Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Lawyers may be considered sharks or grave diggers, the lowest of the lowest as they search for clients who are dead and dying, they are admittedly not the most loved of human professionals. Yet, while they may seem to be without a conscience the fact is, they give you hope.

If you suffer from mesothelioma because of the negligence of an employer or organization then you are due compensation. No, getting a lawyer will not cure mesothelioma, nor will it alleviate your suffering. However, being compensated for someone's negligence will allow you to ensure that the expensive treatment required for mesothelioma does not alter your life nor the life of your loved ones.

Mesothelioma law is basically about being compensated by the makers and distributors of asbestos.The best way to get compensation is by hiring the right lawyer!

If you want to legally claim that the mesothelioma you or your loved one contracted was a result of exposure to an asbestos zone, you must be able to prove that exposure. Try your best to remember the details of your exposure, the product name, or the location, your lawyers and investigators will get the details all you need to give them is the basics.

Centres in America

Top Treatment centers for mesothelioma in America

As the incidence of mesothelioma is very high in the United States, almost every cancer institute is well equipped to treat mesothelioma. However, the following are a number of medical centers that specialize in mesothelioma treatments.

University of California San Diego Cancer Center

200 W. Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92130
(619) 543-3325
Website: http://www.cancer.ucsd.edu

UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

10833 Le Conte Ave.
San Diego, CA 92130
(800) 825-2631
Website: http://www.cancer.mednet.ucla.edu

Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center

Yale University School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06520
(203) 785-4095
Website: http:www.yalecancercenter.org

Lombardi Cancer Research Center

Georgetown University Medical Center
3800 Reservoir Road NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 687-2110
Website: http://www.lombardi.georgetown.edu

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

12902 Magnolia Drive
Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 972-4673
Website: http://www.moffitt.usf.edu

University of Chicago Cancer Research Center

5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
(312) 908-5250
Website: http://www-uccrc.bsd.uchicago.edu

Johns Hopkins Oncology Center

600 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287
(410) 955-8822
Website: http://www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org

Brigham & Women's Hospital

Division of Thoracic Surgery
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 732-5500
Website: http://www.chestsurg.org

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

44 Binney Street
Boston, Ma 02115
(617)732-3000
Website: http://www.dfci.harvard.edu/site1/textindex.asp

Massachusetts General Hospital

55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 726-2000
Website: http://www.mgh.harvard.edu

Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center

330 Brooline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 735-2000
Website: http://www.bidmc.harvard.edu

Lahey Clinic Medical Center

Mall Road
Burlington, MA 01805
(781) 273-5100
Website: http:www.lahey.org

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

102 Observatory Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(313) 936-1831
Website: http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu

Mayo Clinic

200 First St. S.W.
Rochester, MN 55905
(507) 284-2511
Website: http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

Columbia Presbyterian Comprehensive Cancer Center

College of Physicians and Surgeons
701 W. 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305-6921
Website: http://www.ccc.columbia.edu

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
(800) 525-2225
Website: http://www.mskcc.org

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

University of North Carolina
School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 684-5613
Website: http://cancer.med.unc.edu

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Arthru G. James Cancer Hospital
300 W. 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
(800) 638-6996
Website: http://www.jamesline.com

University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center

3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 662-6334
Website: http://www.oncolink.com

University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center

200 Meyran Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(800) 537-4063
Website: http://www.upci.upmc.edu

Vanderbilt Cancer Center

Vanderbilt University
649 Medical Research Building
Nashville, TN 37232
Website: http://www.vanderbiltcancercenter.org

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 792-6161
Toll-Free: 1-800-392-1611
Website: http://www.mdanderson.org

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

1124 Columbia Street
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 667-5000
Website: http://www.fhcrc.org

University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center

600 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792
(608) 263-8610
Website: http://www.cancer.wisc.edu

Mesocancer treat center

Top Treatment centers for mesothelioma in America

As the incidence of mesothelioma is very high in the United States, almost every cancer institute is well equipped to treat mesothelioma. However, the following are a number of medical centers that specialize in mesothelioma treatments.

University of California San Diego Cancer Center

200 W. Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92130
(619) 543-3325
Website: http://www.cancer.ucsd.edu

UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

10833 Le Conte Ave.
San Diego, CA 92130
(800) 825-2631
Website: http://www.cancer.mednet.ucla.edu

Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center

Yale University School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06520
(203) 785-4095
Website: http:www.yalecancercenter.org

Lombardi Cancer Research Center

Georgetown University Medical Center
3800 Reservoir Road NW
Washington, DC 20007
(202) 687-2110
Website: http://www.lombardi.georgetown.edu

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

12902 Magnolia Drive
Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 972-4673
Website: http://www.moffitt.usf.edu

University of Chicago Cancer Research Center

5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
(312) 908-5250
Website: http://www-uccrc.bsd.uchicago.edu

Johns Hopkins Oncology Center

600 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287
(410) 955-8822
Website: http://www.hopkinskimmelcancercenter.org

Brigham & Women's Hospital

Division of Thoracic Surgery
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 732-5500
Website: http://www.chestsurg.org

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

44 Binney Street
Boston, Ma 02115
(617)732-3000
Website: http://www.dfci.harvard.edu/site1/textindex.asp

Massachusetts General Hospital

55 Fruit Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 726-2000
Website: http://www.mgh.harvard.edu

Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center

330 Brooline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 735-2000
Website: http://www.bidmc.harvard.edu

Lahey Clinic Medical Center

Mall Road
Burlington, MA 01805
(781) 273-5100
Website: http:www.lahey.org

University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

102 Observatory Avenue
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(313) 936-1831
Website: http://www.cancer.med.umich.edu

Mayo Clinic

200 First St. S.W.
Rochester, MN 55905
(507) 284-2511
Website: http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

Columbia Presbyterian Comprehensive Cancer Center

College of Physicians and Surgeons
701 W. 168th Street
New York, NY 10032
(212) 305-6921
Website: http://www.ccc.columbia.edu

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

1275 York Avenue
New York, NY 10021
(800) 525-2225
Website: http://www.mskcc.org

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

University of North Carolina
School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
(919) 684-5613
Website: http://cancer.med.unc.edu

Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Arthru G. James Cancer Hospital
300 W. 10th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
(800) 638-6996
Website: http://www.jamesline.com

University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center

3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 662-6334
Website: http://www.oncolink.com

University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center

200 Meyran Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
(800) 537-4063
Website: http://www.upci.upmc.edu

Vanderbilt Cancer Center

Vanderbilt University
649 Medical Research Building
Nashville, TN 37232
Website: http://www.vanderbiltcancercenter.org

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

1515 Holcombe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
(713) 792-6161
Toll-Free: 1-800-392-1611
Website: http://www.mdanderson.org

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

1124 Columbia Street
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 667-5000
Website: http://www.fhcrc.org

University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center

600 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792
(608) 263-8610
Website: http://www.cancer.wisc.edu

Latest Research

Mesothelioma Research 1

According to Science Daily, an online resource for latest research news, mesothelioma patients who got treated by a combination of 2 drugs had an improved chance of surviving. Their survival rate increased by a minimum of 3 months. The two drugs used for the treatment were PEMETREXED and CISPLATIN. The clinical trials were done on 448 mesotheliomic patients.

