Malignant Mesothelioma - A Dreaded Disease

Malignant mesothelioma is cancer that starts in the cells that line most organs of the body, especially the chest, belly, and heart. The lining formed by these cells is called mesothelium. The mesothelium forms a protective sac that surrounds internal organs of the body. It consists of two layers: one layer of cells surrounding the organ and another forming a sac around it. These cells secrete a fluid that allows organs to move effortlessly and harmlessly within the space defined by the mesothelium.

Thus, moving organs like the heart and the lungs can function normally only with a functioning mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a disease in which the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and multiply uncontrollably, invading the surrounding tissues affecting the very organs they are supposed to protect. In most cases of mesothelioma, the lungs are the organs that are affected. The mesothelium of the lungs is known as the pleura. Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed form of the disease.

Risk factors and risk groups

Mesothelioma is associated with asbestos. Around 70-80% of all cases of mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a group of minerals that has been widely used in industrial products such as cement, brake linings, flooring's, textiles and insulation. The first cases of mesothelioma occurred in the 1900s in Britain where workers at asbestos factories began experiencing a high level of lung disease. The disease was then referred to as asbestosis. It was only much later, in 1959, that the link between asbestos and lung cancer was made.

Mesothelioma can also arise as a result of secondary exposure to asbestos. A chance of developing cancer in families and other persons in contact with asbestos workers is great due to exposure to dust from the clothing and hair of the worker. People living in old buildings (prior to banning of asbestos in construction materials) are also at risk. The occupations that are most associated with mesothelioma include: construction industry workers, electricians, plumbers, shipyard workers, textile workers etc.

Incidence of mesothelioma

Most countries now specify the level of asbestos that can be safely present in the working environment of a person. Since the risk of asbestos-related disease increases due to heavy and longer exposure to asbestos, proper working environment led to a reduction in the cases of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is now a relatively rare disease; only 2000 cases arise every year in the United States.

Living with the disease

Like many other cancers, there is very little one can do where the diagnosis has not been made in the early stages of the disease. Unfortunately, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in its late stages. There is no cure for the disease. In some cases, tumors may be removed by surgery, in the hope that it has not already spread to other parts of the body. Surgery may aim to remove the tumor or the entire lung. Treatments by radiation and chemotherapy are mostly palliative (i.e. aiming to reduce the severity of symptoms rather than treating the disease).

Are you looking for more information on Mesothelioma and want to find out exactly what the Mesothelioma Symptoms are? Then I suggest you check us out online at MesotheliomaMedical.com immediately!

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Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon, but no longer rare, cancer that is difficult to diagnose and poorly responsive to therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases.

A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and the cavity around the heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most internal organs. The tissue formed by these cells is called mesothelium.

The mesothelium helps protect the organs by producing a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around. For example, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The mesothelium of the chest is called the pleura and the mesothelium of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. The mesothelium of the pericardial cavity (the "sac-like" space around the heart) is called the pericardium.

Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. Because most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium in the late 1700's. However it was not until much later, in 1960, that this particular type of tumor was described in more detail and even more importantly, its association with asbestos exposure was recognized. The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was written by J.C.Wagner, and described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Since than the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world.

The incidence of mesothelioma in the United States remains very low, with 14 cases occurring per million people per year. Despite these numbers the noticed threefold increase in mesothelioma in males between 1970 and 1984, is directly associated with environmental and occupational exposure to asbestos, mostly in areas of asbestos product plants and shipbuilding facilities.

Although the disease is much more commonly seen in 60-year old men, it has been described in women and early childhood as well. The cause of the disease is not so well understood in these latter two groups, but there is some evidence of possible asbestos exposure for some of these cases as well.

Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months. It's a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live. They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions. They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one's heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next...

But what they didn't know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.

What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

What Is My Diagnosis?
There are three types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). Sub-types (or cell types) of mesothelioma are epithelioid (the most common, and considered the most amenable to treatment), sarcomatous (a much more aggressive form), and biphasic or mixed (a combination of both of the other cell types).

