ASBESTOS VICTIMS UNDER ATTACK

It has recently been reported, in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, among others, that thousands of allegedly unimpaired individuals are filing asbestos personal injury lawsuits. These news reports state that these asbestos claims may threaten the financial well-being of numerous large corporations. Corporate and insurance company officials are quoted on the need for federal legislation, to control asbestos cases. In their words, they want to make sure money goes to those who are truly sick.

It is important to see the big lie behind these news stories.

Persons who have suffered a detriment at the hands of another are entitled to seek redress in our courts. There has never been a requirement that persons be impaired or disabled in order to seek redress; it is enough that they are injured. The presence of greatly elevated levels of asbestos fibers in one's lungs is clearly a detriment. Most persons who have never been heavily exposed to asbestos would never trade lungs with a Navy veteran, even if that Navy veteran had not yet suffered an impairment or disability. Asbestos-exposed individuals have a far greater risk of developing mesothelioma (a cancer of the lung or stomach lining), lung cancer, or asbestosis later in life. It should be left to juries to decide if the presence of those fibers constitutes an injury under the law.

Access to our judicial system is an important right; the judicial system protects Americans from large corporations who sell unsafe products, and conceal the dangers of those products from the public.

Instead, the large corporations which brought the asbestos nightmare upon us, and their insurance companies, now seek federal legislation, to restrict access to, or take the place of, the American jury system. The legislation which has thus far been proposed would appoint a board of review, and make it mandatory that any asbestos case be reviewed by the board to determine if any individual had a right to compensation. All cases would be delayed, so that some claimants would die before their cases could be reviewed, and most cases would be rejected.

The reason for this proposal should be obvious. After years of consistently losing before juries, the asbestos companies, and insurance companies, are once again watching out for the almighty dollar, over the rights of injured persons. This is exactly what these companies did in the 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, and later, as they did all they could to keep their knowledge of asbestos hazards from being made public.

The corporations and insurance companies say they want to make sure that badly injured individuals receive compensation. This is hypocritical, as these same companies have fought, and lost, valid claims for decades. Now, all of a sudden, they say they're concerned about victims. Don't believe them.

The number of asbestos claims is not slowing down largely because the asbestos companies kept selling asbestos products, even into the 1980s. They lied to their customers, saying the products were safe, and kept asbestos products in the market long after they should have been gone.

If you have an asbestos claim, or if you have been heavily exposed to asbestos but have not yet been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease or cancer, you may wish to contact your congressional representative. Let Congress know that the asbestos companies don't deserve to be bailed out by federal legislation, which will greatly restrict or eliminate your rights.

ASBESTOS EXPOSURE CAUSES LUNG CANCER

Everybody knows smoking causes lung cancer; even tobacco company officials know it, though they don’t admit it. But did you know that asbestos exposure also causes lung cancer? It certainly does, and a smoker who also has a past history of asbestos exposure has a ninety times greater chance of developing it. If you have a history of asbesots exposure, consider that the next time you light up.

The asbestos manufacturers actually knew in the 1930s that there was a high rate of lung cancer among asbestos factory workers, miners, and end users of asbestos-containing products. Like the tobacco companies, they didn’t tell the public about the cancer risk. Numerous studies through the 1940s and 1950s confirmed this medical knowledge, and a study by Dr. Selikoff in 1964 eliminated all doubt.

It requires a heavy exposure to asbestos, over many years, to cause lung cancer. Many shipyard laborers and trademen fit this description, especially 20-year Navy boiler tenders, engine men, water tenders, firemen, and other ratings which required work in engine and fire rooms on ships. Many of these men are being diagnosed with, and, unfortunately, dying from lung cancer.

Asbestos-Exposed Persons with Lung Cancer Are Entitled to Substantial Compensation, Even If They Smoked

Many people have asked the question: “I know persons with asbestos-related disease are entitled to compensation. But I also smoked, in addition to my asbestos exposure. Can I obtain compensation from the asbestos companies, even though I also smoked?” The answer to that question is a clear, emphatic YES. This is because, under California law, you are not required to prove that asbestos was the only cause of your lung cancer; you only need to prove that it was a contributing cause of it.

Therefore, in the case of a 20-year Navy boiler tender, or similar rating, who also smoked for many years, and then is diagnosed with lung cancer many years later, substantial compensation may be obtained.

Lung Cancer Can Be Successfully Treated— But You Need to See a Doctor to Find Out

Most shipyard workers, especially Navy 20-year men with engine or boiler-related ratings, are at high risk of developing lung cancer. Yet, many are reluctant to see a doctor. That attitude is understandable; no one wants to find out they’re sick. But that attitude is also wrong, because lung cancer can be successfully treated…and defeated. The key is early detection. Think of your family, and all of those who care about you, then get in to see a doctor.

