Lung Cancer Effects

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer, the effects of which can include muscle wasting and fatigue (cachexia) in later stages. And at this point in time, the disease is still incurable. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure at some time during the patient's life---often while working where asbestos fibers were freely present.

A variety of manufacturing, mining and service companies have become involved in mesothelioma lawsuits in the past ten years or so. Some of those companies whose workers have had an increased incidence of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases include:

• manufacturers such as UNARCO, Johns-Manville, and Philip Carey
• service stations where workers installed or repaired brakes or clutches 
• manufacturers that are indirectly involved with asbestos products such as Squibb, P&G, Carborundum, Ford, General Motors, Hercules, Hoffman-LaRoche, Merck
• naval and other shipyards
• oil refineries such as Chevron, Exxon, Mobil
• construction industry jobs

If you've ever worked in one of these or a similar industry and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, be sure when you are choosing a doctor that you find one who is very familiar with this disease and who keeps up with the latest research developments. The state of knowledge changes daily as more and more resources are dedicated to trying to understand and fight this killer affliction.

And don't hesitate to speak to one of our experienced attorneys about your legal right to potentially receive compensation for your illness. There is no charge for a full case evaluation and recommendation. Please call us at your convenience at 800.443.6353. Or contact us on the web at www.HendlerLaw.com

Mesothelioma lung cancer is a ravaging disease that is associated with asbestos exposure. It quickly robs its victims and their families of their quality of life, then leads to death within a few years. And so far there is no cure. In many cases, victims received their deadly exposure while on the job.

Mesothelioma lawsuit settlements have already reached well into the hundreds of millions, and more will continue to be awarded. Though nothing can replace individuals in the hearts of their loved ones, some plaintiffs reach negotiated settlements before trial that can take care of their families for many years to come. Some receive significant judgments through the courts. Either way, when you look for mesothelioma legal advice, make sure you find a law firm that has taken on this type of litigation successfully and gotten its clients significant compensation.

What should you look for in a attorney? After finding out about the law firm's previous  successes, make sure you feel respected and listened to by the individual attorney. You're already going through one of the most traumatic times in your life living with mesothelioma. Dealing with a lawyer who isn't responsive to your questions is a burden you don't need. Ask if your case will be examined individually rather than lumped in with others. And make sure your attorney works on a contingency basis---that is, you pay nothing upfront. Any fees are taken out of any settlement that's awarded.

Read more about choosing a mesothelioma trial attorney on our Mesothelioma Advice website. We prepared that site to help anyone who has questions learn more about finding the best medical care and dealing effectively with the legal process.

You don't have to deal with this alone. We at HendlerLaw are here to help and can take your call at any time, day or night. 800.443.6353.

 In a recent study done in mice with malignant pleural mesothelioma, researchers experimented with giving pemetrexed while also blocking the pathways of certain regulatory cells (Tregs) that are known to promote growth in some tumors. The treatment did give the mice a small survival advantage---as long as their immune system was functioning well. If a mouse's immune system was compromised, the treatment did not confer any survival benefit.

Mesothelioma is a ravaging disease that moves very quickly once it's been diagnosed. Scientific research is urgently searching for new ways to combat the aggressive tumors that come with the disease.

Although this is just a test with animals, it's important to realize that many cancer researchers use mice in their studies because of certain genetic similarities between mice and other mammals, including humans, plus the fact that their genes are easy to work with. Doctors can study the behavior of genes as the mouse patient receives lung cancer treatment---and thus potentially identify treatments that may help human beings, too. They can also practice to find the effectiveness of procedures such as pleurodesis surgery---which prevents fluid buildup in the lungs---and other important treatments.

Hope is critical for the mesothelioma patient. Every discovery, however seemingly small, may lead to better approaches that can promise longer survival and/or better quality of life. And one day, even to a cure.

If you need information about your legal rights concerning mesothelioma, call HendlerLaw at  800-443-6353.  We're experts in this area and available for consultation at no cost to you.

Though some studies have been published stating that the combination of surgery and heated chemotherapy is effective for improving survival times for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, a recent paper questions those conclusions. It states that the studies were flawed and patients cannot in fact expect longer survival times when treated with surgery to reduce tumor size combined with heated chemotherapy applied to the abdominal cavity (peritoneum).

Mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure, most often occurs in the linings of the lungs (pleura) but can also occur in the linings around the heart (pericardium) or the peritoneum. Symptoms of mesothelioma in the pleura or pericardium can be cough, chest pain (pleural effusion causes fluid in and around the lungs), and shortness of breath. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are likely to be weight loss, cachexia (muscle wasting), abdominal pain and swelling (ascites). Treatment is often not begun early because these symptoms don't usually appear until the disease is at a late stage.