The structural appearance of cells under the microscope determine the cell or sub-type of mesothelioma. Epithelioid is the least aggressive; sarcomatoid, the most aggressive. The biphasic or mixed cell type shows structural elements of both of the other two.

There are three types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). Sub-types (or cell types) of mesothelioma are epithelioid (the most common, and considered the most amenable to treatment), sarcomatous (a much more aggressive form), and biphasic or mixed (a combination of both of the other cell types).

Original article

How Exposure in Schools Can Lead to Malignant Mesothelioma

Most people are aware that malignant mesothelioma results from exposure to asbestos, a compound commonly added to drywall and other construction materials before 1980. When they think of asbestos cancer, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the construction workers who handled the compound directly. However, as more and more cases receive mesothelioma treatment, it is becoming increasingly clear that many of the disease victims didn't even work in the construction industry. In fact, many of those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma were students and teachers exposed at school, long after the construction process was complete.

Students And Teachers Unknowingly Exposed

Before companies announced the significant dangers of asbestos cancer, few contractors thought twice about using the efficient compound in the construction of school buildings. Without the evidence of its detrimental health effects, it was just a benefit: the compound made materials much stronger without a lot of added expense, which meant safer schools with more money left in the budget for books and other educational tools. Because it seemed like such a good idea, schools across the United States included it in various forms.

The teachers and students at these schools had no idea at the time that even very limited exposure to asbestos could cause malignant mesothelioma. They walked past the piles of dust created by workmen installing and repairing asbestos materials without thinking twice. They had no idea that these piles of dust would later set them on a long and painful path to mesothelioma treatment.

The Danger Of Asbestos Exposure Doesn't Stop At School

Unfortunately, asbestos wasn't only found in school buildings. The same hazardous compounds were often found at personal residences, compounding the risk to children and teachers who were already exposed to the deadly substance while at school. In addition, children whose parents worked with asbestos and teachers married to such laborers had further contact with the dangerous fibers. Any exposure to the compound raises the risk of asbestos cancer, and prolonged exposure like that of students and teachers makes malignant mesothelioma an even higher probability.

How Asbestos Cancer Is Formed

When the students and teachers would pass the piles of dust, they would accidentally inhale the asbestos fibers into their lungs. Once there, the fibers would infect the mesothelium, which is the lining outside of the lungs. Occasionally malignant mesothelioma would be found elsewhere in the body, but the tissue surrounding the lungs is by far the most common site of the disease. Tumors caused by malignant mesothelioma would start to grow within the lining, causing the patient to experience extreme pain and discomfort. Mesothelioma treatment is focused mostly on managing this pain.

However, the danger isn't purely from the asbestos cancer tumors themselves. Mesothelioma tends to metastasize very easily, meaning that it spreads throughout the body quickly. Mesothelioma treatment is not effective at stopping this spread, and all too often the disease is not discovered until it is too late for anything to be done. In addition to spreading fast, mesothelioma can easily become deadly lung cancer as well.

Paying For Mesothelioma Treatment

Although mesothelioma treatment can only be mildly effective, it is nonetheless worth it, if for nothing else than to help ease the intense pain caused by the disease. Sometimes it is only a matter of helping a person afflicted with asbestos cancer to be more comfortable, but the cost of treatment can still be considerably high. To assist with paying for treatment, consider looking into legal options. Courts tend to overwhelmingly serve justice to victims of malignant mesothelioma, holding the companies who failed to protect workers and citizens liable for their actions. You or your family may be able to obtain significant damages awarded, or reach a settlement that will help provide for mesothelioma treatment.

It is important to retain a good mesothelioma attorney when seeking damages to pay for mesothelioma treatment. These attorneys specialize in mesothelioma cases and have the experience, skills, and knowledge background to effectively handle your case. They will also typically have access to a network of experts on mesothelioma treatment and science to rely on in trial. With the help of a mesothelioma lawyer, justice can be served. The companies can be held liable for their omission of vital, lifesaving information. Although lawyers can't remove the asbestos cancer, or make treatment of the disease completely effective, they can make your struggle with the disease more comfortable and ease the burden on your family. If you suffer from malignant mesothelioma, finding an experienced attorney is definitely something to look into.

