mesothelioma

Pericardial Mesothelioma Facts

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:04:02 +0100

Among all mesothelioma diagnoses, pericardial mesothelioma only accounts for one to six percent, and is therefore the rarest kind of this particular form of cancer. 'Pericardial' is derived from pericardium, which is the Latin expression for a thin lining, often also referred to as a sac, that embeds the heart and functions like a membrane. When cancer cells start to develop in an uncontrolled fashion in the pericardium, the condition is called pericardial mesothelioma. The tumors that grow along with the development of this illness, can cover the entire organ.

The treatments for pericardial mesothelioma are pretty much the same as for the other variations of this cancer. Via surgery, the tumors can be removed alongside some the surrounding tissue. Unfortunately, the disease is known for a log latency period. Frequently, when it is diagnosed, the condition has already progressed to an advanced stage, which limits the treatment options drastically.

Radiation therapy is also often used to treat this disease. By using this method, the tumor areas are being targeted with high energy x-rays, with the intent to kill the remaining cancer cells after surgery, or to shrink tumors that could not have been removed through surgery.

Chemotherapy is the third of the traditional standard treatments. Chemotherapy agents usually can't target the cancer cells only, and therefore may cause severe side effects. Another treatment option is the so called palliative surgery. Essentially, this is also a kind of surgical procedure and used in pericardial mesothelioma patients to provide some relief from the symptoms that can cause severe discomfort.

The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma

As we already learned, the disease is usually being detected at a later stage. This must be in large part attributed to the fact that the symptoms very closely resemble the signs exhibited by patients with other and less severe conditions. As we look into the symptoms in more detail, you will see that they are rather common and not specific to this form of cancer. The symptoms seen in patients are usually a direct result of pericardial thickening, which means that the fluid accumulations in the tissue cause pain, and can include:

Dyspnea which refers to trouble breathing while at rest
Persistent Dry Cough
Orthopnea
Fatigue irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations (arrhythmia)
Chest pain along with night sweats or fever

The diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma follows a standardized protocol. The patient will undergo physical exams and the a series of scans including, chest x-rays, CT-scans, PET-scans, MRIs. To diagnose the condition conclusively a biopsy is needed to evaluate a tissue sample for malignancy.

Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Especially if the patient has worked in an occupation that is known for frequent contact to the material, he is at an increased risk of developing or any other asbestos induced disease.

Asbestos Dust Issues

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:04:17 +0100

Traditionally, asbestos was utilized in a wide spectrum of building materials, particularly materials which were intended to be heat and fire resistant. As long as asbestos-containing materials remain intact, they are not hazardous, but as they get damaged or break into smaller pieces, they can discharge asbestos dust, which people may end up inhaling.

What is asbestos dust?

Asbestos dust can be described as the fragmented elements of asbestos. It is proven that breathing in asbestos fibers can result in a number of asbestos associated diseases. Concerns about the safety of handling asbestos have led to a number of regulations and laws around processing the material and the removal of asbestos in order to eliminate – or at least significantly decrease - the danger of contaminating the air. Asbestos dust may look like ordinary dust, or in most cases it is not even visible at all. Being exposed to the toxic fibers may lead to skin irritation because the particles penetrate through the skin.

Asbestos dust is difficult to identify. The most commonly seen asbestos products nowadays are found in construction insulation. Asbestos fibers are used in insulation products that serve as heat and fire resistant materials. Asbestos is friable, so it easily breaks up into smaller pieces. Asbestos dust particles are microscopically small. The dust particles are not more than one micrometer in diameter. In other words, a micrometer is equivalent to one millionth of a meter. Because the fibers are so small in size, asbestos dust can cause serious health risks. Many people have inhaled the contaminated air without knowing it.

As we just learned, the fibers of asbestos are extraordinarily small and virtually imperishable. The minute asbestos particles can get easily caught by the wind and distributed to large areas. Some types of asbestos that can be broken up to dust that gets airborne, which is described as "friable". Asbestos that is "non-friable", will not crumble by hand pressure, hence it is less hazardous, but if handled or processed by a machine, for example during grinding projects or sanding, can also pose a serious health risk to anybody onsite.

