Asbestor Related Deaths

Nearly 1,400 Massachusetts citizens died from Mesothelioma and asbestosis, diseases caused by exposure to asbestos, during a 20-year reporting period. Asbestos exposure is the sole cause of Mesothelioma, a type of cancer. Asbestosis is a scarring of the lungs due to the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Compiled by the EWG Action Fund, this table details the number of deaths associated with asbestos in Massachusetts counties from 1979 to 1999. Leading the way with the most deaths was Middlesex County at 329, followed by Norfolk County at 240 and Suffolk County at 136. Any county not listed reported no deaths.

Note that the EWG site lists a range of deaths while this site is only reporting the lower figure.

Massachusetts	Asbestosis	Mesothelioma	Total Deaths
Massachusetts Total	759	613	1,372
Middlesex County	177	152	329
Norfolk County	149	91	240
Suffolk County	79	57	136
Plymouth County	87	53	140
Essex County	71	56	127
Worcester County	54	53	107
Bristol County	45	47	92
Hampden County	38	45	83
Barnstable County	42	30	72
Berkshire County	9	14	23
Hampshire County	6	7	13
Franklin County	2	5	7
Dukes County	0	2	2
Nantucket County	0	1	1

• Alabama
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• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
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• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
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• Oklahoma
• Ohio
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Chemotherapy Treatment

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill meso cancer cells. Doctors may administer chemotherapy by pill or through a needle into a vein or muscle. Doctors can administer chemotherapeutic agents either systemically (through the blood stream) or intrapleurally (in the pleural cavity). When administered intrapleurally, the chemotherapy treatment is localized at the site of the tumor. The drugs used for chemotherapy are generally very toxic and are usually accompanied by serious side effects including nausea, vomiting, anorexia, hair loss, and exhaustion. Side effects vary depending on the particular drugs used for the chemotherapy.

Single-agent therapy utilizes only one drug in the chemotherapy regimen to treat the cancer. Several agents have demonstrated modest success in effectively treating mesothelioma. Doxorubicin, probably the most extensively studied agent, has a response rate in the 15 percent range, as do detorubicin, pirarubicin, and epirubicin. Other agents, such as carboplatin, mitomucin, cyclophosphamide, and ifosdamide have similar response rates ranging from 10 to 20 percent. Researchers have studies cisplatin in a number of trials and discovered an approximately 14 percent response rate. One small study of very high dose-intensity cisplatin demonstrated a 36 percent response rate, but the high responsiveness lasted only 2 to 8 months.

Because single-agent chemotherapy regimes have failed to show great effectiveness (response rates less than 20 percent), researchers have examined several combination regimens for treatment of patients with mesothelioma. Combinations including doxorubicin, cisplatine, mitoxantrone, and bleomycin have been reported to realize response rates of up to 44 percent. Such high response rates have not been consistent, and overall combination therapy yields response rates similar to singe-agent therapy.
A new agent, gemcitabine, in combination with cisplatin has showed promising results in a study conducted by Australian researchers. In their research, which included mesothelioma patients in Stages III and IV, the combination therapy reaped a 47 percent response rate with a response duration of 25 weeks. The researchers reported a one-year survival rate of 41 percent with this treatment.

Pemetrexed, a multitargeted antifolate (MTA) has shown promising results when combined with cisplatin. In addition, researchers are currently conducting promising studies of oxaliplatin/raltitrexed and cisplatin/irinotecan combinations. Other new agents researchers are now studying include bevacizumab and onconase both of which are considered novel drug treatment options.

With each new therapy development, doctors have another therapy tool with which to treat patients. The increase in options allows doctors and patients to more carefully tailor a chemotherapy regime that addresses the specific needs of the patient, including the stage of the mesothelioma and the patient's age.

Causes and Definitions

According to medical experts, asbestos exposure is the primary cause of Mesothelioma Cancer.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that involves one or more of the following areas of the body:

The pleura, which is the lining or covering of the lung;

The peritoneum, which is the lining or covering of the abdominal organs;

The pericardium, which is the lining or covering of the heart.

Mesothelioma cancer usually develops within fifteen to forty years after the initial asbestos exposure. Expert opinion varies as to just how much actual exposure is necessary to develop Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer. There is much support for the proposition that light exposure or limited heavy exposure can cause Mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare and often misdiagnosed cancer. Our medical experts tell us that Mesothelioma can be confused with the peripheral anaplastic lung carcinomas or metastatic carcinomas. Differentiating Mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma can be especially difficult if small tissue specimens are used.

Asbetos Still Killing

Specialist asbestos disease Solicitor Patrick Walsh sees the tragic aftermath of asbestos disease as families struggle to come to terms with the fact that employers’ negligence caused the death of their loved ones.

Over 3,000 people a year die of asbestos related diseases, caused by inhaling asbestos dust. Asbestos was commonly used in building materials in many industries, particularly construction, from the 1950’s through to the 1980’s. “The material was commonly used for insulation and as a fire retardant in buildings right through to the mid 1980’s”, says Patrick Walsh, who is one of the Industrial Disease Solicitors at Manchester law firm Pannone LLP.

Be asbestos aware.

Patrick is in full agreement with the British Lung Foundation, which has highlighted the fact that most tradespeople coming into contact with asbestos are unaware of the risks associated with it. He commented,” Plumbers, laggers, joiners, carpenters and even painters and decorators are still coming into contact with asbestos. Any building built or refurbished before 2000 could still contain asbestos and anyone working in such environments should be made aware of the dangers, and be made to take the appropriate precautions to avoid contamination. It is vitally important to be asbestos aware.

“Asbestos disease can take many years to manifest itself and those workers who came in to contact with it from the 50’s to the mid 80’s would be wise to take regular healthchecks. If the worst does happen and they have contracted asbestos related disease, it is important it is discovered as soon as possible. If it is found that the exposure was caused negligently, we can often take action for compensation against former employers.”

