Mesothelioma : Asbestos Cancer

Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer Information

Mesothelioma FYI is a resource for those seeking detailed information on mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos exposure leading to asbestos cancer and disease. Mesothelioma FYI provides medical and legal information to mesothelioma, asbestosis, and asbestos exposure victims and their loved ones. This mesothelioma information resource is sponsored by the following leading mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys dedicated to defending the rights of those victimized by employers and manufacturers that have led to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Information

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is not a form of lung cancer. It actually develops in the mesothelium; a thin, double-layered protective sheath that surrounds vital organs and body cavities. The mesothelium that protects the chest and lungs is called the pleura and the mesothelium that surrounds the abdomen is called the peritoneum. This protective tissue holds vital organs in position and provides lubrication that allows internal organs to smoothly move during breathing and movements. Mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Mesothelioma asbestos cancer can be very difficult to diagnose and can take anywhere from 25 to sometimes 50 years to develop. Prognosis for mesothelioma is poor and is worse than other forms of asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma typically affects the pleural mesothelium but in some cases, patients develop peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen.
Since the only known cause for mesothelioma is asbestos, there is a chance that an asbestos company can be held responsible for your asbestos exposure and resulting mesothelioma or asbestos disease. Retaining a qualified mesothelioma attorney may help you receive the compensation you and your family deserve.

Asbestos

Asbestos is a mineral substance that occurs naturally in our environment. Asbestos has a long history of useful applications, as it is one of few minerals that have a fibrous structure that can be woven into fabric, rope, and added into other products to add strength and flexibility. Asbestos is highly heat and chemical resistant. This is why asbestos is used in so many insulation applications. Asbestos fibers can be broken down to microscopic size. Exposure to these tiny asbestos fibers can cause to asbestos cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatment Information

Mesothelioma is an incurable disease. However, if mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed early the patient's quality and length of life may be greatly increased. There are several mesothelioma cancer treatments that deal.

Mesothelioma Information - Please Note:

Many surviving patients claim that the most powerful treatment against mesothelioma cancer, or any terminal condition, is a good attitude and appreciation of life. Medical research has proven the benefits of a positive attitude against disease; patients with positive outlooks show increased immune activity, more energy, and are more independent than those who remain isolated and in depression.
There are three common methods of treatment for malignant mesothelioma cancer:

Surgery - Invasive techniques remove the cancerous tissues from the body
Radiation treatments- External or internal devices used to shrink reduce mesothelioma cancer in the patient
Chemotherapy - a mesothelioma treatment in which a series of pills or injections cause the cancer to discontinue reproducing.

In addition to the above mesothelioma treatments, there are additional mesothelioma cancer clinical trials being conducted to help patients with the disease. If you or a loved one is suffering from mesothelioma, there is hope. Also, You may be able to hold accountable those responsible for your suffering by seeking the advice of a qualified mesothelioma lawyer.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a very serious malignant tumor that affects the torso of the human body. There is a very strong link between mesothelioma and exposure to asbestos particles (by breathing or swallowing). There are three common forms of mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form of Mesothelioma. It starts in the chest cavity (after breathing the particles) before spreading to other areas.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma starts in the abdomen (after swallowing the particles) and accounts for about 10-20% of Mesothelioma patients.

Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rarest form of Mesothelioma. It starts in the cavity that surrounds the heart.Mesothelioma is so difficult to diagnose early because the symptoms are often mistaken for those of other, less serious ailments. To make matters worse, it often takes many years for the symptoms to show up after the asbestos exposure takes place.Here is a list of the most common Mesothelioma symptoms:

Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)
A cough that won't go away
A change in your normal coughing pattern
Frequent hoarseness or raspy voice
Significant weight loss that cannot be explained
Difficulty swallowing
Pain in the chest or abdomen
Coughing up blood