From the moment a person has swallowed or inhaled the asbestos dust, the fibers can get lodged inside the body for several years or even decades, before they can cause serious damage to one’s health. As a result, a person may develop severe illnesses, including kidney cancer, mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis.

How to Identify Asbestos Flooring?

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:37:16 +0100

Vinyl floor tiles that contain asbestos were frequently used by construction teams, contractors and developers, for several decades. Actually, until the 1970s, asbestos flooring was the No. 1 preference of contractors and developers for installation in new homes because it was readily available and heat resistant, which made it an ideal insulator. Since it does not stain or scratch easily, it had an outstanding reputation because of its durability. Asbestos tile flooring was ideal for both residential and commercial construction. Aside from that, the price to make asbestos floor tiling was considerably low which made it even more attractive to the producers and consumers. Since asbestos utilization was officially permitted, floor tiles manufacturing continued until 1980. Asbestos had characteristics that made it sought-after as a floor tile, prior to the prevalent awareness of its risks.

How to determine if your floor contains asbestos?

Step 1- When examining your floor tile, look specifically at the color and see if it is dark brown, dark grey or even black. This is usually a pretty good indication if your floor contains asbestos, as vinyl and asphalt tiles were typically held in darker colors.
Step 2 - Find out when the flooring was installed. Between 1920 and about 1970 asbestos was widely used as a bi-product in a variety of different floor tiles. It was also utilized in manufacturing older vinyl flooring. Generally this type of flooring came in nine-inch square tiles and it is distinctively thicker compared to modern vinyl flooring.
Step 3 - Send an example of the floor tiles in question to a testing laboratory. A qualified laboratory will verify the presence of asbestos in the given sample. Inquire the specific requirements with the lab but typically they would need three different samples with no less than ¾ inches in length and width. When cutting the sample out of the tile with a utility knife, use a mask and put them in a safe plastic bag. Cover up the part from which you detached the sample with adhesive tape.

Studies have confirmed that regular cleaning, waxing, or washing of asbestos flooring will not result in an increase of risk levels of asbestos exposure. To avoid release of asbestos fibers from the flooring tiles, these rules are should be kept in mind:

• Do not ever rub down floor tiles with pressure
• When you strip the floors, make use of low scrape pads at velocity less than 300 as well as utilize soaked cloth.
• Dry polishing is okay after the flooring was finished.
• Damaged and broken asbestos floor tiles should be removed by expert asbestos removal contractors.

Facts About Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:52:51 +0100

Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer that begins in the pleura, which is a membrane that covers several organs located in the chest cavity, including the lungs. Just about 75% of all mesothelioma diagnoses are being made for this particular variation. This health condition is most frequently seen in men ages 60-80, who have been exposed to asbestos, often decades earlier before their actual diagnosis.

Symptoms

Indications of malignant pleural mesothelioma are akin to the other kinds of this cancer which makes it complicated to stage and diagnose. In order to diagnose mesothelioma appropriately, the patient has to undergo a number of procedures including scans, x-rays and a biopsy, to find out the stage and form of the cancer. The most commonly seen symptoms consist of:

• dry cough
• chest pain because of the build up of fluid
• wheezing
• difficulties speaking (because of the short breath)
• shortness of breath
• weight loss
• loss of appetite

Prognosis

A person’s overall wellbeing, condition and age usually affects the outlook. An individual who is diagnosed at an earlier age and is in good health, is likely to tolerate the necessary treatments better than a patient who has pre-existing health tissues. According to the American Cancer Society, 75 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are 55 or older. Statistics also illustrate that men are five times more like to get diagnosed than women. When a person is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, doctors will try to assess how far the cancer has spread. A cancer that has not spread to other parts of the body, gives the patient and his health care providers a lot more treatment alternatives and can impact a patient’s prognosis considerably. Pleural mesothelioma patients have a poorer prognosis if they are exhibiting symptoms such as shortness of breath, incapacity to carry regular out daily physical activities, chest pain, weight loss, a high white blood cell count, a low red blood cell count, and high blood levels called lactate dehydrogenase. These symptoms are often a sign that the cancer has already developed into the later stages. Patients who have these symptoms generally receive a prognosis between six and twelve months.