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Innovative Treatments to Successfully Target Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is the most common type of mesothelioma with past asbestos exposure representing the major risk factor. While the search for new therapies that target the genes and processes driving MPM has been slow, two new approaches, which are immediately available to you, are showing significant improvements over standard treatment in clinical trials.

Before we discuss these enhanced treatment options, we must first briefly explore two key aspects of MPM progression: Angiogenesis and Epigenetic Regulation.

Angiogenesis:

You've likely heard of Angiogenesis. It is the physiological process that tumors use to recruit new blood vessels in order to sustain their continual growth. They do this by manipulating the over-expression of genes that initiate and direct the growth of new, leaky blood vessels from existing ones. This new supply of blood not only allows the tumor to grow, but also provides a mechanism for the tumor cells to metastasize (travel through the body).

The process of angiogenesis is governed by its own unique combination of genes, separate from those involved in the normal formation of new blood vessels (a process known as vasculogenesis). This, it turns out, provides us with an opportunity for successful treatment through the targeting of these unique gene combinations.

One of the most specific and critical regulators of angiogenesis is the family of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs), which regulate endothelial proliferation (the formation of new blood vessels), blood vessel permeability, and survival.In MPM,over-expression of VEGF is common and correlates with lower remission rates and reduced overall patient survival. Clearly, effectively targeting VEGFs would result in limiting the blood supply to tumors thus successfully prohibiting their growth. And that's just what we are seeing in current clinical trials. (More on that in a bit.)

Epigenetic Regulation:

A significant development in MPM treatment involves studies that focus on manipulating the processes of gene regulation, commonly referred to as epigenetic regulation. In MPM, tumor suppressor genes (the genes that, when functioning properly, naturally prohibit the growth of tumor cells) are silenced due to three key forms of epigenetic regulation:

1. Removal of acetyl groups by histone deacetylases (HDACs);

2. Inhibition of histone acetyltransferases (HATs), which add acetyl groups; and

3. Addition of methyl groups by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs).

In MPM, the over-expression of HDACs coupled with the inhibition of HATs is considered a key process that leads to disease progression. The over-expression of DNMTs occurs in most cancers.

The benefit of targeting epigenetic processes is that they are reversible. Unlike a mutated gene which cannot be reactivated, it is possible to reactivate tumor suppressor genes that have been silenced by epigenetic processes. Thus, effective treatment must include some process whereby tumor suppressor genes are supported to maintain their function and reactivated in cases where they have already been silenced.

To this end, there are numerous clinical trials currently exploring the use of unique combinations of drugs to inhibit the silencing of tumor suppressor genes and to stop the flow of blood to tumors. Current clinical trials using HDAC and VEGF inhibitors are showing significant benefits in patient survival. For example, Vorinostat, an inhibitor of HDACs, has recently been shown to be beneficial for advanced mesothelioma patients whose cancer has progressed after standard chemotherapy.

The continued development and incorporation of these new drugs as part of standard treatment will undoubtedly be realized over the next few years. In the meantime there are some very simple and effective natural measures that you can take immediately that will directly and powerfully influence the growth of cancer.

While clinical trials provide the basis for current molecular-targeted therapies, plant phytochemicals (also known as: Nutraceuticals) provide an exciting option as an additional means of gene regulation.

Science has identified the following nutraceuticals as having a significant effect in slowing the mechanisms involved in MPM progression. Thus it is imperative, as part of your treatment protocol, that you ensure these substances are a part of your daily diet in the appropriate combinations.

The following section is a list of nutraceuticals that have been shown to directly affect epigenetic regulation and angiogenisis in various cancers.