If you experience one or more of these symptoms of Mesothelioma for more than a short period of time, you should consult your physician right away. Mesothelioma, by its very nature, is very difficult to diagnose early (many people simply ignore the symptoms at first).This is why you need to pay attention to your body and monitor your health for the symptoms, especially if you're in one of these high-risk occupations:

Brake Mechanics
Steel Workers
Insulators
Boilermakers
Shipfitters
Maintenance Workers
Pipe Fitters

Any other occupation where exposure to asbestos is possible or likely Once Mesothelioma is diagnosed, the chances of recovery vary according to several factors, including the size and location of the tumor, how much it has spread, and the age of the patient.In general, the earlier that Mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the chances of survival. So if you experience any of the common Mesothelioma symptoms, see your doctor right away.

Who is at Risk for Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma, the deadly disease which has topped news headlines for the last decade, is contracted through exposure to airborne fibers of asbestos. Sadly, the under-regulation of asbestos usage in years past, and arguably still today, exposed millions to airborne fibers and as a result thousands contracted the disease.

It can be safely said that almost everyone in the world has been exposed to asbestos in varying degrees. Because of the unique nature of the disease, even those who have suffered only minimal exposure are at risk of contracting the disease. In effect, virtually everyone has some risk of contracting Mesothelioma.

But this sort of statement perhaps oversteps the bounds of rationality. While it is certainly true that individuals who have been exposed to small amounts of asbestos for relatively short periods of time have contracted the disease, this is a rarity rather than a regularity. In fact, the vast majority of Mesothelioma cases involve individuals who were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers for intense and extended periods of time.

The industries most in danger of prolonged exposure and thus of contraction are shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, textile manufacturing, insulation work in construction, and brake repair personnel. There are, however, some other minor factors which can affect the likelihood of contracting the disease. Among these is radiation exposure. There have been causes in which individuals who were exposed to radiation have subsequently displayed signs of and ultimately contracted mesothelioma. However, empirical studies to attempt to verify this correlation have not proven out this claim very strongly.

Another more certain cause of the disease was the taking of the Polio vaccine between 1955 and 1963. Some batches of this vaccine were contaminated with Simian Virus 40 which has been detected in a host of rare cancers including Mesothelioma.

Those involved in construction or who lived in homes in the Cappadocian region of Turkey are also particularly at risk. In this region, homebuilders used Erionite, which is a type of zeolite silica stone. Exposure to the fibrous strands of this building material have led to an annual death rate of roughly 1% of the population which dies of mesothelioma each year in Turkey.

One of the most influential factors affecting Mesothelioma contraction is genetics. Some individuals who have been exposed to long periods and high quantities of asbestos have not contracted the disease. As a result, doctors have concluded that genetics play a major role in determining whether or not patients contract the disease. Unfortunately, the gene variability which offers some resistance to the disease also means that some are particularly vulnerable to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma- the Financial Costs to Society

Mesothelioma- the Financial Costs to Society

Much has been written about asbestos related diseases such as Mesothelioma over the last couple of years. The focus has been on three main areas:

a) The unfortunate victims of mesothelioma such as former employees of asbestos mining companies who caught these diseases whilst in the course of their employment. We have seen the heart rendering images on TV of these people, all of them in their retirement years, gasping for air and suffering enormously.

b) Whether the asbestos mining companies knew that asbestos mining was a danger to human life.

c) The Multibillion dollar class actions filed by the victims against their former employers seeking compensation.

Two issues that have not been addressed are the financial costs to society of asbestos related diseases such as Mesothelioma cancer and who pays for these costs. Secondly, should asbestos mining companies be paying compensation not only to the sufferers of mesothelioma and other diseases but also to Society also?

There are two costs to society that can be identified. The first is the cost to the public health system. The second cost is the loss of tax revenue by governments due to Asbestos mining companies claiming a tax deduction for the compensation payments that are made to the victims.

