Mesothelioma Lawsuits

4 Tips to Help You Win Your Case

The main reason why victims of asbestos related diseases file lawsuits is to help victims of asbestos related illnesses as well as family members of asbestos victims, get their deserved compensation for their losses. This money can help victims pay for such things as medical bills, lost wages, and the emotional agony caused by these diseases.

Exposure to asbestos can cause a variety of different illnesses, namely asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma cancer. If you've been diagnosed with the mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related illness you should file a claim to receive an asbestos settlement.

There been many asbestos settlements in the United States over the years resulting in billions of dollars awarded to the victims of asbestos exposure. There are many other litigation cases that are still pending.

These are four important tips to help you win your case:

1. First and foremost, you must be diagnosed with mesothelioma or another related disease. Courts are more likely to give it monetary compensation to victims of mesothelioma rather than to victims of other asbestos-related diseases. It is better for you to be diagnosed by a qualified an duly registered physician or a qualified oncologist.. If you have not yet been diagnosed but believe that you may have an asbestos illness, don't go to a discount facility to be tested. Many of these are run by lawyers trying to find new clients and a diagnosis at one of these can ultimately hurt your case once you go to court.
2. You must file your asbestos settlement with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. You can find lawyers in bar associations, in the Yellow Pages, on the Internet, and by word of mouth sources, and various other places. The Internet can be a great place to look for an attorney since you may be able to find background information on the litigation firms. You should interview the asbestos attorney to find out if they are good enough to win your case. You'll want an attorney has experience with asbestos settlement cases and one you can trust. Your interview of the asbestos attorneys should also afford you the opportunity of asking the lawyers questions on the mesothelioma cases they have actually represented in court and the kind of settlements they have won for their clients.
3. After you find an experienced attorney that you can trust, you'll need to gather the necessary information you will need to prove your case. Some information that you might be asked to collect would be a list past job duties that exposed you to asbestos, how long you worked at this job, contact information of your bosses and co-workers, products that you came in contact with the might of contained asbestos, all the damages that you've suffered, as well as all doctor reports relating to your illness.
4. In order to win an asbestos settlement you must also be patient and strong. Your case may or may not go to trial but this can be a very difficult process to go through especially when you are already weakened by the effects of the cancer on your body. But take courage and be strong , the law is on your side.

For more information on mesothelioma lawsuits and mesothelioma visit http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com

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By Bello Kamorudeen

History, Hazards and Dietary Advice

History of asbestos

There are four main types of asbestos; Amosite (brown fibers), Anthophyllite (gray fibers), white Christie, and blue Crocidolite. Chrysotile has curly fibers while the other three have rod like fibers. These fibers fragment into dust quite readily and waft into the air. They can adhere to skin or clothing and are easily swallowed or inhaled.

Half a century ago, asbestos was hailed by many as a miracle product. They said nearly anything could be made from this mineral. It as used as an additive to reinforce mortar and plastics. Asbestos fibers can also be separated into fine threads that do not conduct electricity and are unaffected by heat or chemicals.

Use of asbestos drastically increased during World War II. Shipbuilding incorporated asbestos extensively in freighters and support vessels to insulate boilers, steam pipes and hot water pipes. Asbestos became the miracle construction material as it was readily obtained, processed, and transported. After WWII cars used asbestos in brake shoes and clutch pads. Asbestos found its way into residential and industrial building materials, water supply, sewage materials, ceiling and floor tiles, and vermiculite garden materials to name a few products.

In the 1970's, following the discoveries of the health dangers of asbestos dust inhalation, the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission prohibited the use of asbestos in several products that could liberate asbestos fibers into the environment during use. Regulations governing the use of asbestos and public concern since 1970 have created a significant drop in the use of asbestos in the United States. The same pattern has been seen in most of the developed world.

In 1989 all new uses of asbestos were banned by the Environmental Protection Agency while any old uses before that year were still allowed. The EPA suggested that schools inspect for damaged asbestos and eliminate any exposure or enclose it in protective barriers. Vermiculite, widely used in horticulture, became a concern of the EPA . They recommended outdoor use, limiting the amount of dust used, and keeping vermiculite damp.

