Mesothelioma Advice

For more than 25 years asbestos has been well-known to cause serious lung diseases, including mesothelioma.    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), part of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), is the federal agency responsible for health and safety regulations in maritime, construction, manufacturing, and service workplaces---many of which used asbestos in their operations and facilities.

OSHA has specified how employers in these industries must deal with asbestos exposure on the job.  The industries specifically regulated include construction, shipyards, and any general industry that exposes workers.  Mine workers have another agency just for their industry.

If you work in any of these industries, make sure you use all provided protective equipment (OSHA-approved respirators is one example) and stick precisely to recommended workplace practices and safety procedures.

If you are concerned about asbestos exposure on your job, talk with other employees. Discuss with your employee health and safety representative and with your employers. Contact OSHA for more information or to conduct an inspection. Look up “United States Government” in your phone book (under “Department of Labor”). Or find your local/regional office on the OSHA website.

If you've received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may also be eligible to receive compensation. Speak with one of our qualified mesothelioma trial attorneys as soon as possible. We have helped many clients receive the settlements they deserve for corporate misconduct regarding asbestos and other dangerous substances. Call us at 800.443.6353.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive, ravaging form of lung cancer generally associated with asbestos exposure. Many symptoms of early stages are similar to those of other conditions--for example, dry coughing, pain on breathing in or out, and shortness of breath may mimic pleurisy symptoms.  Later stage symptoms will be more serious, including fluid in the lungs (pericardial effusion), swelling in the abdomen (ascites), and cachexia.

According to one medical expert, cachexia refers to an unintentional loss of muscle and body mass.  It can be a sign of advanced mesothelioma (the asbestos-related lung cancer) and is a not nutritionally reversible.  In other words, no amount of eating---and no matter how healthy it is---will replace the lost muscle.  It can be devastating to realize that your body has reached such a state.  Make sure you have the best best medical care throughout the course of this illness. Review our mesothelioma website on "Choosing a doctor."

Many mesothelioma patients have found that with the proper legal assistance, they are able to successfully pursue a mesothelioma lawsuit.  Settlements from irresponsible corporate employers can be significant.  Call us at HendlerLaw today and we will review your case with you at no charge.  We help our clients recover compensation for what they and their families are suffering. 800.443.6353.

Malignant mesothelioma, an asbestos-related form of lung cancer, causes many difficult symptoms in those who develop it, often including pericardial effusion.  Late-stage patients may experience swelling in the chest area or the abdomen, coughing, loss of muscle tone, fatigue, chest pain and many other symptoms.  Because it is such an aggressive and difficult-to-treat disease, choosing your care team is critical.   Make sure they understand mesothelioma and how and when to perform various procedures and administer certain types of drugs.

You may also be eligible to receive compensation for your suffering. At HendlerLaw we have a history of successful mesothelioma litigation in which we've won significant settlements for our clients.  We will help you analyze the facts of your situation and make a decision as to whether you and your family may benefit from working---at no charge to you---with one of our mesothelioma trial attorneys.  Don't wait.  Call us 24/7 today at 800.443.6353.

How do you identify asbestos? This question takes on critical importance for those who previously worked or are working in certain industries and those who work and/or live in older buildings or older homes. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of a ravaging disease known as mesothelioma lung cancer that so far is fatal and incurable.

Many workers in certain industries were likely to have been unknowingly exposed to asbestos because they did not know how to recognize it in their work. According to the US Government Cancer site, industries that exposed workers to a high risk of asbestos exposure include shipbuilding, "asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, asbestos removal workers, firefighters, and automobile workers also may be exposed to asbestos fibers. Studies evaluating the cancer risk experienced by automobile mechanics exposed to asbestos through brake repair are limited, but the overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure."

In the case of older buildings and homes today, it pays to ask the question: what does asbestos look like? Watch for crumbling coatings on heating and cooling ducts and insulation on hot water pipes. There may be loose asbestos dust inside air vents as well. And if your home has asphalt and fiber-reinforced-cement siding shingles that were installed before 1978, you must exercise great caution when refurbishing and rehabbing. It wasn't until the late 70s that manufacturers and mining companies had to start observing general warnings about the dangers of asbestos---even though those dangers had been well known long before that.

The history of asbestos is long and full of reports of people becoming sick from being exposed. Yet it's only in the last decade or so that victims have been able to find employers and others legally at fault for having negligently exposed people to such health dangers. The record of success of mesothelioma lawsuits is growing. If you are being treated for mesothelioma, call us as soon as possible. We will help you review the facts of your situation and make a decision about whether it might make sense to file a case to possibly recover compensation. Our phone line is open 24/7 and we will be glad to answer your questions and guide you through the legal process once you decide to file. 800.443.6353.

