June 25th, 2009 CPSM
Mesothelioma is one type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was commonly used in many industrial, construction and manufacturing products prior to the mid-1980’s. When inhaled, asbestos fibers lodge in the body and cause diseases, such as asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer.
A diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is the most serious. Although prognosis is usually poor, recent developments and improvements in treatments show promise for extending survival times and improving quality of life.
Standard treatments for mesothelioma include:
- surgery
- chemotherapy
- radiation therapy
There are also many types of alternative and complementary therapies that can be integrated into more standard and conventional treatments that greatly reduce pain and suffering caused not only by the cancer but also by the medical interventions used to treat the disease.
Integrative therapy is the term used when complementary or alternative (non-conventional) treatments are used in combination with standard medical treatments. Some forms of complementary therapies include:
- meditation, relaxation and/or imagery
- peppermint tea and ginger supplements for nausea
- acupuncture
- massage therapy or Reiki
- yoga or tai chi
- imagery
- prayer & spirituality
- aromatherapy
- biofeedback
- nutrition, diet & exercise
These types of therapies are not meant to replace standard treatment methods but are intended to be supportive, addressing not only the physical symptoms that are caused by mesothelioma but also the psychological, social, and spiritual aspects.
For more information on mesothelioma treatments, standard and complementary, please visit Helping Mesothelioma Patients. To decide on which therapies are best suited to your individual needs, we recommend consulting with your healthcare team.
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June 17th, 2009 CPSM
After reviewing the situation at the Libby asbestos site, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Lisa Jackson, declared that the conditions presented a significant threat to public health and declared the site a public health emergency. As a result, the northwest Montana town will now receive more than $130 million from the Obama Administration to assist with on-going clean up efforts and medical aid.
Over 200 deaths and 1000 illnesses have been attributed to exposure to asbestos that came from a nearby mine that produced asbestos contaminated vermiculite. Many insulation and soil products were then manufactured with the toxic minerals, and distributed locally, nationally, and globally.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used because of its amazing heat, fire, and errosion resistant properties. Many uses of asbestos were banned in the mid 1980’s as health risks associated with the substance became widely accepted. Exposure to asbestos causes many serious diseases, including asbestosis (breathing disorder caused by scarring of the lungs), mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lung, heart, or abdomen) and asbestos related lung cancer.
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June 16th, 2009 CPSM
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart. Asbestos is the primary cause for mesothelioma, and development of the disease often does not occur until decades after first exposure to the deadly substance. Because of this and non-specific symptoms of the disease, mesothelioma is usually not diagnosed until it has reached advanced stages. Therefore, pain management and palliative care are central and important aspects of any treatment plan.
In addition to pharmacological (drug) methods, there are many complementary treatments that can be used by the mesothelioma patient to relieve pain, nausea, fatigue, and other psychological effects caused by the disease. Helping Mesothelioma Patients recently published an article that lists some of the recommended and non-harmful complementary methods that can be very effective in helping anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma and other types of asbestos-related cancers.
Some of these methods include:
- Massage
- Hydrotherapy
- Hypnotherapy
- Aromatherapy
- Acupuncture
- Biofeedback
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Tai chi
- Yoga
- TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is highly recommended that you speak with your oncologist about standard as well as complementary forms of care that can address all aspects of treating the disease. Complementary care can help patients and their family members with the non-physical factors often associated with having mesothelioma, such as emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social. Being diagnosed with mesothelioma often brings up feelings of fear, stress, confusion, anxiety and sadness, all of which can lead to increased pain levels, less responsiveness to treatments, and overall decreased quality of life.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please talk to your health care team about all forms of care that extend beyond treating just the physical symptoms. If your diagnosis causes financial anxiety and you would like more information on how to receive compensation to make up for lost wages and cover medical costs, call toll free 1-800-440-4262 to talk to an experienced mesothelioma attorney specializes in asbestos lawsuits.
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June 12th, 2009 CPSM
Cancer-related pain is a major issue for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer which forms in the mesothelium, or protective sac lining, of the lungs, heart and abdomen. The most common form of malignant mesothelioma is pleural where malignant cells start in the chest cavity. The next common is peritoneal, starting in the lining of the abdomen, and most rare is pericardial, starting in the cavity around the heart.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos; however the symptoms do not appear until decades after first inhalation of the toxic fibers. Unfortunately, many cases of mesothelioma are not diagnosed until the cancer is in advanced stages and prognosis is usually quite poor. There is no known cure for mesothelioma. Therefore, a most important aspect of treatment must be pain management and palliative care. To read a full article of different treatment options in managing pain around cancer, please read Pain Management for Mesothelioma at Helping Mesothelioma Patients.
Managing symptoms should be a focus of care with the goal being to relieve pain and suffering, as well as providing support to family members and caregivers. With good pain management and palliative care, quality of life improves, more time can be spent at home, satisfaction of patient and family is increased, and often health care costs can be reduced. Hopefully mesothelioma specialists will recognize and embrace palliative care into their oncology practices and pain management will be central to any treatment plan.
