Mesothelioma Talks



             


Saturday, March 1, 2008

Mesothelioma a cancer caused by asbestos

The internal organs of the human body are encased in a protective sac called the mesothelium. Examples of mesothelilial membranes are the peritoneum (abdominal organs), pleura (lungs), and pericardium (heart).

Under specific conditions, the cells of the protective membrane divide uncontrolled and become cancerous. This disease is termed as Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer which is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos dust.

The disease is found to occur among those who work in shipyards, asbestos mines and factories, industries that produce asbestos based products, and the heating and construction businesses. Approximately 3,000 cases occur each year in the US, and most patients are between 50-70 years old. Statistics show that males are commonly affected and among them whites more than African Americans.

First studied in the late 1700s in depth studies were only done in the 1960s. Tumors of the Mesothelioma can be benign or malignant. The malignant Mesothelioma are categorized into three types:

* Epithelioid, accounting for 50-70% of mesotheliomas.

* Sarcomatoid, accounting for 7-20%.

* Mixed or bi-phasic, accounting for 20-35%.

When asbestos fibers are breathed into the lungs they travel through large air passages to reach the smaller passages and from them the pleura. In the pleura they damage: the mesothelial cells leading to cancer; lung tissue causing lung cancer; and the development of scar tissue within the lungs known as asbestosis. When asbestos fibers are swallowed they reach the abdominal cavity and cause peritoneal mesothelioma.

Research reveals that the disease only manifests 20-50 years after being exposed to asbestos dust. The symptoms are not specific to the disease but a patient may develop:

* Breathlessness.

* Chest pain accompanied by tightness believed to be caused by accumulation of fluid in the pleura.

* Low back pain.

* Swelling of face and arms.

* Sensory loss.

* Muscle weakness.

* Nausea.

* Vomiting.

* Weight loss that is unexplained.

* Persistent dry cough.

* Sore throat.

* Anemia.

* Fever.

* Constipation.

* Problems with blood clotting.

Since the above are common to minor ailments, patients often ignore the symptoms. It is advisable to consult a doctor if any of the above symptoms persist or if you feel you have been knowingly or unknowingly exposed to asbestos.

A doctor will:

* Take down a detailed medical history and try and determine the symptoms and risk factors.

* Do a thorough physical examination and check for signs of:

o Pleural effusion, fluid accumulated in the chest cavity.

o Fluid in the abdominal cavity.

o Pericardial effusion, fluid in the lining of the heart.

* Take a chest x-ray and check for thickening of the pleura, calcifications, and lowered lung fissures.

* Ask for a CT scan to determine clearly the location, size, and extent of the problem if any is suspected.

* Recommend tests of tissue samples and pleural fluids.

Other risk factors are cigarette or cigar smoking, exposure to radiation, exposure to zeolite a compound that is similar to asbestos, exposure to or infections caused by SV40, a Simian virus.

Those who work in a risky environment should wear protective clothing, have the surroundings tested regularly for suspended asbestos particles, and ensure that they have regular medical tests and report to the doctor any ailments that persist.

Being aware of the disease and its problems helps.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/health/ , the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Health Forum including topics on health care, Children's Health Issues, addiction, Cancer, fitness equipment, Burns & Injuries and more. His article profile can be found at the premier Health Article Submission Directory http://www.1888Articles.com/health-articles-8.html

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Friday, January 11, 2008

What is a Mesothelioma Lawyer?

What is a Mesothelioma Lawyer?

Mesothelioma lawyers deal specifically with cases concerning people being exposed to asbestos in the work environment. Asbestos was used as a building material years ago because it was not flammable and did not conduct electricity. However, later studies have shown it can cause some forms of cancer. Mesothelioma, a form of cancer that affects the inner lining of the chest, is one of those forms of cancer. Because asbestos was a common building material and is still found, there has been a call for mesothelioma lawyers to look into cases of people who were exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with this form of cancer.Mesothelioma lawyers deal specifically with cases concerning people being exposed to asbestos in the work environment. Because asbestos was a common building material and is still found, there has been a call for mesothelioma lawyers to look into cases of people who were exposed to asbestos and have been diagnosed with this form of cancer.