If you have malignant pleura mesothelioma, we direct you to our Mesothelioma Advice site for compassionate and thorough answers to your questions about medical care and more information about your legal options.

In addition to the physical and psychological suffering you and your loved ones are undergoing with this dread disease, you may also be struggling with paying medical bills, making up for lost wages, and managing other assorted unexpected costs such as caretaker fees, transportation to medical centers, and so on.

Lawsuits filed on behalf of mesothelioma patients are designed to recover the highest possible level of compensation to help you and your family deal with all that you are going through. Lawsuits have been successfully concluded with defendants such as former employers, manufacturers, asbestos installers, landlords, and others.

In some cases courts may award punitive damages in addition to whatever awards they give for pain and suffering and expenses. A qualified attorney from a reputable mesothelioma asbestos law firm will conduct a thorough review of the facts surrounding your exposure to asbestos and can help you determine what your chances of receiving compensation may be.

A good mesothelioma trial attorney has the experience, knowledge and connections to encourage accountability from defendants for what you're going through---and many are able to obtain settlements without clients ever having to go to trial. At HendlerLaw we are all experienced and have helped many people receive the compensation they deserve. There is no fee upfront; fees are charged only as a percentage any settlement amounts we gain for you. Call us with all your questions at 800.443.6353.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer that's almost always associated with having been exposed to asbestos at some time during the patient's life. It progresses rapidly and reduces the patient's quality of life. Unfortunately, there is as yet no cure. But treatment options continue to be the subject of more and more research as the number of cases of mesothelioma continues to grow.

Medical options for treating early stages include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy---usually with a combination of drugs such as cisplatin and pemetrexed. But because many cases are not discovered until later stages, symptoms often must be treated in ways designed more to relieve discomfort than to stop the growth of tumors or cure the disease.

However, it's important to understand that if you have mesothelioma, you have legal options to possibly recover some compensation if you were exposed to asbestos while on the job or living in an area where the substance was mined or used in manufacturing. Plaintiffs in a number of cases have been awarded substantial compensation when they worked with an experienced mesothelioma trial attorney. A qualified attorney will help you review your history of asbestos exposure and decide if you may have grounds for filing litigation.

At HendlerLaw we are experienced in winning relief for clients who have mesothelioma or have lost a family member to this disease. We can help, and there is no charge to you unless and until you are awarded compensation. Call us any time with questions at 800.443.6353.

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

There can be so many twists and turns in the laws surrounding asbestos lawsuits and mesothelioma litigation that it's critical to have an experienced lawyer who knows the angles.

And when a lawsuit is successful, there may be other legal maneuvering regarding who must pay and how much. For example, one of the companies that has been sued for exposing its workers to asbestos risk via a subsidiary company is Corning, Inc. In the 1950s Corning acquired Corhart Refractories Co., which made and sold a special type of brick used in steel furnaces.

According to the www.allbusiness.com/legal/ website, some of Corhart's customers bought a paper spacer material that included asbestos. And many asbestos-exposure actions were later filed against Corning, which faced additional potential liability due to a subsidiary making and selling a pipe insulation product called Unibestos that was made with asbestos.

In a recent court case two of Corning's insurance companies sued the company, claiming the language of the policies indicated that each individual occurrence of asbestos exposure should be considered separate---and thus force Corning to pay the full deductible for each case filed. Their petition was denied by the New York Supreme Court in July, 2010.

So if you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma, call us right away to talk about how best to get through the legal process of filing for possible compensation.  800.443.6353. You can also contact us at 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.

An accumulation of fluid around your heart may be a sign of serious disease, or it may be a way your body reacts to an injury. Called pericardial effusion, causes can be quite different but usually fall into two main categories: underlying disease (cancer is a common cause) or trauma, as in injury or post-surgery.

Malignant mesothelioma is a fast-moving form of lung cancer that so far has a poor prognosis. The earliest noticeable signs might be confused with pleurisy symptoms---cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing---so it's important to see a doctor when you develop these types of symptoms. Early diagnosis means doctors may be able to use more aggressive treatments to extend survival times. Pericardial effusion is just one of the many signs that may develop in later stages of mesothelioma. Others might include abdominal fluid retention, cachexia (general debility, muscle wasting, losing weight) and more.

