconase is relatively free of the crippling side effects of traditional chemotherapy. The clinical trials for this drug are being held at several sites around the country.
Gemcitabine
Gemcitabine is a new chemotherapy drug for the treatment of mesothelioma. It is currently in clinical trials with many mesothelioma patients in combination with Cisplatin, Alimta and
Epirubicin.
It is believed to be the most effective drug in treatment of pancreatic cancer and mesothelioma patients have shown good responses. Gemcitabine is a clear liquid administered by an infusion that usually takes no longer than half an hour. It may also be given through a central line into a vein near the collarbone.
The method and schedule by which this drug is administration is determined by the type and extent of the cancer and is a decision made by the medical oncologist. Generally, it is given once a week for as long as the patient responds to the drug. The degree and severity of the side effects depend largely on the dosage administered.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Before any mesothelioma surgery is considered for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma, the patient's overall health is carefully evaluated. Tests are performed to make sure the patient has no metastatic disease (cancer spread to distant sites) and to evaluate the patient's lung and heart function. Lung function often is reduced patients with pleural mesothelioma for several reasons. The pleural effusion (fluid collection) and the tumor mass caused by mesothelioma can compress the lung. Also, the patient's exposure to asbestos may have decreased lung function, which also decreases with age. In addition, some patients have a history of smoking cigarettes, which further decreases lung function.
Surgery for malignant mesothelioma can be aimed at long-term control (aggressive surgery) or relief of symptoms (palliative procedures).
Aggressive Surgery (Long Term Control) --
Extrapleural pneumonectomy involves removal of the pleura, the lung, the diaphragm and the pericardium. The intent of this very aggressive, complicated surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Not all mesothelioma hospitals will perform this procedure because of its complexity and because it carries a high risk of death within 30 days after surgery. Extrapleural pneumonectomy typically is performed only in younger patients in good overall health with Stage I disease. Patients are evaluated carefully to determine their ability to tolerate the surgery. (Important Note: Surgeons at different mesothelioma hospitals have different criteria for staging as it relates to acceptance for surgery. Therefore it is important to check with each mesothelioma hospitals to determine if you meet the surgery criterias.)
Call us at 1-800-919-3246, or email us using the form below for updated list of Mesothelioma hospitals that do these procedures.
Surgery to Relieve Symptoms (Palliative Procedures) --
When malignant mesothelioma is advanced, palliative procedures can be performed to relieve and/or control symptoms such as breathlessness, which are caused by effusion (fluid collection) or by the tumor compressing the lung or other organs. These procedures do not aim to cure the disease.
Thoracentesis can be used to treat effusion in pleural mesothelioma. A needle is inserted into the chest to drain the fluid, relieving breathlessness and pain. Talc may be introduced into the pleura to limit recurrence of the effusion. Similar procedures are used to treat ascites (fluid collection) in peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleurectomy/decortication is the surgical removal of the pleura. This procedure can be performed to reduce pain caused by the tumor mass or to prevent the recurrence of pleural effusion. For peritoneal mesothelioma, surgery generally is aimed at relieving symptoms, such as recurrent ascites or bowel obstruction. As with pleural mesothelioma, complete surgical removal of the entire tumor is unlikely. Chemotherapy /
Mesothelioma Drugs
Chemotherapy -- the use of medications to treat cancer . has had mixed results in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. Some chemotherapy drugs have a partial effect in some patients. Combination chemotherapy (using more than one drug at the same time) may be used to improve treatment. Some combinations have shown some promise, and some new mesothelioma drugs are being tried.
Like radiation therapy, chemotherapy may be administered after surgery in an attempt to kill cancer cells that could not be removed during the procedure.
See the Drugs section for more information on mesothelioma drugs such as Alimta, Onconase and Gemcitabine.
Radiation Therapy
Because of the location of malignant mesothelioma, it is extremely difficult to deliver sufficiently high doses of radiation to kill the tumor without damaging the surrounding organs. Lower doses of radiation can result in some reduction in the disease, but it is unclear whether this reduction actually results in longer survival than no treatment.
