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Thursday, September 23, 2010

How to Find a Mesothelioma Lawyer

By Herb Leibacher

How to find a Mesothelioma Lawyer is not on everyone's mind, but for those diagnosed with Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos; a Mesothelioma Lawyer is a necessity. In order to properly handle a case that is so intricate and complex, a specialist is needed. A Mesothelioma lawyer will know exactly what you are going through, how to find the answers to where you came in contact with asbestos and exactly who it is that is responsible for your being afflicted with Mesothelioma. You can check with organizations that deal with the issues of Mesothelioma for referrals to lawyers who are specialists in this particular field of law.
Other Work Related Injuries

Other work related injuries cases are handled very differently than Mesothelioma. The lawyers who address this particular work hazard are specialists in a very unique arm of the law. A Mesothelioma Lawyer is experienced in this area and has access to the research and supportive evidence that will win your case against the employer who knowingly exposed you to asbestos without prior warning of the hazards of handling asbestos or what could occur with the contact with asbestos. In order to choose the right lawyer for your case you should choose a lawyer that will be in close proximity and has a reputation of dealing with a lawsuit concerning Mesothelioma. Your lawyer should also have a convenient meeting times and a comparable rate for compensation.

Be wary of any lawyer

Be wary of any lawyer that tells you ahead of time that your case can definitely be won. It is impossible to predict what the court will find and how it will rule. A competent and experienced Mesothelioma lawyer with practice experience is your best opportunity to receive the settlement you deserve.

Experience, Knowledge and Expertise

Experience, knowledge and expertise are what you will get when you hire a Mesothelioma Lawyer with a winning track record. There are many referral services that can help you find exactly the right lawyer. You can also check online at some of the websites that deal with the subject of Mesothelioma and find recommendations for law firms that specialize in Mesothelioma.

Herb likes to learn about legal trends. Please check out his website with information on <a target="_new" href="http://www.CountertopWaterCooler.net">countertop water cooler</A> and details on <a target="_new" href="http://www.CountertopWaterCooler.net/home-water-purifier.html">home water purifier</A>.
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Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment

By Marcus Peterson

People are on the lookout for alternative mesothelioma treatment due to the complex nature and deadliness of mesothelioma. Not only patients, but researchers and doctors are trying to find out new ways to treat mesothelioma. 'Alternative' refers to the use of different methods from the traditionally accepted. Most alternative mesothelioma treatments are not scientifically approved but certain treatments have found to give relief to patients and certain others are found to be of no use. Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy (IPT), Immunoaugmentative Therapy (IAT) and Gene Therapy are some of the important alternative mesothelioma treatments in modern medicine.

Alternative treatments attack the mesothelioma cancer quite aggressively, with few or no side effects. It works by training the patient's immune system to recognize and destroy the tumor tissue. The method relies on cancer vaccines to stimulate the patient's immune system and destroy tumor cells. Immunoaugmentative Therapy (IAT) works by strengthening and balancing four different proteins found in the blood. Special drugs are administered to kill cancer cells in Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy (IPT). The drug makes cancer more sensitive to light. Several days before the surgery, it is injected into a vein. A special light is used to detect cancer during surgery. IPT is basically used in the early stages of mesothelioma in the chest. Mutilated genes, which cause mesothelioma, are either replaced or removed in gene therapy. This treatment is at its infant stage but is a promising treatment.
Some types of alternative treatments have been practiced for generations but do not have any scientific backup. Homeopathy is used as an alternative system. An example of homeopathic treatment in mesothelioma is the use of Iscador from mistletoe. Iscador is an herbal medicine used to boost the body's immune system. Specific diet therapy, rich with vitamins and minerals, and metabolic therapy are other types of alternative treatment. Cow or shark cartilage is used as a food supplement in some treatments. Essiac is an herb supplement used. Bach flower is used in aromatic treatment. Other examples of alternative medicine are faith healing, vitamins, herbs, and supplements sold in your local drugstore. [http://www.WetPluto.com/Alternative-Mesothelioma-Treatment.html]Mesothelioma Treatment provides detailed information on Mesothelioma Treatment, Mesothelioma Treatment Options, Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment, New Mesothelioma Treatment and more. Mesothelioma Treatment is affiliated with [http://www.e-mesotheliomadoctors.com]Mesothelioma Doctors Info.
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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Mesothelioma Treatment Costs

By Marcus Peterson

Like all forms of malignant cancers, the overall cost of mesothelioma treatment is very expensive. A mesothelioma patient's care may be thousands of dollars per month. The major factors affecting mesothelioma treatment costs include age, side effect of the treatment, the effects of the treatment on the overall health and the probabilities of survival, as well as the stage and severity of disease and the body parts over which the affliction has spread.

