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.
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.
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.
If your body starts to retain fluid in the tissues around your heart (pericardial effusion), you may feel discomfort anywhere from mild to severe depending on situation. Pericardial effusion causes can be either benign and malignant, so it's critical to have an experienced doctor evaluate your condition as soon as possible.
A recent study showed that doctors may be able to
tell whether an effusion is benign or malignant by measuring the thickness of the pericardium and looking for enlargement in your lung. Malignant disease generally results in a significantly greater thickening of this lining surrounding your heart. This may help doctors find a problem without more invasive procedures.
Malignant mesothelioma, the asbestos-related lung cancer, can begin with signs that are like pleurisy symptoms---dry coughing or pain on inhaling or exhaling (but not much in between). Your body may try to fight these by accumulating fluid around your lungs--a percidarial effusion, which might even make your symptoms feel better temporarily. But if you should ever experience signs like that, don't wait. See a doctor immediately.
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.
If you or someone you love is living with symptoms of mesothelioma, you are already facing tremendous challenges with your health. It may seem overwhelming to think about seeking mesothelioma legal advice. It's natural to worry that you cannot afford to pay anything beyond what you're already facing with your medical bills.
It's important for you to know that you can get the help you need to file a
mesothelioma lawsuit without paying anything out of pocket. While you may have pleurisy-like symptoms and may be facing daunting physical symptoms such as blood clots (thrombophlebitis), abdominal fluid retention, and other lung cancer symptoms, you and your family can speak to a qualified mesothelioma trial attorney without incurring any extra expense. Reasonable fees are paid only when a settlement is awarded to you.
Browse our site both for help with your medical situation and for no-cost mesothelioma legal advice about your rights. We have helped hundreds of clients just like you receive fair compensation for the suffering they've had to undergo as a result of corporate misconduct. Call us day or night 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.
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.
Profit trumps ethics when thousands of people must die as a result of going to work and having to endure
asbestos exposure every day. The desire for profit kept some companies from disclosing the truth when they found out that working with asbestos can be deadly--not only for workers and their families, but also even for local residents.
Thousands of people are sick today who worked trustingly in asbestos mines, who lived with asbestos workers, or who simply lived in areas where asbestos was mined or used in manufacturing. No one told them about mesothelioma, the asbestos-induced lung cancer that eventually claims the life of anyone who gets it.
What does asbestos look like? That's the hard part, because what you see is usually so small as to seem like ordinary dust. The dangerous fibers are so tiny that people may be unaware that they are breathing or ingesting them. Because of their needle like structure, the lungs are not able to eliminate them as they do with most dust.
Those who get sick from the dust may suffer what's known as
cachexia--the term used to describe the weight loss, muscle wasting, loss of appetite, and general debility that often occur with a chronic disease. They may develop pleurisy-like symptoms or experience pleural effusion or pericardial effusion--the causes of which may be many. But an expert can tell the difference between mesothelioma--the asbestos disease--and other types of illnesses.
Don't wait. If you are sick and feel you may ever have been exposed to asbestos, go now and see a doctor who knows. Early diagnosis improves survival times. And if you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, consider speaking with a mesothelioma trial attorney to find out whether you might be one of those who file asbestos lawsuits and receive compensation for their suffering. Call us for a no-fee consultation at 800.443.6353.
Pemetrexed, a drug that's become common as part of chemotherapy treatments for mesothelioma and other forms of lung cancer, has been shown to help slow the progress of the disease. Mesothelioma is a ravaging form of lung cancer that's connected with asbestos exposure, may take decades to develop, and is often not diagnosed until late stages.
The drug--trade name Alimta(R)--is occasionally spelled as "pemextred." Either way, even though it's hard to spell and pronounce, it is one useful weapon--usually in combination with another drug such as cisplatin--against the relentless pace of mesothelioma. It is sometimes used also with
carboplatin. Side effects are not uncommon with chemotherapy of all types, so get some reassurance from your doctor if you experience anything unusual while taking these drugs.
If you or someone you know think you may have been exposed to asbestos--on the job, living with someone who worked with the material, or living in a region where it has been mined--watch your health carefully. If you begin suffering from
pleurisy-like symptoms such as sharp chest pain on breathing or persistent coughing, or you've been referred for pleurodesis surgery or
ascites treatment or other lung or
abdominal fluid retention, make absolutely certain that your doctor is familiar with the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma. It's not easy to tell the difference between many different diseases--it takes an expert to diagnose mesothelioma. And time is of the essence. Survival times can be extended with proper treatment, which may include pemetrexed.
Many public entities in Canada have come out against the country's continued exporting of asbestos to third-world countries. It's surprising to see, then, a carefully written current story in the Toronto Star news outlet about a guy--CEO of Canada's largest still-working asbestos mine--openly beating the bushes for money to keep mining and exporting the deadly mineral.
According to the Star, Bernard Coloumbe claims that chrysotile asbestos, the type found in this mine, is less dangerous than other types such as crocidolite. He also claims he won't sell to companies with "unsafe" manufacturing practices. But he admits there's no protection whatever for the people in the field who buy the manufactured asbestos products and cut and saw them to fit their projects.
Asbestos exposure is proven to lead to fatal lung diseases. Victims who've contracted mesothelioma--the asbestos-exposure-related lung cancer--often begin to suffer pleurisy-like symptoms, which include pain on breathing, dry cough, and shortness of breath. They may experience weight loss, muscle wasting, loss of appetite, and general debility (a constellation known as cachexia). They may develop abdominal fluid retention (known as abdominal ascites). Standard lung cancer treatment is seldom effective.
Coloumbe is quoted in the story: "If everything goes well...we will be working in the underground mine and starting to produce in 2010. I can tell you, not just the Indian customers, but the big users of the world – Mexico, Venezuela, Pakistan, Vietnam. They're waiting for us."
At this time there is no cure for mesothelioma. Most major countries have banned the use of asbestos. And the fact that Canadian asbestos manufacturers are looking the other way as they send out their products to cause certain disease and death around the world is truly frightening.
The fight to develop better diagnostic tools for Mesothelioma lung cancer is in full swing as the numbers of cases the lung cancer related to asbestos exposure, continue to increase.
While rare, Mesothelioma is an intractable type of cancer. It can be difficult to diagnose and thus often not caught until the disease has reached a late—and very difficult to treat—stage. Mesothelioma progresses even faster and has an even lower survival rate than most other types of lung cancer. Doctors believe early detection is critical.
Doctors are beginning to realize how important it is to diagnose lesions in the lungs and surrounding areas before they become cancerous. (see Pleurisy symptoms) The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that defining and detecting such preneoplastic lesions might well help improve survival times for mesothelioma and all lung cancer patients.
To understand preneoplastic lesions, it helps to study how the body reacts in the process of developing lung cancer. Medical knowledge so far indicates that cancer begins and continues as a series of genetic mutations—unusual, and in this case, negative changes in a person’s genes. Preneoplastic lesions, because they show up before cells become tumors, may provide a good model for researchers to study the different steps as normal tissue progress to becoming malignant. This type of research for lung tissue is in early stages.
So, as researchers continue to seek and identify new molecular targets in Pleural Mesothelioma, the hope is that they will be able to develop more effective Mesothelioma treatment.
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