Treatment

The treatment regime is being determined by the diagnosis and a decision is usually made between the doctors and the patient. Treatment options include:

• Surgery –removing of cancer tissues and tumors from the lining to the occasionally removal of the whole lung, a procedure known as pneumonectomy.
• Chemotherapy – this the process of fighting the cancer cells with highly powerful drugs, such as Alimta or Cisplatin.
• Radiation therapy – it the process of shrinking tumors and killing the cancer cells via radiation.
• Alternative treatment – this may include immunotherapy and changes in lifestyle and nutrition.

Facts About Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Tue, 13 Jul 2010 20:49:01 +0100

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma can develop in a person when asbestos fibers get inside the peritoneum. And this can happen if those toxic particles are breathed in, get lodged in the lungs or in the abdominal lining and inside the peritoneum. It is also possible that the asbestos fibers get swallowed rather than inhaled. This can result in the abdominal lining to swell and later on trigger the initiation of tumor growth. These tumors may spread inside and beyond the abdominal cavity.

Especially individuals who got in contact with asbestos during the course of their employment, are at a high risk of getting sick. Like all other kinds of mesothelioma, this form may not show any signs or symptoms for years or decades. It is not uncommon that by the time a diagnosis can be made, the condition has already evolved to an advanced stage.
As the cancerous tumors begin to develop in the peritoneum, fluid accumulations build up in the abdominal area. This can result in inflammations and pain. Usually, this manifests in the most frequently observed symptom of peritoneal mesothelioma, which is upper abdominal pain.

Peritoneal mesothelioma can be categorized by three kinds of cancer cells:

• Epithelioid mesothelioma - It is the most widespread type of mesothelioma which ranges between 50-70 percent of all registered mesothelioma diagnoses. Individual cells are somewhat homogeneous in form with a distinctive tubular pattern and a cell nucleus that, when examined under high magnifying microscope, are noticeably distinct from other cell nuclei.
• Sarcomatoid mesothelioma - Sarcomatoid mesothelioma accounts for 10 - 15 percent of the mesothelioma cancers and it is the least frequently occurring type. Sarcomatoid cells are characteristically oval shaped. Because of their form and shape which resemble those of other cells, an assessment of as to whether not they are indicative of sarcomatoid or another mesothelioma variant can be rather difficult.
• Biphasic mesothelioma - Biphasic mesothelioma cancer is a mix of epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer because it does not have a distinctive cellular structure. In other words, biphasic mesothelioma cancer is an amalgamation of epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer. For the reason, patients diagnosed with this form have two extremely dissimilar mesothelioma cell variations linked to their disease.

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain, acute to severe
• Swelling of the abdominal region due to fluid accumulation
• Breathing difficulties
• Loss of appetite resulting in weight loss
• Bowel obstruction
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Weakness

Removal of Asbestos from Buildings

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 20:15:05 +0100

The removal of asbestos is a task that requires high safety measurements given the hazardous nature of the substance.

