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Alimta (Pemetrexed) Mesothelioma Treatment

In July 2002, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Eli Lilly Company announced that Alimta (pemetrexed) would be made available to patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The drug, a chemotherapy treatment is not fully FDA approved but will be made available to "qualified patients who have been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and have not yet received treatment." The FDA allows Alimta to be used under a so-called "Expanded access program," that allows new treatments available to patients with diseases like mesothelioma, for which there is no other treatment or satisfactory alternative therapy. Under this program, patients with mesothelioma will be given access to Alimta while the FDA review process is going forward and the treatment is pending review.

The FDA agreed to allow patients use of Alimta under the "expanded access program" based on the initial results from clinical trials. The results of a Phase III trial discussed at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, showed that patients treated with Alimta and cisplatin had better survival rates, had less pain and shortness of breath. Pemetrexed (Alimta) is a new antifolate, a type of drug that targets the folic acid metabolic pathway, inhibiting the availability of certain B complex vitamins. The downside, in the trial was that in some patients there was decrease in the number of white blood cells used to fight infections.

The clinical trial was the largest ever conducted in the US for a mesothelioma treatment.

The findings: Tumors shrank in 41 percent of patients on Alimta (pemetrexed) in combination cisplatin, a more common chemotherapy treatment. Cisplatin resulted reduced to tumors in 17 percent of patients receiving it. Patients on the Alimta (pemetrexed) cisplatin combination lived nearly three months longer than those on cisplatin alone.

According to lead author of the study, Nicholas J. Vogelzang, M.D., University of Chicago Cancer Research Center, "This is the largest clinical trial ever conducted in this disease and the 25 to 30 percent improvement in survival for patients on the combination therapy is the first time anyone has documented a significant improvement in patients treated for mesothelioma."

Under the current expanded access program, Alimta may be available free to patients who qualify. Additionally, patients with mesothelioma may be entitled to large settlements against employers or asbestos makers.

If you would like more information about Mesothelioma or your legal rights please contact us here.

Innovative Treatments For Mesothelioma Patients

Aside from the standard or traditional treatment options for mesothelioma patients, the following are the innovative treatment options that can be applied accordingly to the patient:

Alimta (pemetrexed) now available to patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. New chemotherapy drug treatment....read more.

Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a type of cancer treatment, is premised in the theory that single-celled organisms, if first treated with certain photosensitive drugs, will die when exposed to light at a particular frequency. Through PDT, doctors attempt to destroy cancerous cells through the use of fixed frequency light to activate photosensitizing drugs that have accumulated in body tissues.

In PDT, a doctor administers photosensitizing drug intravenously. In a matter of days, the drug selectively concentrates in diseased cells, while rapidly being eliminated from normal cells. Doctors then expose the treated cancer cells to a laser light chosen for its ability to activate the photosensitizing agent. Doctors deliver this laser light to the cancer site, (in the case of mesothelioma, the pleura), through a fiberoptic device that allows the doctor to control the laser light. As the agent in the treated cells absorbs the light, an active form of oxygen destroys the surrounding cancer cells. A doctor must carefully time the light exposure so that it occurs when most of the photosensitizing drug has left the healthy cells, but remains present in cancerous ones.

Skin sensitivity is the major side effect of PDT. Doctors usually advise patients undergoing this type of therapy to avoid direct and even indirect sunlight for at least six weeks. Other side effects may include nausea, vomiting, a metallic taste in the mouth, and eye sensitivity to light.

Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is designed to repair, stimulate, or enhance the immune system's natural anticancer function. Through immunotherapy, sometimes called biological therapy, doctors use the body's own immune system to protect against disease. Researchers have found that the immune system may recognize the difference between healthy cells and cancer cells, and eliminate those that become cancerous.

Substances used in immunotherapy, called biological response modifiers (BRMs) alter the interaction between the body's immune defenses and cancer, thereby improving the body's ability to fight disease. Some BRMs, such as cytokines and antibodies, occur naturally in the body, however, pharmaceuticals can now make BRMs in the laboratory that imitate or influence natural immune response agents. These BRMs may enhance the immune system to fight cancer cell growth, eliminate, regulate, or suppress the body's responses that permit cancer growth, make cancer cells more susceptible to destruction by the immune system, alter cancer cell's growth patterns to behave like normal cells, block or reverse the process that changes a normal cell into a cancer cell, and prevent a cancer cell from spreading to other sites. BRMs doctors currently used in cancer treatment include interferons, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor, colony-stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, and cancer vaccines.

