Archive for December, 2007
Mesothelioma Lawyer - There Is No Substitute For Experience
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is devastating. There are many decisions and choices that have to be made once the patient has been told that they have contracted a form of cancer that is directly linked to occupational exposure of asbestos. Some people may feel like obtaining legal council is the last priority on their list. With the rising cost of healthcare, prescription drug costs, and mounting doctor bills, litigation may be the best way for the mesothelioma sufferer to garner monies to pay for the expense of their illness. However, finding a mesothelioma attorney could be as important as finding a doctor to treat their illness.
The Dangers of Mesothelioma Are Great, Know No Time Restrictions
Mesothelioma has become a serious concern for those men and women who used to work in the construction and heavy industrial manufacturing industries. For year, asbestos, the material that has been directly linked as a cause of mesothelioma, was thought to be a building wonder. The fiber, which is a natural substance mined for its fire-retardant properties, was used in the construction of homes, hospitals and prisons, as well as in the paper goods, lumber, shipping and milling industries. Until the early 1970s, asbestos was handled in a nature that helped to lead the exposure of thousands of people to the cancer-causing material. In many cases, protective equipment, such as respirators and specialty uniforms, were not worn, nor were they enforced by the employers of workers as a necessity on the jobsite. As an outcome, people who were not diligent in personal safety have now found themselves sick with mesothelioma from prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers.
Ban On Asbestos Promotes Cure for Mesothelioma
Currently, there are no highly-effective pharmaceutical means of controlling the deadly disease. While there are certain measures of prolonging the lifespan of persons with mesothelioma, most that are diagnosed with die within two years. Researchers hope to change this with federal funding – they hope that they can find more effective means of mesothelioma control and, ideally, a cure for the debilitating cancer.
Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Early Mesothelioma Diagnosis - Regular CT Screening Could Help
Results of a recent Italian research study have shown that CT scanning can help medical professionals diagnose mesothelioma earlier than chest x-rays alone. This is good news for those who have been exposed to asbestos. Early detection of the disease can help to promote a longer lifespan, and regular CT scans conducted on those who know or believe that they were exposed to asbestos could help them live with the disease longer should they be diagnosed with it.
Taconite Leads to Controversy in Two U.S. States
The current clean-air precedent was set in 1974. Those against the proposal fear that lowering the precedent will expose more of the state’s residents to taconite fibers. Taconite fibers have a structure much like that of asbestos, and many fear that exposure to the fibers can lead to mesothelioma.
New Drug Treatment May Prolong Life of Pleural Mesothelioma Sufferers
According to the results of a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a research drug called Vinflunine may prolong the life span of those suffering with pleural mesothelioma. Vinflunine, a microtubule inhibitor, is one of the first mesothelioma drugs that has shown the promise of extending the life span of mesothelioma sufferers. While other drugs both on the market and in research have helped with the symptoms of mesothelioma, Vinfluine is the first that may offer the hope of an extended lifespan to those who suffer from this debilitating disease.