In illustration of the costs to the public health system, the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia has stated that by 2020 there will be 13000 cases of mesothelioma and 40000 asbestos related lung cancer diseases, totaling 53000 people and this is only in Australia! This means that 53000 people will need to have constant medical attention for the next 15 years or so. The question therefore, who pays for the cost? The answer of course is the current taxpayer and the next generation of taxpayers.

In relation to tax revenue, governments are essentially missing out on tax revenue as the asbestos companies are claiming the compensation payment as a tax deduction. For illustrative purposes, assume that an asbestos mining company pays out $100m per year over five years to the victims. Also assume that the corporate tax rate is 30 per cent. Therefore over five years, a respective government is losing $150m in revenue. Essentially it means that the asbestos mining companies are sharing the costs with the taxpayer. They pay 70 per cent of the compensation payment and the taxpayer pays the remaining balance. Most people would view this as totally inequitable.

It can be seen that the Asbestos companies are only paying a part of the costs and not the full cost.

To rectify this, there are two possible solutions.

a) Respective Governments should also join class actions with Mesothelioma sufferers against the asbestos mining companies seeking compensation for medical and future medical costs. This would not be unprecedented as various State Governments of the United States sought compensation against the Tobacco Companies to pay for the medical costs of its citizens who needed medical attention because of the ill effects of smoking.

b) Governments deny a tax deduction for Mesothelioma compensation payments made by the asbestos mining companies.

Until either part a or part b happens, it is the taxpayer who will be unfairly burdened with the additional financial costs of Asbestos related diseases such as Mesothelioma.

10 Keys to Choosing a Mesothelioma Attorney

10 Keys to Choosing a Mesothelioma Attorney

Hiring a lawyer can be an intimidating process, especially if you've never hired one before. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cases are complex and require experienced, top notch attorneys. How do you know which lawyer will bring the attention and skill to your case that it deserves? We've compiled the following list to help you with your decision:

1. Trust your instincts. Do you feel comfortable talking with the prospective attorney? Does he or she listen and ask questions? If you feel that you are not being taken seriously, go elsewhere.

2. Check the attorney’s professional credentials. Carefully review the firm’s website and brochures, and check the attorney’s profile and rating at www.martindale-hubbell.com. If you’re still unsure, ask for references.

3. Make sure the firm is customer-oriented. Do you have direct access to the attorney who is actually responsible for your case? Does he or she return your phone calls promptly? Remember you are the customer and have the right to expect good service.

4. Ask if your case will be handled individually. Some firms will accept your case, only to bundle it with a large group of similar cases. This practice tends to diminish the value of stronger cases in order to help weaker ones.

5. Find an attorney with experience in mesothelioma litigation. Does your attorney have direct experience in mesothelioma litigation? Look nationally for a firm with a solid track record in this area.

6. Make sure your attorney has trial experience. Many attorneys have limited trial experience. Although most cases settle out of court, a lawyer with a strong trial record puts you in a better bargaining position during the negotiating process.

7. Find a skilled negotiator. Does your attorney have training in negotiation? What is his or her settlement value track record? Even though most lawyers spend a much greater percentage of their time negotiating than trying cases, very few attorneys have training or expertise in this area.

8. Ask the firm who their strategic partners are. Under certain circumstances law firms join forces to share their research, expertise and other resources in order to build the best possible case for you.

9. Make sure the firm works on a contingency fee basis. With this type of arrangement the law firm incurs all the financial risk. You don’t pay any out-of-pocket costs until the firm recovers compensation for you; fees are a percentage of the recovery.

10. Check to see if the lawyer is AARP-approved. If not, go to the AARP Legal Services Network to find an attorney. Besides being extensively screened by AARP to become approved, AARP attorneys offer AARP members a 20% discount on their standard legal fees.

Although selecting a qualified mesothelioma attorney is not easy, don't get discouraged. There are great lawyers out there who are genuinely interested in helping others. Your case deserves no less. For more information visit www.mesotheliomaadvice.org/legal/mesothelioma-attorney.asp.