Specific immunotherapy research has concentrated on the SV40 virus. Some researchers believe that the presence of this virus makes the formation of mesothelioma tumors more likely. Having identified this virus, researchers now hope to develop a vaccine, which could prevent the development of mesothelioma in those a risk by prompting the body to produce antibodies that would attack the SV40 virus.

Gene Therapy
Gene therapy treats mesothelioma, and other diseases, by manipulating an individual's genes to achieve a therapeutic goal. The premise of gene therapy is based on correcting disease at the DNA level and compensating for the abnormal genes.

Replacement gene therapy replaces a mutated or missing gene, most often a tumor suppressor gene, with a normal copy of that gene to keep cell growth and division under control. The most common gene mutated in cancer has become a prime target for gene replacement. Researchers have met with some success in inhibiting cell growth, inhibiting angiogenesis (the development of a tumor's blood supply), and inducing apoptosis (cell death). Knockout gene therapy targets the products of oncogenes (a gene that can induce tumor formation) in an effort to render them inactive and reduce cell growth.

Brachytherapy

Innovative new radiation treatment, that is less invasive....read more

Alternative Medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine covers a wide range of treatments that conventional medicine does not commonly accept or make available to its patients. Acupuncture, herbs, homeopathy, therapeutic massage, and Far Eastern medicine are among those treatments considered alternative.

Patients can use these therapies alone as an alternative to conventional medicine, or in addition to conventional medicine. Many focus on treating the whole patient ­ physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. These treatments are not generally used in hospitals, and, for the most part, are not covered under insurance policies.

Mesothelioma Updates : New Technology To Detect Asbestos-Related Lung Disease

Michael Harbut, M.D., MPH, co-director of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers (NCVAC) at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, MI, and chief of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine Wayne State University, announced the use of a new technology to aid in the diagnosis of asbestos-related lung disease. The announcement was made at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organizations annual conference, Saturday, March 28, in Manhattan Beach, CA.

"Radiographic approaches developed by Carmen Endress, M.D., FACR, Associate Professor of Radiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine and radiologist at the NCVAC, allow us to visualize lesions caused by asbestos exposure in three dimensional detail and often at a much earlier stage than that of the current standard radiographic techniques," said Harbut.

This new approach involves taking images obtained on the 64-slice high resolution CT scan and enhancing them using the Vitrea imaging software program developed by Vital Images, Inc.

Harbut explained, "The benefits of this new approach include the possibility of earlier detection; better differentiation between patients with scarring on the lungs and other diseases; assistance in determining why some people who have thickening on the covering of the lungs have uncontrolled, unrelenting pain; and potentially increased success in the overall diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related disease.

According to Harbut, this approach could also have a significant public-health impact.

If we can identify the sentinel or first cases of asbestosis or lung cancer at an early stage, then we can help identify asbestos exposures in places where it might not have previously been suspected. Such identification of early detection could help to reduce the death rate from asbestos-related diseases."

Harbut added that this new technology approach to chest radiography could also help reduce cases of fraud which have been reported in asbestos litigation, due to the clarity and sophistication of the images that can help identify which cases are asbestos-related and which are not.

Dr. Endress added, "Its my sincere hope that with this new approach and enhanced technology we will help reduce the death rate caused by asbestos-related diseases, reduce the suffering by patients and their loved ones, and make a significant contribution to medicine."

The use of this technology in the diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related cancers and high-malignancy potential asbestos-related diseases represents another first for Karmanos Cancer Institute scientists and physicians. Previously, NCVAC researchers were among the first to discover the value of osteopontin a tumor marker of mesothelioma and published this finding in the New England Journal of Medicine. Karmanos workers have also reported the potential value of soluble mesothelin-related peptide, another tumor marker, in screening for mesothelioma.

