Early symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific in nature. Years may pass with no symptoms at all. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to respiratory distress, a lasting cough, pneumonia, low energy levels and night-time sweating. The “generalness” of asbestos cancer symptoms may lead to a delay in diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma..Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after asbestos exposure - when least expected. Those affected often do not receive the proper mesothelioma diagnosis until the cancer is far advanced. Shortness of breath, pain in the chest, shoulder blades or lower back and weight loss, may also be indicative symptoms of mesothelioma. mesothelioma. Asbestos cancer symptoms may also appear in the form of a bowel obstruction, blood clotting, lung or bowel abnormalities, anemia, fever or trouble swallowing.

Some patients complain of pain in the shoulder blade or lower back. These symptoms most often occur 2-3 months prior to a confirmed diagnosis.

Pleural mesothelioma is normally indicated by shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough. As mesothelioma progresses, pleural effusion (fluid build up between the two pleural layers) occurs in 95% of patients.

Patients normally visit their GP to diagnose this symptom. The doctor will us a chest X-ray to confirm the effusion. A thickening of the pleura may also be noted at this time.

If the GP finds symptoms of mesothelioma and suspects cancer is a possibility, referral may be made to a hospital consultant who specializes in lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is normally indicated by a change in normal bowel movements such as frequent diarrhoea or constipation, abdominal pain and swelling, nausea or vomiting, bowel obstruction and weight loss.

Diagnostic tests will show abdominal swelling due to thickening of the lining membranes of the gut, and accumulation of large amounts of fluid in the abdomen and normally also lumps of tissue in the abdominal.

Self diagnosis of asbestos cancer is not advised, as specialist diagnostic tests are required for diagnosis malignant mesothelioma. The symptoms above are not unique to mesothelioma, and may be symptoms of other health dispositions. Evaluation by a qualified physician is always suggested.

Tests that may show mesothelioma include the following:

• Chest x-ray
• CT scan of the chest
• Open lung biopsy

Further complicating mesothelioma treatment is the malignant nature of the cancer, for at the stage when symptoms of mesothelioma appear, current therapeutic treatments are usually no longer effective.

Asbestos cancer mesothelioma post-diagnosis survival rates typically range from 6 months to 2 years. It is important to see a doctor about any of these dispositions that may be the symptoms of mesothelioma.

When your GP refer you to a specialist mesothelioma doctor or oncologist, he should provide you with the following information: • Date and time of your appointment.
• The name of the mesothelioma center or clinic.
• The Contact person or specialist’s name.
• The mesothelioma testing procedures that you can expect.
• Time frames e.g. test result waiting period, treatment periods.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has developed the following, effective June, 2005. The guidelines implemented by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2005 may not apply to every individual.

It is important that you discuss the details of your individual mesothelioma case with your close family, supporting friends and your personal health care team. You have to be at peace with the proactive role that you and your mesothelioma support group are going to play in your treatment and care.

The general referral guidelines for suspected cancer requires an assessment of urgency by your GP. His asbestos cancer assessment will be based on the following criteria:

• Immediate referral: The patient needs to be seen within a few hours.
• Urgent referral: The patient will be seen within two weeks.
• Non-urgent: All other referrals.

After completing your urgency assessment, your GP will send all relevant information about your mesothelioma case to your mesothelioma doctor or your specialist for evaluation.

The prognosis associated with the diagnosis malignant mesothelioma is very poor. Any individual who experience symptoms of mesothelioma, or suspect asbestos cancer (associated with asbestos exposure in previous jobs with asbestos risk) should urgently seek medical advice.

As in all cancers, when the first symptoms of mesothelioma appear, early diagnosis and treatment offer the best hope for a favorable outcome in a patient with malignant asbestos mesothelioma lung cancer.

However, taking advantage of your legal rights can create the necessary funds to finance aggressive treatment, pay off huge medical bills incurred during diagnosis, and provide financial security for your family for years to come.