About 80% of the mesotheliomic patients were men with an average age of 61 years. Some patients received only cisplatin whereas some patients received a combination of pemetrexed, cisplatin, vitamin supplements, folic acid and B12. Not only did their life span increase by three months but also the patients felt less tired, had improved appetite, experienced less pain and had smaller coughing spells. The clinical trial and research was done at the Clatterbridge Center for Oncology in England.

Mesothelioma Research 2

A research published in The New England Journal of Medicine says that researchers in New York University School of Medicine and Wayne State University have discovered a molecular particle that shows the beginnings of pleural mesothelioma. The blood levels of a protein called OSTEOPONTIN rises significantly in patients with early stages of pleural mesothelioma.

This is a breakthrough discovery as it may lead to the development of a blood diagnostic test which can detect the disease pleural mesothelioma in its earliest stages. Currently the patient has to wait for mesothelioma to become a full blown case before it is properly diagnosed. Although it is incurable, the detection of pleural mesothelioma in its earliest stages, will lead to swifter treatment options with the patient having a longer survival rate and a reduced pain free life.

Mesothelioma Research 3

A study conducted by a team of researchers at University of Cincinnati have found that all those workers who used were employed at a Ohio manufacturing plant in Marysville and were exposed to vermiculite ore had abnormally high rates of chest wall lining disfigurement.

Vermiculite ore is known to contain asbestos fibers and exposure to it means that previous workers have a high chance of developing asbestosis, lung diseases and mesothelioma. Because of mesothelioma’s long latency period, researchers will not know about the development of mesothelioma in these people till the next 30-50 years.

Fractions

Background: Mesothelial cells normally line the body cavities, including the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, and testis. Malignancies involving mesothelial cells in these body cavities are known as malignant mesothelioma, which may be localized or diffuse. Diagnosis is difficult because the results from fluid analysis of the effusion from the tumor are not usually diagnostic. Most, but not all, pleural malignant mesothelioma is associated with asbestos exposure. Of patients with pleural malignant mesothelioma, 77% have been exposed to asbestos in the past. Mesothelioma is more common in males than in females and it occurs in the fifth and seventh decade of life. Most of malignant mesothelioma occur in the pleura (90% of the time).


Pathophysiology: The 3 major histological types of mesothelioma are sarcomatous, epithelial, and mixed. Pleural mesothelioma usually begins as discrete plaques and nodules that coalesce to produce a sheetlike neoplasm. Tumor growth usually begins at the lower part of the chest. The tumor may invade the diaphragm and encase the surface of the lung and interlobar fissures.

The tumor may also grow along drainage and thoracotomy tracts. As the disease progresses, it often extends into the pulmonary parenchyma, chest wall, and mediastinum. Pleural mesothelioma may extend into the esophagus, ribs, vertebra, brachial plexus, and superior vena cava.

Asbestos is the principal carcinogen implicated in the pathogenesis. The industries associated with asbestos exposure include ship building, construction, ceramics, paper mill, auto parts, railroad and insulation.

Most malignant mesotheliomas have complex karyotypes, with extensive aneuploidy and rearrangement of many chromosomes. A loss of a single copy on chromosome 22 is the most common abnormality.


Frequency:


In the US: Approximately 2500-3000 cases are diagnosed per year.
Internationally: Frequency is 0.9 cases per 100,000 persons.
Mortality/Morbidity:

Median survival for patients with malignant mesothelioma is 11 months. It is almost always fatal. Median survival based on histologic type is 9.4 months for sarcomatous, 12.5 months for epithelial, and 11 months for mixed. Approximately 15% of patients have an indolent course.
Asbestos exposure is linked to at least 50% of patients developing malignant mesothelioma. Approximately 8 million people in the United States have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Family members are also exposed to asbestos embedded in the worker's clothing. The combination of tobacco and asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of developing pleural mesothelioma.
Race:

Mesothelioma has no racial predilection. Asbestos exposure is the most important factor. Race is not a factor.

Male/female

Malignant mesothelioma is more common in men, with a male-to-female ratio of 3:1. It can also occur in children; however, these cases are not thought to be associated with asbestos exposure.
With regard to women with mesothelioma, a 1996 case series by Ascoli et al showed 86% of tumors arising from the pleura, of which most were the epithelial type. Of the patients in this series, 75% had a history of exposure to asbestos and more than half developed the malignancy secondary to household contact with a worker exposed to asbestos.
With regard to men with mesothelioma, the same case series demonstrated 45.5% with a history of exposure to asbestos and 53% with occupational exposure to asbestos. Most who were involved were construction workers, railroad workers, naval mechanics, bakers, explosive workers, and automobile mechanics.
Age:

Malignant mesothelioma has a peak incidence 35-45 years after asbestos exposure. It commonly develops in the fifth to seventh decade of life.

Mesocancer Latest

The latest mesothelioma trust fund proposal, which has spent months being banded back and forth between Senators Bill Frist and Tom Daschle, is dead in the water, and the outlook for its resurrection look to be very bleak indeed.

Patients and support groups are likely to be celebrating the failure of this proposal before it even got off the ground. The proposal was designed to alter the way that compensation claims are assessed and paid to victims of mesothelioma, but according to victims, lawyers and support groups was designed to save the companies responsible for asbestos exposure from bankruptcy rather than to ensure that victims got the compensation they deserved.

When recently asked about the bill, Committee Chairman, Orin Hatch, simply stated: "There's not going to be one." Hatch did go on to state that one of the reasons for the bill�s downfall was the unreasonable written requests made by Senator Daschle. He stated: "When the one-pager came over from Daschle that absolutely meant that they were going to kill the bill. There's no way anybody with any brains would have agreed to his provisions. It just means billions of dollars for the trial lawyers, who really don't deserve it. The Democrats have really screwed this up."

There have been disagreements between Republican Senator Bill Frist and Democrat Senator Daschle ever since the proposal was put together. Daschle wanted all cases currently going through the court process to continue whereas Frist wanted them to be transferred to the new system. Frist was also in disagreement with the timeframe for putting the new system into operation as proposed by Daschle. It seems that amidst the arguments, the Senators managed to miss their opportunity to actually try and enforce the bill.

Orin Hatch stated that it was now too late to complete the bill, and went on to say: "I think it will be too late next year. About $30 billion will probably dry up and there will be more companies in bankruptcy."

Asbestos Contractors Back Awareness Campaign

Britain’s leading asbestos association is standing behind the Housing and Safety Executive’s (HSE) efforts to teach young tradesman about the dangers of the toxic mineral, promoting the HSE’s latest video, Asbestos: The Hidden Killer, and offering other options to education these young workers about the health hazards associated with asbestos exposure.

According to a press release, the Asbestos Removal Contractors Association (ARCA) will be promoting specific asbestos awareness training courses throughout the United Kingdom.