Michael Harbut, M.D., MPH, Chief of the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, is co-director of the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, in Detroit, MI. In response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) identification of major sources of public asbestos exposure in Michigan, and to address the need for early diagnosis and aggressive treatment of asbestos-related diseases, the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM) affiliated with Wayne State University, joined forces to establish The National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers (NCVAC). COEM has had a long interest in asbestos-related diseases and the Karmanos Cancer Institute is heavily involved in both clinical and basic research on asbestos-related cancers enabling the two centers to rapidly bring together the expertise and resources necessary to study the problem immediately.

Source: Karmanos Cancer Institute

Scientific And Medical Facts About Chrysotile Asbestos Will Be Presented To US Congress

The Environmental Information Association (EIA) and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) today announced the development of the Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet (CAFS). The EIA and ADAO concluded, along with the majority of scientific agencies, that there is sufficient evidence to support that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are carcinogenic and are responsible for asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, laryngeal and ovarian cancers.

The CAFS provides clear, easily digested information on the dangers of chrysotile, compiled by asbestos medical experts and scientists with a collective 300 plus years of experience and hundreds of peer review scientific publications on asbestos among themselves.

The Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet will be presented to the United States Congress as a scientifically developed paper in support of the continued efforts to ban asbestos. The Environmental Information Association and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization continues to educate the public and government representatives to the dangers of asbestos.

"The Environmental Information Association is proud to collaborate with the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization to produce the EIA/ADAO Chrysotile Asbestos Fact Sheet, in an effort to clarify the misinformation released on the very real dangers of asbestos exposure," said J. Brent Kynoch, Managing Director, Environmental Information Association. "We will continue our endeavor for full acknowledgement by the asbestos industry, and widespread education of the public, of the risks associated with asbestos."

"Somberly, we honor and remember victims today on Worker's Memorial Day who have died from asbestos exposure," said Linda Reinstein, Executive Director, Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization. "Asbestos exposure is the world's leading cause of cancer in the workplace and the United States Congress must act now and ban asbestos. Prevention is our only cure for asbestos-caused diseases."

The contributors of the document include: Michael Breu CIH, Dana Brown, Dr. Ronald Dodson, William Ewin, Joy Finch, Sean Fitzgerald, Dr. Arthur Frank, Steve Hays PE CIH, Dave Hogue, Brent Kynoch, Tom Laubenthal, Dr. Richard Lemen, Dr. James Millette, Linda Reinstein, Andreas Saldivar, and Dr. James Webber.

Source: Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers In USA

Here are the detailed listing of mesothelioma treatment centers located throughout the United States and explains some of the unique asbestos risks for each state to help you learn more about your risk of developing mesothelioma.

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
Washington DC
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Learn Mesothelioma And Its Statistics

From 1965 - 1999 there are already 159,000 recorded deaths due to asbestos exposure and it's increasing each year. This number represents approximately 4,000 deaths per year. Starting in 1965, the number of deaths increases by 400-500 a year and by the mid-1900s it is approximately 9,700 deaths per year.

Why the steady increase?
Asbestos-related diseases are typically diagnosed 15 to 40 years after initial exposure to asbestos. In the 1960s, there was a spike in the number of asbestos- related diseases reported by shipyard workers who had worked in close contact with asbestos during WWII.

What does the future hold?
The definitive 1982 epidemiological study projected that between 1999 and 2030 there would be approximately 166,000 additional asbestos-related deaths.

Annual Projected Deaths From Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer (selected industries**)

Year	1972	1982	1992	2002	2012	2022	2027
Total	3,286	5,055	5,497	4,693	2,987	1,254	646

Annual Projected Deaths, Asbestos-Related Gastrointestinal/Other Cancers (selected industries)

Year	1972	1982	1992	2002	2012	2022	2027
Total	1,034	1,376	1,494	1,274	812	340	176

Annual Projected Deaths From Asbestos-Related Mesothelioma (selected industries)

Year	1972	1982	1992	2002	2012	2022	2027
Total	1,082	1,775	2,748	3,060	2,661	1,495	917

Note: 80 percent of mesothelioma (the most lethal form of asbestos-related disease -- cancer of the chest cavity lining) cases are caused by asbestos exposure, and these cases are usually fatal.