Health hazards

Asbestos may create serious health hazards such as coughing, lung damage, shortness of breath, and lung cancer. Most people do not become sick in the early stages of contact but usually need continued exposure. This often means on jobs such as mining, milling, manufacturing asbestos products, and the building construction industry. Firemen, demolition and destruction workers, drywall removers, and anyone else involved in trades that involve destruction of buildings, ships, and automobiles are also exposed to the hazards of asbestos.

Over a number of years continual exposure to asbestos can cause very serious health problems, such as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare type of carcinoma of the membrane that lines numerous cavities of the body, including the lungs, abdomen and heart, and has been associated with exposure to asbestos dust. In mesothelioma, the cells of the mesothelioma metastasize and damage adjacent organs and tissues.

Mesothelioma may not develop for a long period of time, often as long as twenty-five or thirty-five years before full blown symptoms appear. Not all workers who have been exposed will develop diseases, but workers who have been exposed to it may bring fibers on their clothing, hair, shoes, and skin home to their families. To circumvent this risk, most industries require workers to bathe and change their clothing before they leave work.

Dietary advice for Mesothelioma patients

Doctors and nutritionists may recommend a special cancer diet because many mesothelioma patients tend to lose their appetites due to worry over their condition. Also, those who are undergoing treatment may choose not to eat because of the unpleasant side effects they may experience. Chemotherapy and some medications may cause an imbalance of nutrients that must be corrected in order to keep the body as strong as possible and to keep the patient from losing an excessive amount of weight. Other side effects of mesothelioma treatment can include nausea, vomiting, constipation,dry mouth and a change in the sense of smell or taste.

In our childhood we were all told to eat our vegetables. Forcing down cabbage and sprouts was supposed to make us bigger and stronger. Well, so it is for mesothelioma patients. Diet is often an overlooked subject for cancer patients, but eating the right nutritional foods for strength and energy is just as important as taking the proper medication.

Mesothelioma patients undergoing treatment must follow a special cancer diet devised by their nutritionists. The details of every patient's mesothelioma diet will vary. Some patients will need to incorporate more fat into their diets, while others may need more protein. Cancer diets involve eating the correct amounts of protein and calories as well as drinking the right amount of water to keep the ailing body replenished and energized. The body needs plenty of nourishment when it is going through chemotherapy or even when the patient is taking certain medications.

It is important that patients devise a cancer diet under the guidance of their doctor and nutritionist to ensure that they obtain the proper amount of nutrients to improve their quality of life.

Protein is important for any cancer patient because it helps repair tissue damaged by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. Protein also helps maintain a strong and healthy immune system, lowering a mesothelioma patient's risk of infection after aggressive cancer treatments. The National Cancer Institute recommends increasing protein in a cancer diet with cheese, milk, ice cream, yoghurt, eggs, nuts, peanut butter, meats and fish.

Fats are an essential part of the cancer diet because they supply the body with the necessary energy it needs while undergoing treatment. The amount of fats a cancer diet should consist of is dependent on a mesothelioma patient's age and body size. The National Cancer Institute recommends increasing caloric intake with such foods as butter, milk, cheese, honey, sugar, granola and dried fruits.

Water is another essential component of the cancer diet. Without a significant amount of water, the body will dehydrate. It is important that anyone undergoing cancer treatment drink sufficient water to keep their bodies hydrated and replenished.

Article supplied by Michael Aldridge. For a complete and extensive guide to mesothelioma, please visit our web site at http://www.mesothelioma.informatee.com

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By Baymaster

Understanding the Relation Between Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

By David Hooper

An understanding of asbestos is necessary before we try to understand mesothelioma lung cancer. Asbestos, a natural fibrous mineral, used commonly in construction process and manufacturing industries is detrimental to human health. Continuous inhalation of its fibers enhances the susceptibility to respiratory disorders and can lead to many dangerous diseases. A leading example of such dangerous disease is Mesothelioma lung cancer. Actually, mesothelioma lung cancer is misnomer because mesothelioma cancers affect the lining of lungs (pleura) and abdomen and not the lungs. Since mesothelioma cancers mostly affect the lining of the lungs, it is generally called mesothelioma lung cancer. The workers who had worked in industries such as shipbuilding, asbestos mining, and asbestos production are vulnerable to mesothelioma cancers.

Mesothelioma and the Role of Carcinogens:

What is mesothelioma cancer and how does the lining of the lung become cancerous? Cancer is a tumor that is malignant in nature. Tumor is formed when there is abnormal cell division and cell multiplication in the cancerous cells. Exposure to carcinogens or cancer-causing material like cigarette smoke, asbestos and silica dust is instrumental in this abnormal cell division and formation of tumor.