“The courses are aimed at those trades who come into contact with asbestos during their daily work activity such as plumbers and electricians,” says the press release. “The asbestos awareness courses are tailored to each specific trade and will enable individuals to take the appropriate action should they encounter materials which they suspect to be asbestos.”

The asbestos awareness course offered by ARCA will be comprised of five core modules: 1) What is asbestos?; 2) the health effects of asbestos; 3) asbestos in buildings; 4) Legislation (industry and trade specific); and 5) the asbestos removal process. The aim of the course is to lessen exposure and hopefully prevent further deaths from asbestos exposure, especially in the plumbing and electrical trades. The HSE reports that in the UK, approximately 20 tradespeople per week die of asbestos diseases. They expect the number to grow.

“We fully support the HSE’s campaign to highlight the dangers of asbestos in the workplace, we hope that by offering tradesmen the opportunity to learn about the precautions they need to make, it will result in a better understanding and awareness of the dangers of asbestos and in the long run reduce the number of deaths due to asbestos exposure,” said Satish Patel, ARCA’s training manager.

Chemotherapy Gave Us A Gift of Time

In December 1999, my beloved husband of 32 years was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma and given a prognosis of 3 to 9 months. He was a former Wittenoom child who at the tender age of seven lived in Wittenoom for period of seven short months. Tragically it was long enough for him to inhale the deadly blue asbestos dust that would ultimately take his life.

As Brian’s disease progressed, the tumor pressed against his esophagus making it almost impossible for him to swallow. For a short period of time, dilatation was given to stretch the opening, thereby enabling him to manage a pureed diet. However when these dilations were no longer successful, we were told that chemotherapy was the only option. It was painfully obvious that unless chemotherapy could shrink the tumor, Brian’s death would be imminent.

Although we had no choice, the thought of chemotherapy was frightening. We had heard stories of extreme nausea and hair loss, and the added fear of the unknown intensified our suffering. There were many questions. How would it affect us? Would it work? How long will it go on? Will Brian ever be able to eat normally again?

For Brian, chemotherapy was never promised as a cure but as a trial, offered to him in the hope of shrinking the tumor, thereby enabling him to eat and drink and hopefully, to afford him “quality of life” for the remainder of his life.

Brian began chemotherapy in January 2001; his reaction to the first round of treatment was dramatic; he vomited continuously and was unable to retain his oral medication and needed to be hospitalized. Unable He remained in hospital for a short time during which the Pain Management Specialist attached to the Palliative Care Unit was able to bring his symptoms under control. The medication he prescribed effectively controlled Brian’s nausea and when taken prior to further chemotherapy sessions, prevented further bouts of nausea from occurring.

Without fear of side effects, Brian welcomed his chemotherapy sessions and the resulting benefits of the treatment soon became obvious. By the end of the second round of chemotherapy it was obvious that the treatment had shrunk the tumor; the changes in his condition and disposition were amazing; he felt and looked so much better, was able to eat meat and enjoy food again. I could not get over the change in him.

Excerpt from my diary:

March 2001

Brian is feeling so much better. He is able to eat meat and enjoy food again. Chemotherapy HAS shrunk the tumor. I cannot get over the change in him. It is a precious gift and I am so grateful for it. Brian has been amazing. The chemo and nausea medication tire him for a bit but within a few days he is back on top and his general well-being is amazing. Oh the joy of seeing him able to eat again! The chemo has definitely given him better quality of life. His appetite is amazing!

I realized at this time that despite all of our fears regarding chemotherapy, it had worked well for us. It had given us a precious gift of time. A special “time out” from the pain and suffering of it all. There was quality of life and we were determined to live it to the full.

Excerpt from my diary

There’s laughter now in our days for we have grown stronger. We have learned to push our grief away and to live each moment of every single day, for we know that tomorrow may never come and that our goodnight may well be our goodbye...

How Is Mesothelioma Treated?

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. However, they may have been been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways. This could include working with asbestos or by home renovation using asbestos cement products or even by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos. The resulting disease is rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs.

Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer.

There are various procedures used for the treatment of mesothelioma. The type of treatment depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health.

A common treatment of the disease is by means of surgery by the removal of part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura, 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.

Another method is Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy. This 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 or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found .

Anticancer drugs can be used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. This is known as chemotherapy and involves the administration of the drugs by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Currently, doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen.

Because mesothelioma is very hard to control, the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments.

Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer

Mesothelioma: What is it?

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancerous disease of the cells lining the patient's body cavities such as chest, abdominal region or the area surrounding the heart. It is thought to be associated with exposure to asbestos, and this asbestos association has been documented in 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. Asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is very difficult to assess and diagnose consistently. The time between exposure and the onset of the disease, and the rate of progression of malignant mesothelioma, make diagnosis very difficult.

It is believed that even insignificant exposure to asbestos in environments such as asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, some older Navy ships or even patient's homes can result in mesothelioma. In many cases mesothelioma does not occur for decades after initial exposure to this cancer-causing asbestos. 2000-3000 cases of mesothelioma per year are currently being diagnosed. Family members of workers exposed to asbestos can also contract this disease through exposure to the worker's clothing. Like many other cancers, smoking greatly increases the risk of contracting mesothelioma.

Some of the earliest symptoms of mesothelioma are commonly over looked due there similarity to symptoms of less serious diseases. Some patients do not show any signs of sickness in the early stages of development of the disease. The most common symptoms of mesothelioma include dyspnoea, pleuritic pain, lasting cough, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms may not be attributed to mesothelioma unless the patient is examined by a competent and knowledgeable health care provider who orders the appropriate tests. Test for mesothelioma, or asbestos cancer, may include CT scans, x-rays scans, or MRI. Surgery can be one of the treatment options; however, the recurrence rate of cancerous cells is high. It is very important that the disease is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

This disease is not more prevalent in any particular race or ethic group; however it is more common in men. Most cases of mesothelioma occur 30-45 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Once it develops, this cancer will continue to grow until it is treated or the victim expires.

Mesothelioma: Treatment

Although science is not certain as to the exact mechanism which causes mesothelioma, it is thought that the asbestos fibers puncture the parenchyma, become lodged in the pleura, and by process of irritation create the change in the cells which causes the mesothelioma.

The chance of recovery for a person with mesothelioma depends on several factors, including:

Size of the cancer
Location of the cancer
Spread of the cancer throughout the body
Response to treatment
Appearance of the cells under a microscope
Age of the patient

Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Virtually all cases of malignant mesothelioma are attributable to asbestos exposure.

If you have mesothelioma or you know someone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, remember that time matters. The sooner you consult your doctor and get professional care the better your chances will be of dealing with this dangerous asbestos cancer. There are three traditional methods of fighting cancerous mesothelioma:

Surgery

Chemotherapy drugs

Radiation therapy.

Please contact your doctor as soon as possible to get more information.