The term “Mesothelioma” in medical terms is defined as form of cancer that proliferates at a very fast rate after it has been diagnosed, which affects the mesothelial cells in the body. After detailed study of this disease by several scientists all over the world, it has been concluded that in most of the cases the reason is the direct contact with loose asbestos particles. This disease is generally known to be derived from an abnormality that arises from inhaling the loose asbestos particles suspended in the air for a very long time. The chances of the patients, diagnosed of mesothelioma, have very bleak chances of survival which is not more than one or two years and if it has been detected long back and rigorous medication has been started on the patient then the patient is likely to live for about five years. There are three types of mesothelioma but the symptoms of the diseases depend on their kinds. The symptoms vary from one-another but the general symptoms that are found in patients suffering from different types of mesothelioma are weight loss, chest pain, loss of appetite, short breath , plain cough and cough with blood. Diagnosing mesothelioma in its initial stages is not possible because symptoms surface very late and that, these symptoms are no special signs indicating the particular disease but are common for other diseases too. Generally the symptoms of mesothelioma resemble to that to any other normal lung diseases. Most of the symptoms arise in the lungs, where the mesothelial cells covering the lungs and the cavity between them are affected due to prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers. Consulting with the physician is very necessary from time to time and necessary test must be conducted to detect the disease. The main symptom of mesothelioma is a constant pain in the chest which is followed by short breaths and difficult breathing because of accumulation of fluid in the chest, which makes breathing all the more difficult. Some of the other symptoms of the disease include abnormalities in the lungs, which can be diagnosed under proper supervision of the doctor with a chest CT-scan.Basically, the disease of mesothelioma advances in four stages. In the first stage, begins the formation of the tumor in the area of lining of the lung and doesn’t exceed from one side of the lung. And then in the second stage the tumor extends to other organs in the chest cavity, such as heart. Then in the third stage its extents to the other abdominal organs affecting all the other organs too. Finally in the fourth and the last stage the tumor extends to all parts of the body and affects all the parts adversely. These are some of the symptoms of the disease of mesothelioma, by which the disease can be tracked in the initial stages of its occurrence.

A personal injury lawyer who has dedicated his life to campaigning for compensation for asbestos victims today claims that a new High Court Ruling indicates a landmark victory for asbestos victims.Solicitor and personal injury expert Peter Hankins has given over 30 years of his life to the cause, fighting tooth and nail for the ex-employees of former Chalford-based asbestos firm Fibrecrete and their families.

Many became terminally ill after their jobs at the firm brought them into close contact with the dangerous substance. The families of workers at the factory were also put at personal risk through contact with contaminated workers, in addition to facing the pain of losing loved ones.

The case has been ongoing due to the slow appearance of the effects of working with asbestos, which can manifest themselves years later in the form of aggressive cancers.

The latest twist in the rollercoaster trail of legal successes and setbacks comes with this month’s test case judgment defeating insurers, who were reluctant to validate ongoing payouts to ill workers. “It is a milestone. I feel enormous relief for the families involved,” said Mr Hankins, consultant to Rowcroft solicitors AES Winterbothams.

“This is probably one of the most aggressively fought areas of injury and disease in my professional life,” he said.

“This is also a very important case for Stroud as the lead defendant insurer was BAI and six test case victims defeated the insurers.”

Mr Hankins maintains that the insurer, BAI, had gone along for years with the payouts to the ex employees of Fibrecrete, before arguing in 2007 that the payments should only begin once symptoms of the associated diseases began to manifest themselves.

For many victims, diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer which are caused by exposure to the dangerous asbestos particles do not develop until up to 30 years after the original contact, by which point the majority of insurance policies would have expired.

Luckily after 6 weeks of arguing, the High Court found in favour of Mr Hankins and the ex employees of Fibrecrete.

“If they’d won there would have been nothing more disappointing than finding that, after working through a case with either a very ill person or a widow, that there was no insurance policy to pay out their compensation,” Mr Hankins said.

“These men are totally innocent but die dreadful deaths with these illnesses. There are also the wives and daughters who washed their clothes for them and inhaled the asbestos particles. These women had not done anything wrong and yet they too are deprived of their health.”

Mr Hankins, who said he came into his profession on a vocation to “right all wrongs”, expects asbestos cases to peak in about 2015.

“During the test case litigation BAI admitted that over the last two years they had rejected 284 fatal mesothelioma claims, whose f families are consequently still awaiting compensation averaging £125,000 each, which is a total of a staggering £35.5 million,” Mr Hankins said.

A campaigning lawyer has stated that a new High Court ruling is a landmark victory for dozens of asbestos victims in the Stroud Valleys.Lawyer, Peter Hankins has looked at industrial injuries compensation for more than 30 years for ex-employees of former Chalford-bases asbestos firm Fibrecrete and their families, who were commonly made terminally ill having worked for the company.

Hankins said that the court ruling for insurance companies to pay out compensation for when a worker was exposed to asbestos and not when the symptoms appeared was a great improvement.

Hankins stated: “It is a milestone. I feel enormous relief for the families involved. This is probably one of the most aggressively fought areas of injury and disease in my professional life.”

Fibrecrete closed in 1971 but asbestos and similar illnesses have an incredibly long tail, or lead in time.

Mr Hankins commented: “If they’d won there would have been nothing more disappointing than finding that, after working through a case with either a very ill person or a widow, that there was no insurance policy to pay out their compensation.”