If you believe you may ever have been exposed to asbestos, make sure your doctor understands the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma. The earlier you are diagnosed properly, the more likely treatment can prolong survival. And don't hesitate to contact a qualified mesothelioma cancer attorney for information on your legal rights to potentially receive compensation if you develop mesothelioma. We are here to help. 800.443.6353.

Mesothelioma lung cancer is an aggressive and deadly disease in which patients may develop tumors in various parts of the body. Sometimes tumors can block important body functions. For example, a tumor may be growing in such a way that it blocks an airway, causing the patient to have great difficulty breathing.

Photodynamic therapy for lung cancer is becoming an accepted treatment for mesothelioma tumors. It consists of a laser light interacting with photosensitive material injected into the body in order to reach and kill or reduce a tumor. One of its main advantages is that it works quickly. Airway blockages, for example, might be relieved in as little as a few days.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has several other advantages in addition to speed:

• PDT can work in places where doctors cannot perform surgery (say, in the trachea, which leads from the voice box to the lungs)
• PDT, unlike radiation and chemotherapy, can be repeated without significantly harming the patient
• PDT has few side effects (unlike many chemotherapy drugs such as carboplatin)

Talk to your doctor to see if PDT might be helpful in your case.

Chemotherapy is a common treatment for cancer of all types. In some cases doctors may decide to apply drug therapy as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced cancer for whom surgery and other treatments are not expected to be effective. That approach---drugs first---is known as induction chemotherapy.

In a recent study of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma---the lung cancer related to asbestos exposure---doctors applied induction chemotherapy using a platinum-based agent (such as carboplatin) along with pemetrexed. They were most concerned with how this type of chemotherapy affected the patient's ability to breathe and to exercise. Was it improved or made worse? Conclusions were that induction chemotherapy treatment did not damage lung functioning---an encouraging discovery for patients doing battle with this devastating disease.

Visit our website Mesothelioma Advice for more information about living with mesothelioma. And don't hesitate to call to receive help understanding the legal process involved in potentially recovering compensation for your suffering. 800.443.6353.

The human body responds to assaults on it in many ways, whether those attacks come from trauma or injury or from a disease such as lung cancer. Malignant pleural mesothelioma---nearly always associated with exposure to asbestos---is a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer. Effects on your body can begin long before you or the doctor notice symptoms. One of the earliest sign of mesothelioma cancer for some patients may be thrombophlebitis---a condition in which your blood forms clots and the veins become inflamed.

If you develop thrombophlebitis, and especially if you've ever been exposed to asbestos, see your doctor immediately and watch carefully for other symptoms. If you do develop pleurisy symptoms or other lung disease problems, make sure your doctor is a cancer specialist.

And don't hesitate to call us at Hendlerlaw if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma. We can help you determine if you might be able to receive compensation by  filing mesothelioma litigation. Call us at 800.443.6353.

When you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, you begin a long journey. It began, possibly many years ago, when you were exposed to some asbestos risk, either on the job or in your living environment. Early symptoms can include coughing, difficulty breathing, and can then lead to cachexia (general debilitation, muscle wasting, fatigue, etc.). No matter what symptoms appear first, your main consideration is to find a medical care team that is very familiar with this disease and whose members can give you the information and the treatments that are best suited to where you are in the process.

Your doctor may recommend that you undergo a series of tests to help your care team members understand what stage your disease is in and help them recommend treatments that might to relieve your pain or discomfort.

As you and your family learn to live with these lung cancer effects, you will also want to consider getting mesothelioma legal advice from a highly qualified and experienced professional who has successfully helped other victims file asbestos lawsuits to seek compensation. Don't wait. We can help you determine the deadline by which you must file mesothelioma litigation in order not to lose your opportunity. Our experienced mesothelioma trial attorneys will work with you to discover whether you may have a good chance of recovering compensation. Call us day or night at 800.443.6353.

Yes, even though legislation is in place prohibiting the use of asbestos in most manufacturing operations, the stuff was used extensively in industry and in construction materials for many decades before the truth came out. That means that your older home, your office in an older building, or your child's classroom in an older school could still be made with materials that contain significant amounts of asbestos.

Does this mean you should panic? No, but it does make sense to be attentive. Take a walk around the office, the school, and your home. Look for roofing, siding, tile, insulation and any other materials that are crumbling or producing dust. What does asbestos look like? It's hard to describe it exactly because it comes in so many different materials. You can see some photographs of asbestos-containing materials here.