Mesothelioma: Phenomenon

The nature of Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer and the length of time before symptoms may occur has made conventional claims for compensation difficult. This has opened the door and presented a great opportunity for personal injury lawyers and personal injury and class action lawsuits.

An indication of the part that the Internet has played, or is playing in this, can be determined by the amount of money personal injury lawyers and law firms are spending to advertise their services on the Internet. Many of these Law Firms have entire websites dedicated to this subject. In fact much of the information in this article was culled from these law firms' websites.

The punch line on all these websites of course is that the mesothelioma victim should hire this law firm to represent them in a personal injury or class action lawsuit.

Most reader know that it is possible to buy ads that will be displayed on Search Engine results pages when certain keywords are searched on. The current record high payment for keyword advertising of this type is held by "mesothelioma" and "asbestos cancer". These law firms are currently paying more than any other seller of goods or services to attract visitors to their websites.

Is this good or is this bad? Obviously the law firms feel that there is a great deal of money to be made in these personal injury suits, but what about the mesothelioma victim? For him/her these lawyers, and law firms, may represent the only chance for adequate medical care and the means to support their families and live their lives with this debilitating disease.

Mesothelioma: The Summary

Mesothelioma, or asbestos cancer, is a terrible disease. The length of time between exposure and the onset of the symptoms hangs over the heads of many people like a life sentence. Personal injury lawyers and attorneys are often derided and condemned, however for the victims of Mesothelioma they may represent the only means of securing the funds to treat the disease or cope with the disabling impact of malignant mesothelioma.

For more information on Asbestos, Radon, Lead-based paint etc. Please visit us at http://www.americanhomeinspectordirectory.com/

Article submitted by the American Home Inspector Directory

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Wittenoom Graveyard

Despite the known fact that Wittenoom is responsible for many deaths, there are some who are reluctant to ban tourists from visiting the town. Undeniably,residents who still reside there are feeling financial and emotional strain due to the lack of tourist trade, however when I saw an article in the West Australian Newspaper Wednesday 19th May, titled “The Town that Won’t Die”, I was upset and angered by the comments made by a resident of the town, who stated that he had lived in Wittenoom since 1966 and that to his knowledge,no one had died of mesothelioma during that time.

No one should become complacent, or take comfort in the knowledge that thirty eight years have passed without incidence of mesothelioma in Whittenoom, for it is a known fact that many years may pass between inhalation of asbestos dust and it's deadly legacy of mesothelioma.

I became tragically aware of this, when my husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2001, this as a result of him having lived in Wittenoom for a few short months as a child. Forty five years had passed between his inhalation of asbestos dust and his diagnosis.

I, for one cannot think of Wittenoom without pain. It killed my husband and his father, and many more loved ones will die in years to come, as a result of living there. No one who has witnessed the devastation of this terrible disease and lost loved ones through it could have any empathy for Wittenoom. It is forever tainted with a killer dust that once inhaled remains in the lungs, until without warning it strikes, and there is no hope, no cure, for this terrible disease.

For the residents who wish to remain there, it is their choice. However, to encourage and permit tourists to visit Wittenoom, knowing full well the dangers of asbestos dust inhalation, is as irresponsible as the mining company who created this monster and refused to close operation even after they became aware of its existence.

Wittenoom may well be a scenic place to live for the remaining residents – to me it reflects a massive graveyard filled with all the loved ones who have died and a pain in the heart for all who have lost them. I would like to see it wiped off the map forever.

Article and excerpts written by: Lorraine Kember – Author of “Lean on Me” Cancer through a Carer’s Eyes. Lorraine’s book is written from her experience of caring for her dying husband in the hope of helping others. It includes insight and discussion on: Anticipatory Grief, Understanding and identifying pain, Pain Management and Symptom Control, Chemotherapy, Palliative Care, Quality of Life and Dying at home. It also features excerpts and poems from her personal diary. Highly recommended by the Cancer Council. “Lean on Me” is not available in bookstores - For detailed information, Doctor’s recommendations, Reviews, Book Excerpts and Ordering Facility - visit her website http://www.cancerthroughacarerseyes.jkwh.com

L&S Announce Steps to Protect Against Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Lewis and Sholnick have announced the publication of some simple precautionary steps can be taken to avoid high risk situations in regards to asbestos and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It refers specifically to a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs or abdomen. Despite being classified under the rather broad category of cancer, however, Mesothelioma is unique for a number of reasons.

First is the immense devastation of the disease, and the inability for modern medical techniques to significantly slow its onset or offer a cure. Approximately 75% of patients die within 18 months of the first signs of the disease.

Second, is the long latency period between exposure to the cause of the disease, asbestos, and its onset. Latency runs the gamut from 15 to 50 years, meaning that a person may have been exposed to asbestos more than a half century before the first serious signs of the disease manifest themselves. The average reported latency, however, is approximately 35-40 years.

Precautionary Steps

Because of the devastating nature of the disease and because we are able to point to a single root source, asbestos exposure, there is significant reason for all individuals to take necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the disease. While certainly no steps taken can fully eliminate all risk of asbestos exposure, some simple precautionary steps can be taken to avoid high risk situations.

For instance, a responsible parent should contact their childrenís local school district. In 1986 Congress passed the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, which required public and private nonprofit schools to inspect their buildings for asbestos-containing materials. Despite this, an untold number of schools either have not taken the necessary steps to eliminate the potential for asbestos exposure or the work has been done shoddily.

In fact, just two years ago a New York school district was found to have high levels of asbestos despite having had a contractor "remove" the threat a mere five years before.

Upon further investigation, however, the contractor used had already been cited numerous times for doing work not up to code in similar asbestos removal projects.

Consequently, concerned parents should first contact their childrenís school district to receive a copy of documentation stating that indeed, proper steps were taken to remove asbestos from the building. Then, parents should do a bit of their own research via the internet and the Better Business Bureau to ensure that the contractor hired has a stellar record.

Baby Safety Checklist - Protecting Your Baby

When bringing home your new baby, there are so many things to do in order to get ready. Making your home a safe haven for your new little one is one of the most important things you will do to get ready. Each room contains its own set of dangers. Below is a baby safety checklist to ensure that every room in your house is baby friendly.

General Safety Tips:

___ Place child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets.
___ Install safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs.
___ Don't use baby walkers because they have been known to have caused serious injuries to babies. Use stationary exercisers instead.
___ Keep all dangerous chemicals out of the reach of children.
___ Shorten curtain and blind cords.
___ Install smoke detectors on each floor of your home, especially near sleeping areas. * Be sure to change the batteries each year.
___ Keep all small objects away from young children. (This includes tiny toys and balloons.)
___ Use corner bumpers on furniture and fireplace-hearth edges.
___ Know the names of all plants in case a child eats one of them.
___ Be sure that furnaces, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, space heaters, and all gas appliances are vented properly.
___ Place screened barriers around fireplaces, radiators, and portable space heaters.
___ Keep firearms and ammunition safely locked away.
___ Secure unsteady furnishings.
___ Check your house for lead and asbestos. If you detect either of these substances, contact a professional. Any house built before 1978 is at risk for lead paint.

