Asbestos Cancer Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Asbestos Lung Cancer

Asbestos cancer mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the body’s internal organs, a thin layer of cells known as the mesothelium. While very thin, this layer of cells is vitally important to organ function and the health of the inner body structures.

Asbestos exposure is strongly associated with several potentially fatal diseases and illnesses, the most serious of which is malignant mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are smaller than other airborne particles and cause serious long-term consequences by penetrating the lung and infiltrating organ tissues. Asbestos-related diseases generally develop many years, even decades, after initial exposure.

As with many other illnesses, those who smoke or have a preexisting disease have a higher risk of developing cancers caused by asbestos. For instance, people who have developed non-malignant, pleural lung diseases as result of exposure to asbestos have a greater risk for developing asbestos cancer mesothelioma.

People who usually develop mesothelioma have had exposure to asbestos usually many years before. In fact, the symptoms may not even appear until 30 to 50 years after being exposed to asbestos.

One of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma is a pleural effusion, or an accumulation of fluid between the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura. Both of these membranes are covered with mesothelial cells which, under normal conditions, produce a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant between the chest wall and the lung. Any excess fluid is absorbed by blood and lymph vessels maintaining a balance. When too much fluid forms, the result is an effusion. If you have had a history of exposure to asbestos and develop those symptoms, you should seek medical attention.

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

Mesothelioma pathophysiology

by: Admin

The mesothelium consists of a single layer of flattened to cuboidal cells forming the epithelial lining of the serous cavities of the body including the peritoneal, pericardial and pleural cavities. Deposition of asbestos fibres in the parenchyma of the lung may result in the penetration of the visceral pleura from where the fibre can then be carried to the pleural surface, thus leading to the development of malignant mesothelial plaques. The processes leading to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma remain unresolved, although it has been proposed that asbestos fibres from the lung are transported to the abdomen and associated organs via the lymphatic system. Additionally, asbestos fibres may be deposited in the gut after ingestion of sputum contaminated with asbestos fibres.
Pleural contamination with asbestos or other mineral fibres has been shown to cause cancer. Long thin asbestos fibers (blue asbestos, amphibole fibers) are more potent carcinogens than "feathery fibers" (chrysotile or white asbestos fibers).[4] However, there is now evidence that smaller particles may be more dangerous than the larger fibers.[1][2] They remain suspended in the air where they can be inhaled, and may penetrate more easily and deeper into the lungs. "We probably will find out a lot more about the health aspects of asbestos from [the World Trade Center attack], unfortunately," said Dr. Alan Fein, chief of pulmonary and critical-care medicine at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Fein has treated several patients for "World Trade Center syndrome" or respiratory ailments from brief exposures of only a day or two near the collapsed buildings.[3]
Mesothelioma development in rats has been demonstrated following intra-pleural inoculation of phosphorylated chrysotile fibres. It has been suggested that in humans, transport of fibres to the pleura is critical to the pathogenesis of mesothelioma. This is supported by the observed recruitment of significant numbers of macrophages and other cells of the immune system to localised lesions of accumulated asbestos fibres in the pleural and peritoneal cavities of rats. These lesions continued to attract and accumulate macrophages as the disease progressed, and cellular changes within the lesion culminated in a morphologically malignant tumour.
Experimental evidence suggests that asbestos acts as a complete carcinogen with the development of mesothelioma occurring in sequential stages of initiation and promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant transformation of normal mesothelial cells by asbestos fibres remain unclear despite the demonstration of its oncogenic capabilities. However, complete in vitro transformation of normal human mesothelial cells to malignant phenotype following exposure to asbestos fibres has not yet been achieved. In general, asbestos fibres are thought to act through direct physical interactions with the cells of the mesothelium in conjunction with indirect effects following interaction with inflammatory cells such as macrophages.
Analysis of the interactions between asbestos fibres and DNA has shown that phagocytosed fibres are able to make contact with chromosomes, often adhering to the chromatin fibres or becoming entangled within the chromosome. This contact between the asbestos fibre and the chromosomes or structural proteins of the spindle apparatus can induce complex abnormalities. The most common abnormality is monosomy of chromosome 22. Other frequent abnormalities include structural rearrangement of 1p, 3p, 9p and 6q chromosome arms.
Common gene abnormalities in mesothelioma cell lines include deletion of the tumor suppressor genes:

