Mesothelioma Treatment

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.

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 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.

Chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma patients are under constant scrutiny. Pemetrexed, which has qualities and abilities similar to an earlier drug called methotrexate, has been proven to be substantially less toxic to patients when used for treating mesothelioma cancer.

In a small recent study researchers wanted to find out whether patients with specific symptoms would also have fewer side effects with pemetrexed. For patients who were suffering with excess fluid---either abdominal ascites or pleural effusion---they tested whether it was better to drain the fluid before administering the drug or if the patient would do just as well without draining the excess. Results suggested that patients would do just as well without having to first have the excess fluid removed.

You may have seen this long word, mesothelioma, in the newspapers or on television and wondered about it. What is mesothelioma? It is a unique form of lung cancer that's usually connected with a patient's history of previous asbestos exposure---either from working in a place that mined or used asbestos or from living in or near an area where such work was done.

But the simple definition of the term doesn't describe what patients must endure with the symptoms of mesothelioma. These can include difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, abdominal fluid retention, and many more. In addition, the disease is highly resistant to the typical cancer treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy and progresses rapidly to more advanced stages.

When some patients learn that their disease might have been prevented if they'd known about the dangers of asbestos, they suffer the additional burden of wondering if their employer may have known that workers were being exposed to asbestos on the job. The only way to resolve that question is to work with an experienced attorney who can give you expert mesothelioma legal advice. Your attorney will work with you to recover the relevant details of your work history so that you can determine whether it might make sense to file a lawsuit to seek compensation.

Mesothelioma can be devastating. Make sure you first spend all the time you need in choosing your care team. You deserve the best and most knowledgeable care available. Then, review our website for information about the legal process. We are available to answer your questions 24/7. Don't hesitate to call us day or night. One of our experienced attorneys will help you understand what's involved, what you will need to do, and how your case might work.

Doctors are constantly searching for better ways to diagnose and treat pleural mesothelioma, the deadly lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure. In a very recent study, researchers found that certain chromosome and DNA specifics were related to how well the body could fight off invasions of malignant pleural mesothelioma cells.

They found the microRNA (miR) gene known as miR-31 has the tendency to slow the growth of tumors. The hope is that they will be able to use this knowledge to develop new therapies against mesothelioma and other cancers with similar genetic characteristics.

For those who've received a mesothelioma diagnosis, news of any developments that can lead to better treatments is welcome news. Patients and their loved ones must undergo a difficult journey through this disease. They deserve to have all the information and assistance to help them through it. Please review our mesothelioma advice website for help with both medical resources and legal advice. We created the site just for you and your family. Don't hesitate to call us with any questions. We are here to help. 800.443.6353.

Lung cancer treatment is still in a very early stage, especially when the disease takes the form of pleural mesothelioma. Though doctors have come to rely on chemotherapy---often using pemetrexed and/or cisplatin/carboplatin---for treating malignant pleural mesothelioma after surgery, they are not able yet to predict who will benefit most from receiving that particular combination.

In a recent study researchers looked back at selected cases and found that under a certain condition the body will show a greater resistance to this type of chemotherapy. The condition consists of a correlation between the expression of a specific substance, thymidylate synthase (TS), and the body's own attempts to repair its DNA. Survival times seem to be extended somewhat---sometimes by a few months.

Although it may seem strange to struggle with small differences in survival times, these slight but statistically significant changes can mean a big difference for a mesothelioma patient and his/her family. And down the road, they can lead to discoveries that may begin to make the differences much more meaningful.

If you have you have received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may be feeling confused, lost, and frightened. This disease rightly has a reputation as difficult to live with and hard to treat. Symptoms of mesothelioma can be widely different, depending on the stage and how your body is reacting to the malignancy.

Once you have finished choosing your care team and are satisfied that you are receiving the most knowledgeable medical treatment, it may be a good time to think about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Naturally, you don't want to undertake the process of filing mesothelioma litigation without feeling confident that you have a good chance of recovering compensation. That's why it's critical to receive the best legal advice you can. You'll want to work with someone who has successfully navigated these complex types of cases many times. A mesothelioma trial attorney must know the ins and outs of the legal process in addition to the fine points of establishing a history of asbestos exposure and corporate responsibility.