Protect your kids rooms:

___ Ensure that your crib meets national safety standards.
___ Place guards on windows and stops on all doors.
___ Make sure your baby's crib is sturdy and has no loose or missing hardware.
___ Make sure that the mattress fits snugly.
___ Be sure the crib sheet fits snugly.
___ Never put stuffed animals or heavy blankets in the crib with your infant.
___ Never leave your baby unattended on the changing table.
___ Remove mobiles and other hanging toys from the crib as soon as your child can reach up and touch them.
___ Place infants under one year of age on their backs to sleep. Mattress should be firm and flat with no soft bedding underneath. * Following this advice will reduce the risk of suffocation and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
___ Place night-lights at least three feet away from the crib, bedding, and draperies to prevent fires.
___ Check age labels for appropriate toys.

Keep the bathroom safe:

___ Put a lock on the medicine cabinet.
___ Lower the household water temperature. (It should be set at 120 degrees F or below to avoid burning your baby)
___ Always test the water first before bathing a child.
___ Never leave your child alone in the bathtub or near any water.
___ Secure toilet lids. Many young children are fascinated by putting objects inside.
___ Make sure that bathtubs and showers aren't slippery.
___ Install ground-fault circuit interrupters on outlets near sings and bathtubs.

For the Kitchen:

___ Keep all knives, cleaning supplies, and plastic bags out of children's reach.
___ If stove knobs are easily accessible to children, use protective covers to prevent kids from turning them.
___ Never leave your baby alone in a highchair. Always use all safety straps. ___ Replace any frayed cords and wires.
___ Keep chairs and step stools away from counters and the stove.
___ Remove all household cleaners from the bottom cabinets or put them in a cabinet that is out of your baby's reach.

In the Yard:

___ Store tools, garden, lawn-equipment, and supplies in a locked closet or shed.
___ Don't use a power mower when young children are around.
___ Don't allow children to play on a treated lawn for at least 48 hours following an application of a fertilizer or pesticide.
___ Know the types of trees and plant life on the property in case children ingest berries, leaves, or other plant life.
___ If you have a swimming pool, install a fence that separates the house from the pool. ( Make sure that the gate is childproof)

This list is a general guide. For more in-depth information go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at www.cpsc.gov.

GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Read articles on parenting, family, recipes, home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!

Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancerous disease of the cells lining the patient's body cavities such as chest, abdominal region or the area surrounding the heart. It is thought to be associated with exposure to asbestos, and this asbestos association has been documented in 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. Asbestos cancer or mesothelioma is very difficult to assess and diagnose consistently. The time between exposure and the onset of the disease, and the rate of progression of malignant mesothelioma, make diagnosis very difficult.

It is believed that even insignificant exposure to asbestos in environments such as asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, some older Navy ships or even patient's homes can result in mesothelioma. In many cases mesothelioma does not occur for decades after initial exposure to this cancer-causing asbestos. 2000-3000 cases of mesothelioma per year are currently being diagnosed. Family members of workers exposed to asbestos can also contract this disease through exposure to the worker's clothing. Like many other cancers, smoking greatly increases the risk of contracting mesothelioma.

Some of the earliest symptoms of mesothelioma are commonly over looked due there similarity to symptoms of less serious diseases. Some patients do not show any signs of sickness in the early stages of development of the disease. The most common symptoms of mesothelioma include dyspnoea, pleuritic pain, lasting cough, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms may not be attributed to mesothelioma unless the patient is examined by a competent and knowledgeable health care provider who orders the appropriate tests. Test for mesothelioma, or asbestos cancer, may include CT scans, x-rays scans, or MRI. Surgery can be one of the treatment options; however, the recurrence rate of cancerous cells is high. It is very important that the disease is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

This disease is not more prevalent in any particular race or ethic group; however it is more common in men. Most cases of mesothelioma occur 30-45 years after initial exposure to asbestos. Once it develops, this cancer will continue to grow until it is treated or the victim expires.

Mesothelioma: Treatment

Although science is not certain as to the exact mechanism which causes mesothelioma, it is thought that the asbestos fibers puncture the parenchyma, become lodged in the pleura, and by process of irritation create the change in the cells which causes the mesothelioma.

The chance of recovery for a person with mesothelioma depends on several factors, including:

Size of the cancer
Location of the cancer
Spread of the cancer throughout the body
Response to treatment
Appearance of the cells under a microscope
Age of the patient

Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Virtually all cases of malignant mesothelioma are attributable to asbestos exposure.

If you have mesothelioma or you know someone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, remember that time matters. The sooner you consult your doctor and get professional care the better your chances will be of dealing with this dangerous asbestos cancer. There are three traditional methods of fighting cancerous mesothelioma:

Surgery

Chemotherapy drugs

Radiation therapy.

Please contact your doctor as soon as possible to get more information.

Mesothelioma: Phenomenon

The nature of Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer and the length of time before symptoms may occur has made conventional claims for compensation difficult. This has opened the door and presented a great opportunity for personal injury lawyers and personal injury and class action lawsuits.

An indication of the part that the Internet has played, or is playing in this, can be determined by the amount of money personal injury lawyers and law firms are spending to advertise their services on the Internet. Many of these Law Firms have entire websites dedicated to this subject. In fact much of the information in this article was culled from these law firms' websites.

The punch line on all these websites of course is that the mesothelioma victim should hire this law firm to represent them in a personal injury or class action lawsuit.

Most reader know that it is possible to buy ads that will be displayed on Search Engine results pages when certain keywords are searched on. The current record high payment for keyword advertising of this type is held by "mesothelioma" and "asbestos cancer". These law firms are currently paying more than any other seller of goods or services to attract visitors to their websites.

Is this good or is this bad? Obviously the law firms feel that there is a great deal of money to be made in these personal injury suits, but what about the mesothelioma victim? For him/her these lawyers, and law firms, may represent the only chance for adequate medical care and the means to support their families and live their lives with this debilitating disease.

Mesothelioma: The Summary

Mesothelioma, or asbestos cancer, is a terrible disease. The length of time between exposure and the onset of the symptoms hangs over the heads of many people like a life sentence. Personal injury lawyers and attorneys are often derided and condemned, however for the victims of Mesothelioma they may represent the only means of securing the funds to treat the disease or cope with the disabling impact of malignant mesothelioma.

For more information on Asbestos, Radon, Lead-based paint etc. Please visit us at http://www.americanhomeinspectordirectory.com/

Article submitted by the American Home Inspector Directory

Protect Against Mesothelioma by Avoiding Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that attacks the body's mesothelial cells around the organs. The mesothelium provides a protective membranous lining for the internal organs and allows moving organs (i.e. the heart and the lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures. The names of the three regions of mesothelial cells that provide protective coating are 1) pleura, the sac which surrounds the lungs; 2) peritoneum, the lining which protects the abdominal cavity; and 3) pericardium, the sac which surrounds the heart. Three different types of mesothelioma cancer attack these three different regions.