Neurofibromatosis type 2 at 22q12
P16INK4A
P14ARF

Asbestos has also been shown to mediate the entry of foreign DNA into target cells. Incorporation of this foreign DNA may lead to mutations and oncogenesis by several possible mechanisms:

Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes
Activation of oncogenes
Activation of proto-oncogenes due to incorporation of foreign DNA containing a promoter region
Activation of DNA repair enzymes, which may be prone to error
Activation of telomerase
Prevention of apoptosis

Asbestos fibres have been shown to alter the function and secretory properties of macrophages, ultimately creating conditions which favour the development of mesothelioma. Following asbestos phagocytosis, macrophages generate increased amounts of hydroxyl radicals, which are normal by-products of cellular anaerobic metabolism. However, these free radicals are also known clastogenic and membrane-active agents thought to promote asbestos carcinogenicity. These oxidants can participate in the oncogenic process by directly and indirectly interacting with DNA, modifying membrane-associated cellular events, including oncogene activation and perturbation of cellular antioxidant defences.
Asbestos also may possess immunosuppressive properties. For example, chrysotile fibres have been shown to depress the in vitro proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, suppress natural killer cell lysis and significantly reduce lymphokine-activated killer cell viability and recovery. Furthermore, genetic alterations in asbestos-activated macrophages may result in the release of potent mesothelial cell mitogens such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) which in turn, may induce the chronic stimulation and proliferation of mesothelial cells after injury by asbestos fibres.

How to Choose a Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, but the deadliest one of all. The victims of mesothelioma are innocent men and women who did not know that they were being poisoned with asbestos as they worked. The manufacturers and even distributors knew for decades that asbestos was hazardous, but they did not warn people of those hazards. As a result, you have the right of recovery against those manufacturers, which on the other hand can help pay the costs of treatment and provide compensation for your pain and suffering.

Although nothing can truly compensate for loss of health or life, mesothelioma lawyers are devoted to getting you the compensation you deserve. If your life has been affected by mesothelioma directly or indirectly, then you may deserve compensation.

Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is a long and tedious process. So, it is vital to your case that you find an experienced mesothelioma lawyer, and as soon as you have been diagnosed with the cancer. Most states have a time limit in which you can file your mesothelioma lawsuit. If you miss that deadline, you may find that you are not entitled to make a claim. Earlier you get to a mesothelioma lawyer, the better your chances of success. Here are a few important guidelines in finding a good mesothelioma lawyer.

Mesothelioma Law Firm

There's no such thing as a mesothelioma law firm because one law firm can deal with a variation of cases, but it is best to select a law firm or an attorney that has past experience of dealing with mesothelioma cases. They have already done the leg work and gained the knowledge and experience with mesothelioma. But, do not disregard any other law firm. A mesothelioma case is just like any other case that requires responsibility and discipline from the attorney to win your case. A law firm with a very good reputation can as well handle your mesothelioma case, if not better, even if they have never been exposed to a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Searching for a mesothelioma lawyer

You can begin your search on the Internet or in the yellow pages. However, your local or state bar association, and Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory (found in most public libraries) will give you narrower search and help you find your mesothelioma lawyer a whole lot faster. The Martindale-Hubbell Legal Network has a database of over a million lawyers and law firms in 160 countries. You could actually find the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Network online as well. Just search for it in your favorite search engine.

How do you select your mesothelioma lawyer?

The Oklahoma Bar Association has put out excellent guidelines regarding choosing an attorney. They state that "Selecting a lawyer is a personal matter. You must judge which particular attorney will be best for you. Before making a decision, however, you may want to contact several lawyers or law firms to gather some comparative information.

When choosing a lawyer, keep practical considerations in mind: the lawyer's area of expertise, prior experience and reputation, convenience of office location, amount of fees charged and the length of time a case may take. A lawyer's communication skills are another factor. Willingness and ability to talk to you in language you understand and responsiveness to your questions will influence how well informed you are about the progress of your case.

It is advisable that you select an attorney with whom you feel comfortable. These preferences may guide you in selecting someone with whom you feel most comfortable.

