Researchers in Barcelona have recently completed a study in which the possible benefits and risks of a new mesothelioma treatment were examined. The drug, Pemetrexed, sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, was shown to promote overall disease control rates in individuals that have been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma.

109 individuals who have been with diagnosed peritoneal mesothelioma took part in the survey. All of the participants experienced greater control of the disease without too-high toxicity rates. If adopted, Pemetrexed would be one of the first treatment options other than chemotherapy or surgery offered to individuals afflicted with this rare and fatal disease.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, like all forms of mesothelioma, is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. However, unlike other, more common forms of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the abdominal cavity and its lining. Sufferers generally begin to notice stomach pain as their first symptom. Swelling in the abdominal region as well as weight loss can be common, later-stage symptoms of the disease.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is highly-dangerous because it cannot be diagnosed at an early stage. It is only later when tumors develop in the abdomen that the disease can be accurately diagnosed. However, for many people, the diagnosis comes too late. Surgery to remove the tumors is possible, though the cancer has frequently spread to other parts of the body prior to accurate diagnosis. Spreading can also be stopped through radiation therapy. Pemetrexed is the first drug that has shown some promise in controlling the disease and prolonging an individual’s life span.

In other mesothelioma news, courts across the U.S. have been showing varying responses to a recent hike in lawsuits filed by family members who suffer from mesothelioma due to second-hand exposure to asbestos. Recent evidence has shown that asbestos fibers can be carried home on the clothing an individual, and, as a result, asbestos particles can infiltrate the air, exposing individuals who share a household. These people may have never been directly exposed to asbestos, though they still can develop mesothelioma later in life.

While many individuals have received millions of dollars in settlements as a result of second-hand exposure to asbestos fibers (a man in Louisiana was awarded $3 million dollars after his wife died from mesothelioma caused by asbestos fibers carried home on his work uniform), individuals suffering from the same predicament in other states have been rejected on the grounds that they were not directly exposed to asbestos to the company that the lawsuit was filed against. The daughter of a Ford employee was denied compensation in Michigan on the grounds that the company wasn’t responsible because she had never set foot on their property.

Many courts claim that the rising number of mesothelioma lawsuits forces them to award settlements only in cases that show the most merit. In fact, many lawyers today won’t even take on an asbestos lawsuit case unless they’re positive that they can prove a company’s responsibility.

Original Article

A $3.4 million mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit verdict was recently upheld by the Virginia Supreme Court. The case was brought concerning a shipyard worker who died in 2005 of asbestos-related mesothelioma. The deceased was an employee of Newport News Shipbuilding from 1963 to 1967, just before the dangers of inhaling asbestos particles was deemed a serious health threat. The man was diagnosed in 2005 with mesothelioma and died six months later.

The plaintiff lived long enough to file suit against John Crane, Inc., Johns Mansfield Corp., and Garlock Sealing Technologies. The widow of the deceased initially won a settlement of $10 Million, which was later reduced to $10 by a Virginia judge. John crane was found to be responsible for $3.4 million in damages. John Crane and Garlock Sealing technologies were found responsible for $3.3 million in damages each. The $3.4 million verdict was one of the largest settlements in Virginia asbestos case history.

This case spotlights the growing number of shipyard workers who were employed in the industry before the known treat of asbestos. Many times, pipes and other equipment used in the shipyard industry were contaminated with asbestos-laden insulations. A combination of being unaware of the dangers of exposure, as well as working in close quarters without proper ventilation and respiratory protective equipment exposed countless workers to fine particulate matter. Once inhaled, the asbestos particles cannot be expelled from the tissues of the lungs. After time—even as long as twenty years after exposure—the asbestos fibers trapped in the lungs begin to cause scaring. Lung scaring leads to cancerous tumors in the lining of the lungs. If undetected, the tumors begin to spread to other parts of the body, such as the abdomen and heart. Untreated mesothelioma disease has a poor prognosis and sufferers usually succumb to death within a year of diagnosis.

It is important for shipyard workers who were employed prior to 1970 to consider the possibility that they have been exposed to asbestos. The earlier mesothelioma is detected, the greater chance that treatment may prolong survival rates. Although there is no definitive cure for mesothelioma-related cancers, advances in the study of mesothelioma has lead to new treatments for the disease.

Care of mesothelioma illness is costly. The chance that the former employer of the infirmed can be held responsible for the onset of the illness is high. Lawyers specializing in mesothelioma-related litigation offer the promise that families who are saddled with debt due to care of a loved one can be compensated by large monetary awards from lawsuits. If you or someone you know has worked in the shipyard building industry and either have or may have contracted asbestos-related mesothelioma, legal council should be sought to asses whether a lawsuit can be brought against the employer to help compensate personal injury from inadequate work practices during the mesothelioma sufferer’s employment.