Posted in Mesothelioma Treatment, Uncategorized | Comments Off
June 5th, 2009 CPSM
Caningeraba State School in Australia removed asbestos without giving any warning to parents or students and without taking mandated safety precautions. Simon Smith, whose daughter attends the city school, noticed that Qbuild workers were removing bag racks from the school and suspected they contained asbestos even though there were no warnings posted or notification given to parents. Mr. Smith was concerned since he is a long time asbestos abatement professional and knows the hazard of asbestos exposure to public health.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was commonly used in a variety of building materials. Asbestos fibers are too small to be visible to the naked eye. When asbestos containing products are disturbed, damaged, or improperly removed, carcinogenic fibers can become airborne. When inhaled, the fibers lodge in the lungs and cause several serious diseases:
Symptoms of these diseases do not show up until decades after initial exposure and prognosis is often poor.
Students and staff are at increased risk of exposure to asbestos when school buildings built before the mid-1980’s are being renovated or repaired.
Mr. Smith called the school office to find out if the racks being removed contained asbestos but was told they did not. Not satisfied with the answer, Mr. Smith had a worker investigate further, and procured a sample to test. The material was sent to an accredited laboratory and results were positive for asbestos.
Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten is following up the incident by asking anyone with details about the issue to contact him. He is particularly aware of the dangers of asbestos as he has lost a family member to asbestosis. It seems that Qbuild did inform the school that the racks may contain asbestos and did in fact indicate at the disposal site that the material being dumped in bags contained the toxic substance.
An environmental hygienist was called in and later confirmed that the school site did not show any signs of contamination. The school did not close and attendance continues.
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June 4th, 2009 CPSM
A legislative bill written by Canadian students will be presented this week that calls for a federal government ban on the export of asbestos. The bill was written by students in response to an invitation from MP Nathan Cullen to write a proposal on how they would improve the country. Asbestos production and exportation is a highly controversial topic in Canada right now, and a group of students decided to speak out against it.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate mineral mined from the ground or extracted from rocks. Known for its durability, thermal insulating qualities and chemical and erosion resistant properties, asbestos was once widely used in many industrial and construction materials.
It is now widely accepted that exposure to asbestos has a strong relationship to lung cancer, asbestosis, and pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Because of this, asbestos use is banned completely in the United States and Australia and either banned or strictly regulated in 50 other countries.
Despite knowing asbestos is carcinogenic, Canada continues to mine and export the toxic mineral to developing world countries. Canadian officials that support the continued mining and exporting of asbestos claim that they meet their obligation by giving warnings about the risks for public health to the countries they export to. However, many of these countries are the poorest in the world where citizen and worker safety is not held as a high priority and the risk of exposure is assumed to be high.
In 2006, Canada was the only Western nation to oppose adding asbestos to a list of hazardous chemicals under the UN Convention. Canada is the fifth largest exporter of chrysotile asbestos in the world. The Province of Quebec is the main producer of asbestos in Canada. Conservatives in favor of continued exportation argue that hundreds of jobs in Quebec would be lost. Students who wrote the proposed bill and others in favor of banning asbestos argue that other non toxic industries are available as a replacement livelihood and that continuing production and exportation for the sake of money at the expense of human lives should not be an option. Many health and environmental organizations worldwide support the proposed ban.
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May 30th, 2009 CPSM
New therapies and supportive care methods are being explored by cancer researchers, giving hope to many who suffer from asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. In particular, researchers are looking into combination therapies, using traditional treatments such as chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, along with or followed by a drug regimen aimed at increasing survival times and improving quality of life.
Helping Mesothelioma Patients is one site that keeps up to date information on many resources for someone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Besides basic information about the disease, they list resources, treatment centers, doctors, and many in-depth, current articles.
Some of the article topics include:
· epidemiology, risk factors and prevention
· symptoms, assessment, diagnosis, and staging
· multiple types of mesothelioma explained
· traditional treatment options: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy
· alternative and combination therapies
· new drug treatments
· supportive and palliative care
· latest advances in treating cancer
The latest article, Mesothelioma Therapy Aims to Destroy Root of Cancer, discusses a new therapy that targets not only cancer cells, but stem cells that are believed to be the cause of cancer and the cells responsible for tumor recurrence and metastases. Weekly, new articles are written aimed at helping any one who has mesothelioma or concerned family members who want more information.
If you or a loved one has a history of exposure to asbestos or have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, arming yourself with knowledge can be extremely useful as you navigate the difficult path of having cancer. Your first step should be to seek expert care, and if diagnosed, consider joining a research study and participating in a clinical trial.
Cancer is a journey that is easier taken with the support of others and with a healthcare team that is experienced and knowledgeable. There are many forms of treatment and also support. To talk to someone in person and get more information, please call 1-800-440-4262 or visit http://www.helping-mesothelioma-patients.org/. To find out information about how you may be able to get help financially from an experienced asbestos law firm visit http://www.mesothelioma-attorney.com.
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May 29th, 2009 CPSM
After asbestos was discovered, Cesar Chavez Central, a charter school in Colorado Springs, will close down and not reopen. The cost of asbestos abatement and renovation, estimated to be $600,000, would be too costly. School leaders are asking to close down Central and have students and staff move to another sister charter school site.