He furthered: “These men are totally innocent but die dreadful deaths with these illnesses. There are also the wives and daughters who washed their clothes for them and inhaled the asbestos particles. These women had not done anything wrong and yet they too are deprived of their health.”

Currently, it is thought that there are around 1,500 mesothelioma deaths a year in the UK, four or five of which are in Stroud.

Hankins said that he came into the lawyer profession on an ideal to “right all the wrongs” and he expects asbestos claims to increase in 1015.

Due to the BAI rejecting compensation claims many workers have suffered this work disease without court sympathy but BAI admitted that the rejection of hundreds of cases will lead to huge settlements.

Mr Hankins stated: “During the test case litigation BAI admitted that over the last two years they had rejected 284 fatal mesothelioma claims, whose families are consequently still awaiting compensation averaging £125,000 each, which is a total of a staggering £35.5 million.”

Asbestos cases can be difficult Many injury lawyers have found asbestos cases difficult, and until now, these cases were difficult to prove. Adrian Budgen, head of industrial disease litigation commented on his findings and on the new court ruling.

Budgen said that the number of work disease victims were huge: “It was hugely challenging because of the sheer scale of the litigation and the number of parties involved.”

Adrian then commented on the new ruling: “Mr Justice Burton found that the four insurers (BAI, Excess, Independent and MMI) were liable to provide an indemnity in respect of negligent exposure to asbestos during their policy periods.”

The new court ruling will hopefully give a new lease of life to the families who have lost loved ones to the disease.

Maureen Edwards who lost her father was happy with the decision: “My dad would have been proud that we have finally achieved justice for him, but he would have been disgusted by the lengths the insurers went to get out of paying.”

General-secretary of Unite, Derek Simpson stated it was a “hugely important victory for the victims of the deadly dust and for their families”.

A group of scientists in Australia have discovered a new potential treatment for mesothelioma cancer victims with the application of two treatments normally reserved for skin cancer patients.During several tests conducted on laboratory mice with advanced mesothelioma tumors, a skin cancer cream known as Imiquimod was combined with an anti-cancer drug, antiCD40. The two were applied to the mesothelioma mice and, according to researchers, 50 percent of the mice receiving the treatment therapy went into remission following treatment.

The study, conducted by researchers from the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Australia, is considered “breakthrough” according to a PerthNow news article. Additionally, scientists feel that this potentially new mesothelioma treatment may be more readily available than other treatments being researched and tested, as one of the drugs is “already commercially available and the other is currently being tested in clinical trials,” according to lead researchers of the study.

Mesothelioma Defined

Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects thousands of individuals worldwide. It has largely been classified as a relatively rare condition, although many physicians and scientists predict a large increase of victims in the near future because of the dormant nature of the cancer. Mesothelioma cancer is caused by exposure to varied levels of asbestos fibers and dust.

During the early part of the 20th century asbestos, which derives from vermiculite, was mined and used in a plethora of products and much more heavily within the construction industry leading to the diagnosis of many construction-related workers.

Mesothelioma cancer commonly remains dormant for 10 to 30 years until symptoms begin to appear, at which point, treatment is almost non-existent.

Patients of mesothelioma cancer are advised to speak with a medical professional immediately and those who suspect they may suffer from asbestos-related conditions can also suggested to contact a medical professional and experienced mesothelioma attorney for additional information.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a growing condition in not only America, but around the world. A mesothelioma diagnosis is often a grim and bitter situation for not only a victim, but for family members and friends.

Once an individual has been informed of their condition, they will need to take immediate steps to ensure the best quality of care is received. By determining this, an individual increases their chances of receiving monetary compensation for their disease through the development of a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Such compensation can assist a victim with paying for costly medical treatments including chemotherapy treatments, which can range in the thousands. Speaking with a knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer can provide insightful information as to a potential lawsuit.

Paul Mancuso, 45, his father Lester, 70, and his brother Steven, 37, all of Utica, New York, were indicted Oct. 16 on several federal charges after illegal dumping asbestos. The charges include:

• Violating the Clean Air Act
• Violating the Superfund Act
• Conspiracy to defraud the U.S.
• Conspiracy to commit mail fraud

Illegal Asbestos Removal and DumpingThe Mancusos are alleged to have performed illegal asbestos removal operations and to have dumped asbestos-containing materials on the sides of roads and other non-permissable locations in upstate New York. Another member of the family, Paul’s brother Ronald Mancuso, pleaded guilty to illegally dumping asbestos and to conspiracy to violate the Superfund Act.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral found floating in the natural environment. It is composed of multiple durable fibers that are resistant to heat and friction. When the mineral is broken, the strands of fibers separate, creating a thin, microscopic dust. Once in its broken state, asbestos becomes extremely toxic as it can be swallowed easily. Because of its durability and strength, it does not break down once ingested, but instead accumulates in the lining of the lungs, the stomach or the heart and after time can lead to development of fatal diseases.

