Mesothelioma Surgery

Mesothelioma surgery is generally reserved for diagnoses that are made before an individual has reached Stage IV of the disease. Although a “curative” surgery is not possible with mesothelioma, the ability to remove tumors by surgery can alleviate some of the debilitating symptoms of mesothelioma, such as breathing difficulties and chest pain. Probably the most commonly used surgical technique used on mesothelioma patients is thoracentesis, or fluid aspiration or removal. While not a complicated procedure, thoracentesis relieves the pressure felt on the lungs as a result of abnormal cells proliferating in the in and around the lungs, making breathing much easier for the patient. This type of surgery can also be performed on the stomach and heart as well, if the mesothelioma has spread to those areas and is causing fluid buildup in the tissues. (more…)

Mesothelioma Veterans

Of the individuals who have been or are currently being diagnosed with mesothelioma veterans represent a particularly susceptible group who were repeatedly exposed to asbestos decades ago. Veterans who served in the military between 1940 and 1980 are members of the demographic commonly diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, or lung cancer caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. Extensively implemented in building ships and other military equipment, asbestos was later found to be toxic to humans and eventually banned from use in the early 1980s. (more…)

Mesothelioma Stages

Doctors apply three mesothelioma stages to a diagnosis of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma is staged but peritoneal, or mesothelioma of the stomach area, is not. When physicians use the word “staging” in describing the condition of someone who is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the doctor is describing the extent of the cancer, how large tumors are and if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Staging provides a concise way top determine prognosis and identify the proper treatment plan that is best suited to the patient’s needs. (more…)

Mesothelioma Radiation

Mesothelioma radiation therapy is one of the treatments used most often to alleviate symptoms of lung cancer caused by repeated exposure to mesothelioma. Frequently, radiation therapy is used in conjunction with chemotherapy and surgery as an aggressive form of treatment for those suffering from late-stage mesothelioma. Rarely is this kind of cancer detected early enough to be treated successfully with only one treatment, since symptoms may not appear until it as metastized. (more…)

Mesothelioma Mortality Rate

Industries having the highest mesothelioma mortality rate are ship repairing, shipbuilding and jobs where people worked on the ships constructed using asbestos. Chemical plants have the second highest mortality rate for individuals dying from mesothelioma. These industries dealing with chemicals were primarily located in 19 states, with the majority being in the north, northeast and western areas of the United States. Other groups with high mesothelioma mortality rates include pipefitters, electricians, plumbers, steamfitters and mechanical engineers, due to the fact that asbestos was extensively used as insulation. (more…)

Mesothelioma Blood Test

In 2007, the Federal Food and Drug Administration approved a mesothelioma blood test called Mesomark, created by Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc. This novel blood test measures the amount of blood serum concentrations of a substance called soluble mesothelin-related protein. This protein is elevated in individuals who have mesothelioma, determined by implementing monoclonal antibodies that cling to the (more…)

Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma

With asbestos exposure mesothelioma risk increases greatly due to the carcinogenic substances found in asbestos. During the 20th century, asbestos was a cheap and frequently used industrial material implemented as insulation to help protect buildings and machines from fire, overheating or chemical erosion. Years later, sometimes decades later, when individuals who worked around asbestos began to fall ill with serious lung problems such as asthma and a condition called asbestosis which leads to mesothelioma, doctors soon realized it was due to asbestos exposure. (more…)

Asbestos Lawyer Mesothelioma

If someone needs the help of a good asbestos lawyer mesothelioma is detrimentally affecting their health to the point they cannot work and earn a living. An attorney who is familiar with asbestos and the type of lung cancer it causes also realizes the importance of gaining a substantial monetary award from the companies responsible for using asbestos when they knew this material contained carcinogenic substances. (more…)

Asbestos Lung Mesothelioma

Asbestos lung mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells lining the lungs. This condition affects an individual who has been exposed to asbestos while working around asbestos for a lengthy period of time. Asbestos is a substance made from naturally-occurring minerals that is toxic to human. Before the carcinogenic aspect of asbestos became known in the 1970′s, it was widely used in industrial and commercial buildings and products. (more…)

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit

An asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit applies to anyone who was once exposed to asbestos and now has been diagnosed with a special form of lung cancer. Even though companies who once used asbestos for manufacturing purposes knew there might be health issues concerning exposure to asbestos, they downplayed the problem and continued to allow workers to be exposed to it. For those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the possibility of filing a lawsuit against a former employer and being awarded compensation for pain, suffering and medical bills is high probably. However, such a lawsuit requires handling by a law firm which specializes in asbestos mesothelioma lawsuits. (more…)