Mesothelioma cancer is directly linked to asbestos exposure. However, those already exposed to asbestos have a greater chance of developing lung cancer if they are exposed to other carcinogens such as cigarette smoke. A study reports that the workers with a history of asbestos exposure and cigarette smoke are more prone to lung cancer than the non-smokers and those with no history of asbestos exposure.

Complications Associated with Mesothelioma Cancer:

Normally, the latency stage for asbestos-related diseases in general and mesothelioma cancers of the lining of lung in particular, 20-50 years, which makes detection of Mesothelioma a complicated issue. This situation is further aggravated particularly where the worker is also addicted to cigarette smoking. By the time, the disease shows its symptoms, a considerable exposure to additional carcinogens linked to cigarette smoking has already taken place. This makes a worker more vulnerable to lung cancer besides the vulnerability to mesothelioma cancers.

Mesothelioma Cancers and Legal Redress:

The Government is conscious of the ill effects of asbestos exposure and the seriousness of mesothelioma cancer. The employees working in factories with significant risk of asbestos exposure are eligible for Mesothelioma compensation, if the exposure is the cause of Mesothelioma. There has been a spate of lawsuits for seeking compensation for mesothelioma and lung cancers. In many cases, the courts have awarded heavy sums as compensation against the asbestos manufacturing companies.

Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.

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Asbestos and Lung Cancer

By David Hooper

Asbestos and lung cancer, yes it is true that asbestos is a major reason for the cause of this deadly disease. Before we analyze the interrelationship between asbestos and lung cancer it is necessary to understand what is asbestos and what are its health implications.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the form of bundled fibers. Asbestos fibers are heat and chemical resistant and are poor conductor of electricity. These qualities make it fit for commercial use. Industries use four types of Asbestos: Chrysolite or white asbestos, Crocidolite or blue asbestos, Anthophyllite or gray colored fibers and Amosite or brown colored fibers. These asbestos fibers break into tiny dust particles and thus easily inhaled or swallowed which can cause serious health disorders. Lung cancer caused from asbestos is one such example.

Health Hazards of Asbestos

Regular exposure to asbestos can result in several serious diseases such as lung cancer, mesothelioma cancers and asbestosis. Asbestosis is as lung disease that produces shortness of breath, coughing and permanent damage to lungs and Mesothelioma-a rare cancer of membrane covering the chest and abdomen, and cancers of larynx, oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract and kidney.

Regular exposure of asbestos results in occupational diseases such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Since 1940, millions of American workers, working in shipbuilding companies, mining and milling of asbestos, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation in construction and building trades, and brake repair were exposed to asbestos. Demolition workers, drywall removers and firefighters are also at risk of being exposed to asbestos that may cause lung cancer in them.

Due to stringent norms and improved work practices, today's workers face negligible risks of lung cancer from asbestos. Although heavier and longer exposure time is held responsible for the risk but investigators found that brief exposures could also lead to infection. Not only the workers but also their families are at risk of asbestos diseases and lung cancer. Para occupational exposure occurs because asbestos fibers are brought into the house by means of shoes, clothing, skin and hair of workers. To avoid this exposure workers are required to take shower and change their clothing before leaving their workplace.

The difficult portion of asbestos related diseases and asbestos related lung cancer is that they can lie dormant in the body for 10-40 years before manifesting. This makes it difficult to diagnose the disease in its early stages. When the diseases are manifested and diagnosed, it is too late and chances of survival of victims are very bleak.

Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.

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Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers.

2,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the UK and the number of people who die from it is expected to rise to a peak between 2011 and 2015. This is because the disease can take 15-40 years to develop, and blue and brown asbestos (thought to be the most likely types to cause mesothelioma) were banned only in the late 1908s.

There are different reasons that make diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer in its early stages really difficult. The first reason is the symptoms. Mesothelioma cancer symptoms can have a latency period from 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos, which only means that by the time the symptoms start showing up, the cancer is already in its advanced stage. Even when the symptoms are already present, the diagnosis remains to be a slow process. This is because there are different diseases that mirror the signs and symptoms found in patients diagnosed with mesothelioma, and because of this, this disease is often the last stop - often when the patient does not mention about the possibility of asbestos exposure.

