Mesothelioma

Up until the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used as an effective method of insulation. That is until it was discovered that asbestos workers were frequently becoming ill and being diagnosed with Mesothelioma.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of malignant cancer that attacks the lining of the chest. There are basically three types of Mesothelioma that can afflict an individual: Pleural Mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura). Peritoneal Mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Pericardial Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). Pleural Mesothelioma is the most prevalent of the three types.

Causes

Mesothelioma usually results from exposure to asbestos. Continuously breathing in asbestos fibers can cause severe damage to the lining of the lungs.

Symptoms

It can take as many as 50 years or more for symptoms of Mesothelioma to appear. Some individuals in the early stages of Mesothelioma may not experience any symptoms. When they do they are general in nature and may resemble viral pneumonia. A health professional makes a diagnosis of Mesothelioma by performing a chest x-ray. If any of the symptoms exist and the test results reveal the individual has a buildup of fluid, the health professional may suspect Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is characterize by the following symptoms:

Shortness of breath
Chest pain a
Persistent cough
Fever
Night sweats
Weight loss
Pain or swelling in abdomen
Excess fluid
Bowel obstruction
Anemia
Swelling of the feet

Treatment

Depending on the diagnosis made by a health professional, there are various treatments available for individuals suffering from Mesothelioma. However, like other diseases caused by an exposure to toxic substances, there is currently no cure for Mesothelioma. One medical treatment that may offer some benefit is Alimta® (Pemetrexed). In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Alimta in certain cases for patients with a malignant form of Mesothelioma before they actually completed a review of the drug. The FDA's decision was based on the results of a study that revealed that a significant number of individuals treated with Alimta experienced fewer symptoms and lived longer.¹

Other forms of treatment include surgery to remove the diseased lung, radiation therapy to reduce the size of the tumor, chemotherapy, and alternative medicine. Photodynamic therapy, an experimental procedure that attempts to kill the tumor cells, shows some promise for Mesothelioma patients.

Legal Options

The mere fact that an individual has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma is insufficient grounds for pursuing damages. It is imperative that the individual and his legal counsel determine where exposure took place and with what asbestos product.

Major Legal Cases

There have been numerous lawsuits related to asbestos-related illnesses. In 1982, Johns-Manville Corporation, at one time the largest producer of asbestos, was forced to resort to bankruptcy due to the overwhelming number of lawsuits filed against them.

More recently, five large and very well known companies are seeking bankruptcy. The five companies, W.R. Grace, Owens-Corning, Armstrong World, U.S. Gypsum and Federal Mogul, all have suffered economically due to asbestos-related lawsuits.

References and Resources

^{1 U.S. Food and Drug Administration (http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2004/NEW01018.html)
American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org)}