Mesothelioma is a cancerous affliction, primarily of three kinds - pleural, peritoneal and pericardial. A variety of treatment options, including surgery, radiology, and chemotherapy, are needed to cure this malady. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to damage tumors and stop them from further growing and dividing. Surgery completely removes the afflicted organ or its part. Chemotherapy is a treatment used to kill the tumor cells by injecting medicines intravenously into the ailed areas. The cost of these therapies and follow-up treatments are very high. Occasionally, a combination of two or more treatment method becomes essential to handle the disease.

In general, mesothelioma treatment costs include fees for the physician, significant periods of hospitalization, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. In certain occasions, the patient and family members must travel far distances to reach a facility where the best mesothelioma treatment is provided. This will incur them the additional expenses of airfare, lodging, and related travel expenses.

Majority of mesothelioma diseases are directly associated to asbestos exposure. It is usually due to the willful carelessness of an employer, who does not issue the necessary warning before offering employment. Hence the liability of bearing mesothelioma treatment cost lies directly with the employer.  The patient should consult an attorney who has a good idea of the cost of treatment. Mesothelioma treatment costs in such cases can be recovered easily from the employer.

Estimate shows that the medical costs associated with this type of treatment exceed $150,000. Mesothelioma treatment costs also differ depending on where the treatment is provided.

Many medical insurance plans available in the market cover mesothelioma treatment costs.  Check your health insurance policy to see what sort of coverage you have. [http://www.WetPluto.com/Alternative-Mesothelioma-Treatment.html]Mesothelioma Treatment provides detailed information on Mesothelioma Treatment, Mesothelioma Treatment Options, Alternative Mesothelioma Treatment, New Mesothelioma Treatment and more. Mesothelioma Treatment is affiliated with [http://www.e-mesotheliomadoctors.com]Mesothelioma Doctors Info.
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Friday, September 3, 2010

Mesothelioma - Catch It Early to Avoid Big Trouble

By Rick Hendershot

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer where cancerous cells develop in the mesothelium -- a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Like most cancers, early detection of mesothelioma greatly increases the chances of  beating the disease.

But early detection is more difficult with mesothelioma because it has a long dormancy period of 30 or 40 years in which the cancer remains fairly inactive and causes very few symptoms. When the disease passes into its active phase it rapidly spreads to the internal organs such as the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. In its active phase it is very difficult to treat successfully because it develops and spreads so quickly.

Causes of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma was barely in the public eye until a few years ago. It has a very specific cause -- exposure to asbestos. And the dangers of asbestos exposure were not widely acknowledged until the 1970s and 80s when its serious health implications could no longer be ignored.
As often happens in cases involving commercial products with harmful side effects, there was tremendous resistance to acknowledging its dangers. In the case of asbestos, it was a product that had some very important properties that made it ideal for insulation applications.

During the first half of the previous century, right up until the mid 1970s asbestos was the default material used to retard heat transfer in buildings, machines, heavy equipment, and a broad range of commercial applications. Because it was plentiful and inexpensive to mine, asbestos was widely used in building products such as home insulation, floor, ceiling and roof tiles. It was also used in commonly found commercial products such as brake linings and pipe insulation.

This meant that millions of people were coming in contact with asbestos on a daily basis. And since the effects of exposure to asbestos fibre often do not become apparent for 30 or 40 years after prolonged exposure, there often appeared to be no immediate health risk.

This was especially important in the case of workers who mined and processed asbestos. Although workers were regularly getting sick and often had premature, painful deaths, the long period of dormancy of mesothelioma made it difficult to make the connection to asbestos.

Even short term asbestos exposure will cause mesothelioma

Generally, the probability of developing this form of cancer is directly related to the length of time you are exposed to asbestos. The health risk also increases with the intensity of the exposure to asbestos.

However, an exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later. At the age of 48, Canadian Member of Parliament Chuck Strahl, was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma and traces the cause back to changing brake pads on logging equipment after he graduated from high school. Strahl's case is a good example of the fact that Mesothelioma has a latency period of anywhere from 20 to 50 years. Like thousands of others he developed the disease long after his exposure to asbestos.

Symptoms of mesothelioma

Because of its long dormancy period, mesothelioma is often not detected until it enters its active, aggressive stage. Pleural mesothelioma - cancer of the lung lining - causes shortness of breath or chronic coughing. Unfortunately these symptoms can easily be mistaken for allergies or a common cold.

In fact pleural mesothelioma is often discovered by accident when patients think they have one of these more common illnesses. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include chest pain, chronic coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing,  hoarseness, weight loss, or blood in the phlegm from the lungs when coughing.

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining around the stomach and intestines and is usually just as dangerous. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include pain or swelling in the abdomen, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia, and fever.