Only a few months after opening the Cesar Chavez in 2007, school officials became aware of the asbestos problem and realized that they would not be able to expand their facilities as planned because they could not afford to rebuild or remove the toxic material.
Asbestos is a fibrous, naturally occurring silicate mineral that exhibits heat, fire and erosion resistant properties that made it very useful in building materials often used in schools prior to the mid-1980’s. Under certain conditions, asbestos containing materials can release fibers into the air, which can then be inhaled by the occupants of the school. When inhaled, asbestos can cause serious diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. The best protection is to avoid any and all exposure. Due to the severe health hazards caused by exposure to asbestos, regulations about rebuilding or demolishing buildings that contain asbestos are very strict. The cost of renovation that includes proper asbestos abatement can be very high.
Parents claim they were not informed of the asbestos problem until May, although CEO Lawrence Hernandez says that the information was shared and the knowledge of asbestos in the buildings was not kept a secret. Parents question the high salaries that the two CEO’s were receiving, arguing that the school would have had the funds to address the asbestos issue and avoid closing its doors if the officials had received a more reasonable salary.
The Cesar Chavez Academy Board President defends the administrations financial decisions and salary choices.
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May 29th, 2009 CPSM
A concerned citizen in Medford, New York, was arrested for taking asbestos samples from Eagle Elementary School and charged with trespassing. Eugene Roos entered into the school on multiple occasions and took asbestos samples and video footage of alleged asbestos hazards, and then released his footage to a local news station. Cablevision’s News 12 has then aired a series using the footage and current parent and school reactions.
Roos took samples of insulation he suspected contained asbestos, and also footage of asbestos removal work performed in April and last weekend. Just last November, the Patchogue-Medford School District was cited by the State Labor Department for improper removal of floor tiles. The latest asbestos removal involved a limited amount of asbestos pipe insulation.
Asbestos was used significantly in construction since the late 1800’s because it is highly resistant to heat, fire and erosion. Many products used in the construction of schools were made with asbestos, including:
- pipe insulation
- fireproofing, acoustical sprays and stucco
- fireproof textiles
- cement and cement piping
- floor tile and linoleum
- electrical wiring
- insulation
- wallboard, joint compound and wall texture
- fireproof textiles
Asbestos fibers are strong, durable and virtually indestructible. If asbestos containing products are damaged or removed, fibers can be released and inhaled, causing severe illnesses, including mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. The harmful effects of asbestos and causal link to mesothelioma are now widely accepted and asbestos removal work is heavily regulated.
Despite school officials and State Department of Labor Asbestos Control Bureau saying the building is safe, student attendance remained down over fears of asbestos contamination. School trustees held a special meeting Wednesday and agreed to retest air quality in all 11 schools in the district, hopefully by week’s end.
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May 22nd, 2009 CPSM
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is important to first seek advice from medical experts and to learn as much as you can about the disease. After talking with healthcare professionals and deciding on your treatment options, it is also important to consult with an experienced asbestos attorney. This is especially true if you have a known exposure to asbestos from a company, the military or a known source. Even if you don’t know where you might have been exposed to asbestos, seeking legal advice is vital to getting compensation to help offset the cost of medical care, lost wages and other associated expenses.
There are many types of personal injury attorneys, yet if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or an asbestos related disease, it is best to get assistance from a law firm that specializes in asbestos lawsuits and has a successful track record getting settlements for their clients.
Mesothelioma is a serious illness primarily associated with exposure to asbestos. Many times exposure could have been avoided and mesothelioma prevented if those that knew of the dangers of asbestos had provided information or followed safety regulations. Negligent employers, contractors, distributors, manufacturers, and companies can be held accountable and ordered to pay restitution.
New treatments are available for mesothelioma patients that could provide better quality of life and longer survival times, however they can be expensive. Part of the asbestos lawyer’s job is to obtain monetary compensation to cover medical costs as well as pain and suffering experienced by families who have a loved one inflicted with mesothelioma.
An asbestos lawsuit can be brought by the mesothelioma patient as a personal injury claim or by a surviving family member or executor of a deceased person’s estate as a wrongful death case. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will be able to tell you invaluable information that non-specialized firms could not provide, such as the statute of limitation in each state and extensive knowledge of work sites, occupations, companies and products that increase risk of exposure to asbestos. Attorneys that specialize in asbestos lawsuits or mesothelioma cases also have particular legal knowledge and connections that can help ensure faster and more successful settlements.
The asbestos attorneys at Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason have over 25 years of experience helping clients throughout the United States successfully litigate their mesothelioma lawsuits. They have represented hundreds of workers who were exposed to asbestos either occupationally or indirectly. They are experts in their field and well known for proving the full range of asbestos exposures that cause mesothelioma to develop. They have extensive knowledge of the asbestos industry and are quick to get financial settlements so that clients can concentrate on their health and recovery.
If you would like to consult with an experienced mesothelioma or asbestos attorney at no cost, please call toll free 1-800-440-4262. Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason never charge clients a fee unless they recover compensation. They also have extensive knowledge of mesothelioma treatment centers, doctors, medical options, and support groups.
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