What Affects a Mesothelioma Patient's Life Expectancy?

   Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The life expectancy of a mesothelioma patient is affected by numerous factors including:

Latency Period – Unlike other cancers with symptoms that surface quickly, asbestos fibers that cause mesothelioma over time can lay dormant in the body for up to 50 years. This long period of latency often results in a late diagnosis. In many cases, the diagnosis is made when it has already reached late stages of development, making mesothelioma treatment difficult and sometimes ineffective. Mesothelioma patients diagnosed in later stages will typically receive palliative treatments rather than curative, which serve to make the patient more comfortable and increase their quality of life rather than cure the disease.

Age of Diagnosis – Most reports indicate that the average age of a mesothelioma patient is 60. In fact, more than 75 percent of mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States occur in men age 55 or older. However, some researchers believe the average age is dropping due to the influx of cases from secondary exposure. When an older person develops mesothelioma cancer, treatment can be compromised due to the presence of other health-related problems. These might include heart disease, additional lung ailments, and high blood pressure. Advanced age and the presence of other diseases can significantly affect a patient's life span.

Types of Mesothelioma – There are three major types of mesothelioma an individual can develop. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. Other forms of the disease include peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma, which affect the lining of the abdomen and heart. Since pleural mesothelioma affects the most mesothelioma patients, more knowledge and research about this form of the cancer is present to utilize when detailing a treatment plan, often making the life expectancy for pleural mesothelioma patients longer.
Smoking – Smoking can greatly decrease the life span of an individual who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma should quit smoking immediately.

Mesothelioma Survival Rates

Many studies have been conducted in regards to survival rates among mesothelioma patients. When discussing survival rates for this or any type of cancer, references to the "five-year relative survival rate" are often stated. This number refers to the percentage of patients who live at least five years after their cancer is diagnosed.

According to statistics published by the American Cancer Society, the five-year relative survival rate for patients with mesothelioma is approximately 10 percent. That number has improved in the last five years, up from 9 percent reported at the end of 2002. In addition, recent studies show that the one-year survival rate is now about 40 percent, a number that has also increased in the past five years. Throughout the 1990s, it was rare for a patient to survive more than a year after diagnosis.

Though numerous factors affect a patient’s prognosis such as age, overall health, and the type of mesothelioma the patient is battling, the average length of survival reported throughout the last five years has been 10 to 11 months after diagnosis.

Exciting stories about mesothelioma survivors continue to surface, providing hope to mesothelioma patients and their loved ones.

Compensation for Widow of Mesothelioma Victim

   The widow of a man who died from the asbestos cancer known as mesothelioma has been awarded over one million dollars in compensation. A Texas jury awarded $1.2 million to the woman, whose engineer husband died following exposure to asbestos.

According to reports, Danny Puckett worked with additives to drilling lubricants, and these additives contained asbestos, which led to his exposure. He worked for the Dowell Company between 1975 and 1985. He died earlier this year from the
malignant mesothelioma.

    In part of the trial Mr Puckett was able to testify, and confirmed that he had been exposed to asbestos laden cement dust on a regular basis. The lawsuit was filed against a number of companies with the complaint stating that the asbestos in the additives caused his exposure and subsequent cancer.
   Only two of the defendant companies were found liable at the trial, and this was Montello, Inc., and Union Carbide. Other companies that had been named as part of the complaint were dismissed from the lawsuit.

TYPES AND SYMPTOMS OF MESOTHELIOMA

   Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the lining around the lungs (the “pleura”), abdomen (the “peritoneum”) or heart (the “pericardium”). In contrast, lung cancer refers to a malignancy of the lung itself. And, unlike lung cancer, which may have other causes as well as asbestos exposure, mesothelioma is virtually always the result of exposure to asbestos. It generally does not appear until decades after the asbestos exposure.

Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be very difficult because its symptoms may not appear for decades after exposure to asbestos. Unfortunately, this lengthy time delay not only prevents diagnosis, but also complicates treatment efforts, given that mesothelioma is usually detected in the late stages, after serious side effects begin to present themselves.

