Mesothelioma-Experimental Treatments

Several forms of mesothelioma treatment such as the drug Alimta®, gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy are still in their experimental stages. We invite you to read the following articles on experimental therapies for malignant mesothelioma.



Gene Therapy

Many strategies of gene therapy are currently under study. Even though the results in animal experiments have been remarkable they have remained disappointing in humans. Other agents such as onconase, thalidomide, lovastatin have been used as single therapy or in combination with chemotherapy with various results.

Immunotherapy

This therapy involves the removal of patient cells, activation by exposure to cytokines and reinstillatin into the peritoneum, accompanied by additional chemotherapy. In the few cases tried this form of treatment lead to significant shrinkage of the tumor. However most patients had very early stages of disease, and general recommendations are therefore difficult to make, prior to further research.

Photodynamic Therapy

This therapy involves the use of a drug that makes the cancer cells sensitive to a particular wavelength of light. The drug is administered before the surgical procedure. The results have been disappointing, and no survival benefit has been shown in studies so far.

Multimodality Therapy

Doctors are always learning more about the best way to treat patients with mesotheliomas. The roles of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy in the treatment of mesothelioma are highly debated. Treatments which use some combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, called multimodality therapy, are now being studied and may provide the most promising option for some patients.



Read more: http://www.mesothelioma.com/treatment/experimental/

Asbestos Exposure Cancer and Mesothelioma

Long considered a miracle material, asbestos boasts excellent fire and heat resistant properties. This naturally occurring mineral, now known to be a human carcinogen, has a history that dates back to ancient Greece. Asbestos was used as a building material, even as far back as during the Roman Empire, and was also used to in fabric that would be used in clothing and a variety of other textiles.

During the Industrial Revolution, asbestos found new uses in factories and other heavy industries throughout the United States and abroad. Asbestos found use not only in factories, but also in oil refineries, chemical plants, on railroad cars, and in shipyards. Asbestos materials were used to insulate pipes and boilers in steam locomotives, to line tanks and ovens in refineries, and could be found literally everywhere aboard the nation’s ships, from engine rooms to galleys. As the twentieth century progressed, more uses for asbestos were found. It was used in the brakes and clutches of automobiles, insulated America’s new skyscrapers, and was used extensively in the construction industry, where it was used in asbestos products like joint compounds, cements, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, siding, stucco, plaster, and much more. Those workers at risk included any that worked in an asbestos-heavy industry or frequently handled these products.

By the middle of the twentieth century, it became apparent that asbestos was causing health problems. Asbestos exposure is now known to cause mesothelioma. This asbestos related cancer can occur when asbestos is inhaled the microscopic fibers lodge within the outer lung tissue layer known as the mesothelium. This thin layer of cells protects and lubricates the chest cavity. Asbestos causes a sustained inflammation of these cells causing harmful scar tissue to form on the surface. This scar tissue lays the foundation for cancerous cells to develop.

Despite knowledge of the health risk it posed, records have shown that many companies who used asbestos in their facilities knew that the material was dangerous yet continued to allow its use. Eventually, stories of sick employees became commonplace, causing the American government to consider imposing laws about regulating use of asbestos.

If you worked at a jobsite where asbestos or asbestos containing products were used, you may be at risk to develop mesothelioma.

Exposure usually occurred at major construction jobsites, in shipyards, onboard navy vessels and during construction or renovation of commercial buildings. People working in the vicinity of boilers and insulated piping often are at risk. In addition, teachers, students, and other staff members who work in older school buildings may be at risk of exposure to asbestos products, such as ceiling or floor tiles. Equally at risk are families of these workers, as asbestos often was carried home on clothing.

Military Exposure

Asbestos was used across all branches of the military for many years. Navy veterans were exposed to high levels of asbestos while serving on ships (aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, battleships, warships, etc.) in the naval fleet as well as in naval shipyards across the country. Army veterans were exposed to asbestos in buildings on military installations and while working on military vehicles. Air Force veterans were exposed while working with military aircraft. Marine Corps veterans that spent time at sea aboard Navy ships were exposed to asbestos. All veterans exposed to asbestos have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma.

Commercial and Industrial Exposure

Many workers and maintenance contractors at industrial and commercial job sites were subjected to dangerous levels of asbestos on the job. Asbestos is a known carcinogen and the primary cause of mesothelioma cancer. The types of jobsites where asbestos exposure occurred include oil refineries, power plants, steel mills and chemical plants to name a few. They all have “high heat” environments where the use of fire and heat resistant materials was required, be it in the construction of the plants or machinery or in the protective clothing that workers were required to wear in designated areas (i.e. fire-proof gloves and aprons). Today, even though the use of asbestos has been banned in the United States, many existing industrial and commercial structures may still contain a certain level of asbestos. It is important that appropriate safety precautions be taken, where necessary, to prevent harmful exposure and to mitigate the risk of developing mesothelioma.