In order to inhibit DNMTs to maintain tumor suppressor gene function, we must consume the following foods:

Apigenin (Parsley, Thyme), Curcumin (Tumeric, Ginger, Mustard), EGCG (Green Tea, Nutmeg)

Genistein (Soy), Resveratrol (Red Wine, Grape Skins), Sulforaphane (Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages)

In order to inhibit HDACs to maintain tumor suppressor gene function, we must consume these foods:

Allyl Mercaptan(Garlic), Curcumin (Tumeric, Ginger, Mustard), Genistein (Soy) Sulforaphane (Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages)

In order to activate HATs to reactivate tumor suppressors, we must regularly consume these foods:

Curcumin (Tumeric, Ginger, Mustard), EGCG (Green Tea, Nutmeg), Genistein (Soy)

In order to inhibit VEGFs to prevent further angiogenesis, we must ensure that these substances are a part of our daily diet:

Curcumin (Tumeric, Ginger, Mustard), EGCG (Green Tea, Nutmeg), 6-Gingerol (Ginger)

In Conclusion:

There are many molecular pathways and genes involved in MPM. Above we have explored just a few. However, including a daily diet of the nutraceuticals listed above will go a long way to improve your statistical chances for remission and disease prevention, as these nutraceuticals are revealing themselves to be significant in the treatment and prevention of many forms of cancer.

Given the success of current clinical trials being conducted using molecular-targeted therapies this is also an important avenue to consider as an adjunct to standard treatment. Many clinical trials can be accessed from your home town through your current treatment specialist after a brief registration and testing process.

It is essential that you talk to your doctor before considering any changes to your diet as these nutraceuticals, while typically enhancing of any standard therapy, can interfere with prescription drugs.

If you would like more information on the use of nutraceuticals to enhance your life-expectancy or to have a personalized nutraceutical diet prepared for you, we welcome you to contact us @ contact@ctoam.com. We are also happy to arrange to consult with your treatment team to share the most current information on enhanced treatment options and clinical trial access with them.

Patient Resources:

The Mesothelioma Center - The web based resource also provides free support services for patients and families world-wide. For additional information please visit www.asbestos.com or call (800) 615-2270.

About the Author:

Alex Rolland is a cancer researcher, educator, and CEO of Cancer Treatment Options and Management ( http://www.ctoam.com/ ). CTOAM is a personalized cancer research company that specializes in using the most current peer-reviewed scientific research on cancer diagnostics, enhanced treatments, nutraceuticals, and clinical trials to educate patients on the treatments and diets that will provide the best statistical chances for longstanding recovery.

Original article

Malignant mesothelioma diagnosis claims the life of Labour MP John MacDougall

Labour MP John MacDougall died of malignant Mesothlioma, caused by exposure to asbestos. It had once more highlighted the prognosis of mesothelioma victims. All workers in the naval ex-chantier are notified by Mesothelioma - Junction .com immediately consult their specialist at the first sign of what may be the symptoms of mesothelioma.

MP John MacDougall, Labour MP and close friend of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, unfortunately died at the age of 60, August 13, 2008, in the 24 months of receipt of the malignant mesothelioma diagnosis. He died in hospital in Victoria, Kilkaldy and his funeral is set for Monday, August 18, 2008. In May 2007, he revealed that he had serious health problems.

After being diagnosed with asbestosis, he had a lung removed Guy Hospital London. Mr. MacDougall complained her illness asbestos on his work in the shipyards in the 1960s. It was before asbestos regulations have been implemented worldwide by developed countries. The victim of mesothelioma asbestos average lives usually from 6 to 24 months after being diagnosed.

Mesothelioma treatment options are currently available, but they are still unable to the emotional healing patients of mesothelioma asbestosis. This beloved politician promised to fight the disease and return to work, after having undergone a procedure of first instance to try to beat mesothelioma cancer associated with asbestos.
John MacDougall has contributed to its formation to the excellent technical training which Rosyth dockyard gave to his apprentices.

A Boilermaker by trade, it is used for a period of engineer to the arsenal, and then in the mines. 1964, John worked at the RGC oil rig construction yard in Methil. His political career began in 1982 when he was elected for the County of Fife Council.

Even if society as a whole has known about the dangers of exposure to asbestos and asbestos for decades poisoning, industrial magnates and departments of the Government continued to use or produce asbestos products to support their profits, figures the employment or economic growth.