Asbestos is a hazardous material found in older constructions or improperly retrofitted buildings. It has been a well-known insulation substance, gained from a natural silicate mineral. Asbestos fibers that spread out into the air can result to a variety of health issues. Usually, there are no symptoms seen in patients right after the exposure to the material. Asbestos induced diseases typically only manifest in symptoms years or decades after the exposure. With those findings, the use of asbestos got regulated in the United States in 1989. Due to the risk linked with asbestos contact, safety measures should be taken into consideration when removing asbestos materials. The removal of asbestos in buildings should ideally be performed by specialized asbestos abatement contractors. Nonetheless, a building owner can carry out smaller removal projects through obeying a number of strict safety procedures such as listed below:

Step 1

Hire an outside specialist to verify the presence of asbestos in your building. When a rather dry asbestos-containing substance may have deteriorated into a powder, it is likely to be more hazardous compared to undamaged asbestos. If you're preparing for the renovation of the building, it is important to get rid of all dry asbestos before starting the work. It is advisable to wear disposable garments and footwear prior to the performance before starting the job. Constantly wet the asbestos with water from a spray container before removing it. Dry asbestos can be tremendously hazardous and may discharge potentially dangerous fibers into the air. Stay away from power tools usually used in removing floor or ceiling panels that contain asbestos.

Step 2

Take a sample piece of the asbestos product. Utilize a water mister to soak the objects. Remove it by wearing protective gloves and a mask to prevent your mouth and nose from possible inhalation of the toxic dust. Put it in a firm and sealable plastic container. After that mail it or bring it to an asbestos or environmental lab for investigation.

Step 3

Once you have already confirmed that asbestos was indeed used in the construction or the building, place warning sings around the site. Deactivate all the heating pipes. Use plastic sheets to keep the asbestos in from disseminating into other areas. Use a ventilator with asbestos-filtering HEPA cartridges and put on disposable footwear, garments and of course, an appropriate mask. Make use of scrapers, brush pads or utility knives to take out the asbestos products. Keep in mind that you must avoid to break the material into small pieces because it will increase the possibility of contamination. Bring water spray handy bottles to damp the asbestos before removing. Close up the removed asbestos in tight plastic container, and then place them in a cardboard package. Clean up the work vicinity using wet sponges or mops. Clean up thoroughly and pack the cleaning utensils along with the removed asbestos and your work clothes in a plastic container. You must dispose the material environmentally friendly! Contact your town for more information.

Step 4

Comply with all state and federal rules pertaining to the removal of asbestos from buildings. Speak to your state's environmental regulation agency before starting the job.

Keep in mind, it is strongly recommended to hire a specialized and licensed asbestos removal company, first and foremost because of safety concerns.

Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatments

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:32:48 +0100

Mesothelioma can occur in a number of different variations. Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed version of this type of cancer. It originates in the mesothelial cells which are located in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a very thin lining that functions like a membrane in order to connect and protect several organs inside the human body.

Pleural mesothelioma specifically starts in the lining of the lungs, also referred to as pleural membrane or pleura. The pleura is made of two layers. Their purpose it to protect the lungs and the cavity of the chest. The inner lining is called visceral layer and the outer lining is called parietal layer. When pleural mesothelioma starts to develop, it is usually located in only one of the layers, but may later on spread further to the other one and even beyond.

As for basically all other kinds of mesothelioma, the pleural variant is also caused by exposure to asbestos.

Symptoms

As the toxic asbestos particles become lodged inside the pleura, they can cause chronic inflammation which can later on evolve to mesothelioma. In a first phase accumulations of fluid will result in pleural thickening that negatively impacts the regular functionality of the lungs, hence the patient will sooner or later experience difficulties in breathing normally.

Here are the most frequently seen symptoms of pleural mesothelioma:

Persistent dry coughing
Blood in the sputum
Impaired swallowing
Difficulties in regular breathing even without increased physical activity
Moderate to severe pain in the chest during inhalation
Swelling of the chest tissue
Rapid Weight Loss
Fatigue

Pleural mesothelioma is usually diagnosed based on the patient's history and the symptoms mentioned above. However, in order to verify the diagnosis, further diagnostic procedures need to be completed. Usually, the patient will undergo a series of physical exams, followed by chest x-rays and CT-Scans to specify the exact location of the primary tumor.

After that tissue samples need to be taken and send to a specialized laboratory for further evaluation. This process is called biopsy.