The common symptoms of mesothelioma vary according to the cancer’s location. Because of the similarity of the diseases, however, many of the symptoms are overlapping. Most mesothelioma patients experience shortness of breath and generalized fatigue, but more acute pain will likely be more apparent in the chest for pleural and pericardial mesothelioma patients and in the abdominal region for peritoneal patients.
Learn more about the specific symptoms associated with three kinds of asbestos-related malignant mesothelioma:

• Pleural Mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs;
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which attacks the membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity; and
• Pericardial Mesothelioma, which invades the membrane around the heart.
• Cell Types of Mesothelioma
   Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma mirror those of other more common physical conditions. In fact, this is another factor that contributes to the difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma; its symptoms are often mistaken for the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia or heart disease. Still, patients with any of the symptoms discussed below and a history of asbestos exposure should see a physician. If symptoms persist, you should ask your doctor for a thorough evaluation.
   Finally, this discussion is not intended as a tool for self-diagnosis, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consulting with a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. This information is designed to help you learn about mesothelioma. For more resources, the following websites, from which this discussion was drawn, may also prove helpful:

• International Mesothelioma Program
• Mayo Clinic
• H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center
• National Cancer Institute
• American Lung Association
• American Cancer Society

PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA

   Pericardial mesothelioma is also known as mesothelioma of the pericardium or cancer of the sac that holds the heart. The incidence of pericardial mesothelioma makes up less than 5 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Because pericardial mesothelioma is so rare, not as much is known about its disease processes.

In pericardial mesothelioma, layers of the pericardium thicken as the cancer cells grow, which results in a build-up of fluid between membrane layers. This build-up of fluid eventually impairs cardiac function.

Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms may cause:
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Generalized fatigue

PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

   Peritoneal mesothelioma, also known as cancer of the peritoneum, is a cancer of the abdominal lining. The disease is not nearly as common as pleural mesothelioma; only 25 to 30 percent of mesothelioma cases originate in the peritoneum. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are caused when the peritoneal membrane thickens and fluid builds up between membrane layers. The thickening and excess fluid put pressure on the entire abdominal region and organs.

Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms commonly include:
• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling
• A change in bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation
• Lumps of tissue under the skin in the abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Blood clotting abnormalities
• Anemia
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Hernia

PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA

    Pleural mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma of the pleura, is a tumor of the lining surrounding the lungs. The pleura is a thin tissue around the lungs and the inside of the chest. In order to protect the lungs, the pleura produces a small amount of fluid which helps cushion the lungs, making the lungs move more smoothly during breathing. There are two types of pleural mesothelioma: benign and malignant. Benign pleural mesothelioma is a non-cancerous tumor that has not spread to other organs of the body. If the tumor is large, it may squeeze the lung itself and cause shortness of breath and pain. Thus, even benign mesothelioma can cause significant health problems and should be treated.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body. Early symptoms of the disease may be very general. For this reason, they are often ignored. Most patients with mesothelioma experience symptoms for only two to three months before the cancer is diagnosed. Only around one-fourth of mesothelioma patients notice symptoms for six months or more before their cancer is found.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include the following:
• Shortness of breath
• Painful breathing (pleurisy)
• Coughing up blood
• Dry (nonproductive) cough
• Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on the chest or abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain under the rib cage, in the lower back, or at the side of the chest
• Pain or swelling in the abdomen
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Fever
• Sweating
• Swelling of the face and arms
• Generalized fatigue
• Muscle weakness
   Of course, symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma will vary depending on the patient and the progression of the disease. Some patients experience no symptoms at all. In the early stages of mesothelioma, symptoms are subtle. An asymptomatic patient may experience a pleural effusion, a small buildup of fluid between the outside lining of the lung and the chest cavity. Early on in the disease process, the most frequent symptoms are cough and shortness of breath.

   The growing mass causes the pleura to expand, allowing fluid to enter. The build-up of fluid results in greater pain, sometimes severe, in the chest and nearby regions. More than 50 percent of patients with pleural mesothelioma experience pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest. Over time, most people suffer from fatigue, weakness and weight loss. As the disease progresses, some patients also develop severe breathing difficulties, fever, a rasping voice and begin to cough up blood.