**Primary asbestos manufacturing, secondary manufacturing, insulation work, shipbuilding and repair, construction trades, railroad engine repair, utility services, stationary engineers and firemen, chemical plant and refinery maintenance, automobile maintenance, and marine engine room personnel.

Note : The above was provided by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1999

What Are The Stages Of Mesothelioma?

Doctors often determine treatment options depending on the stage of mesothelioma. Doctors currently use one of three staging systems. Each system measures somewhat different variables.

Doctors most often use the Butchart System, the oldest staging system and t. The more recent TNM system . The Brigham System,

1. Butchart System ( the oldest staging system and the one that mainly considers the extent of primary tumor mass and divides mesothelioma into four stages)

   Stage I consists of the presence of mesothelioma in the lining of the right or left lung and may also involve the diaphragm on the same side. Stage II includes the invasion of mesothelioma into the chest wall or esophagus, hear, or lung lining on bother sides. In addition, lymph nodes in the chest may also be involved. The onset of Stage III begins when the mesothelioma penetrates through the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. In this stage the cancer may also affect lymph nodes beyond those in the chest. Doctors identify Stage IV, the final stage, when evidence of metastasis or the spread of cancer to other organs exists.

2. TNM System (considers tumor in mass and spread, lymph node involvement, and metastasis)

   Stage I involves the lining of the right or left lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. At this stage, lymph nodes are not involved. Stage II begins when mesothelioma spreads from the lining of the lung on one side to a lymph node on the same side. At this stage, the cancer may also spread to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same side. Stage III begins when mesothelioma exists in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, heart, esophagus, or other organs in the chest on the same side as the primary tumor. In the final stage, Stage IV, the mesothelioma has spread into the lymph nodes in the chest on the side opposite the primary tumor, or extends into the lung opposite the primary tumor, or directly into the organs in the abdominal cavity or neck. Metastasis is included in this stage.

3. Brigham System (the latest system, stages mesothelioma according to resectability or ability to surgically remove and lymph node involvement)

   The Brigham System concerns itself primarily with the resectability or the ability surgically remove the mesothelioma mass. In Stage I the tumor is resectable and lymph nodes are unaffected. In Stage II the tumor remains respectable but the mesothelioma affects the lymph nodes. In Stage III the tumor becomes unresectable and extends into the chest wall, heart, or through the diaphragm, peritoneum. Stage III can occur with or without lymph node involvement. Stage IV occurs when doctors discover metastasic disease of distant organs.

   Once doctors identify the stage of a patient's malignant mesothelioma, the patient and doctor can discuss and consider the various treatment options available. The treatment program for mesothelioma depends on many factors, including: the stage of the cancer, the location of the cancer, the spread of the cancer, the characteristics of the cancer cells under a microscope and the patient's age and desires.

What Are The Treatments Available For Mesothelioma?

Once the doctor has finalized the diagnosis of mesothelioma, treatment can be done accordingly. Treatment is based on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. However, standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.

• Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.

• Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).

• Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV). Doctors are also studying the effectiveness of putting chemotherapy directly into the chest or abdomen (intracavitary chemotherapy).

To relieve symptoms and control pain, the doctor may use a needle or a thin tube to drain fluid that has built up in the chest or abdomen. This procedure is called thoracentesis. Removal of fluid from the abdomen is called paracentesis. Drugs may be given through a tube in the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating. Radiation therapy and surgery may also be helpful in relieving symptoms.

What Are The Diagnosis Of Mesothelioma?

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Learn The Symptoms Of Mesothelioma

Do you know that symptoms of mesothelioma may only appear 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos? This is very dangerous, however here are the symptoms that we should know:

For Pleural Mesothelioma (These are due to an accumulation of fluid)

• Shortness of breath
  
• Pain in the chest
  

For Peritoneal Mesothelioma

• Weight loss
  
• Abdominal pain
  
• Swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen.
  
• Bowel obstruction
• Blood clotting abnormalities
• Anemia
• Fever.