One study found those 3 years after diagnosis, 1 in 10 people had survived, and after 5 years, survival rate was 1 in 20. However, other studies found a much better survival rate, with one study finding that 1 in 3 mesothelioma patients survived for 5 or more years, although this study only looked at people with epithelioid type tumors.

There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, but a range of drugs and treatments such as chemotherapy can help to delay the symptoms of the disease.

Overview of Malignant Mesothelioma

Over a period of time, the world has witnessed variations of a disease that is caused by the frequent inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers - mesothelioma. The asbestos fibers are known to get lodged within the lung tissues. A variety of related diseases are caused due to prolonged and constant exposure to asbestos like malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The most fatal of these diseases is mesothelioma, which culminates in death.

Malignant mesothelioma attacks the membranes and lining of large cavities in our body. The serous cavities houses important and major bodily organs like lungs, heart and abdomen. The serous membranes surround the cavities and protect these organs from abrasion and friction specially during the functioning of the organs like heart beating and breathing. The specialised cells are referred to as mesothelial cells which form the mesothelium which is the tissue layer of serous membranes. The cancer which occurs in this tissue is referred to as mesothelioma.

In case of pericardial mesothelioma, the lining which surrounds the heart is affected. In case of pleural mesothlioma which is the most widespread form of malignant mesothelioma, the lung cavity is affected. Nowadays, mesothelioma is considered as cancerous or malignant. They actually begin as a small tumour and then rapidly spread to the various organs and tissues.

It is very difficult to detect asbestos symptoms, especially when the disease is in its early stages. The abnormalities that develop when the disease begins may not appear in the x-ray of the lungs. It is only at a much-advanced stage of mesothelioma or asbestosis that the abnormalities appear distinct and more prominent.

The symptoms of this disease are not noticeable up to fifty years from the first instance the person was exposed to the asbestos fibers. The symptoms depend largely on the kind of mesothelioma it is. A person suffering from this disease may experience chest pain, dyspnoea, weight loss, anemia, swelling, bowel problems, night sweats, fever and persistent cough.

The treatment options will vary depending on the kind of asbestos disease the patient is suffering from. Mesothelioma can be treated with the appropriate surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

No mercy Mesothelioma

How often have I ranted at everyone insisting they get scanned every 3 months, how many times do we hear that the meso had started again because we werent' getting checked out every 3 months and had no idea how long it had been sprouting its ugly spurs, so how stupid was I to let my specialist tell me I was having too many scans and really I should only have one every 6 months.  Infact, I wasn't even going to be given on after 6 months if I was waiting for my specialist I would still be waiting.  A couple of weeks ago I said to hubby if I didn't have a date I was going to get back in touch with my old (privately paid) oncologist to see if he could get me one.  Thankfully, my GP rang me on the lead up to Christmas and asked when my next scan was, I told him I hadn't been given one and he was non too pleased so it seems he organised the one I just had himself! 

So my friend has returned, the areas that were suspicious and brought to my attention by Dr Abtin (USA) are now well and truly active...  The fight will have to start again and I have lost round one already.  Multi focal recurrent pleural malignancy\mesothelioma, what a mouthful but there we have it .. back and kicking.

To say that I am shocked would be unbelievable because we all know that our time isn't our own, we know we have a ticking time bomb inside our chests.  Indeed, every new ache we wonder, even if briefly, is it meso, but we blindly don't think it will return.  We are blinkered into believing we will outwit this rotten cancer.  I have worn those blinkers, I have delayed doing a bucket list with my life and making the most of the time I have, I put its return in the far reaches of my mind so that I could carry on living a normal life.  The pain, as you all know, has worn me down, but it is pain, it won't kill me but now I wonder if  the adjustment in area's hasn't just been my body fixing and repairing itself, its probably being my friend rearming and posting little soldiers all around the chest so that it can come back as multi focal.  Why not just one area, why does it have to hit the whole area. 

What have I ever done to mesothelioma .. did I invite it in, have I done something over the last 2 years to stir the bloody disease back to life .. will I be able to build my army to fight back? 

The support of my meso friends will bring me courage to face the next step and I know that I will do whatever I can to get back to a normal life, I'm not ready to do the bucket list.

Jan

Gaining Energy .. Just

With the hint of spring around the corner .. well nearly, this week has flown.  Its the last week of our main Company's final year so last week was a little of a nightmare, then I have been on site with the houses everyday as well.  Although I don't call it resting on Friday I went with hubby to his sisters and had a hand in some decorating.  I know that I will suffer from stretching but it was worth doing something different and I do enjoy getting stuck in.