Because this disease is so aggressive, it is critical to get the best informed and most understanding doctors you can find. And because asbestos exposure is the foremost cause of mesothelioma of all types, it's important to do a thorough review of your personal history to see whether you may have been exposed and may have a right to recover compensation by filing mesothelioma litigation. We at HendlerLaw can help you explore your history and understand your options. Call us day or night at 800.443.653.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that usually begins in your chest cavity, but it may also begin in your abdomen where it is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to correctly diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma early on because of the lack of definitive symptoms. In later stages you may begin to accumulate a large amount of fluid in your abdominal cavity---called ascites. Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma will depend on the type you have (several types have been identified such as biphasic and cystic---which is considered somewhat less aggressive) and the stage, but it normally consists of some combination of chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin, and surgery to reduce the tumor and remove cancerous cells.

No natural causes of mesothelioma in the peritoneum have yet been identified, regardless of the type. This disease has so far always been found to be associated with asbestos exposure at some point in the patient's life. It may originate in the abdomen or it may also develop from pleural mesothelioma cells migrating into the peritoneum.

Regardless of how mesothelioma begins, you deserve the best medical care. And you deserve the best mesothelioma legal advice you can obtain. Call us at HendlerLaw and we will help you review your history to identify potential sources of exposure to asbestos. Then we will advise you of your legal rights and help you decide whether to file a lawsuit---at no charge---to possibly recover compensation. 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 is a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer generally associated with asbestos exposure. Typical approaches for cancer such as surgery plus radiation and/or chemotherapy can relieve some symptoms in some patients, but they have been relatively unsuccessful at prolonging survival times.

However, researchers are constantly searching for new chemotherapy drug combinations and ways of using them that will do a better job. Pemetrexed is currently the first choice drug given with platinum-based compounds, but until now doctors have not been able to tell ahead of time how well any individual tumor might respond. As a measure of just how much effort is being put into mesothelioma research, a recent study tested and did find a correlation between levels of certain RNA molecules and proteins and how well non-small lung cancer cells (such as those in mesothelioma) might respond to pemetrexed.

If you have mesothelioma, be sure to find a doctor who keeps up with all the latest research. And don't hesitate to speak with a mesothelioma trial attorney about your legal rights. We are here to help. Call any time at 800.443.6353.

Following a four-year investigation, Marco Island and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agreed to a settlement in an asbestos-handling case.  The agreement follows demands by city residents—worried about asbestos exposure—to investigate how the hazardous material was handled. The settlement is to be in lieu of formal enforcement actions against Marco and Quality Enterprises for six alleged violations of the Clean Air Act relating to improper asbestos handling when widening and adding sewer lines to Collier Boulevard beginning in 2005.  Under the agreement, no fines will be paid by the city and no admission of guilt is required by either party per the agreement.  The companies will have to pay an $81,000 fine and the EPA is to affirm that the park site was properly cleaned.
The investigation examined how Quality Enterprises, one of the city’s contractors, handled pipe containing asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency’s findings included:

• Improper inspection of the area containing asbestos;
• Failure to remove asbestos before disturbing or breaking up the material;
• Failure to have a person on staff trained in asbestos regulations;
• Failure to dispose of the asbestos “as soon as practical.

Marco Island and Quality Enterprises were also accused of not providing notice and failing to wet the material as required by asbestos regulations.  The EPA has developed specific steps that detail the proper way to deal with asbestos materials.  Removal of asbestos must be done under special, cautious procedures.  Asbestos has been scientifically linked to deadly diseases including lung cancer and mesothelioma, a fatal cancer of the protective lining covering many of the body’s internal organs.  Most people that develop mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they breathed in asbestos fibers at some point in their lives. 

Failure to provide adequate protection, warning, or a safe working environment has been the basis of many asbestos lawsuits. HendlerLaw is a nationally recognized law firm that has brought justice to victims of asbestos exposure over the years. Mesothelioma lawyers have been successful in obtaining large settlements and verdicts against defendants who knew or should have known of asbestos risks but did little, or nothing, to protect others.

While the asbestos industry no longer exists in California, it has left its mark on hundreds of lives---the workers it once employed and their families who are suffering from asbestosis and mesothelioma lung cancer and all the consequences of these ravaging lung diseases.

Once upon a time in 1965, the State of California had declared the serpentine---a rock that hosts asbestos and occurs naturally in the region---as the state's official rock in order to promote the once-lucrative mining industry. Now there's a move afoot to remove this designation. The hope is that such a move will help increase public awareness of the asbestos risk inherent in serpentine and serve as a way to recognize the trauma and sacrifices of all asbestos victims and their families.

California residents who'd like to support the move can click here to look up and contact their state assembly member.

The truth about asbestos exposure has been known and mostly hidden from the American public since the early 20th Century.  If you or anyone close to you has developed the disease, chances are it is due to asbestos exposure at work or home.  HendlerLaw, a specialized mesothelioma cancer law firm has successfully litigated many asbestos lawsuits against manufacturers of asbestos containing products.  Contact us with no obligation at 1-800-443-6353. 

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.