Cell Types of Mesothelioma

   Doctor to a patient or medical record may refer to the type of "cell" of malignant mesothelioma. This is the type of tissue where the tumor first developed. For example, "epithelial" refers to cells of malignant mesothelioma cancer develops in the epithelium, "which is the membrane lining the lungs, heart or abdomen. On the contrary," sarcomatous "malignant mesothelioma has been created in the tissue.

"Biphasic" refers to a malignant mesothelioma that manifests itself in two different cell types. Other types of cells are lymphohistiocytoid and desmoplastic malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

   Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a natural fiber that, when released into the air can be inhaled or ingested. Asbestos has no smell or taste, and asbestos fibers are so small that they are not visible to the naked eye.

   Asbestos fibers can "stick" in the lungs, abdomen and other tissues of the body and over time, lead to the development of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. There is a long latency period between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma in other words, it can take decades after the first exposure to asbestos a person before he or she gets sick. A person who has been diagnosed with asbestosis (a noncancerous scarring of the lung) is a higher risk of developing mesothelioma in the future.

   Millions of people in the U.S. have been exposed to asbestos, and it is estimated that approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. In these pages, you will read about asbestos, cancer support and the common ways for occupational and environmental asbestos exposure.

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$1.4 Million Awarded to Wife of Pipefitter who Died from Mesothelioma Cancer

Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers would like the public to know that a Tennessee jury awarded $1.4 million to the wife of a pipefitter who passed away from mesothelioma cancer. Pipefitters assemble, maintain and repair mechanical piping systems. The jury in the case found that the former pipefitter was continuously exposed to asbestos-containing products in the course of his work.

Asbestos is a mineral that is deadly known to cause cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos diseases often develop decades after exposure to asbestos occurred. Exposure to asbestos may occur when asbestos-containing products so disturbed by cutting, hammering or other similar activities. Such activities will result in products containing asbestos to release asbestos fibers.
The fibers are generally not visible to the human eye and can be in the air for long periods. The presence of asbestos fibers into the air creates a risk that they may be inhaled. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can become trapped in the lungs and lead to the occurrence of cancer such as lung cancer and mesothelioma decades later.

Unfortunately, many workers at risk of regular exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Because asbestos was used in a variety of products. Some workers at risk of asbestos exposure include shipyard workers, construction workers, sheet metal workers, plumbers and mechanics. People who have been diagnosed with lung cancer or asbestos cancer, mesothelioma www.mesotheliomajobs.com can visit for more information about asbestos and a free, further review online,Or try looking in #1 sponsors.

About Weitz & Luxenberg Mesothelioma Lawyers

Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma lawyers accept asbestos lung cancer cases and mesothelioma cases from all regions of the U.S. and certain regions of Canada.
Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma attorneys are experienced in successfully representing shipyard workers, construction workers and other workers who have been diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Weitz & Luxenberg lawyers have won over $1 billion in a wide range of personal injury cases.
Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma attorneys have been recognized as the "Best Lawyers of New York" by New York Magazine in 2008 and 2009.
Weitz & Luxenberg offers free online case reviews 24 hours a day from www.mesotheliomajobs.com.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

   Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the cancer, comprising approximately two-thirds of all mesothelioma cases.Known symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

Persistent dry or raspy cough (typically non-productive, meaning there is little or no phlegm)

Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)

Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia)

Night sweats or fever

Unexplained weight loss of 10 percent or more

Fatigue

Persistent pain in the chest or rib area, or painful breathing

Shortness of breath (dyspnea) that occurs even when at rest

The appearance of lumps under the skin on the chest

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma occur as a result of thickening of the pleural membrane, caused by the rapid production of cancerous cells which can lead to the buildup of fluid between membrane layers. Tissue thickening and fluid buildup place pressure on the lungs, leading to reduced respiratory function.

Mesothelioma Treatments

   Regardless of the type of malignant mesothelioma a patient has, treatment options are available for all mesothelioma patients, though a patient’s response to different treatments will vary. The stage , or level of maturity of the cancer, as well as the patient’s general health are greatly considered when a doctor creates a treatment plan.