The critical piece is that if you see crumbling, it's important to check. Do not try to determine for yourself if the dust is contaminated--if you do you'll be increasing your own asbestos exposure. Keep friends, colleagues, and family members away from crumbling materials, and get a professional asbestos risk assessment done as soon as possible. With the number of asbestos lawsuits climbing as more victims develop mesothelioma (a rare asbestos-related disease with symptoms similar to lung cancer effects), protect yourself from ever having to be put in that position.

If you have mesothelioma, hopefully you've received solid advice on choosing your care team. It's critical to have experienced medical professionals who understand the signs, symptoms, and typical progress of this ravaging disease. Mesothelioma has lung cancer effects that can result in a host of symptoms. It can be one of the causes of pericardial effusion (fluid around your heart), abdominal fluid retention (ascites), cachexia (muscle wasting, loss of appetite, etc.), and/or pleurisy symptoms (sharp chest pain, coughing, problems breathing, and so on).

And just as importantly---for your own peace of mind and the well-being of your family---you should consider whether you might discuss your situation with a mesothelioma trial attorney. Only a qualified and experienced trial attorney---someone who understands what you're going through and knows how to navigate the legal process---can give you sound mesothelioma legal advice on whether to file a mesothelioma lawsuit.

HendlerLaw is a mesothelioma/asbestos law firm that specializes in helping patients review their history and research all the possible connections to previous asbestos exposure that might lead to receiving compensation. Any one of our attorneys can answer your questions, refer you to helpful resources, and give you mesothelioma legal advice that will guide you in making your decision. We look forward to serving you and your loved ones through this difficult process. Call us 24/7 at 800.443.6353.

Mesothelioma is a very difficult disease--an aggressive form of lung cancer, the effects of which are still usually fatal despite years of research into cures. There are not a great many mesothelioma causes: other than extremely rare cases, asbestos exposure at some point in a person's life is the main culprit among mesothelioma causes.

Patients who develop mesothelioma may experience any number of symptoms. They can include abdominal fluid retention (abdominal ascites), or pleurisy symptoms such as coughing, sudden and intense chest pain, rapid shallow breathing, or difficulty breathing (caused by pleural effusion--fluid collecting in the space around the lungs).

The key to prolonging survival with mesothelioma is finding medical professionals who are experienced with the asbestos connection and understand how the symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases and conditions.

Another important consideration is to speak with a qualified mesothelioma trial attorney who can help you review your history and determine whether you might be able to recover compensation for your suffering. Hendlerlaw is a mesothelioma asbestos law firm that specializes in helping victims---at no cost---decide if it might make sense for them to file their own mesothelioma lawsuits. Our fees come only if there is a settlement or award. Please call us with any questions or concerns. We are available 24/7 at 800.443.6353.

Carboplatin is one of several chemotherapy drugs that's commonly used to treat various types of lung cancer, including mesothelioma, the type associated with asbestos exposure. Two companies have recently announced their researchers believe they've found more effective ways to use carboplatin by giving it in combination with different drugs.

The upside of carboplatin is that it works by preventing cells from making DNA, which then slows down the rate at which cancer cells can reproduce. The downside, as with many chemotherapy drugs, is that carboplatin side effects can be very uncomfortable since it works by killing cells, some of which are perfectly healthy. The hope for all cancer treatments is to develop antibodies or other helper agents that will allow much smaller doses of chemotherapy to do the same work.

If you believe you've been exposed to asbestos at any time in your life and you develop symptoms of mesothelioma such as a lasting cough, difficulty breathing, abdominal fluid retention, or other lung-related problems, see a qualified physician immediately. And don't hesitate to call us if your doctor suspects mesothelioma. We are experienced in helping victims find out if they may have a reasonable chance of recovering compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit. Call us night or day at 800.443.6353.

Every chemotherapy drug has side effects. With carboplatin these may include some or all of the following:

• hair loss
• weakness
• taste changes
• nausea and vomiting (within about 24 hours after treatment)
• low blood counts (for all types of cells--red, white, and platelets)
• elevated magnesium in blood tests

More than 30% of those who receive it report one or more of these carboplatin side effects. Carboplatin was originally found to help with another very difficult cancer, ovarian, and is now regularly used to treat the aggressive asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma. Some patients may experience additional carboplatin side effects, especially if the dose they are given is unusually high. Your doctor will use a carboplatin dose calculator to measure the appropriate amount to give you the best possible lung cancer treatment.