Don't hesitate to ask your attorney any questions that come to mind. And be aware that your attorney should be working with you at no charge. Fees should only be charged in the event of winning a case or negotiating a settlement. If you have any fears or concerns or would like to investigate your own situation, HendlerLaw is a leading mesothelioma asbestos law firm with resources in several states, including New York, Texas and California. Don't hesitate to call us any time at 800.443.6353.

Several drugs have demonstrated some effectiveness when dealing with the asbestos-related disease known as mesothelioma. Because those drugs have such limited capabilities, however, doctors are always searching for new and better alternatives. As of today, one of the most common drug combinations in use is pemetrexed plus cisplatin. In some cases doctors may substitute carboplatin for cisplatin because it is less toxic, but it requires larger doses for the same effectiveness.

Carboplatin side effects usually involve a significant drop in red blood cells and may also include those of many other chemotherapy drugs:

• nausea and/or vomiting
• diarrhea
• mouth sores
• hair loss or thinning
• tiredness, loss of energy

In addition, some patients have been known to suffer kidney problems or issues with the inner ear among their carboplatin side effects.

If you are suffering with symptoms of mesothelioma, be sure you are working with a doctor who truly understands the disease and knows the upsides and downsides of the various drug and treatment options. Review our website for mesothelioma advice and tips on choosing a doctor.

And if you haven't yet reviewed your history of asbestos exposure, don't hesitate to call HendlerLaw. Our mesothelioma trial attorneys are all experienced in helping you sort through the circumstances of your work life to see if you may be eligible to file a mesothelioma lawsuit to potentially recover compensation for your suffering. We can help you make that decision at no charge. Call us at 800.443.6353 any time. Don't wait.

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.

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.

What does asbestos look like? The substance comes in several forms, but all of them are very fibrous. Fibers from the natural-occuring material called asbestos are tiny. Most types are shaped like needles--long and very thin and very small. They are hard to see, but when asbestos dust is airborn, it's very easy to breathe the fibers in or get them into your mouth.

Having asbestos fibers inside your body can lead eventually to serious diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. Treatment for mesothelioma is still evolving---doctors are constantly looking for better ways to extend the lives of patients who develop it.

Meanwhile, the best way to protect yourself from asbestos exposure in your home or workplace is to recognize the places where you might encounter asbestos. Insulation, tiles, siding, shingles, textured paint and patching compounds, etc. Read more about "what does asbestos look like" on the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) site.

If the fibers are immobilized inside concrete or some other very solid substance, they pose no danger and should be left alone. But if there is any crumbling or damage, call a professional. Do not attempt to determine the type of material yourself when there is dust or crumbling. Pay the price for a full asbestos risk assessment so that you and your family, coworkers, employees or others can sleep more peacefully at night knowing that you will not be exposed.

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.

If you are a smoker and become exposed to asbestos fibers, your chances of developing asbestosis and other types of cancers increase dramatically. The one disease that has not been shown to occur more often in smokers is the aggressive lung cancer known as mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma causes are limited and include asbestosis itself. As of today, that and asbestos exposure are the only known sources. And if you have mesothelioma, smoking can only worsen your symptoms.

But whatever causes your mesothelioma, you have a right to competent medical treatment. Be aware that many doctors are not familiar with the disease, so if you have any hesitation about your doctor's knowledge on the subject, check elsewhere for one who specializes or look for a nearby mesothelioma lung cancer treatment center. Read our tips for choosing your care team.

And if you have received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you will want to speak with a qualified mesothelioma cancer attorney about the possibility of recovering compensation for your suffering and medical bills. We are happy to walk you through a history of your possible exposure and help you decide--at no charge to you--if it may make sense for you to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. Call us at 800.443.6353.

It can be frightening to think you might be living around asbestos. What does asbestos look like? It's a substance made up of tiny needle-like fibers that, by itself, might be hard to distinguish without a magnifying glass. But it was used for many decades in dozens of industrial and home products such as insulation. siding, concrete, and so on, that are still around.

The key to protecting yourself is to be alert to signs asbestos might be present. If any kind of rehabbing or remodeling is going on--whether at home or at work--that's the time to be especially wary. When disturbed, asbestos fibers release into the air where people might breathe them in or accidentally ingest them. If you're buying an older home, look for disturbed insulation on pipes or in walls, look for any crumbling floor tiles or siding. If you have any doubt at all, pay a professional to do an asbestos risk assessment.

Asbestos exposure can lead to developing mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of cancer. Better to spend money on a professional opinion now than to find yourself or a loved one having to undergo lung cancer treatment sometime in the future.