However, the lobbyists for toxin asbestos and regulatory health problems, finally succeeded. To vary the effectiveness of asbestos mesothelioma law has been written and implemented worldwide.
Ship yards, Boilermakers, dock yards, mining are all terms that are statistically stacked with a high level of occupational risk of asbestos. Even a very brief exposure to asbestos can lead to a range of chronic and fatal medical provisions known as the asbestos poisoning of diseases.

For many years, asbestos insulation was a favourite thermal component of boilers of heat resistance properties. What is asbestos and asbestos as sought? All forms of asbestos are composed of fibers with widths of less than 1 micrometer, which occur in bundles and have very long lengths. This is called fibrillar. Asbestos identification with particularly fine fibre is sometimes also called a Documentary.

Asbestos is a classification of minerals with a unique, crystalline fiber texture. The main groups are: Chrysotile ("" white asbestos""), Amosite ("brown asbestos"), Crocodolite ("" blue asbestos""), tremolite (Amhibole), Anthrophylite and actinolite. View the photos pictures here asbestos asbestos

Why the asbestos fibres are dangerous? Microscopic fibers become airborne easily. Asbestos fibres are then easily breathed by the nose and mouth. He became filed for always in the lungs or other parts of the body. The body immune system target these fibers to break down it, but acids body excreted dissolve asbestos always fail. Lesions caused by asbestos fibers, is called asbestos injury. Asbestos symptoms start slowly and quietly. As the particles of asbestos are indestructible, scar tissue connective accumulate around them.

It can take between 5 and 50 years for the first symptoms appear, develop gradually in mesothelioma asbestosis (asbestos disease mesothelioma). Shortness of breath with a lack of cough is one of the asbestos first poisoning symptoms. If the scar tissue is allowed to develop non-diagnosed, body acids causes some cells to mutate into cancer cells of malignant mesothelioma. Once mesothelioma asbestosis cancer had advanced, other organs begin to weaken the absence of oxygen. The heart is particularly vulnerable.

Risk professional asbestos, even in the modern industry can no more stress. This question is even once be brought to the attention of the environment and ecological health groups, the sad loss of John MacDougall, Labour MP. He has been a pillar of society, a member of the Scottish Constitutional Convention Vice-President and Treasurer of the Assembly of European regions. He was alos asked if he would act as a liaison between the ear and the Conference of the maritime regions of Periphereal.

For more information on diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma and asbestos pictures, our Web site: Mesothelioma - Junction .com

Pieter Pepler is a consultant in management for small and medium-sized enterprises. He has a keen interest in the health aspects and spent most of his time to research and written on the causes and the other possible treatments for natural treatment of various chronic diseases.

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Mesothelioma asbestos lawyer - a story of a malignant industry and how to receive Compensation

The history of asbestos goes back to the years around 2000 thousands. However, this may surprise you to know that the dangers of asbestos have been known also far that the Roman empire, when it was linked to lung diseases among slaves who were forced to mine the mineral for commercial use.

Workers of asbestos inhalation 1918.

In 1924, a 33 year-old woman named Nellie Kershaw died first diagnosis of the world of asbestosis in the United Kingdom. She has worked in a factory of asbestos for any more large conglomerate the world asbestos named Turner & Newall (T & N). T & N denied liability or compensation. Decades later, documents at Manchester Metropolitan University exposed the scandalous fact that T & N had experienced since the beginning that asbestos is a lethal carcinogen.

Despite the dangers of asbestos, the asbestos industry exploded in the world, with a peak in the 1970s to more than 5 million tons per year. Today, the world is still produce more than 2 million tonnes a year even after its use was banned in more than 60 countries around the world.

Then why asbestos used on a widespread global basis when it is a known fact that it is toxic. The answer is profit. Asbestos is a deadly but incredible mineral has incredible physical properties that allow its use as a fire-resistant light weight material.