Using radiation therapy after surgery has not been shown to improve survival. However, because surgery is very unlikely to remove the entire tumor, radiation commonly is administered after surgery in the hopes of killing remaining tumor cells. In addition, radiation therapy can be used to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma, including chest pain.
Surgery for malignant mesothelioma can be aimed at long-term control (aggressive surgery) or relief of symptoms (palliative procedures).
Aggressive Surgery (Long Term Control) --
Extrapleural pneumonectomy involves removal of the pleura, the lung, the diaphragm and the pericardium. The intent of this very aggressive, complicated surgery is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Not all mesothelioma hospitals will perform this procedure because of its complexity and because it carries a high risk of death within 30 days after surgery. Extrapleural pneumonectomy typically is performed only in younger patients in good overall health with Stage I disease. Patients are evaluated carefully to determine their ability to tolerate the surgery. (Important Note: Surgeons at different mesothelioma hospitals have different criteria for staging as it relates to acceptance for surgery. Therefore it is important to check with each mesothelioma hospitals to determine if you meet the surgery criterias.)
Call us at 1-800-919-3246, or email us using the form below for updated list of Mesothelioma hospitals that do these procedures.
Surgery to Relieve Symptoms (Palliative Procedures) --
When malignant mesothelioma is advanced, palliative procedures can be performed to relieve and/or control symptoms such as breathlessness, which are caused by effusion (fluid collection) or by the tumor compressing the lung or other organs. These procedures do not aim to cure the disease.
Thoracentesis can be used to treat effusion in pleural mesothelioma. A needle is inserted into the chest to drain the fluid, relieving breathlessness and pain. Talc may be introduced into the pleura to limit recurrence of the effusion. Similar procedures are used to treat ascites (fluid collection) in peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleurectomy/decortication is the surgical removal of the pleura. This procedure can be performed to reduce pain caused by the tumor mass or to prevent the recurrence of pleural effusion. For peritoneal mesothelioma, surgery generally is aimed at relieving symptoms, such as recurrent ascites or bowel obstruction. As with pleural mesothelioma, complete surgical removal of the entire tumor is unlikely. Chemotherapy /
Mesothelioma Drugs
Chemotherapy -- the use of medications to treat cancer . has had mixed results in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. Some chemotherapy drugs have a partial effect in some patients. Combination chemotherapy (using more than one drug at the same time) may be used to improve treatment. Some combinations have shown some promise, and some new mesothelioma drugs are being tried.
Like radiation therapy, chemotherapy may be administered after surgery in an attempt to kill cancer cells that could not be removed during the procedure.
See the Drugs section for more information on mesothelioma drugs such as Alimta, Onconase and Gemcitabine.
Radiation Therapy
Because of the location of malignant mesothelioma, it is extremely difficult to deliver sufficiently high doses of radiation to kill the tumor without damaging the surrounding organs. Lower doses of radiation can result in some reduction in the disease, but it is unclear whether this reduction actually results in longer survival than no treatment.
Using radiation therapy after surgery has not been shown to improve survival. However, because surgery is very unlikely to remove the entire tumor, radiation commonly is administered after surgery in the hopes of killing remaining tumor cells. In addition, radiation therapy can be used to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma, including chest pain.
Mesothelioma Causes Risk Jobs
Exposure to asbestos fibers causes mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma can result A potentially dangerous exposure can result from very small fibers or dust particles at low exposure levels. Most such exposure would likely have occurred prior to the 1980s, but the latency period can be up to 40 years for most lung cancer to develop.
Many people have come into contact with asbestos fibers via their jobs, or occupational exposure. There is also a risk to the family members of those working in at-risk occupations; this exposure is called paraoccupational exposure. Likewise, people who live near sites likely to have asbestos around the facility are also at risk: refineries, power plants, factories, shipyards, steel mills and building demolition are types of work sites that can release asbestos fibers into the environment and contaminate nearby residential neighborhoods.