What Caused Mesothelioma - Asbestos Exposure

Where was I Exposed to Asbestos?

The main risk factor for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. The use of the material has been banned in the United States since approximately 1975, but about 8 million Americans may already have been exposed through various jobs, such as miners, ship builders, factory and railroad workers, mechanics and construction workers (particularly those responsible for installing brakes in automobiles and insulation in buildings). Many men who served in the Navy were exposed to significant amounts of asbestos on their ships.

Asbestos is not only found in the workplace. It may still be found in 10-15% of schools (about 110,000) throughout America. The asbestos fibers have also been known to be picked up through clothing or other articles. After exposure to the airborne fibers, the risk of lung cancer is 7 times greater than that of the general population (smokers who are exposed to asbestos have a risk 50-90 times greater yet).

Not all workers exposed to asbestos will develop diseases related to their exposure. In fact, many will experience no ill effects.

Asbestos that is bonded into finished products such as walls, tiles, and pipes poses no risk to health as long as it is not damaged or disturbed (for example, by sawing or drilling) in such a way as to release fibers into the air. When asbestos particles are set free and inhaled, however, exposed individuals are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease. Once these fibers work their way into body tissues, they may stay there indefinitely.

The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases varies with the type of industry in which the asbestos exposure occurred and with the extent of the asbestos exposure. In addition, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated with different health risks. For example, results of several studies suggest that exposure to amphibole forms of asbestos are more likely than exposure to chrysotile asbestos form to cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and, in particular, mesothelioma. Even so, no fiber type can be considered harmless, and proper safety precautions should always be taken by people that work under asbestos exposure.

Medical Procedures

The chance of recovery (prognosis) depends on the size of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope, how the cancer responds to treatment, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered.

There are a number of treatment options available to mesothelioma patients. Extrapleural pneumonectomy in selected patient with very early stage disease may improve recurrence-free survival, but its impact on overall survival is unknown. Pleurectomy and Decortication can provide palliative relief from symptomatic effusions, discomfort caused by tumor burden, and pain caused by invasive tumors. The use of radiation therapy in pleural mesothelioma has been shown to alleviate pain in the majority of patients treated. Unfortunately, the duration of symptom control is short-lived. Single agent and combimed chemotherapy have reported higher response rates in STAGE II patients, but the toxicity reported is also higher, and there is no evidence that combination treatments result in longer survival or longer control of the symptoms.

Standard Treatments

There are treatments for all patients with malignant mesothelioma.

Three kinds of treatment are used:

chemotheraphy (using drugs to fight the cancer).

surgery (taking out the cancer).

radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells) chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer).

Surgery is a common treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, a lung also may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy) or from putting materials that produce radiation (radioisotopes) through thin plastic tubes in the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy). If fluid has collected in the chest or abdomen, the doctor may drain the fluid out of the body by putting a needle into the chest or abdomen and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. If fluid is removed from the chest, this is called thoracentesis. If fluid is removed from the abdomen, this is called paracentesis. The doctor may also put drugs through a tube into the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating.

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be put directly into the chest (intrapleural chemotherapy).

Intraoperative photodynamic therapy is a new type of treatment that uses special drugs and light to kill cancer cells during surgery. A drug that makes cancer cells more sensitive to light is injected into a vein several days before surgery. During surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, a special light is used to shine on the pleura. This treatment is being studied for early stages of mesothelioma in the chest.

Side Effects

Cancer treatments all have side effects. It is hard to kill cancer cells at the same time as keeping all healthy cells safe. Side effects of treatment depend on the type of treatment and the person’s overall health when treatment starts.

Experimental Treatments

Not all patients are cured with standard therapy, and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired. Clinical trials, therefore, are designed to find better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the most up-to-date information. Clinical trials are ongoing in many parts of the country for many patients with malignant mesothelioma.

These new approaches often combine two or more traditional treatments or consist of other promising innovations.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Cancer of the Stomach Lining

Peritoneum mesothelioma or Peritoneal mesothelioma is mesothelioma cancer in the lining that surrounds the abdomen (stomach).

Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is mesothelioma cancer in the lining that surrounds the abdomen (stomach). Diffuse means that is the cancer is spread out.

Peritoneal or Peritoneum is a smooth membrane, which lines the cavity of the abdomen (stomach). It helps to protect the contents of the abdomen. It also produces a lubricating fluid. This helps the organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen as we move around.

Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for approximately 10% of mesothelioma cases.