Treatments

Pleural mesothelioma is the most researched variation of all mesothelioma cancers. Therefore, the treatments available are more efficient than the ones for other variations of this cancer. However, none of them can currently put the disease into complete remission. There are three standard treatments that experts use in patients

Surgery: the goal is to cut out the primary tumor and surrounding tissue. This is usually done in combination with chemotherapy and radiation.

Chemotherapy: anti cancer drugs that are administered to destroy the cancer cells.

Radiation: concentrated doses of radiation are targeted and administered to the location of the tumor.

The Use Of Asbestos Floor Tiles

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 21:17:49 +0100

Asbestos floor tiles were frequently utilized in the United States from the 1920s up to the 1960s. Floor tiles from that time are usually black or dark in color and may contain at least 70 percent asbestos. Asbestos does not become hazardous unless it breaks up into smaller pieces and spread out in the air. Inhaling asbestos particles may possibly result into lung cancer or mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. During the late 1980s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) debarred the majority uses of asbestos, but industrialized corporations took legal action and the law was upturned in 1991. On the other hand, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) constricts asbestos exposure policy in 1994 and its utilization has certainly become more highly regulated.
Asbestos has characteristics that made it sought-after as a floor tile prior to the general awareness of its risk. It is a heat- and fire-resistant and does not stain easily that makes it long-lasting. Asbestos floor tiles take in reverberation and do not carry out electrical energy. For that reason, it is predestined for both business and residential constructions. Asbestos containing materials were produced cheaply, because the material was available abundantly - which made it even more attractive for manufacturers. Since the use of asbestos was never entirely prohibited, it was still used in floor tiles manufacturing until the 1980s.

Safety measures for changing asbestos floor tiles

If you are take out asbestos floor tiles on your own without the guidance of experts, there are a number of safety measures you must obtain to lessen the hazards of asbestos fibers to spread out to the air. Here are some of aspects that need to be taken into consideration:

- Do not utilize any device that possibly will damage the tiles.
- Prior to removing the tiles, immerse the whole floor with ample amount of water for no less than 30 minutes. The water will bind with the dust and therefore prevent it from further distribution.
- Do not use a vacuum cleaner if there is debris while removing the tiles. It will not entrap the asbestos fibers but instead it spreads them out into the air.
- Cleaning must be done with a drenched wet wipe up.
- The entire material utilized for cleaning must be removed right away to polythene bags and firmly sealed before disposal. Keep in mind to label these polythene bags properly.

It is at all times safe and secured to ask assistance to professionals when it comes to getting to the alteration of asbestos flooring. These experts know precisely how the flooring was placed, and how best to take it out. They will have the technical gear to ensure that no asbestos fibers penetrate the air while changing the flooring. Despite the fact that taking the service of professionals to get your asbestos flooring changed will be costly, considering the health risks involved by doing it yourself, it is definitely worth it.

Asbestos Awareness Is Increasing

Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:14:15 +0100

Origin of the word ‘Asbestos’

The term "asbestos" derives from the Greek meaning "inextinguishable." According to historical data and sources, the first asbestos supply was sited in Greece on the island of Ewoia and was recognized around the first century A.D. On the other hand, still the early Greeks were well aware that not everything with reference to asbestos was superior. Greek geographer Strabo and the Roman natural scientist Pliny the Elder mutually distinguished an inclination for "sickness of the lungs" in the workers that weave asbestos into cloth or workers who dig for minerals.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a fibrous substance that has been a widely used construction material during the 1950s. It is utilized as an insulator with the purpose of maintaining in heat and retaining out cold. With this function, it has good fire safeguard properties and it is highly resistant to deterioration. Since asbestos is frequently mixed with a different substance, it's tough to identify if you're working along with it or not. Nevertheless, if you work or live in a construction built earlier than the year 2000, it's possible that several part of the structure include asbestos. Asbestos is evident in various products used in buildings, which include ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, boilers and sprayed coatings.

What is the risk?