If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:

• pain
• trouble swallowing
• swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Because only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

Who Are At Risk For Developing Mesothelioma

Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.

There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.

Learn The Major Risk Factors For Mesothelioma

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

What Is Mesothelioma And Where Can It Develops?

First we must know what is Mesothelioma? This is based on the definition given by the National Cancer Institute. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium. Where the cancer gets its name. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

Moreover, Mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium is responsible in producing a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

Mesothelioma cancer can develop in the tissues covering the lungs or the abdomen.

Mesothelioma in the chest
The tissues lining (or covering) the lungs are called the pleura. There are two pleura. These can be called pleural membranes. The gap between them is called the pleural space. The pleura are fibrous sheets. They help to protect the lungs. They produce a lubricating fluid that fills the gap between the two pleura. This helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when they are inflating and deflating as we breathe.

Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in the pleura. This is known as pleural mesothelioma. Because it is so close, pleural mesothelioma can also affect the sheet of tissue covering the heart - the pericardium. Doctors call the pericardium the lining, although it is on the outside of the heart. It protects the heart and allows it to move smoothly within the sac that surrounds it. So it does much the same job for the heart as the pleura do for the lungs.

Mesothelioma in the abdomen
The tissue lining the abdomen (tummy) is called the peritoneum. It helps to protect the contents of the abdomen. It also produces a lubricating fluid. This helps the organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen as we move around.

Mesothelioma of the tissues lining the abdominal cavity is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. It is much less common than pleural mesothelioma.

It is unusual for mesothelioma to spread to other parts of the body. But if it does, it does not usually cause troublesome symptoms.

Benign mesothelioma

There is a form of non cancerous (benign) mesothelioma that can develop in the lining of the lungs, or in the lining of the reproductive organs. It can occur in either men or women. These non cancerous tumours are very rare.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

Asbestos is a cancerous material, and exposure to it may result in later development of diseases such as benign pleural effusion, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, rounded atelectasis, asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Most exposure to asbestos has occurred occupationally. However, people have also been exposed to asbestos through common household products, old buildings, and by indirect contact from loved ones who have work with asbestos directly and have carried home asbestos dust on their clothing.

Although the manufacturing of asbestos products has been greatly reduced in the United States due to increasing governmental regulations since the late 1970's, asbestos still remains present today in old structures, buildings, and even warships that were built before this time. For this reason and due to the long latency period between the initial symptoms of the disease and diagnosis, asbestos-related disease still remains a serious public health hazard.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is one of many diseases categorized as an “environmental lung disease” or “occupational lung disease”. It is a lung condition referred to as diffuse pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestosis results from coming in contact with asbestos and inhaling its deadly fibers into your lungs. These asbestos fibers, once inhaled, accumulate in the lung tissue, thus distinguishing it from other fibrotic diseases. Additionally, asbestos fibers have been found in small numbers beyond the lungs; such as the tonsils, thoracic and abdominal lymph nodes, pleura, peritoneum, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, liver, stomach, esophagus, small and large intestines. This disease is progressive and irreversible in nature and typically leads to subsequent respiratory disability. In most severe cases, asbestosis may even lead to death from pulmonary hypertension and cardiac failure.

Any accumulation of dust in the lungs, whether is asbestos or not, is referred to as “pneumoconiosis”. Pneumoconiosis also refers to the pathologic response of the human body to the presence of the accumulated dust in the lungs, which results in asbestosis. Some of the symptoms of asbestosis are; shortness of breath, dry cough, X-Ray changes, and pulmonary function deficiencies. The latency period for asbestosis is generally several decades and it can occur in individuals exposed to large amounts of any of the three commercial forms of asbestos (chrysotile, amosite, or crocidolite) for extended periods of time. This disease may also develop even if the exposure was as brief as three years or less, if the level of exposure was heavy. There are also two other types of asbestos, which are non-commercial, and they are amphibole and anthophyllite.

Mesothelioma

The term Mesothelioma is used to describe a cancerous tumor that involves the “mosothelial” cells of an organ, usually the lungs, heart or abdominal organs.