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

When the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include abdominal pains,abdominal weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling. Fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space, a condition known as ascites. Over time the wasting symptoms can become more and more severe. The growing peritoneal mesothelioma tumor can exert increasing pressure on the organs in the abdomen, leading to bowel obstruction and distention. If the peritoneal mesothelioma tumor presses upward, it can impair breathing capacity. If the peritoneal mesothelioma tumor pushes against areas with many nerve fibers, and the bowel distends, the amount of pain can increase.

Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If there is reason to suspect you may have a mesothelioma, one or more diagnostic methods will be used by your doctor.

Medical history and physical examination

A complete medical history is taken to establish risk factors and presence of symptoms. This interview includes questions to determine in which environment you may have been exposed to asbestos.

A thorough physical exam is conducted with an eye towards revealing signs of malignant mesothelioma and any other health problems. Patients with pleural mesotheliomas (malignant mesotheliomas of the chest) often have pleural effusion (fluid in their chest cavity) caused by the cancer. Ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity) in cases of peritoneal mesothelioma, and pericardial effusion (fluid in the pericardium) in cases of pericardial mesothelioma can also be detected during a physical exam.

Imaging tests

A chest x-ray may show irregular thickening of the pleura, pleural calcifications (mineral deposits), lowering of the lung fissures (spaces between the lobes of the lungs), and fluid in the pleural space. These findings suggest asbestos exposure leading to the development of a malignant mesothelioma.

Imaging studies such as x-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans will help determine the location, size, and extent of the cancer. The CT scan uses a rotating x-ray beam to create a series of pictures of the body from many angles. A computer combines these pictures to produce detailed cross-sectional images of a selected part of the body. To highlight details on the CT scan, you may be asked for permission to have a harmless dye injected into a vein. MRI uses magnetic fields instead of x-rays to create images of selected areas of the body. As with the CT scan, a computer generates a detailed cross-sectional image.

Tests of Fluid and Tissue Samples

Fluid

If the patient has a pleural effusion, a sample of this fluid can be extracted by inserting a needle into the chest cavity. A similar technique can be used to obtain abdominal fluid and pericardial fluid. The fluid sample is then tested to show its chemical make-up and analyzed under a microscope to determine the presence of cancer cells.

Tissue

A tissue sample of a pleural or pericardial tumor can be obtained using a relatively new technique called thoracoscopy. A thoracoscope (telescope-like instrument connected to a video camera) is inserted through a small incision into the chest. The doctor can see the tumor through the thoracoscope and can use special forceps to take a tissue biopsy. In much the same fashion, laparoscopy can be used to see and obtain a biopsy of a peritoneal tumor. In this procedure, a flexible tube attached to a video camera is inserted into the abdominal cavity via small frontal incisions. Fluid can also be collected during thoracoscopy or laparoscopy.

Surgery

Surgery, either a thoracotomy (opening of the chest cavity) or a laparotomy (opening of the abdominal cavity), allows the surgeon to remove a larger sample of tumor or, at times, to remove it entirely.

Oral Exploration

For patients who might have pleural malignant mesothelioma, the doctor may also do a bronchoscopy. In this procedure a flexible lighted tube is inserted through the mouth, down the trachea, and into the bronchi to see if there are other masses in the airway. Small samples of abnormal-appearing tissue can be removed for testing.

Lymph Node Analysis

The patient may also have a mediastinoscopy. During this procedure a lighted tube is inserted under the sternum (chest bone) at the level of the neck and moved down into the chest. The surgeon is then able to view the lymph nodes in this region and take samples to check for malignant mesothelioma.

Lymph nodes are bean-sized collections of immune system cells that help the body fight infections and cancers. Lung cancers frequently spread to lymph nodes, but mesotheliomas rarely do this. Examination of the lymph nodes allows the doctor to determine whether a cancer is still localized or if it has begun to spread. It can also aid the doctor in distinguishing lung cancer from malignant mesothelioma.

Magnification to Aid Detection/Recognition

Even with fluid samples from the area around the lungs, abdomen or heart, it is often difficult to diagnose malignant mesothelioma. It is even hard to diagnose malignant mesothelioma with tissue from biopsies. This is because mesothelioma cells are difficult to distinguish from several other types of cancer when viewed under the microscope. For example, pleural mesothelioma can resemble various types of lung cancer, and peritoneal mesothelioma can resemble various cancers of the ovaries. In recognition of this dilemna, special laboratory tests are often done to pinpoint mesothelioma amidst several possibilities.