Pleural mesothelioma: A type of lung cancer which attacks the pleura surrounding the lungs, this is the most common type of mesothelioma, affecting approximately two-thirds of all mesothelioma patients. Symptoms include horseness, fever, blood in sputum, swollen arms and face, coughing, loss of weight, difficulty breathing, chest pain, weak muscles, and reduced tactile sensitivity.

Peritoneal mesothelioma: A cancer of the abdomen which attacks the peritoneum lining the abdominal cavity. This affects approximately one-third of all mesothelioma patients. Symptoms include abdominal bloating, impaired bowl function, fever, swollen feet, and nausea.

Pericardial mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma which attacks the pericardium surrounding the heart is extremely rare. Symptoms include chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and palpitations.

Mesothelioma has been linked to asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a type of building material used in thermal insulation products and ceiling tiles. In the United States, asbestos usage peaked during the 1950s - 1970s. During the late 1960s, concerns over the health consequences of asbestos exposure began to arise, thereby decreasing the amount of asbestos manufactured in next two decades. By the 1980s, a new industry of asbestos abatement began to flourish. But according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as many as 733,000 schools and public buildings still contain asbestos.

Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can remain suspended in the air for a long time. These fibers, when breathed into the body, are toxic. There are three types of asbestos exposure.

Occupational asbestos exposure: People working in factories that manufacure asbestos are likely to have a high exposure to asbestos and are most at risk of developing asbestosis or mesothelioma.

Paraoccupational asbestos exposure: Family members of workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace are susceptible to exposure from asbestos dust brought home by the worker on his clothes or skin.

Neighborhood asbestos exposure: Those who live in the vicinity of an asbestos manufacturing plant are also at risk.

Mesothelioma is still a relatively rare form of cancer. There are an estimated 2,000 - 3,000 new cases per year in the United States. Approximately 7-13 per one million male patients with a history of asbestos exposure contract mesothelioma. Diagnosis usually occurs 20-40 years after initial exposure to asbestos.

How to Sense Low Levels of Asbestos in Your Daily Environment

My discovery came to me by accidentally removing an asbestos material in my home. The resulting condition of the whole house after this accident left me with a sore chest, dry and unbearably iching skin and eyes. My wife complained of extreme thirst and my oldest son, age 14, developed severe asthma. This all continued for five to six months. During this time I tried desparately to determine if we were living in an unsafe level of asbestos. The material that I had removed was tested and found to contain 20% crysitile asbestos. Air sampling proved to be unreliable because the area had been ventilated so well. But the furnishings, carpets, walls and all other personal belongings were covered the remnants of the demolition.Everyone wanted to play down the seriousness of the situation, but, to me it was obviously not a healthy environment.

So, I set out to try to logically deduce, with a knowledge of the physical properties of asbestos,when I encountered the substance as I attempted to clean every surface and item in every room of the house.

That was fifteen years ago. During that time, as I learned more about where we all encounter asbestos materials on a daily basis. I made mental notes concerning my and others' reactions to these encounters. Many situations have arisen ranging from sore throats and skin conditions(acne and basil cell skin cancer) to asthma, pneumonia and death. I don't have clinical proof of these claims I've made, except to say "if it looks, walks and sounds like a duck it probably is a duck". Many times clinical trials are verified by producing the same results in subsequent testing. Deductive reasoning can also be verified in the same way. If the same results are observed again and again after low level exposure to these remnants then that is proof to me.

Without writing a book, I wouldn't have the space to detail every observation I've made during this period, but I can assure you that no contact with asbestos is without a possible adverse health consequence.

Asbestos is a very lightweight chrystal-like material with highly static electrical properties. It often produces a static discharge like when one is shocked by touching the metal switch plate or door knob in their home. It often leaves a bitter-salty taste in your mouth. It can stay airborne for days at a time. It absorbs moisture and produces a very dry environment (which only makes the static electric situation worse.)

The loose material may be accidentally contacted in a number of building types and situations.

Many buildings built before 1977 have vinyl asbestos floor tile. No one can avoid walking on this, if they enter the building. This is fine if the floor is well maintained. Look out for broken or worn and never waxed tile. This applies to any location in the building, commercial or residential. Closets are very seldom waxed. Items stored there will accumulate certain amounts of this substance.

Anytime an older building is renovated the possibility exists for a number of materials containing asbestos to be encountered. The contractor does't always do the right thing. In many instances it is cheaper to pay the fine if he is caught. So he just tears it out and throws it in the dumpster or hauls it to the dump himself. As a consequence, many newly renovated stores have a certain amount of this dust on the shelves and new merchandise in the store.

There are many more instances of contact for which I don't have the time to detail here, but basically, with the characteristics of the material, knowledge of where you may encounter the substance and many hours of observation (I've been in construction over thirty years), you too can make the same deductive conclutions that I have made.

In subsequent articles I intend to go into detail on the unique physical properties of asbestos and how this promotes detection in your hair and clothes. In future articles I would also like to expand on the many other health effects I've noticed, such as acne, which could benifit many young adults and a number of people who continue with this complexion problem into adulthood.

Granddad denied aid after asbestos exposure at work

A GRANDFATHER who has watched four friends and former colleagues die of the same asbestos-related disease he suffers from, has been denied the right to claim compensation by the Court of Appeal.

Retired heating engineer David McGovern, from Woodhouses, worked for a Stretford firm called William Matthews between 1959 and 1978, where he used to lag boilers and heating pipes.

Six years ago he began having breathing problems and was diagnosed with pleural plaques – an irreversible scarring to the lungs and diaphragm caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos.

The disease has had a profound affect on the 64-year-old, both physically and emotionally. Even the simplest household task like climbing the stairs leaves the once super-fit footballer and non- smoker gasping for air.

But it’s the fear that more serious respiratory diseases, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer, could develop that David and his family struggle to cope with – not least after watching David’s friends and former work colleagues die within a few years of each other.

David, of Medlock Road, is due to have his first x-ray in six years this week and will find out if the disease has spread.

"When I was first diagnosed it was hard for my family but we have come to live with it," he said.

But added: "It worries me that the scarring on my lungs could develop into something more serious – especially after what I’ve seen happen to the others. There were five of us who were friends, and it’s just me left now."

David is also battling prostate cancer, which he was diagnosed with two years ago.

However, he has now been denied the chance of providing his family with financial security if anything happens to him.

Last month, the House of Lords upheld a 2006 ruling by the Court of Appeal that people exposed to asbestos can no longer claim compensation for pleural plaques. Apparently, it is considered by some specialists to be the most ‘benign’ of all asbestos-related diseases.

The verdict affects thousands and the trade union Amicus and law firms, including David’s, have pledged to fight to re-instate compensation.

David wants the compensation to help support his wife Christine, their three children and grandchild.

"This is an industrial injury where working with asbestos had consequences," he added. "The exposure to asbestos was due to the negligence of my employers. I need to think about the future of my family."