The Mesothelioma Lawyer and Asbestos Cases

Before asbestos was found to be a potential cause for cancer, it was seen as a great building material. Therefore it was used a lot, and both workers who installed it and employees who worked in these buildings were unknowingly exposed to a cancerous element. These people are only now seeing the effects of their exposure to asbestos, and are bringing cases against the companies that either installed it or owned the buildings. The cases are increasing, causing a need for a specialized brand of lawyer - the mesothelioma lawyer.

Some types of asbestos that can cause cancer:

  • Amosite
  • Anthophyllite
  • Chrysotile
  • Crocidolite

Mesothelioma Lawyers and the Courtroom

Though has not yet been definitively proven that asbestos cause Mesothelioma, many studies have been done to prove a link between the two... enough studies to make mesothelioma lawyers very busy. The asbestos is made of loosely bonded fibers, which can easily be separated. These fibers can float in the air and easily get into your respiratory system. Before these studies, when asbestos was used as a common material, no one suggested the need for proper safety procedures - a fact that mesothelioma lawyers point to as a reason their clients now have this form of cancer.

Want to learn more about Mesothelioma Lawyers and other types of lawyers? Research Lawyers is a collection of free articles related to law and lawyers.

Bush's Mental Health Program Endangers Children and Will Bankrupt MedicaidMelissa Gordon | October 20 2004The story in the news is that Bush is endorsing a mental health program that will target children in schools for mental health screenings. The commission claims that even though child mental health prescriptions have increased 500% from 1999-2003, they aren't getting enough "treatment". The screenings will be mandatory and prescription drug treatment will be too. That's not all this program does though, under the new plan doctors can only prescribe the most dangerous and expensive drugs on the market. The new plan is ironically named "New Freedom commission"(NFC).

TMAP- Bankrupting Medicaid Before the Baby Boomers Even Use It

Bush endorsed and implemented TMAP in Texas and of the 22 members in the New Freedom Commission, 14 are directly associated with that organization. The New Freedom Act is a fraud. It is modeled after The Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP). An algorithm is like a menu at a restaurant with drugs as the choices, if its not on the menu the doctor cannot order the prescription. TMAP takes advantage of foster children, institutionalized people, veterans and prisoners to further drug company profits as well as robbing the American tax-payers. It forces state and Medicaid doctors to prescribe super-expensive, dangerous new medications to mental health patients.

TMAP has even persuaded officials into giving Medicaid to people who don't need it so they can afford the overpriced medications and by early 2001 the program bankrupted Texas's Medicaid system. At the rate TMAP guidelines explode Medicaid expenses we will be paying an outlandish 3.7 billion a year for schizophrenia medications alone, effectively bankrupting Medicaid nationwide.

Here's an example of a Drug that doctors will be required to prescribe:

Zyprexa
This is a new Medication for bi-polar disorder and it costs $6,000 more per patient than older, safer drugs like Haldal according to Yale researchers, Veterans Medical Hospital researchers and FDA trials. FDA Data also shows Zyprexa to be one of he deadliest drugs ever approved, yet our war veterans and children will be forced to use it while the rest of us pay for it. FDA trials for Zyprexa show that 65% of patients dropped out of the trial due to side effects and during the 6-week trial 20 deaths occurred, 12 of them suicides. The FDA approved Zyprexa ONLY for short-term treatment of bi-polar individuals.

TMAP mandates that Zyprexa be used for many different disorders for long term use.
Hurting our children

TMAP developed a special children's algorithm (drug menu) called The Texas Children's Medication Algorithm Project or TCMAP. The same group of bribed experts decided that the same drugs would be used for children as adults; no facts were needed because the recommendations were made based on what the drug companies told them to recommend.