Second Set of Criminal Charges for Paul MancusoThis is not the first involvement with illegal asbestos handling for Paul Mancuso; he was convicted of asbestos removal and disposal crimes in 2003, and of insurance fraud concerning his asbestos business in 2004. As part of his sentence for those crimes, Paul was prohibited from engaging in any asbestos abatement work, according to U.S. Attorney Andrew Baxter.

Fraudulent Companies, DocumentationThe recent indictment alleges that Paul later set up illegal companies in the names of his relatives and associates to engage in asbestos projects that contaminated private residences and businesses and dumped the removed asbestos at non-permitted sites such as roadsides.

Brother, Steven Mancuso, an attorney, is charged with preparing fraudulent documentation to give the appearance of legally conducted asbestos abatement by the companies. He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.

Years in Prison, Millions in Fines

Paul Mancuso, if convicted, could be sentenced to 55 years in prison and a fine up to $2.75 million. Lester Mancuso’s maximum possible sentence is 23 years in jail and a fine up to $1.25 million.

(Source: www.mesotheliomatreatmentcenters.org)

Getting Legal HelpIf you’re concerned about asbestos removal or dumping, contact mesothelioma centers to schedule a private, no-cost consultation with an experienced asbestos attorney today. Our attorneys understand the laws governing wrongful asbestos exposure and will fight to ensure your legal rights are protected.

Mesothelioma is cancer that affects the mesothelium which is the lining or membrane that protects and covers most of the internal organs in the body cavity. The first layer encircles the organ and the second layer forms a sac for protection. There is a lubricating fluid present between the layers to facilitate movement. The mesothelium is called pericardium when it covers the heart, pleura when covering the lungs and peritoneum when covering the abdominal organs.In mesothelioma there is uncontrolled cell division which leads to the extra cell masses invading the nearby tissues and organs and causing damage. Mostly it is observed that mesothelioma begins in the pleura or the peritoneum. The cancer then metastasizes to other parts of the body.

Mesothelioma occurs mostly due to exposure to asbestos. This is considered to be the major risk factor. 70% to 80% of sufferers have a history of exposure to asbestos. There are exceptions to this and cases have been reported where asbestos exposure was found not to exist. The condition is more common in men as compared to women. It has also been found that risk increases with age.

Mesothelioma is a very rare. Mostly said to be associated with workplace exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a collection of minerals that can be made to exist as strong masses of sheets or flexible fibers. It is widely used in industrial products like cement, roofs, flooring products, textiles, brake linings and insulation. Tiny particles of asbestos float in the air and can be inhaled or swallowed by the people exposed to it like the workers in manufacturing companies etc.

Continuous exposure over a period can lead to asbestosis. Exposure to asbestosis increases the risk of developing mesothelioma and other types of cancer like that of kidney and larynx. There are acceptable levels of asbestos exposure that have been brought into effect in workplaces using the mineral. Another very interesting aspect of mesothelioma is that family members of people exposed asbestos in their work place show an increased incidence of this cancer as compared to others. This has been attributed to the fact that the remnants of asbestos particles adhering to the clothes, hair etc when brought home can expose the family members to it.

The cancer takes around thirty to forty years to surface. The initial symptoms include shortness of breath, and pain in the chest if it is the pleura that are affected. If the cancer is in the peritoneum then there is weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, bowel obstruction. Fever, anemia and blood clotting irregularities have also been observed. In severe cases there is swelling of the neck and face, trouble swallowing and severe pain.

Diagnosis of mesothelioma is very difficult since there are no specific symptoms. A medical history review would be very valuable since asbestos exposure needs to be determined. X rays of chest, abdomen, lung function tests, scans, MRI are the usual tools that help in confirming the diagnosis. Biopsy is done for the final confirmation and treatment includes chemotherapy and radiations.

To Your Health!

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium or the sac like protective covering of internal organs. The main cause is exposure to asbestos. Therefore the best possible prevention is to avoid exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma takes about thirty to fifty years for making itself prominent. People above the age of sixty five have shown an increased tendency to develop asbestos cancer. The mesothelioma is more common in men than women.Asbestos is a mineral that is very commonly used. Due to increased health risks the use of asbestos has been reduced according to government regulations. In spite of all the regulations asbestos is being used in many manufacturing industries where it is mandatory for production. The most effective prevention method is to limit the exposure.