I did suffer, this morning, but I refused to stay home and sit on the sofa feeling sorry for myself because it just makes you feel stale anyway.  Out we went with the dogs and although it was colder today than yesterday I did enjoy our tramp around.  I managed an hour's visit with my mam but as always she makes life hard for herself.  Over the last couple of weeks her legs and feet have swollen beyond what the skin can take so they were weeping buckets as well as hurting.  She refuses to walk unless she needs to go to the loo and no matter how much I moan at her to get up and do something she just ignores.  Today was no different, I said come on lets walk around the house and get those legs moving ... 

.. mind eldest brother takes no notice either, his head isn't getting any better and I think he looks worse.  He had his staples out on Thursday and the nurse again told him he had to rest ... he needs to take a leaf out of our mothers book!

I heard from Linda in the States, seems her sister still hasn't had her radiotherapy, there goes my belief that things get followed through faster there than here.

Speaking of USA the solicitors have been in touch again, something to do with the American Government having a fund set up for people with meso which may have been contacted through the English ran companies.  Maybe something nice might just happen, not that money can buy you health but hopefully will go to helping the cause.

Our new mattress arrived on Thursday and you sink into it, I must admit my ribs didn't feel as bad as normal the last couple of nights but I daren't say too much to soon.

Nev came through his surgery on Monday, although like me his bp falls drastically and he ended up staying over.  It did affect his ms as his speech was still slightly slurred on Friday but he is such a strong person, he was in pain because he was in a grump all week.  As for the results, at least 2 weeks before we know what is growing down there.

I had my scan on Wednesday, I am a little nervous but then I haven't really got any new pains, just my old ones getting worse!  I only hope I can get my hands on the CT Scan as Dr Abtin is eager to review.

I hope Debbie's forthcoming trip goes ok to see Prof V, Cliff is doing ok and all we can hope for is static\stable results.  I don't know how they are doing it again, but I know that when the time comes we all find that inner strength and fight it all the way.

Next week will be another heavy duty for me I don't know whether I have enough steam to keep pushing myself at this pace and will probably end up on the sofa for a long week end before long.  I said to hubby today that we need to decide what hols we want to take and when, I think the dogs will have to go to kennels this time but I want to find a different one, Lexi needs a lot more comfort now that she is getting on, plus her bum is nearly back to normal, one week of not keeping on top of it can set her back again.

Wishing everyone the best and remember no surrender

Jan

I got in to see the GP and he had a quick listen, the pain doesn't seem so bad once I get moving around but I have a stuffy nose and a rotten headache.  He said it sounds flat, but to be honest I don't exactly have an easy chest area to listen to.  He prescribed Clarithromycin so I came out hoping it's an infection.  I took the tablets after dinner and then 3 hours later was ill, feeling sick, diarrhoea, stomach pains etc.  My mouth tasted terrible and I knew I was having a reaction to the tablets.

This morning my heart feels heavier and my head not so good, I text my doc who wants me to go to urgent care but its Saturday and I know I will end up spending at least 4 hours sitting there with lots of bugs floating around.  Having hunted through the medicine cupboard have found some flucloxacillin so text back and said will try these but will need more on Monday if they work as I don't have a full course.    I have had intermittent pain in this area for quite a while, which I know will be the meso, but to have it full on like this I really pray it is an infection.  The pain is terrible and as I am waking up my brain is trying to deal with it by trying to categorise it in my mind, I know I am strange.  I don't have shortness of breath it just hurts if I breath deeply, guess I will be spending the weekend bored rigid on the sofa.

Its 3 years tomorrow since I had surgery, 3 years, the time has flown by so fast, it took me forever to recover from the pain, but then again I did push myself too much by being back at work 3 months later.  I am the worst patient for being ill.  But as Lyn keeps saying I can't go back and change anything I did what I did and that's that.

Scan is booked for end of February, then I guess see what is out there, if this is meso then I need to shrink it or stop it so I don't have pain and that means taking action.  I know I do have growth and I have thickening around the heart area as well as those naughty nodules, but could they grow so fast to cause so much pain in such a short period?  And action - what action is left out there for me?

My sofa is calling, have a few Dvd's to watch so maybe today will fly as well.