At Risk Job Locations:
Asbestos product manufacturing (insulation, roofing, building, materials)
Automotive repair (brakes & clutches)
Construction/contractors
Maritime
Miners
Offshore rust removals
Oil refineries
Power plants
Railroads
Sand or abrasive manufacturers
Shipyards / ships / ship builders
Steel mills
Tile cutters
At Risk Occupations:
Auto Mechanics
Boiler makers
Bricklayers
Building Inspectors
Carpenters
Drywallers
Electricians
Floor Coverings
Furnace Workers
Glazers
Grinders
Hod carriers
Insulators
Iron workers
Laborers
Longshoremen
Maintenance workers
Merchant marines
Millwrights
Operating Engineers
Painters
Plasterers
Plumbers
Roofers
Sand blasters
Sheet metal workers
Steam fitters
Tile setters
Welders
U.S. Navy veterans
Welders
Many occupations have an increased risk for developing lung cancer. For example, asbestos insulation workers have 92 times the risk of developing of lung cancer, and smelter workers have 3-8 times the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is also increased in people who work in the manufacturing of certain industrial gases, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, paints, inorganic pigments, plastics, and synthetic rubber.
The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the amount of exposure to the cancer-causing agent. For example, the risk of lung cancer in humans is proportional to the number of cigarettes smoked. The risk of developing lung cancer is 8-20 times greater in smokers compared to people who have never smoked. A smaller, but real risk exists for cigar and pipe smokers. Some cancer causing agents react together to significantly worsen the risk of developing cancer. The combined exposure to asbestos and tobacco smoke clearly multiplies the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is greater for those living in urban areas.
This risk is approximately 1.2 to 2.3 times that of people living in rural areas. There is also an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers whose close relatives have had lung cancer. Scarring in the lungs from previous infections or injury can be associated with and increased risk of cancer.
Many people have come into contact with asbestos fibers via their jobs, or occupational exposure. There is also a risk to the family members of those working in at-risk occupations; this exposure is called paraoccupational exposure. Likewise, people who live near sites likely to have asbestos around the facility are also at risk: refineries, power plants, factories, shipyards, steel mills and building demolition are types of work sites that can release asbestos fibers into the environment and contaminate nearby residential neighborhoods.
At Risk Job Locations:
Asbestos product manufacturing (insulation, roofing, building, materials)
Automotive repair (brakes & clutches)
Construction/contractors
Maritime
Miners
Offshore rust removals
Oil refineries
Power plants
Railroads
Sand or abrasive manufacturers
Shipyards / ships / ship builders
Steel mills
Tile cutters
At Risk Occupations:
Auto Mechanics
Boiler makers
Bricklayers
Building Inspectors
Carpenters
Drywallers
Electricians
Floor Coverings
Furnace Workers
Glazers
Grinders
Hod carriers
Insulators
Iron workers
Laborers
Longshoremen
Maintenance workers
Merchant marines
Millwrights
Operating Engineers
Painters
Plasterers
Plumbers
Roofers
Sand blasters
Sheet metal workers
Steam fitters
Tile setters
Welders
U.S. Navy veterans
Welders
Many occupations have an increased risk for developing lung cancer. For example, asbestos insulation workers have 92 times the risk of developing of lung cancer, and smelter workers have 3-8 times the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is also increased in people who work in the manufacturing of certain industrial gases, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, paints, inorganic pigments, plastics, and synthetic rubber.
The risk of developing lung cancer is related to the amount of exposure to the cancer-causing agent. For example, the risk of lung cancer in humans is proportional to the number of cigarettes smoked. The risk of developing lung cancer is 8-20 times greater in smokers compared to people who have never smoked. A smaller, but real risk exists for cigar and pipe smokers. Some cancer causing agents react together to significantly worsen the risk of developing cancer. The combined exposure to asbestos and tobacco smoke clearly multiplies the risk of developing lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is greater for those living in urban areas.
This risk is approximately 1.2 to 2.3 times that of people living in rural areas. There is also an increased risk of lung cancer in smokers whose close relatives have had lung cancer. Scarring in the lungs from previous infections or injury can be associated with and increased risk of cancer.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
The diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma cancer begins with a medical history to document the patient's symptoms and any possible asbestos exposure, followed by a complete physical examination. These steps generally are followed by a chest or abdominal X-ray or an MRI, which allows the doctor to assess the size, location and extent of the tumor in the chest or abdomen.