These lab tests use special techniques to identify certain chemicals known to be present in mesotheliomas, and as importantly, known to be different than those present in cancer of the lung or ovary. The electron microscope may also be helpful in diagnosing mesothelioma. The electron microscope has a magnification power 100 times greater than the light microscope which is generally used in cancer diagnosis. This allows detection of the small parts of the cancer cells that distinguish mesothelioma from other types of cancer.

The difficulty in distinguishing between malignant mesothelioma and other forms of cancer or benign, noncancerous pleural inflammation is the primary problem posed during the initial diagnosis. The most favorable diagnostic tools presently remain the open pleural biopsy performed during thoracoscopy which allows for direct inspection of the inside of the chest, and provides information on the involvement of the other organs and any spread of disease. Less successful procedures are CT guided pleural biopsy, or blind pleural biopsy. In addition to the gross appearance of the tumor, pathologists often rely on a panel of histochemical and immunohistochemical stains to diagnose or exclude malignant meosothelioma. Currently chemicals linked to prognosis of malignant mesothelioma are under study, but have not been validated for the general use.

Prognostic Factors

Because pleural mesothelioma has been better studied than peritoneal mesothelioma we know more about factors associated with prognosis for pleural mesothelioma. Younger age at diagnosis, performance status (functional status) and absence of weight loss are associated with a more favorable prognosis.

Mesotheliomas are usually of three different cell types (histological analysis): 1) epithelial cell type - has the most favorable prognosis; 2) fibrosarcomatous cell type - carries the worst prognosis and 3) mixed cell type - has an intermediate prognosis

Mesothelioma Symptoms Information

Symptoms for Pleural Mesothelioma (involving the lung / chest area) are:
chest pain and pain in the lower back
difficulty breathing
coughing
weight loss
fever
muscle weakness and sensory loss
swelling of the face and arms
hoarseness
coughing up blood Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma (involving the abdominal / stomach cavity, liver, spleen or the bowel) are:
abdominal bloating due to fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
nausea & vomiting
swelling of the feet
fever
impaired bowel function.
Unfortunately, the early mesothelioma symptoms are often ignored or mistaken for minor ailments because they are not specific to the disease.Therefore, it is critical to investigate one's exposure to asbestos. While pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest, shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, cough, fever, sweating, fatigue and weight loss may be common to many minor ailments, it is the knowledge that these mesothelioma symptoms are present in a person with a high likelihood of asbestos exposure that should raise a red flag.
Mesothelioma symptoms and signs from mesotheliomas depend upon location of the mesothelioma, its size and whether it is benign or malignant Benign forms of the disease are generally asymptomatic The symptomatology of malignant mesotheliomas is due to tumour growth resulting in invasion of surrounding structures and/or the production of fluid (pleural effusion, ascites, or pericardial effusion). Chest pain may be caused by invasion of the chest wall. Pleural effusion causes collapse of adjacent lung and shortness of breath Mesothelioma symptoms of distant spread are possible, but uncommon since the tumour is usually a local problem and blood borne spread is uncommon Patients with more advanced disease may be ill generally with fever, night sweats and weight loss Involvement of the membrane around the heart (pericardium) may cause heart rhythm disturbances

How Is Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosed

If there is a reason to suspect you may have mesothelioma, your doctor will use one or more methods to find out if the disease is present. The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is recognizing your symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Early symptoms of mesotheliomas are not specific to the disease. People often ignore them or mistake them for common, minor ailments. Most people with mesothelioma have symptoms for only 2 to 3 months before they are diagnosed. About one-fourth of people have symptoms for at least 6 months before they are diagnosed.
Over half of patients with pleural mesothelioma have pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest. Many report shortness of breath. A smaller percentage have trouble swallowing, cough, fever, sweating, fatigue, and weight loss. Other symptoms include hoarseness, coughing up blood, swelling of the face and arms, muscle weakness, and sensory loss.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal (belly) pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. There may also be fluid or a mass in the abdomen.
If you have any of these symptoms and have been exposed to asbestos you should see a doctor right away.

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 2 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.

In general, the clinical presentation of pleural mesothelioma may include the following:

• Cough
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
• Difficulty sleeping
• Pain in the chest and abdominal regions, which is generally unresponsive to analgesics
• Progressive loss of appetite and weight loss
• Pleural effusions (fluid in the chest cavity)

Management of pleural mesothelioma depends largely on the staging of the tumor. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention may lengthen life expectancy. Depending on the age and physical condition of the patient, however, surgery may not be a viable option. In addition to surgical options, radiation treatment and chemotherapy may be helpful in the overall therapeutic programfor treating pleural mesothelioma. Pain management and home care are typical alternatives in the later stages of pleural mesothelioma