In tests comparing treatment with cisplatin versus carboplatin, patients more often experienced low blood cell count as a carboplatin side effect. Recent studies point to cisplatin as a slightly better treatment for advanced mesothelioma.

When chemotherapy is recommended for mesothelioma lung cancer patients who've undergone surgery to remove tumor tissue, it's usually a mix of drugs. One drug sometimes used---one that's long been used for head, neck and ovarian cancer---is called carboplatin. Side effects are of many types, though may often be less intense than with a sister drug called cisplatin. Some can be serious, others less so.  Loss of blood cells, especially white cells, is one of the most common side effects of using carboplatin. Don't leave the decision about this critical treatment to a non-expert.

When you're looking for mesothelioma advice of any kind, you want it to be accurate and to come from trustworthy sources. That's why it's important to find a doctor who's experienced with this tricky-to-diagnose, tough-to-treat disease. Despite occasional information to the contrary, mesothelioma causes boil down basically to asbestos exposure. If a medical professional doesn't realize that and is not familiar with the stages mesothelioma tends to follow, you could receive a wrong diagnosis. Or you might receive a correct one eventually, but too late to use some of the more aggressive therapies to fight it. And researchers are constantly working to improve the knowledge base about this fast-moving killer disease, so a doctor who can offer you the very best of current knowledge must be keeping up with the research.

In the same way, it's hard to know what is good mesothelioma legal advice. If you end up with an attorney who bases your case on general personal injury principles, you're not receiving the best possible representation. But if you speak with a qualified mesothelioma cancer attorney, you'll get an evaluation of your history that will give a clear indication of whether you may have a reasonable chance to win compensation for your suffering with this disease. Follow these important tips for choosing a mesothelioma trial attorney.

Review the other sections of the Mesothelioma Advice site for more helpful resources. And don't hesitate to call us with any questions on any aspect of the legal process for filing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

It's a small gain for mesothelioma patients, but it's significant. That's the way doctors view the 3-months' additional survival time that can come with combining specific surgeries with pemetrexed and cisplatin chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma. Given that up until now no guidelines existed, this is good news for doctors struggling to help their patients.

The report comes out of the 15th Annual National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Conference on Clinical Practice Guidelines and Quality Cancer Care. In the past doctors had thought that treating this asbestos related disease by removing part or all of a lung (pneumonectomy) was the best way to treat mesothelioma. But the new guidelines suggest that other types of surgery combined with chemotherapy and radiation may extend survival more effectively.

Guidelines suggest that surgeons choose from two surgical options. They may choose to perform a less intensive surgery in which they remove some portion of the lining of the lungs (pleurectomy). Or they may decide to perform a more complex procedure known as extrapleural pneumonectomy. In this operation they remove a diseased lung, part of the pericardium (membrane covering the heart), part of the diaphragm (muscle between the lungs and the abdomen), and part of the parietal pleura (membrane lining the chest).

The new guidelines also encourage doctors not to attempt surgery if the cancer is too far along, thus hopefully saving some patients from unnecessary trauma.

Many other treatments are being researched to deal with lung cancer effects including photodynamic therapy for lung cancer and pleurodesis surgery. As doctors continue to search for better treatments, more victims are filing asbestos lawsuits. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, don't hesitate to call us with questions. We are a leading mesothelioma asbestos law firm, and our attorneys know how to help you find out if you might recover compensation by filling a mesothelioma lawsuit. Call with questions at 800.443.6353.

Recent research in Singapore has revealed a new energy-efficient, cost-effective way to create nanocrystals that may have multiple applications in the bio-medicine and bio-imaging fields as well as other uses.

One of the applications for these nanocrystals is in developing an improved photodynamic therapy for lung cancer. Called upconversion nanocrystals, they have the ability to "convert lower-energy near-infrared light into a visible emission." That will allow doctors to better view the inner workings of the body and thus potentially diagnose and treat lung cancer and other diseases more effectively.

Mesothelioma, associated with previous asbestos exposure, is a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer that has a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. The hope is that improving such therapies as photodynamic therapy will help doctors develop better treatments for the multitude of symptoms mesothelioma patients may experience. Symptoms can include everything from thrombophlebitis (serious blood clots) to cachexia (wasting that accompanies many cancers), to pleurisy-like symptoms.

Mesothelioma is a frightening and complex disease. Make sure you have a medical care team that keeps up with all the latest information. And be sure to speak with a qualified mesothelioma trial attorney about your options. We can help you decide if you may be one of the mesothelioma victims who benefit from filing asbestos lawsuits. Call us for mesothelioma advice and information. We're here to help 24/7. 800.443.6353.