Mesothelioma is classified into two types, pleural and peritoneal. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type and it is a very rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. The “pleura” is a thin membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity, which serves as a lubricant to prevent the lungs from chafing against the chest walls. Peritoneal mesothelioma, although less common, is more invasive and therefore results in a shorter life expectancy for the patient. Mesotheliomas have also been found in other abdominal organs.

As with other types of cancer, there are benign and malignant mesothelioma. The most common of the two is by far the diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. This particular type of tumor is very aggressive and invasive, spreading quickly over the surface of the lungs, abdominal organs or heart. Depending at which stage this disease is detected and the general health and strength of the patient, the life expectancy for the victims is between four and twenty-four months. The average person diagnosed with this aggressive type of tumor survives for between four and twelve months from the onset of symptoms. These symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and sleeping, pain in the chest and abdominal regions, progressive loss of weight and appetite and pleural effusions (fluid in the chest cavity). However, some victims have survived for several years with the proper treatment.

Lung Cancer

Smoking is by far the leading cause of lung cancer. Tobacco smoke causes more than 8 out of 10 cases of lung cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Tobacco products contain harmful carcinogens (cancer causing agents) that can damage the cells in the lungs. The longer a person has been smoking and the more cigarettes a day smoked, the greater the chances are of contracting lung cancer. Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke, which is called involuntary or passive smoking, can also increase the risk of developing lung cancer. If a person stops smoking before lung cancer develops, the lung tissue slowly returns to normal.

Even though smoking is mostly responsible for causing lung cancer, it is not the sole cause of it. Asbestos exposure can also cause lung cancer. People who work with asbestos are already in danger of getting lung cancer, and by smoking, the risk is greatly increased. Although the manufacturing of asbestos has slowed down significantly due to government regulations, it is still present in some products and old buildings. However, if left undisturbed, asbestos poses no danger. Asbestos is only dangerous when it has been disturbed and its raw form (fibers) is released into the air and breathed in.

Asbestos Products

The following are the products of asbestos:

Acustical Plaster Acoustic Finishes Adhesives Agricultural Filler Air Cell Pipecovering ASB Weatherproof Jacket Asbestos Gloves Asbestos Cord Asbestos Canvas Asbestos Curtains Asbestos Felt Asbestos Finishing Cement Asbestos Flatboard Asbestos Lap Asbestos Micarta Asbestos Millboard Asbestos Mineral Wool Asbestos Pads Asbestos Panel Asbestos Packing Asbestos Roalboard Asbestos Seals Asbestos Sheets Asbestos Sponge Block Asbestos Rope Asbestos Tiles Asbestos Tape Asbestos Wick Asbestos Yarn Attic Insulation Automotive Breaks Automotive Clutches Automotive Hoodliners Baby Powder Base Flashing Boiler Insulation Boiler Wall Coat Blown-in Insulation Bonding Cement Breaching Insulation Brick and Block Mortar Calcium Silicate Insulation Caulking Ceiling Tiles Cement Pipes

Cement Siding Cement Wallboard Clay Cigarette Filters Construction Mastics Cooling Towers Corrugated Paper Cork Board Cork Overing Cork-Filled Mastic Crock Pots Decorative Plaster Duct Tape Ductwork Connectors Duplex block Duplex pipecovering Dry Mix Joint Compound Ehret Asbestos Fiber Felt Ehret Block Ehret Pipecovering Ehret Products Electrical Cloth Electrical Panel Partitions Electric Wiring Insulation Elevator Brake Shoes Emulsion Adhesive Expansion Joint Fertilizers Firebrick Firefoil Board Firefoil Panel Fireproofing Materials Flex Board Flexible Duct Connectors Flooring Backing Fire Blankets Pipe Insulation Pipe Covering Pumps Putties Fire Curtains Fire Dampers Fire Doors Fume Hoods Furnace Cement