The lethal nature of asbestos was public knowledge by the 1930s, that has been shown to the Court, that societies was aware of the deadly nature of asbestos and always readily exposed to the public and their employees to it. Many victims of asbestos have received compensation for their medical expenses, loss of wages and other expenses. February 27, 2008, received one of the largest Court in New Jersey. The amount of $ 30.3 million was awarded to the widow and three daughters of Mark Buttitta of General Motors. Is interesting on this case was that Mr. Buttitta claimed that his exposure to asbestos was his father and brother who has home asbestos clothing contaminated their employment at General Motors.

There is a massive legal industry that grows to obtain compensation for mesothelioma patients. Many legal precedents have been set underway around the world that make it much easier to prove that employers knew the dangers surrounding exposure to asbestos. It is relatively easy to find a lawyer in your area who specializes in mesothelioma litigation, especially if you live in a large city. Simply use a Google search and type in something like, "Mesothelioma lawyer New York". Your visit to counsel will more than likely short lived as most mesothelioma lawyers will be respectful of your health and emotional difficulties and everything that they can to manage the case with as little of your time as possible.

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Mesothelioma Lawyers killer

Mesothelioma Lawyers:

Choosing the right mesothelioma lawyers is not easy. That's why i use Cancer Monthly's Free Resource. Our Recommended Lawyers:

1: Work on a contingency basis so clients pay nothing up front.
2: Specialize in mesothelioma cases
3: Are endorsed by former clients for extraordinary quality ofservice.
4: Have achieved impressive settlement for other mesothelioma clients.
5: Are rated bu judges and other lawyers as having ethical standerds.


If you are ready to hire a lawyer, please see our suggestions at the bottom of this page for specific states. If your state does not appear, please fill-in the form above. At no cost, we will provide you with recommended mesothelioma law firms in your state or region.

Comments from mesothelioma patients or their loved ones:

"My dad just celebrated his 77th birthday! I think he looks great for his age! My mom had the family over for a nice lunch. The best part of the celebration was in their mailbox! My dad received another letter stating compensation! (Happy Birthday to him!!!) I'm just thrilled that he continues to receive compensation! Thank you for your guidance!" "From the wide variety of support and information Surviving Mesothelioma and Cancer Monthly offers, it is obvious there are many dedicated, caring people on board. You are truly helping those of us cope with one of life's larger challenges. Thank you!" "I really appreciate your assistance, encouragement and advice…I'm very glad that I found your website and organization. Thank you again!!" "Cancer Monthly and Surviving Mesothelioma has been a wonderful resource in our search for information on what is available and where to find the best possible answers." "Thank you so much for the generous amount of time you spent speaking to me and for all the information you provide."

Mesothelioma Lawyers - Important Information for Patients:

Deciding to pursue legal recourse and selecting an attorney to represent you in a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit are important decisions that should be made carefully. I have seen some families receive $500,000 and others be awarded nearly $30 million. I have seen some lawyers reject a case only to have another firm accept it and make a big success of it. And I have seen some families wait nearly three years to receive their first check while others received large checks within three months of filing a claim. The main reasons for these differences are the facts of the patient's situation and the law firm chosen.


The Facts of Your Situation:

Some mesothelioma patients know they worked around asbestos, but many do not know how they were exposed or how often. In fact, many people are not sure if they were ever near this carcinogen. Unfortunately, there have been thousands of products that contained asbestos - cigarette filters, hair dryers, brakes, basement and roof materials, pipes, boilers, insulation, and many other products found throughout the home and at work. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma it is more than likely that you were exposed to asbestos multiple times in your life and that this happened decades before your diagnosis. In general, the value of your case depends on how many asbestos containing products you were exposed to, the number of identifiable defendants that still exist (many have declared bankruptcy), your age and earning capacity. And the speed of your case can depend on a number of variables including the state where you worked and lived when you were exposed to asbestos. The Law Firm You Choose When you have been given the news about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:

1. Statutes of Limitations - There are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.

2. Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.

3. Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available for this disease.

But, picking a lawyer is serious business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma/asbestos cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?

Also, make sure you understand the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.

Finally, for something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive, thoughtful and compassionate. asbestos, biological therapy, immunotherapy, Lawyers, Malignant, Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Doctors, mesothelioma patients, pleural, survivors, treatment3