Common curative treatments, or treatments designed to remove cancer cells and cure the disease, for mesothelioma patients include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments aim to kill cancerous cells and stop rapid cell division and growth. Though harmful cells are targeted, the treatments can also affect healthy cells. Patients may experience side effects such as nausea throughout treatment.

Palliative treatments, designed to increase a patient’s comfort and ease pain, may also be recommended. Patients may also wish to explore experimental treatments offered in the studies testing up-and-coming drugs or procedures called clinical trials.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

   Patients with malignant mesothelioma generally do not display any symptoms until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos occurs. This is due to the long latency period (the amount of time it takes for a patient to demonstrate symptoms after initial exposure to a disease-causing agent) associated with mesothelioma. The symptoms of mesothelioma are very general and often resemble less serious conditions, which can make diagnosis difficult.


Symptoms vary depending on the type of mesothelioma a patient has, but the most common symptoms expressed by pleural mesothelioma patients include shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough. Peritoneal mesothelioma patients may display symptoms such as abdominal swelling, changes in bowel movement and development of lumps under the skin on the abdomen. Patients with pericardial mesothelioma may experience heart palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing and fever or night sweats. Testicular mesothelioma patients may notice testicular lumps.
Asbestos.com offers a complimentary informational packet personalized to a patient’s specific mesothelioma diagnosis. With information about the cancer, treatment options and top doctors, many patients and their loved ones find the packet to be a valuable resource. Click here for more information or to receive your complimentary packet overnight.

Treatments For Mesothelioma Cancer

    Mesothelioma cancer is currently treated with three treatments, depending on the location of the tumor, stage of disease and the patient's general health and age. These treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which are sometimes combined to fight the disease, if possible.

In surgery, one of the most common treatment for mesothelioma, the doctor removes a part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some surrounding tissue. In a pneumonectomy, the doctor may also remove one lung when the patient has pleural mesothelioma or cancer of the pleura. In surgery, the doctor may also remove a portion of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps breathing.

With these procedures, the specialist will try to excise tumourous tissue resulting from disease of cancer. These activities will reduce the respiratory capacity of the patient, the surgeon will assess the patient's ability to function after removal of the lung tissue, before performing a pneumonectomy.

Another way to fight Mesothelioma is chemotherapy or the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. These drugs are administered to the patient through a procedure intravenously into a vein. Currently, experts are studying the effectiveness of intracavitary chemotherapy or the possibility of giving chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen.

Radiotherapy or radiotherapy is the use of high energy beams to destroy malignant cells and reduce tumors. It 'important to know that this medical procedure attacks the cancer cells in the treated area. There are two ways to give to this therapy. One, external radiation, where radiation from a machine, and others, the internal radiation, in which cancer cells are found after putting materials that produce radiation in the area.

Dr. Path to relieve the patient's pain is to use a needle or a tube to drain fluid that has accumulated in the chest or abdominal cavity through a procedure called thoracentesis, when it is in my chest, and paracentesis, when the removal of the womb. Specialists can also give drugs through a tube into his chest to prevent accumulation of liquids.

Mesothelioma Attorney.

    Because mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that can take up to 20 years to develop mesothelioma lawyers need training and experience, when the compensation for customers. Mesothelioma lawyers have a specific team of health professionals who interpret health records and documentation of tests to determine the correlation between the specific side of a patient side effects and diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Once the disease has been correctly identified, mesothelioma lawyers must prove that the cause of the disease is particularly vulnerable to toxic chemicals in the duration and amount significant enough to cause health-related symtoms. Often it can take up to 50 years for someone to indicate the type of dehabilitation necessary for prosecutors to obtain compensation for mesothelioma.

Not all those who work or have been exposed to asbestos can prove they have suffered damages related to asbestos contamination. With years of prosecuting cases that have ruined hundreds of companies with asbestos, mesothelioma lawyers have a thorough knowledge of the specific evidence required to demonstrate a direct correlation between absestos asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Most recently, WR Grace & Co and its seven executives were charged with conspiring to hide asbestos contamination at a mine in Libby, Montana, which prosecutors claim was responsible for the illnesses of 1200 people, including 200 dead.

What is mesothelioma ?

Mesothelioma
    Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases risk of other asbestos-induced cancer.Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.