Gasket Material Generators Glassbestos Glassblower Mitts Gold Bond Adhesive G.B. Asbestos Paper G.B. Asbestos Sheets Gold Bond Cement Gold Bond Perfo-Lyte Gold Bond Plaster Gold Bond Products Gold Bond Spackle Paster Gold bond Tar Paper Gunning Mix Hair Dryers Heating Ducts Heat Guard Heat Seal Hitemp block Hitemp board Hitemp pipecovering Hitemp Insul. Cement HVAC Duct Insulation Insulation Coating Insulation Duct Insulation Jacketing Insulating Mix Insulation Seal Iron Rests Joint Compounds Laboratory Gloves Laboratory Hoods Lagging adhesive Lagging cloth Lagging tape Machine Room Ducts Machine Room Ceillings Machine Room Floors Machine Room Walles Marine Panels Masonry Fill Metal Mesh Blanket Mittens Mitts Navy Sealer

Packing Materials Paint Patching Fiber Patching Plaster Potting Mixtures Popcorn Popers Permaboard Refractory Cememt Rollboard Rope Rope Packing Roofing Felt Roofing Shingles Sheet Packing Sheet Rope Sheetrock Silicate Calsilite Spackle Spackle Paster Spackling Compounds Spray Fireproofing Stone Corrugated Sheets Stone Sheathing Stove Mats Spry-Appliend Insulation T-bar Ceiling Tile Taping Compounds Textile Garments Textile Cloths Textured Paints Textured Coatings Thernal Paper Products Thermal Spray Transite Troweled Coating Turbines Valve Rings Valve Stem Packing Valves Vermiculite Compounds Vinyl Floor Tile Vinyl Wallpaper Welding Blankets Welding Rods Wood Fiber Plaster

What Is Asbestos?

The term asbestos comes from the Greek word for “inextinguishable” or “indestructible.” Asbestos is a fibrous mineral with thermal and chemical resistance, flexibility, and high tensile strength properties. Although its use has been reduced since the 1970's, today asbestos is still present in many common household items and old buildings.

The first use of asbestos dates back to 2500 B.C., when it was used as a wick material for oil lamps and also in pottery making. Asbestos was also used in cloths for retaining the ashes of the dead during cremation. Mats were also made from asbestos by both the Chinese and Egyptians. Combining asbestos with clay and other materials was also one of its earlier applications.

Asbestos is classified into many different types, which include; chrysotile (white asbestos), crocidolite (blue asbestos), amosite (brown asbestos), tremolite, anthopyllite, and actinolite.

However, only chrysolite is the most widely used asbestos type in the United States. Other asbestos types used commercially are crocidolite and amosite, but in a limited capacity. Tremolite, anthopyllite, and actinolite are the most abundant, but they have been used primarily as contaminants of other minerals, such as chrysotile, verniculite, and talc.

Since its discovery, asbestos has found widespread use in part due to its unmatched engineering and commercial performance. Due to its thermal resistant qualities, asbestos has been used as a frictional material in break pads. It has also been used in specialized products such as gaskets, pads, fabric sheets, and asbestos paper due to the length and pliability of its fibers. Mixed into a slurry, asbestos has been applied to building surfaces for fire protection and heat retention, such as in furnaces and kilns. As a fortifying additive, which is it's major present day use, asbestos is a component of cement, concrete, paint, vinyl, and tar mixtures, accounting for 70% of current applications worldwide.

Glossary Of Terms Used By Insurance and Medical Billing

Following are some of the most common terms you may hear that are associated with your insurance plans and medical billing.