Tony Whitson, from the Greater Manchester Asbestos Victims’ Support Group, said of pleural plaques: "This is a disease which affects working class people who were wrongly exposed to asbestos.

"It is all too easy for those who never risked their lives in industry to dismiss the suffering of so many who did."

Beryllium The New Asbestos?

It was American workers on the world's first atomic bomb who became the first industrial victims of beryllium, a rare but especially light, stable and strong metal whose toxic dust can kill those who breathe it.

Now Seafarers doing ship maintenance and have used Jasons De-rusting and de-scaling guns (also known as J-gun or Jasons pistol) raise concerns about exposure to beryllium.

Unlike other metals, beryllium does not spark and was therefore used on tanker ships containing fuel.

Beryllium can cause a long-term lung disease (berylliosis) in some people by triggering an immune (allergic) response in the body. In general, significant exposure to beryllium in a respirable form is required for any disease to occur, and symptoms may take up to 20 years to develop even after exposure has stopped.

Beryllium dust can cause fatal and untreatable lung disease, similar to asbestosis.

The symptoms of berylliosis include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, weight loss and fatigue. These symptoms are common, so that most people who have these symptoms do not have berylliosis. Occasionally, other areas of the body like the skin, eyes, mouth & nose may develop a rash following contact with dust containing beryllium.

There is no preventive or curative treatment available for berylliosis or chronic beryllium disease.

We didn't know about asbestos risks

John Towersey, 59, from Hextable in Kent, worked as a carpenter on building sites for around 20 years as a young man and used to cut up sheets of asbestos without wearing protective clothing or a mask.

"We didn't know anything about asbestos in the early days and we certainly didn't wear any protective equipment."

He left the carpentry trade and became a property assessor for a local authority.

Then a few years ago, he fell ill.

"In 2003, I started to have trouble breathing and I was sweating a lot. Lying on my right side was also really painful."

He was diagnosed with mesothelioma - asbestos-related cancer caused by breathing in its fibres - in September of that year.

In a tragic twist, his mother was then terminally ill with the same condition, but John had not known he could also be at risk.

"It was only when I was in hospital being tested and I was having trouble breathing that I thought it might be that."

Coroner's ruling

After her death in 2004, a coroner said John's mother had probably developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos when she had washed her son's overalls in the 1960s.

After his initial course of treatment, he has had two relapses - both of which have been treated with chemotherapy.

The illness has affected John's life immensely. He used to walk one-and-a-half miles to the next village but now he struggles to even walk upstairs.

He says he is often in pain and even sneezing or shouting make him sore.

But he added: "I've just been concentrating on living, and enjoying it. I was lucky enough to get early retirement and I've been doing all kinds of things from going on the Eurostar to having tea at the Ritz.

"Also, I'm sure I wouldn't be here now if I hadn't changed my diet - no more red meat and lots of fruit and vegetables - and started using complementary therapies and medicines."

The Latest Asbestos Scam

Perhaps you thought the great asbestos legal blob couldn't get any worse, what with 100,000 new claims filed last year and 70 companies already pushed into bankruptcy. Well, read on. The latest asbestos scandal is threatening the integrity of the judicial system itself.

This new blob rolled into view in May when a federal appeals court dismissed a judge presiding over several high-profile bankruptcies. In legal circles, this almost never happens. So the Third Circuit removal of District Judge Alfred Wolin for a perception of bias toward asbestos lawyers deserves wider public attention. (More on that below.)

But let's first examine how trial lawyers have discovered a new venue for extorting asbestos money: bankruptcy court. This venue has been growing in popularity since 1994, when Congress fiddled with the bankruptcy code in a way that allowed trial lawyers to exploit asbestos bankruptcies.

It works like this: In a normal bankruptcy, a creditor's voting weight is mainly determined by how much he's owed. But thanks to the 1994 change, all asbestos "creditors" (claimants) are treated equally. That means the vote of a person who isn't yet sick counts just as much as the vote of someone who already has cancer.

It didn't take long for tort lawyers to figure out how to game this system. The leading asbestos law firms team up and pool their unimpaired plaintiffs (who each get a vote), draw up a plan that gives the bulk of the money to their clients, and then outvote the other creditors.

Another new bilking gambit is prepackaged bankruptcy. "Prepacks" have long been a popular way for companies to navigate bankruptcy. Creditors vote on a reorganization plan before the company even files for bankruptcy, thereby allowing a company to get quickly in and out of court. In asbestos prepacks, plaintiffs' lawyers have their clients quickly outvote other creditors and get paid before bankruptcy, then the lawyers get paid again for setting up the very plans that enrich them.

Consider the case of Combustion Engineering. The king of asbestos suits, Joe Rice of Motley Rice LLC, marshalled enough votes to approve a plan in which his unimpaired claimants will get a pre-bankruptcy payment as high as 95 cents on the dollar; those with cancer will recover what may be closer to 18 cents on the dollar. Better yet for Mr. Rice, in addition to taking a chunk of each of his clients' awards, he received a $20 million fee merely for getting this deal done. No wonder 291 cancer victims are appealing the judge's decision to accept the settlement.

Short of new legislation, the only check on this outrage are the judges charged with ensuring equitable bankruptcies. But so far only one has stood up to the asbestos bar: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Randall Newsome struck down the AC&S prepack as "fundamentally unfair." He was especially unhappy to discover that AC&S's asbestos-claims processing (which makes judgments about which claims are allowable) and $2.4 million in fees had been subcontracted to a firm that had the same address as Mr. Rice's firm and whose only listed principal was a Motley Rice paralegal.

Keep in mind that we are talking about a very few trial lawyers who dominate this "business." Of 23 recent bankruptcies, Baron & Budd has been involved with the creditor committees of 15, Weitz & Luxenberg of 14, and Mr. Rice's firm of 11.

Which brings us to Judge Wolin, who had managed to hear five of the nation's biggest asbestos bankruptcies (not prepacks), including Owens Corning and W.R. Grace. His pro-plaintiff bias was apparent from the start, prompting commercial creditors to take the risky step of asking an appeals court to remove Judge Wolin from several cases for having created a "perception" of questionable impartiality.

The Third Circuit judges noted that Judge Wolin had routinely engaged in what is usually viewed as a judicial no-no: meeting ex parte (outside the courtroom) with the lawyers in the case, including Mr. Rice. According to one court document, Judge Wolin referred to his meetings with Mr. Rice and other attorneys in his appointment books as events with "the boys."

Then there were the 325 hours of private lunches, dinners and other meetings the attorneys had with the expert "advisers" Judge Wolin had hired to help him. It turns out two were representing a group of asbestos plaintiffs in another big bankruptcy case. That means the same folks advising Judge Wolin on his decisions could have benefited from those rulings down the road. One was even drafting legal opinions for the judge. For the record, Judge Wolin issued a press release objecting to the Third Circuit's decision and noting that it had said he'd done nothing "unethical or biased." He is, however, officially off the case.