Drugs TCMAP forces doctors to prescribe to children:
(All are brand name)

Zoloft, which is expensive, has a 17% dropout rate in child clinical trials due to intolerable side effects and only has a 10% improvement rate on children with depression and mood disorders. The FDA specifically states that this drug should not be used by persons under the age of 18.
Seroxat, which is expensive and has been shown to increase suicide attempts in minors.
Paxil. This drug is not only expensive but has been directly shown to increase murder, violence, school shootings and debilitating conditions such as brain dysfunction and heart problems in young people. It also increases self-harm and suicide attempts in children. On top of all this British studies show that Paxil didn't improve children's mood anymore than a sugar pill. The FDA said in 2003 that Paxil should not to be prescribed to minors.
Serzon. Expensive and has a earned a "black box" warning due to its tendency to cause liver failure and death in adults and children.
Safer, cheaper drugs are available but TCMAP maintains that the drugs they make the most money on are the best choice for children's mental health issues.
Bribery In Action

TMAP is fully owned and operated by drug companies, mainly Janssen pharmaceuticals, and parades itself as a medically oriented and helpful government program. The organization accomplished this by bribing doctors, university officials and government officials into lying about the superiority of their drugs; then the officials they've duped allow them to make laws that use the lies as medical guidelines. Although all Janssen's activities cannot be known here's what is known so far:

Janssen pays $2,000 speaking fees to gov. officials and doctors who are in the position to approve TMAP and make laws favoring their algorithms. The "speakers" tell people that Janssen drugs are superior and miraculous and then approve their drugs and guidelines from within government agencies and universities. Multiple speeches result in multiple payments in the sum of $2,000 or more. Here's an example of a speakers relationship with Janssen:
Boston Globe | November 10 2003
Dr. Douglas Hughs was charged with endangering his patients by the Massachusetts government and had his license taken because, without medical reason, he forced several patients to switch to the new drug Risperdal and nearly killed a patient. Risperdal is an expensive, dangerous new schizophrenia drug made by Janssen. The doctor switched the drugs to experiment on the patients for the drug company, which paid him a grand total of $30,000 in "public speaking fees" to talk about their new drugs. Dr. Hughs has since resigned his position at The Soloman Carter Fuller Mental Health Center.

Janssen paid for luxury trips, expensive meals and entertainment for officials who were in the position to approve TMAP and the drugs they endorse.
To keep state health officials from investigating TMAPS dangerous, expensive drug regimen, Janssen's government official "speakers" have issued TMAP medication guidelines as administrative orders in many of the states it now operates in. The reason is that administration is the paperwork end of government and cannot be investigated for safety by state medical regulators.
TMAPS drug company founders contributed a total of $384,735 in 2002 in Texas alone. It must be mentioned that these are only the known contributions and that there are probably many more undisclosed contributions.
Fighting Back
Already Colorado and Nevada are suing approximately 17 of the drug companies associated with TMAP for fraud and racketeering. Officials of Pennsylvania's Office of the Inspector General are suing several other government officials in that state because they lied about drug safety and took bribes from TMAP and their funders: Dwight McKee & Allen Jones v. Henry Hart, Sydni Guido and several other officials.

References & Resources:
-FDA Links Suicide in Children to Antidepressants
-Medicine Merchants-Tracking Dr.'s NY Times November 16, 2000
- US Government Veterans Study
-Dr. David Healy "Testing Psychotrophic Drugs in Children" April 30, 2002
-FDA Warning Letters to Drug Companies
-Money in State Polotics/ Lookup State: Texas, Contributor: Drug Companies
- FDA Mental Health Drug Warnings - Report on Suicides & Antipsychotics
-Studies Show TCMAP Drugs Do Not Work on Children


Melissa Gordon is a health writer and researcher at http://www.suppressedhealth.com

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Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Mesothelioma Treatment

Like all other types of cancer, mesothelioma is incurable. Although doctors and scientists have made a great deal of progress for diagnosing and treating these malignancies, there is still no current way to completely get rid of it.