Ambulatory Surgery	Surgery done in the doctor’s office or at a surgical center, and not requiring an overnight stay.
Ancillary Providers	Services over and above physician services, including laboratory, radiology, home health and skilled nursing facilities.
Authorization	Approval of care required before a service is provided. Pre-authorization may be necessary before hospital admission, or before care is given by non-HMO providers.
Balance Billing	Billing a patient for charges not paid by their insurance plan because the charges are above the Usual and Customary Rate or because the insurer considered a procedure medically unnecessary.
Carve-out Policy	A contracted agreement between an insurance company and another company which provides special services to its members, such as prescription drugs or cancer treatment.
Claim	A record of medical services provided to a patient and submitted by the provider to the insurance company for payment.
Claims Review	The method by which a patient’s health care service claims are reviewed before reimbursement is made. This is done to validate the appropriateness of services given and that the cost is not excessive.
Coinsurance	A provision which limits the amount of the coverage paid by an insurance plan to a certain percentage, with the remaining costs paid by the member.
Co-payment	The portion of a claim that a member must pay out-of-pocket.
CPT-4	A 5-digit code that applies to medical services delivered.
Deductible	The amount an insured member must pay before the insurance company pays benefits.
EOB (Explanation of Benefits)	A statement describing medical benefits and account activity, including explanation of why certain claims may or may not have been paid.
Exclusion	Services or supplies not covered under a health plan.
Fee Schedule	A listing of the maximum fee which a health plan will pay for services based on CPT billing codes.
ICD-9	A 3 to 5-digit number code describing a diagnosis or medical procedure.
Inpatient	A patient who is admitted to a hospital and receives medical services from a physician during at least a 24-hour period.
In-Network Provider	Physicians and other service providers who are contracted with a managed care plan.
Out-of-Network Provider	Physicians who are not contracted with a managed care plan.
Outpatient	A patient who receives health care services, but is not admitted to a hospital during a 24-hour period.
Primary Care Physician	A physician, usually a general, family practitioner or internist, who delivers general health care, and is most often the first doctor a patient sees. This physician treats the patient directly, refers them to a specialist (or secondary care physician) or admits them to the hospital.
Provider	A physician, hospital, laboratory, pharmacy or other organization that provides health care, goods or services.
Pre-Certification	Also known as pre-admission certification, is the process of obtaining authorization from the health care plan for routine inpatient and outpatient admissions. Failure to obtain pre-certification may result in penalty to the provider or the subscriber.
Referral Authorization	Approval for a member to see a physician or access services outside of the participating medical group.
Referral Physician	A physician who sees a patient after another doctor has sent them for specialty care or services.
Referring Physician	A physician who sends a patient to another doctor for specialty care or services.
Subscriber	A person who enrolls in a health care plan and agrees to pay for premiums, co-payments and deductibles that are part of the plan.
Treating Physician	A physician who provides care to the patient while in the hospital, and usually works at the hospital or comes in as a specialist.

Informed Consent for Treatment of Mesothelioma Cancer

Informed Consent is the term used to describe the communication between health providers and patients, particularly in clinical trials for new treatments. Informed Consent laws vary greatly from state to state, and also according to the specific case. In many states, Informed Consent laws may be more stringent in cases that involve experimental treatment. Additionally, some informed consent laws require written documents, while others do not.

Most laws require that patients be physically and mentally capable of understanding their condition and the ramifications of the proposed treatment. Therefore, in cases where the patient is unable to give their consent, the legal guardian of the patient makes treatment decisions for the patient. In the case of minors, parents are involved in any Informed Consent issues.

The primary purpose of informed consent is for the patient to have a complete understanding of their treatment, the possible risks of treatment, and the long term consequences of treatment. The goal is for the patient to have reasonable expectations of the effectiveness of treatment, and to understand any possible limitations there may be. As with nearly all cancer treatments, there are usually significant side effects that must be discussed and understood, as there may be instances where patients may find possible side effects too severe when compared to the potential benefits.

Costs associated with treatment are also a major factor when considering possible treatments. Some patients may need time to determine the financial impact. Additionally, the treatment itself may have logistical issues that the patient might want to consider. Certain treatments may be too draining for some malignant mesothelioma patients, who may prefer to spend their time and energy with friends and family.

With Informed Consent, patients are given alternative treatment options as well, helping to give them a full perspective on their available options. Although offering alternative options is a part of Informed Consent, many doctors encourage patients to independently research and explore all their options. Informed Consent does not stop after the initial pre-treatment dialogue. The process of Informed Consent is ongoing, which is essential because patients may change their feelings about a treatment during the clinical trial. These trials are highly regulated, including by the FDA, which has many regulations applicable to trials regardless of whether they have received federal funding. Additionally, many hospitals have Institutional Review Boards that monitor and regulate the clinical trials conducted under their supervision. Clinical trials may also be subjected to peer reviews prior to patient trials. All of these measures are part of the Consent process, and help ensure that the trials run smoothly and safely.

Privacy Policy for mesotheliomaarticlesnews.blogspot.com

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