Mesothelioma awareness day.

The plight of Mesothelioma (the always fatal asbestos related cancer) sufferers and their families will be highlighted throughout the country next week on Wednesday February 27th, which has been designated Mesothelioma Awareness Day. Meetings and rallies will be held in major cities and the issue will be raised in parliament to bring the issue to the attention of MP’s.

Attorney Choices

Deciding who should represent you and your case is one of the most critically important decisions that you might ever make, and could mean the difference between success and failure.


You need, and are entitled to, an experienced mesothelioma attorney who has a track record of success in mesothelioma lawsuits on your side through the entire claim process. You also should expect personal service and individuals committed to your case. We will meet you personally and immediately in your home or office. Let us show you why we are best suited to represent you in a mesothelioma case.

Treatment

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.

• Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung 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, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
• Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. The procedure for removing fluid from the chest is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Data, Statistics & Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is fairly rare. There are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma each year in the United States. The incidence of mesotheliomas in the United States increased from 1970 to 1990 and then stabilized. It may now be decreasing. Most of the past increase in cases, as well as the recent decrease in cases, has been in men. The rate, although lower, has been fairly steady for women. In European countries and world wide, the rate of mesotheliomas is still increasing.

Mesothelioma is rare in people under age 55. Its incidence increases with age. Three-fourths of people with mesothelioma are over 65 years old. The disease affects men 5 times more often than women. Mesothelioma is less common in African Americans than in white Americans.

Mesothelioma is a serious disease. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos. By the time the symptoms appear and cancer is diagnosed, the disease is often advanced. The average survival time is about 1 year. The 5-year relative survival rate is around 10%, but this rate has been slowly improving.

The 5-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least 5 years after their cancer is diagnosed. Many of these patients live much longer than 5 years after diagnosis, and 5-year rates are used to produce a standard way of discussing prognosis. Five-year relative survival rates do not include patients dying of other diseases and are considered to be a more accurate way to describe the prognosis for patients with a particular type and stage of cancer. That means that relative survival only talks about deaths from mesothelioma. Of course, 5-year survival rates are based on patients diagnosed and initially treated more than 5 years ago. They may no longer be accurate. Improvements in treatment result in a more favorable outlook for recently diagnosed patients.

• Each year 2,500 to 4,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.
• Mesothelioma has a long latency (inactive) period of anywhere between 15 – 50 years.
• Experts predict that mesothelioma diagnoses will continue to increase in the United States for at least another 10 to 20 years.
• While many countries have banned certain forms of asbestos, an estimated 5,000 asbestos-containing products exist today.
• As many as 8 million people in the U.S. have already been exposed to asbestos and it continues to pose a serious threat to workers in certain occupations.
• One study of asbestos insulation workers reported a mesothelioma death rate up to 344 times higher than the general population.
• Most mesothelioma victims die within 18 months of diagnosis. Mortality is swift not because the cancer is fast-growing but because it usually is far advanced by the time it is detected.
• Poor prognostic variables include: nonepithelial histology, older age (greater than 75 years), pleural primary, chest pain at presentation, poor performance status, and elevated platelet count (greater than 400,000/mcL).
• By the year 2030 there are estimates that asbestos will have caused 60,000 instances of mesothelioma and around 250,000 other cancers that result in death.
• Over half a million asbestos and mesothelioma injury claims have been filed to date. Over 50,000 were filed in 1998 alone.
• Every year, more than 10,000 people worldwide (3,000 in the U.S. alone) are diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions.
• More than 500,000 asbestos or mesothelioma lawsuits have been filed.
• More than 110,000 schools in the U.S. still contain some form of asbestos.
• 8 million Americans have been exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos.
• Asbestos insulation workers have a mesothelioma death rate 344 times higher than that of the general population.
• More than 7,500 Americans died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2001.
• The industries with the highest mesothelioma mortality rates are ship building and ship repairing.
• People working around industrial chemicals had the second-highest rate, and those in the construction industry were third.
• 85% of mesothelioma deaths are male; this has more to do with asbestos exposure than with gender.
• There is also a high rate of mesothelioma deaths among schoolteachers, many of whom are female.
• The average age of people diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 50 and 70, but the number of people diagnosed with mesothelioma between the ages of 30 and 40 is increasing.
• Asbestos is used to make more than 5,000 products worldwide.
• Even when mesothelioma treatment is possible, it is very expensive, sometimes costing between $400,000 and $800,000 for oxygen, drugs, pain medicine and other forms of treatment

Risk Factors

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Asbestos cancer, also known as mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, typically found in particular asbestos jobsites. Mesothelioma found in those working at particular jobsites such as shipyards can quite often be easily traced to the asbestos products that were present in these locations. For instance, a navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma could have worked at Brooklyn Navy Yard outside New York or Todd Shipyards in New York City or California where they came into contact with various products containing asbestos materials. We have an extensive lists of mesothelioma shipyards and mesothelioma jobsites within our site.

About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs (pleura), or around the abdominal organs (peritoneum).

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women. The tissue that lines your lungs, stomach, heart and other organs is called mesothelium. Mesothelioma is cancer of that tissue. It is a rare but serious type of cancer. It usually starts in the lungs, but can also start in the abdomen or other organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. It can take a long time - 30 to 50 years - between being around asbestos and getting the disease. Treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or all three.

Malignant mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma cancer is a fatal cancer that affects the lining of the lung (pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and the lining of the heart (pericardium). The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, although pericardial mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma are less frequent. The main cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, although other factors such as smoking may result in additional complications. For more detailed information on mesothelioma, browse our website and fill out our form for a free book and detailed packet that you or your loved one can read at home.