When a group of cells mutates uncontrollably and starts invading and killing healthy cells, this is called cancer. In certain areas of the body where cells reproduce rapidly there tends to be a greater chance of risk because one cancer cell can multiply exponentially in a very quick period of time. Most cancers are caused by external stimuli and mesothelioma is no different. Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to carcinogens such as asbestos.

The affected areas from mesothelioma cancer are the lining of the internal organs in the body. Because of the location of the infected cells, mesothelioma does not respond well to conventional treatments unlike most other forms of cancer. In addition, there are no blatant symptoms of the disease, so doctors cannot properly diagnose the illness until its significantly advanced. Because of these factors, the effectiveness of many conventional treatments are limited.

When treating mesothelioma, doctors use several treatment options. Surgery, radiation treatments and chemotherapy have been traditional options for slowing the growth of cancerous cells. Doctors dealing with mesothelioma have to plan an innovative method of attack to combat this condition. New treatments like angiogenesis, photodynamic and gene therapy hold new hope for victims of mesothelioma everywhere. Depending on the state and location of the cancer, doctors will choose the best course of action for the circumstances. If its discovered early enough, doctors can prolong the life of the victim, but sadly cannot cure the disease.

This article can be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay in-tact as hyper links. For more information on Mesothelioma cancer please visit http://www.resource4mesothelioma.com

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Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Avoid Further Mesothelioma Injury Through Prompt Treatment

Mesothelioma injury can be classified into three main groups, Pleural (chest), Peritoneal (abdominal) and Pericardial (heart). All three types of Mesothelioma injury are mainly cause through exposure to an Asbestos related substance.

Mesothelioma injury arises when the Mesothelioma cells surrounding the lungs, heart, or abdominal organs become cancerous. The Mesothelioma cells change to form nodules, which can then clump together to form a tumor, or tumors around the organ.

In more extreme cases of Mesothelioma Cancer, the Mesothelioma tumor can break through the walls of the organs that it surrounds and cause internal damage to the organ. Also, in some cases the Cancer can travel through the blood stream and affect other organs, not directly surrounded by the original Mesothelioma Cancerous Cells.

The origins of Mesothelioma injury begin when a person is exposed to an asbestos related substance. The person either inhales the Asbestos fibers, or the fibers enter the skin. These fibers either lodge in the lungs, or travel through the body and affect the heart, or abdominal organs.

The bodies natural defense system will attempt to eradicate the fibers from the body, through attempts to expel the fibers. However, some fibers will become lodged in the Mesothelioma cell layers that provide a protective layer around the lungs, heart and abdominal area.

Over time, the Mesothelioma cells surrounding the fibers, can change consistency and become cancerous. It is at this stage that the Mesothelioma injury begins to occur, as it turns into Mesothelioma.

However, Mesothelioma injury also includes the conditional affects that occur as a result of having Mesothelioma Cancer. Some of these conditional affects include, immune deficiency, which can lead to a slow break down of the bodies defense system.

Once the bodies defense system begins to break down the body can become subject to colds and other such illnesses. The overall affects of having Mesothelioma Cancer can lead to an array of Mesothelioma injuries and has the potential to cause major organ failure.

In order to prevent the adverse affects of Mesothelioma injury, Mesothelioma doctors have been implementing various treatments that aim to prevent further damage. Some of these treatments include, surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immune augmentative therapy.

In regard to Mesothelioma Cancer, Surgery aims to remove the Cancerous Mesothelioma cells, while chemotherapy uses drugs to kill the Cancerous cells. Radiation therapy also aims to eliminate the Mesothelioma cells, while immune augmentative therapy aims to restore the bodys natural immune system to a level in which it can be effective in helping to fight the effects of Mesothelioma Cancer.

All of these treatment methods are aimed at preventing further Mesothelioma injury to the patient. If you, or someone you know, have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma Cancer, ensure that you seek immediate treatment to prevent the affects of Mesothelioma Cancer and to avoid further Mesothelioma injury.
Learn more about mesothelioma treatment and asbestos litigation go here: http://www.mesothelioma-treatment-center.com/mesothelioma-injury.htm

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