Compensation for illness is the right of the mesothelioma patient. New cases concerning asbestos-related illness are being brought for decision, often with successful settlement.

Original Article

The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Restitution Act of 2006, or FAIR act asbestos bill, currently being introduced in the Senate will make it harder for those exposed to the cancer-causing mineral to file heath-related lawsuits. The bill was introduced three years ago and has undergone several revisions, having had more than a few amendments added to it before its finalization.

The bill will put an end to individualized claims for those who have worked around asbestos-laden worksites, or those with a mesothelioma diagnosis. It aims to set aside a $140 billion trust to pay out asbestos-related claims, putting a cap on monies sought in conjunction with the growing number of mesothelioma lawsuits. Stronger evidence of illness will be required for people who seek restitution from healthcare costs due to illness. The bill will provide a certain amount of protection to those in the asbestos industry whose products lead to the current mesothelioma crisis.

Proponents of the act say that the bill will fairly compensate mesothelioma suffers. Opponents disagree in that the asbestos industry now pays compensation that has climbed into the billions in damages. Under the bill, those held responsible for asbestos illness will only have to contribute shares in the millions, subsequently buying out their share in damages.

Should the bill ever be adopted, the resolution for those who’ve seen escalating medical bills from chemotherapy, radiation, and general care of their asbestos-related disease could be severely hampered. For those who have been exposed to asbestos through their work history or those who have been given a mesothelioma diagnosis, it is of the utmost importance that they act now in securing an attorney to discuss whether a lawsuit can be brought against employers or manufacturers of asbestos materials. A delay in action could mean the risk of losing benefits owed to them in personal injury damages.

Original Article

The only true way to safeguard yourself against mesothelioma is to make certain you never come in contact with the parent of the disease: asbestos. Although the use of asbestos has been strictly regulated in the past several decades after the pulmonary disease mesothelioma began to manifest itself in those who were known to work around asbestos, there remains a threat to a section of people who make their living working in asbestos-laden areas.

For those men and women working in construction, asbestos remains a very serious threat. Construction workers are sometimes expected to demolish older buildings in which asbestos was used as a method of insulation and in manufacturing fire-resistant products. As construction workers enter older sites, the act of removing or knocking down walls filled with asbestos insulation sends tiny particulates into the air. Because of the small nature of asbestos fibers, inhalation of the material is common and easily attained. For those who think they may be employed at worksites where asbestos was used, a respirator mask can be worn to filter the air and minimize the risk of particle exposure.

Once the construction worker has exited the suspected asbestos site, it is important to remember asbestos particles may continue to linger on clothes, hair, and skin. Proper washing of the body and the laundering of clothes should be executed to avoid secondary contamination of the worker and other members of the worker’s family once they return home. Workers can minimize skin and hair contamination by wearing long sleeves and pants while working with the addition of a protective covering for the head, such as a hat or bandana. A good idea is to keep a plastic bag in the work vehicle with a fresh change of clothes. The clothes can then be removed and bagged before taking into the home to be washed.

Original Article

Examining the history of asbestos exposure, we find this natural occurring mineral was revered for its fire-retardant properties and lead to early death for those involved in the mining and procurement process as far back as the first century.

The Roman Empire often utilized asbestos for everyday use items, like table cloths and linens for cleaning. Once the items were soiled, the Romans simply pitched the cloth into the fire and watch as the dirt burned off. The cloths were then removed from the flames and reused. It was a parlor trick that many of the Roman upper crust used to impress their opulence upon house guests. All the while, Roman slaves were working in asbestos mines and beginning to show signs of a mysterious illness. Many slaves were coughing up blood and growing wearier as the days progressed. Majorities died and were simply replaced with new workers. The cycle of mesothelioma death and its roots began to take shape.

Jumping ahead several centuries, the same level of everyday use began to spring up in mid-50s America. The wonders of asbestos became apparent, and house walls were stuffed full of the fibrous substance. Schools were installed with the material with the hopes that fire would be unable to claim our youth. The shipbuilding industry caught on and decided to fireproof boats and other watercraft. And, like the slaves of the Roman Empire, those who mined the present day asbestos boom started to fall ill as the tiny fibers locked themselves deep in the lining of lungs and took seed to form the modern day mesothelioma epidemic.

By the mid-1960s, the medical community made the connection the Roman Empire failed to make so many hundreds of years ago: no mistake can be made — asbestos and mesothelioma run hand in hand.

Original Article