If fluid is present in the pleura or peritoneum, a thin needle may be used to collect a small sample of the fluid for examination. This procedure, called fine-needle aspiration, also may be used to drain the fluid to relieve symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath that can result from an effusion. Occasionally, mesothelioma cancer can be diagnosed with this fluid sample alone, but usually a tissue sample (biopsy) is required. The tissue sample can be obtained via thoracoscopy (for a pleural tumor) or via laparoscopy (for an abdominal tumor). In both procedures, a tube-like instrument inserted through a small incision allows the physician to view the tumor and collect a tissue sample. Patients suspected of having malignant pleural mesothelioma also may need a procedure called bronchoscopy.
If fluid is present in the pleura or peritoneum, a thin needle may be used to collect a small sample of the fluid for examination. This procedure, called fine-needle aspiration, also may be used to drain the fluid to relieve symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath that can result from an effusion. Occasionally, mesothelioma cancer can be diagnosed with this fluid sample alone, but usually a tissue sample (biopsy) is required. The tissue sample can be obtained via thoracoscopy (for a pleural tumor) or via laparoscopy (for an abdominal tumor). In both procedures, a tube-like instrument inserted through a small incision allows the physician to view the tumor and collect a tissue sample. Patients suspected of having malignant pleural mesothelioma also may need a procedure called bronchoscopy.
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Mesothelioma Symptoms
In its early stages, mesothelioma does not have many symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they are often caused by the cancer growing and pressing on a nerve or other body organ.
The symptoms of the 2 main types of mesothelioma are different.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms are:
Pain in the lower back or the side of the chest
A persistent cough
Shortness of breath
A hoarse or husky voice
Losing more than 10% of your weight when not dieting
Sweating and fevers
Difficulty swallowing
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms are:
Pain in the abdomen (stomach)
Swelling in the abdomen
Feeling or being sick
Poor appetite
Losing more than 10% of your weight when not dieting
Diahrea or constipation
These symptoms are all more likely to be caused by some other illness, rather than by mesothelioma. But if you have these symptoms, see your doctor. This is particularly important if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past.
In its early stages, mesothelioma does not have many symptoms. When symptoms do develop, they are often caused by the cancer growing and pressing on a nerve or other body organ.
The symptoms of the 2 main types of mesothelioma are different.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms are:
Pain in the lower back or the side of the chest
A persistent cough
Shortness of breath
A hoarse or husky voice
Losing more than 10% of your weight when not dieting
Sweating and fevers
Difficulty swallowing
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms are:
Pain in the abdomen (stomach)
Swelling in the abdomen
Feeling or being sick
Poor appetite
Losing more than 10% of your weight when not dieting
Diahrea or constipation
These symptoms are all more likely to be caused by some other illness, rather than by mesothelioma. But if you have these symptoms, see your doctor. This is particularly important if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past.
Pleural Mesothelioma - Cancer of the Lung Lining
Pleural Mesothelioma - Cancer of the Lung Lining
Pleural Mesothelioma, pleura mesothelioma or malignant pleural mesothelioma is mesothelioma cancer in the lining of the lungs. This is different from lung cancer, which refers to any type of malignant tumor that originates in the lungs.
The pleura, is the tissues lining or covering that surrounds the lungs. 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 2 pleura. This helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when they are inflating and deflating as we breathe.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma accounting for 80-90% of mesothelioma cases.
Pleural Mesothelioma, pleura mesothelioma or malignant pleural mesothelioma is mesothelioma cancer in the lining of the lungs. This is different from lung cancer, which refers to any type of malignant tumor that originates in the lungs.
The pleura, is the tissues lining or covering that surrounds the lungs. 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 2 pleura. This helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when they are inflating and deflating as we breathe.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma accounting for 80-90% of mesothelioma cases.
Mesothelioma Treatment: What You Can Do
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, remember that time matters. The faster you consult your doctor and get professional care the better your chances will be of dealing with this dangerous cancer. There are three traditional methods of fighting cancerous mesothelioma: surgery, chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy. Please contact your doctor as soon as possible to get more information.
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