It's bad enough that our runaway tort system has evolved from a forum to resolve disputes into a wealth redistribution scheme. But asbestos bankruptcy now looks like a rigged game with the outcomes all but pre-determined. If more judges can't resist this form of legalized corruption, then Congress should at least get to work repairing a bankruptcy code that allows such abuse.

New Approaches

New approaches to treat malignant mesothelioma are currently being tested. They often combine traditional treatments or include something entirely new. They include:

• Angiogenesis and Anti-angiogenesis Drugs
  
  Although progress has been made in the early detection of cancer, and in improved treatment options once cancer is diagnosed, there are still many cancers, including mesothelioma, which can not be cured and remain difficult to treat effectively. In recent years, researchers have learned a great deal about how cancer cells differ from normal cells and, in an effort to find drugs without the potentially severe side effects of chemotherapy, have now discovered drugs which target the tumor itself while sparing the body’s normal cells. One such group are the anti-angiogenesis drugs.
  
  Learn more about anti-angiogenesis agents in the treatment of mesothelioma.
  
  
• Immunotherapy, sometimes called biological therapy, uses the body's own immune system to protect itself against disease. Researchers have found that the immune system may be able to recognize the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells, and eliminate those that become cancerous. Immunotherapy is designed to repair, stimulate, or enhance the immune system's natural anticancer function.
  
  Substances used in immunotherapy, called biological response modifiers (BRMs) alter the interaction between the body's immune defenses and cancer, thereby improving the body's ability to fight disease. Some BRMs, such as cytokines and antibodies, occur naturally in the body, however, it is now possible to make BRMs in the laboratory that can imitate or influence natural immune response agents. These BRMs may:
  
  • Enhance the immune system to fight cancer cell growth.
  • Eliminate, regulate, or suppress body responses that permit cancer growth.
  • Make cancer cells more susceptible to destruction by the immune system.
  • Alter cancer cell's growth patterns to behave like normal cells.
  • Block or reverse the process that changes a normal cell into a cancer cell.
  • Prevent a cancer cell from spreading to other sites.
  
  Many BRMs are currently being used in cancer treatment, including interferons, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, colony-stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, and cancer vaccines.
More on immunotherapy for mesothelioma.

• Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a type of cancer treatment based on the premise that single-celled organisms, if first treated with certain photosensitive drugs, will die when exposed to light at a particular frequency. PDT destroys cancerous cells by using this fixed frequency light to activate photosensitizing drugs which have accumulated in body tissues.
  
  In PDT, a photosensitizing drug is administered intravenously. Within a specific time frame (usually a matter of days), the drug selectively concentrates in diseased cells, while rapidly being eliminated from normal cells. The treated cancer cells are then exposed to a laser light chosen for its ability to activate the photosensitizing agent. This laser light is delivered to the cancer site, (in the case of mesothelioma, the pleura), through a fiberoptic device that allows the laser light to be manipulated by the physician. As the agent in the treated cells absorbs the light, an active form of oxygen destroys the surrounding cancer cells. The light exposure must be carefully timed, so that it occurs when most of the photosensitizing drug has left the healthy cells, but is still present in cancerous ones.
  
  The major side effect of PDT is skin sensitivity. Patients undergoing this type of therapy are usually advised to avoid direct and even indirect sunlight for at least six weeks. Other side effects may include nausea, vomiting, a metallic taste in the mouth, and eye sensitivity to light. These symptoms may sometimes come as a result of the injection of the photosensitizing agent.

• Gene therapy is an approach to treating potentially fatal or disabling diseases by modifying the expression of an individual's genes toward a therapeutic goal. The premise of gene therapy is based on correcting disease at the DNA level and compensating for the abnormal genes.
  
  Replacement gene therapy replaces a mutated or missing gene, most often a tumor suppressor gene, with a normal copy of that gene which serves to keep cell growth and division under control. The p53 gene, the most common gene mutated in cancer has become a prime target for gene replacement, and has met with some success in inhibiting cell growth, inhibiting angiogenesis (the development of a tumor's blood supply), and inducing apoptosis (cell death).
  
  Knockout gene therapy targets the products of oncogenes (a gene that can induce tumor formation) in an effort to render them inactive and reduce cell growth.
  
  With constantly expanding knowledge of the genes associated with cancer, their functions, and the delivery systems used in administering these genes, gene therapy has a promising future.
  
  
• Complementary and alternative medicine covers a wide range of healing philosophies that conventional medicine does not commonly accept or make available to its patients. Some of these practices include the use of acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, therapeutic massage, and Far Eastern medicine to treat health conditions.
  
  These therapies may be used alone as an alternative to conventional medicine, or in addition to conventional medicine, in which case they are referred to as complementary. Many are considered holistic, meaning their focus is to treat the whole patient - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These treatments are not widely taught as a part of the medical curriculum, are not generally used in hospitals, and, for the most part, are not covered under insurance policies.
  
  Many cancer patients try various complementary and/or alternative medicine techniques during the course of their treatment, and although they may not work for everyone, some patients benefit by managing their symptoms or side effects. One important caveat, is to discuss any complementary or alternative treatments you may be considering with your doctor to be sure nothing interferes with your conventional care. For instance, dietary supplements such as herbs or vitamins may be "natural", but not necessarily "safe". They may lessen the effectiveness of certain anticancer drugs, or when taken with other drugs or in large doses, may actually cause harm. Since supplements of this nature are not governed by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and a prescription is not necessary to purchase, it is up to the consumer to make informed and conscientious decisions regarding their use.
  
  Your personal physician may be able to advise you about the use of complementary and alternative treatments and therapies, and how they relate to mesothelioma.
The combinaton of complementary and conventional therapies is sometimes referred to as integrative medicine.


• Unconventional methods of cancer treatment make claims that can not be scientifically substantiated. They commonly claim to be effective against cancers that are considered incurable, and tout treatments with relatively few, if any, side effects.
  
  The use of these unconventional methods may result in the loss of valuable time and the opportunity to receive potentially effective therapy. It is always important to remain in the care of a qualified physician who uses accepted methods of treatment or who is participating in scientifically designed investigational therapies.

Inside Cancer

nside Cancer is a multimedia site for teachers, students, and family members who want authoritative information on the biology of a cancer cell. Inside Cancer was funded by a National Institutes of Health Science Education Partnerships Award (SEPA).

The content is broken into four modules:

Hallmarks of Cancer emphasizes cancer as a genetic disease and highlights the common features or "hallmarks" of a cancer cell.

Causes & Prevention uses epidemiological data to highlight behaviors and environmental factors that increase cancer risk, and examines the molecular mechanisms that lead to cancer development.

Diagnosis & Treatment shows how new molecular techniques are being used to diagnose and tailor cancer treatment according to specific genetic changes in the patient's tumor.

Pathways to Cancer is a 3-D animated tour of a cell that focuses on the signaling pathway through which growth commands are transmitted from cell surface to the nucleus.

All of the modules are linked through a "molecule menu" that acts as an index/glossary for quick reference information on specific genes and proteins involved in oncogenesis.

Go to www.insidecancer.org.