It is important that you trust the lawyer you hire—and that you believe he or she will do the best job possible in protecting your legal rights. But keep in mind that most lawsuits and other legal work are not "sure things." You should be cautious of an attorney who guarantees results. No lawyer can be expected to win every case, and sometimes the best legal advice may not be exactly what you want to hear."

When do you seek a mesothelioma lawyer?

The timely process of selecting a mesothelioma lawyer and the proper filing of your mesothelioma lawsuit can make all the difference between a multi-million dollar compensation claim to secure the future of your family (once and if you are gone), and getting nothing at all for your pain, suffering, and loss of life. That means you need to seek a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with this dangerous cancer.

Mesothelioma – Trends In Diagnosis And Discovery

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that involves the mesothelium lining found in the chest, lungs, abdomen and general body cavity. It is a form of cancer and is associated most closely with exposure to toxic asbestos dust.

Being diagnosed with any form of cancer is simply bad news. There is no two ways around it. In the case of Mesothelioma, the cancer in question is very treacherous for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, there are tendencies that occur in case after case and are now considered established trends. Let’s take a closer look at a few.
Time

Mesothelioma is extremely difficult to deal with because it takes a very long time to manifest. From the date of exposure and breathing in of asbestos fibers into the lungs, it can take 25 to 40 years for the cancer to manifest. This is why Mesothelioma is still such a problem despite most forms of asbestos being banned in the late 1980s. It is yet another reason why you should also be getting regular checkups.

Righty – Lefty

Mesothelioma tends to appear in the right side of the body cavity around the lungs. Why? The right and left lungs are situated differently into the body cavity as the heart takes up space on the left. Regardless, the trend is definitely for Mesothelioma to show up on the right side, odd as that may seem.

Sex and Race

Mesothelioma is not an equal opportunity health threat. Men tend to be diagnosed with it far more than women, sometimes as much as five times more often in a particular area. It also strikes Caucasians far more than African Americans although no particular reason for this has been discovered.

Getting Checked

Many victims of Mesothelioma do not realize they have a health problem at first. This is understandable given the long time it takes for the cancer to manifest. Still, most victims will take as long as two years to go see a doctor after the onset of symptoms. Given the fact a yearly checkup should be done, this is unfortunate.

Mesothelioma is fairly rare, but a brutal form of cancer. If you believe that you’ve been exposed to asbestos at any time, make sure to consult with your medical professional as soon as possible for both an exam and plan for future monitoring. By: Tom Ajava

What is the Mesothelioma Survival Rate

Mesothelioma is a fairly new type of cancer that is very serious and life threatening, as with most types of cancer. One thing that makes mesothelioma such a serious condition is that it is usually not found until the late stages of the cancer, causing the survival rate to be low. This is because the symptoms don’t usually arise until the late stages.

By this time the patient most likely doesn’t have much longer to live. Studies show most patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have a year or less left to live. Along with diagnosis being difficult and delayed, mesothelioma is also fairly uncommon and we are still learning more about the disease.

However, some studies show that one out of every ten mesothelioma patients will live up to three years after diagnosis and one out of every twenty people will live five years after diagnosis.

Studies are performed daily and new clinical trials are helping to increase the survival rate of those with mesothelioma. Survival rates vary depending on where the study is performed, and who is performing the study. In general, studies are very close in comparison.

Survival rates are based on several different factors. Some of these factors are, the size of the tumor, the stage the patient is in, whether the tumor can be completely removed with surgery, the quantity of fluid in the chest and abdomen and how long it took to diagnose the cancer.

Some other interesting facts about mesothelioma survival rates are that the average age of the patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are sixty one years of age and eighty one percent were male.

As said before, many studies are performed daily to find new ways to prolong the survival rate of those who have mesothelioma. Many studies have already proven to do just that. Lots of studies show that chemotherapy greatly increases the survival rate of those with mesothelioma. So, although this is a newer and less common cancer we are learning more about it daily.

With our learning we’ll eventually come up with more options of treatment and this will lead to an all together higher survival rate.

To learn more about Mesothelioma Cancer survival rates, including information on Mesothelioma Treatment, visit http://www.mesotheliomafaqsite.com where we provide all of this and much more!