Because mesothelioma is so difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to give an accurate estimate of how the disease has progressed, researchers are constantly looking for new ways to do both. A recent study shows promise of helping doctors choose which mesothelioma patients can most benefit from receiving multimodal therapies.

Tests have shown that certain special cells found in all human cells (called microRNAs) can be used to predict which cases of mesothelioma have the greatest chance of responding to aggressive approaches that use several types of treatments. These might include first doing pleurodesis surgery to prevent fluid buildup in the pleura (lung linings) or abdominal fluid retention, then surgery to remove malignant cells (cytoreduction), and then chemotherapy with drugs such as pemetrexed and carboplatin. Side effects can be difficult with these therapies, but results can improve myriad symptoms.

Early mesothelioma symptoms can be similar to pleurisy symptoms. Then later they might include typical symptoms of advanced lung cancer. Any help doctors can find for diagnosing it or predicting its course can mean better symptom relief and longer survival times.

If you are receiving mesothelioma treatment, consider speaking with a mesothelioma cancer attorney. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your suffering. We can answer all your questions at 800.443.6353. Call any time.

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease that usually kills within about two years of being diagnosed. Mesothelioma causes are almost always related to asbestos exposure.

Research indicates that photodynamic therapy may be a useful treatment for lung cancer, including for early stage mesothelioma. It can help alleviate some of the most uncomfortable lung cancer effects such as difficulty breathing.

Doctors inject a special dye that's used with a specialized light source to find and target cancer cells. The sensitizing agent remains in cancer cells longer than in other cells so that the light that's directed at them can trigger the release of a type of oxygen that destroys the abnormal cells.

Besides directly killing cancer cells, photodynamic therapy for lung cancer is believed to help in two other ways: by damaging blood vessels in the tumor which slows its growth, and by activating the immune system which then attacks the tumor cells.

Because the light cannot penetrate very deeply into tissue, this lung cancer treatment is useful only when tumors are still small and are located near the surface of the body. That is why it may be a useful treatment for early stage mesothelioma since it can reach tumors that lie on the linings of the organs where mesothelioma often begins.

Consult a qualified doctor for mesothelioma medical advice. Meanwhile, our website, Mesothelioma Advice, can answer many of your questions. And consult one of our qualified attorneys for mesothelioma legal advice. We are here 24/7 to help. 800.443.6353.

When you have mesothelioma, it's possible to develop an unusual array of symptoms, both from the disease itself and from the various methods of mesothelioma treatment. Similar to many of the effects of lung cancer, they can include pleurisy symptoms (cough, pain on breathing--but not between breaths--and shortness of breath), pleural (lung lining) or pericardial effusion, or others. Another might be thrombophlebitis.

The term phlebitis refers to a simple inflamed vein, usually in the legs. But when a blood clot is involved--often in the deep veins of the legs--doctors refer to it as thrombophlebitis. And thrombophlebitis is a condition associated with some kinds of cancer as well as being a potential side effect when pain or other symptoms force a patient to remain inactive for long periods of time.

If you have a tender, red or swollen vein at any time, call your doctor and get a professional opinion. If you develop swelling and tenderness or pain in your leg, especially on standing or walking, go to an emergency room immediately. If you have mesothelioma, be sure to alert your doctor if you have any risk factors such as a family history of clotting problems. Review additional thrombophlebitis risk factors.

Encouraging news was just published about results of a clinical trial for a new treatment protocol for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Researchers were experimenting with creating a vaccination-type of treatment using special types of cells that trigger the immune system. The cells are treated with two additional immune system boosters: KLH and autologous tumor lysate.

Together, this combination is known as "dendritic cell-based immunotherapy." It activates T cells (white blood cells that are key to the immune system) and encourages the growth of B cells, another type of white blood cell that can produce antibodies. Dendritic simply refers to the shape of the cells:tree-like with branches.

The bottom line is that this new trial has established that this type of vaccination has the ability to fight tumor growth, which can help reduce the lung cancer effects that mesothelioma patients must endure. Such effects can include cachexia (muscle wasting, fatigue), pleurisy symptoms, and abdominal fluid retention (ascites). Treatments can help some, but researchers are constantly looking for better ways to fight. We try to bring you news of every promising development in mesothelioma treatment.

Call us if you have questions about your legal right to pursue compensation by filing mesothelioma litigation. 800.443.6353.