Asbestos is said to be a silent killer that can be a source of four severe ailments. These diseases will not have an effect on the victim right away because it usually take a long time to build up, but once identified, it is frequently very late to carry out any treatment. Therefore, there is a need for us to do safety measures at this instant. Listed below are some of the severe diseases caused by asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma - a cancer which have an effect on the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining nearby the lower digestive tract (peritoneum).

Asbestos-related lung cancer – it is the same as lung cancer caused by smoking and asbestos exposure.

Asbestosis - a severe scarring state of the lung that usually take place after heavy contact to asbestos over many years.

Pleural thickening - it is commonly a dilemma that occurs after serious asbestos exposure. The lining of the lung (pleura) thickens and swells.

Who is at risk?

Work-related Asbestos Exposure Risk
A lot of workers are exposed to asbestos in their workplace. Sited below are a few of the occupational environments that may increase a person’s asbestos exposure peril:

• Construction sites
• Asbestos product manufacturing sites
• Oil refineries
• Mines
• Shipyards
• Steel mills
• Power plants
• Automotive manufacturing facilities
• Offshore rust removal sites
• Railroads
• Maritime operation sites
• Demolition sites

Non Work-related Asbestos Exposure Risk
Not all asbestos exposure occurs in the workplace. The following are a few non-occupational asbestos exposure risks:

• Asbestos-contaminated drinking water
• Asbestos products including talc and various older appliances
• Vermiculite-containing garden products such as certain fertilizers and pesticides

One more asbestos exposure hazard is called paraoccupational exposure and takes place at the time a person is exposed to asbestos via a family member who works in a place near the dangerous fibers. Human resources seriously exposed to asbestos possibly will carry the perilous fibers into the residence through their footwear, garments, skin, and hair. Family members or others who reside in the same house may encounter an increased asbestos exposure threat.

Mesothelioma Settlements

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 14:27:48 +0100

A mesothelioma settlement is not merely an award of damages. The word "settlement" generally means that both parties have established an agreement out-of-court, either before the beginning of court proceedings or during the trial at some point earlier to the judge's ruling, or any time subsequently. Mesothelioma settlements are settlements that are offered to those who have filed lawsuits as a result of damages incurred from asbestos exposure.

There some instances that settlements are recognized by the courts when the lawsuit filed goes to trial which may possibly lead to a quite long process. On the other hand, there are also cases where settlements can be negotiated with the defendants prior to the case trial. With this reason, defendant can save money in terms of court costs that is why a large number of defendants prefer to settle on an out-of-court basis. If out-of-court mesothelioma settlements are agreed, the claimant must confer the issue with their legal counsel to discuss essential matters with regards to the deserved compensation. Mesothelioma settlements have risen in number over the years.

Mesothelioma Settlements with Trust Funds

The existence of trust funds nowadays is rapidly growing. They appear to have contributed to the increased number of claims being filed. The trust fund concept could be an ideal solution to the burden of mesothelioma victims. Trust fund would permit the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure to plan their expenditures for compensation. The trust fund would be funded by mandatory contributions from the companies who gained their profits on asbestos.

Mesothelioma Lawsuit Settlements

Mesothelioma lawsuits settlements are on the rise. Because of the long latency period of this disease and it’s seriously terrible diagnosis, mesothelioma lawsuits frequently offer large settlements to shoulder all the expenses incurred by the victims of this malignant disease. The majority companies are willing to settle these cases because they are alarmed with the possibility of a major damage and castigatory award that will be brought against them. In some cases, there have been judgments in mesothelioma liability where the jury awarded ten million dollars to a single plaintiff. This instance have put enough fear in asbestos companies that settlements seem to be more preferable both for financial protection and to spare themselves the legal costs.

Class Action Mesothelioma Settlements

A large number of attorneys tried to assemble a group of clients with asbestos claims and file a class action suit in opposition to one or more company for possible damages done to their clients. In these circumstances with numerous plaintiffs an arrangement may include medical costs, loss of wages and other personal damages for each individual. The total paid each client may be negotiated on an individual basis, although the legal action goes to court as a single hearing or trial.