Article Author :Joshua_Spaulding

Mesothelioma’s Connection to Asbestosis

Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lining of the lungs. Its main cause is thought to be contact with asbestos. About 3000 new cases are reported every year in the United States, with about 8 million people having been exposed to asbestos in the last 50 years. Safety measures have been put into place in the last couple of decades so as to protect people from asbestos exposure; therefore, some think that the number of cases of mesothelioma will peak around 2020 and that it will begin to decline after that, since exposure to asbestos by then will have been quite rare.

Of course, as with any cancer, early detection and treatment is imperative if there’s any hope of survival. However, mesothelioma patients are at a disadvantage in this area, because symptoms take anywhere between 20 and 50 years to manifest after the exposure. Because of this, patients are older, usually over 50. In addition, first symptoms can masquerade as many other less serious ailments. This makes diagnosis quite difficult. Because of this, the cancer is quite likely to be advanced once it has been detected. There is no fully effective treatment available. However, most experts believe that combination therapy increases survival rate versus monotherapy. Research into mesothelioma treatment continues.

Studies on survival of mesothelioma patients show that the disease has a fatality rate of almost 100%. Once diagnosed with mesothelioma, the average survival rate stands roughly six months to two years. There have been exceptions, which continue to give hope to other mesothelioma patients and their families. Life expectancy is dependent on many things, including its stage at diagnosis (mesothelioma has four stages, with four being the most advanced) and the type of mesothelioma diagnosed. Tests conducted on the tissue structure of mesothelioma cells found that sarcomatous cells’ existence meant a median survival rate of about 11 months, 11 months for mixed cells, and 12.5 months for epithelial cells.

However, that said, there are other things that influence mesothelioma survival rate. Mesothelioma has a survival rate of about 9% five years after diagnosis, which means there are most definitely people who do survive long-term with this disease. Some of those people are symptom free. And of course, research continues to be done so that one day a cure may be available.

One of the things that influences survival rate is health at the time of diagnosis. Obviously, if you’re healthier at the time of diagnosis, you’re probably going to have a better chance of beating the disease or at least surviving long-term versus someone who is in poor health. The size of the tumor also matters, as does the amount of fluid in the chest cavity. If the tumor can be completely removed, this also improves the survival rate. The type of cells present (as described above) also matter. If this is a recurrence, then survival rates are likely to be poorer than those of a first diagnosis.

If you have mesothelioma, or if you have a family member who does, don’t give up hope. The Internet abounds with resources for those with mesothelioma and their family members. These resources are invaluable, because not only do they allow you to provide support and encouragement to others in the same situation, but you are also privy to the latest developments in treatment. Thus, these types of resources can make an unbearable situation at least easier to deal with. And of course, your health care practitioner will also likely have resources for you.

Mesothelioma - Knowledge is Power

By Thomas Ajava

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is fairly rare, but very serious. If you or a friend has been diagnosed with this form of cancer, knowledge is the key to dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and potential outcomes.

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer found in the Mesothelium. The Mesothelium is often referred to as the lining found in the chest cavity and abdomen. A better description of it is that it acts as a sort of protective sack around the internal organs. It consists of two layers. One presses against the organs and the other acts as a sack of sorts. There is lubrication between these two layers, which allows the organs to move freely such as when the lungs inflate and deflate with air.

Mesothelioma occurs when cells in this layer start to mutate and grow uncontrollably. This cancer is particularly difficult to deal with because the Mesothelium is so pervasive through the chest cavity that the cancerous cells can spread far and wide. That being said, most forms of Mesothelioma begin in the lining around the lungs or abdomen. Once established, they can spread in any direction.

The biggest risk factor for Mesothelioma is working with asbestos. Of all the Mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year, approximately 70 to 80 percent have histories of extensive exposure to asbestos in the work place or other areas. Asbestos is prevalent in so many products that it is not clear whether the 30 to 20 percent of non-asbestos cases actually reflect no interaction with the fiber or just a lack of knowledge of interaction.

Mesothelioma can take a long time to develop with some cases showing a 40 year gestation period. That being said, it is a hard form of cancer to control once it does manifest. A top notch oncologist should be consulted, but general treatment options include radiation, surgery and chemotherapy. The National Cancer Institute is also running clinical trials on new treatment possibilities and participating in the same may be an option for certain people diagnosed with the cancer.

Mesothelioma is a very tough diagnosis because it often is only detected in the very late stages of the disease. That doesn't mean it has to be fatal. Now you understand what it is, take action and investigate the treatment options available.