Treatment of mesothelioma

Unfortunately, by the time most infected people become aware they have mesothelioma it has ceased being dormant and becomes extremely aggressive. Once it is no longer dormant, this type of cancer can travel quickly, and it becomes almost impossible to stop.
While there are treatments that are available in order to keep the patient comfortable, there is currently no cure for mesothelioma, and as many as 75% of those who develop the disease will lose their life within one year. The remainder may last for up to an additional six months.

Among the treatments that are used in order to reduce the effects of the disease are oxygen, postural drainage and pain killers. A wide range of treatment approaches are being tested, ranging from attempts to fortify the body's natural immune system to gene therapy which tries to attack the problem at the DNA level. Homeopathy, herbs and acupuncture are also used. But none have yet been shown to be very effective once the disease reaches the aggressive stage.

Given the generally poor prognosis for people who do not catch the disease in time, early detection is the best defence against mesothelioma. If you have worked in an industry such as construction or suspect that you may have been exposed to asbestos, be alert for symptoms and contact your doctor immediately. Like all forms of cancer, detecting mesothelioma at the earliest stage possible greatly increases your chances for survival.
For more information about the causes, symptoms and early detection of Mesothelioma visit MesotheliomaAdvisors.com. See our extensive collection of mesothelioma articles and reports [http://www.mesotheliomaadvisors.com/reports.html].

Rick Hendershot is a writer and publisher of [http://www.linknet-promotions.com]The Linknet Publishing Network featuring article writing and distribution and [http://www.linknet-blogs.com]Power Listings to promote your products or services.
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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Symptoms That Help You Identify Mesothelioma

By Fatima Asna

Mesothelioma can only be identified with help of its symptoms which appear after 20-50 years the person has developed the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma appear when you have been exposed to the deadly toxic asbestos decades back. By the time they appear, they have already spread to all parts of the body.

There are 3 major types of mesothelioma which attack the body with some similar symptoms. These types of mesothelioma along with their symptoms are:

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs and causes various symptoms. These symptoms include:
    Cough   
    Difficulty sleeping
    Fever
    Pain at the side of the chest or the lower back
    Pleural effusions (fluid in the chest cavity)
    Progressive loss of appetite and weight loss
    Dyspnea
    Tiredness
    Trouble swallowing
    Muscle weakness
    Sensory loss
    Nausea


Pleural effusion is an accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. It is one of most common symptoms of mesothelioma and leads to shortness of breath. As the fluid collects in the lining of the lungs and chest, the pain and shortness of breath also increase. Dyspnea is shortness of breath which can be caused by a pleural effusion and/or by the presence of a tumor in the pleura or the lining of the lungs. 

A buildup of fluid in the pleural can create a feeling of fullness and pressure, causing areas of pain in the chest cavity and sometimes in the lower back area. Chest pain occurs more often on the right side of the body, as mesothelioma affects the right lung 60% of the time. Only 5% patients suffer from mesothelioma in both lungs.

In some cases, a patient may also have chronic hoarseness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and/or the coughing up of blood (hemoptysis). These are the rare symptoms of mesothelioma and seen in less than 1% mesothelioma patients.  If the patient also suffers from swelling of the face or neck areas, it means that the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The other type of mesothelioma is peritoneal which attacks the lining of the stomach or the abdominal cavity. It can cause symptoms like:
    Belly Pain
    Nausea
    Vomiting
    Weight loss
    Fever
    Night sweats
    Frequency of urination
    Bowel obstruction


Abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen also known as ascites is one of the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. If there is a tumor in the peritoneum membrane, it can put increasing pressure on the organs in the abdomen, leading to bowel obstruction and distention.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

The third type of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma which attacks the lining of the chest cavity. It is not a common type of cancer. It can cause symptoms like:

    Heart palpitations
    Chest pains
    Shortness of breath
    Persistent cough
    Weight loss
    Irregular heartbeat


Pericardial effusion may also occur in pericardial mesothelioma. It is the accumulation of liquid in the lining of the chest cavity which may cause difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. The patient may also complain of irregular heartbeat which is caused due to liquid accumulation in the chest. Persistent cough along with blood may also occur. Pericardial mesothelioma can also lead to lung cancer.

Some of these symptoms can help you identify mesothelioma. Some patients show no symptoms of their mesothelioma which makes it more difficult to diagnose. The exact symptoms will often depend on the area where mesothelioma affects which will help you identify mesothelioma.


For more information on mesothelioma lawyers, mesothelioma in different regions and help, check out:

  rel=nofollow http://www.rarehope.com

  rel=nofollow http://www.mesotheliomaresourceonline.com

A writer working on a mesothelioma site http://www.mesotheliomaresourceonline.com
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