Working in a company which uses asbestos is not safe. Looking for alternate employment would be the safest option. The companies have asbestos related safety precautions and one can ensure they are being followed. The commonly seen jobs that pose the highest risk of mesothelioma are:

1-Insulation manufacturing and installations.

2-Mining

3-Railroad workers

4-Workers in the factories

5-Asbestos manufacturing companies

6-Ship yard workers

7-Automotive repairs

8-Manufacturers of gas masks

Many old homes contain traces of asbestos. If you suspect your home to contain materials made of asbestos they can be tested in the laboratory. There are agencies dealing with asbestos removal and they can be contacted for removing asbestos from your home. Though it can be done by yourself it is safer to let an asbestos abatement or removal contractor perform the procedure.

Asbestos that is not disturbed is not considered a health hazard. But if there is flaking, friable ceilings and plumbing and if the building is built before the 1980s then there are chances that they contain asbestos and have to be removed safely. Public buildings like schools, office buildings, libraries, theatres etc are all prone to this hazard. The problem should be brought to the city authorities’ notice. Living near someone who works near asbestos also exposes you to the mineral.

Asbestos can be transported through clothing, skin and hair. Even a few strands of asbestos can sometimes lead to mesothelioma.

Once you have been exposed to asbestos and have not yet been diagnosed with the fatal condition, there is still hope for you. If care is taken you might not even develop it. Blood tests can be done annually to confirm that you are well. There are other diagnostic tools that can be performed annually on asbestos exposed individuals to reconfirm their health status. These tests also aid in early detection when the condition is curable and can be controlled.

Smoking should be stopped since smokers are more susceptible to the onset of the condition if they have asbestos exposure history. Prevention is the best way out in mesothelioma since it is fatal if not diagnosed early.

To Your Health!

There was a time when using asbestos as a way of insulating homes, public buildings and even clothing was considered to be an outstanding form of insulation. It was only after a significant period of time that we became aware of the tremendous health problems that asbestos can cause on the health of just about anyone even remotely exposed to the substance. Certainly if we had known that exposure to asbestos would result in a virtual plague of illnesses, it would not have been used with such freedom as it was for so long. Only now are we starting to understand the various ways that exposure to asbestos can damage the lungs and the lethal diseases that will result.

Possibly the most common illness that results from asbestos exposure is a cancer called Mesothelioma. Because asbestos is made up of thousands or tiny fibers, people who work with the substance installing insulation or other building related jobs easily inhale these tiny fibers into their lungs and bloodstream often without even knowing it. Over a lengthy period of time, these tiny strands of asbestos become integrated into the walls of the lungs leading to cancer.

The frightening thing about Mesothelioma and many of the other asbestos related ailments is that in most cases they will occur as long as 20-30 years after the asbestos exposure. In addition, it isn’t just workers who are directly exposed to asbestos who are at risk. Because asbestos clings to the clothing and then gets free in the air to be breathed in by anyone nearby, innocent children and spouses of workers who bring home asbestos dust or debris are also at risk of these lung diseases many years after the exposure occurred and many times when they never knew they had been exposed to asbestos in the first place.

Another ailment directly related to asbestos exposure is appropriately named Asbestosis. The symptoms and ways this affliction causes suffering in the patient is similar to the threats that pneumonia causes. The parts of the lungs that draw the necessary oxygen from the air to keep us alive and passes it into the blood stream are called alveoli. When asbestos dust gets into the alveoli, that process is interrupted or even stopped causing shortness of breath that in severe cases can be life threatening.

The membranes around the lungs are another source of potential damage from asbestos exposure. When the dust and residue of asbestos gets into these membranes, this can lead to pleural plaques, which is a scarring of these important working parts of your lungs. Pleural thickening is also a potential problem when the lung membranes that must be flexible and moist to operate begin to harden and become think making them less able to do their jobs. The result is significant to severe discomfort to the sufferer, which can lead to more life threatening lung problems down the road.

If there is any reason to believe that you or someone in your family has been exposed to asbestos over the years, seek medical attention quickly. Remember that the exposure could have been decades ago and these various lung diseases can come up suddenly with tragic results. Early detection gives doctors what they need to take action before the problems become too severe. Along with top-notch medical care, you may need to enlist legal assistance as well to solicit financial help from the institution who was responsible when you encountered the asbestos exposure. That legal assistance can do a lot to help you pay for expensive medical care that you will need to deal with the damage the asbestos has done to your health.

Contact Information: The Finer Times P.O BOX 1058 Parramatta CBD NSW Website: http://www.TheFinerTimes.com