Commercial Product Exposure

Do-it-yourself home renovation enthusiasts, as well as those who worked in the construction trade, may have been exposed to asbestos while working with popular building and construction products. Many of these products were made with asbestos through the late 1970’s as the projects they were to be used in required that they be heat and fire resistant. They included insulation, roofing material, siding, joint compound, ceiling tiles, flooring and more. Unfortunately when any of these products were cut, sawed filed, or sanded, asbestos fibers were released into the air. In the majority of cases, those working with the products did not use appropriate safety precautions because asbestos companies withheld information about the health hazards of asbestos for many years. Today, as a result, construction workers and do-it-yourselfers are at risk for developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

Second Hand Exposure

Direct, on-the-job asbestos exposure did not affect American workers alone. Their family members were also at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease as a result of second hand asbestos exposure. This type of exposure occurred when workers brought asbestos fibers home on their hair, clothing or shoes at the end of the work day. Those responsible for laundering their work clothes, day in and day out, were most commonly affected, but even small children who spent time with their parent before they had a chance to “clean up” from work were unknowingly placed at risk of developing an asbestos-related illness.

Source: http://www.mesothelioma.com/asbestos-exposure/

Mesothelioma Lawyers Houston

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects tissue in the lining of the lungs, heart, stomach, and other organs. It often develops in people who inhaled asbestos fibers or were exposed to asbestos in building materials. Many patients who develop mesothelioma die within one year of diagnosis.

At Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law, we’re familiar with the devastating effects that mesothelioma can have on you and your family. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible to receive compensation. Call our mesothelioma lawyers at (800) 444-5000 or fill out a FREE initial consultation form.

SIGNS, SYMPTOMS, AND DIAGNOSIS

Mesothelioma can sometimes take 30-50 years to develop after a person’s first exposure to asbestos. Common symptoms of mesothelioma may include:

-chest pain,
-coughing up blood,
-fatigue,
-fever,
-shortness of breath,
-and more.

Patients with more advanced forms of mesothelioma also may experience abdominal pain, weight loss, blood clots, and jaundice. Because many of these side effects are similar to those of other lung-related conditions, mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose. A chest X-ray or a CT scan can assist in diagnosis, but a biopsy of the affected area is often necessary.

MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENTS

Treating mesothelioma requires expensive and invasive procedures that may offer minimal benefits for the patient. These treatments can include:

Surgery

Surgery to treat mesothelioma is generally limited to patients whose cancer hasn’t spread, and it involves removing the lining of the chest wall. In more extreme cases, parts of the diaphragm, the pericardium, nearby lymph nodes, and the lung on the affected side of the body may be removed as well. Patients who undergo surgery for mesothelioma can experience severe complications.

Chemotherapy

There are two types of chemotherapy used to treat mesothelioma:

Systemic chemotherapy is administered as a pill or injected into a patient’s vein, entering the bloodstream and circulating throughout the body until it targets the cancer.
Intrapleural, or intraperitoneal, chemotherapy involve direct injections into the affected area of the body—usually the chest cavity or the abdominal wall.

Radiation therapy

Radiation is often combined with surgery and chemotherapy and is useful for targeting small tumors that may be difficult or impossible to remove with surgery alone. It can be administered in the hospital or by using an implant placed into or near the tumor.

Mesothelioma cases deserve experienced and knowledgeable legal representation. At Terry Bryant personal injury law, we have the resources to take on any mesothelioma case and get the results you and your family need. Call us today and let us help you get your life back to normal.

Source: http://www.terrybryant.com/environmental-injury/mesothelioma/

Mesothelioma Faqs

Whether you have a history of working with asbestos, you know someone who does, or you’ve simply seen the legal advertisements on TV, you’ve probably heard of a disease called mesothelioma. And as with most diseases, it can be scary if you don’t understand it and you worry that it might affect you or someone you love.

Let’s try to increase our understanding of this serious condition. Here are some common questions you might have about mesothelioma, with answers and sources to help you learn more.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer. More specifically, it is cancer of the mesothelium — tissue that covers many internal organs in the chest and abdomen. The disease often starts with the lungs.

How common is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, around 3000 new cases are diagnosed in the U.S. every year.

What are the causes mesothelioma?

The largest risk factor associated with mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. But according to the Mayo Clinic, other risk factors include exposure to the simian virus 40 (a virus found in monkeys), family history, and radiation exposure.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

According to the American Lung Association, mesothelioma can have a fairly wide variety of symptoms. Those include:

-Being short of breath-Having a persistent cough-The presence of pain under your rib cage-Weight loss (that can’t otherwise be explained)-Swelling or pain in your abdomen-Having a fever-Anemia-Blood clotting problems

The Mayo Clinic adds to that list by noting that lumps felt in the chest or abdominal area can also be symptoms of mesothelioma.

Source: http://www.dirjournal.com/health-journal/mesothelioma-faqs/