Study shows palliative care extends survival

The New England Journal of Medicine recently published a report composed by researchers at the Massachusetts General Hospital which advocated palliative care treatment as a method of survival extension. The study, lead by Dr. Jennifer Temel, stated that “integrating palliative care early in the treatment of patients with advanced lung cancer not only improved their mood and quality of life, it also extended their lives.”

Dr. Temel believes that similar studies in other care facilities could help doctors to better understand the potential roles for palliative care regimens in many types of cancer, including mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma, a rapidly progressing and aggressive cancer of the lining of the lung is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. While the disease is relatively rare in comparison to other common health issues, it affects the families of some three thousand Americans each year. Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer with a prognosis which rarely exceeds eighteen months of survival. As such, the vast majority of mesothelioma patients receive primarily palliative care.

Palliative care refers to treatment methods aimed at increasing patient comfort without attacking the cancer itself. Often, mesothelioma patients are too weak to survive radical treatments intended to injure or eradicate malignant tumors. Additionally, the aggressive, recurring nature of the cancer has proven incredibly resistant to curative treatment approaches. In most cases a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are used to control pain, stop bleeding, reduce swelling, and destroy malignant tissues responsible for discomfort. Palliative care works to improve a patient’s quality of life, and to ensure comfortable end of life care.

Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Thoracic Cancer specializes in palliative care treatments. The center delivers “individualized, compassionate care and the most advanced treatments for patients with thoracic cancers,” which include thymoma, lung cancer, esophageal cancer and mesothelioma among others. Massachusetts General Hospital staff are renowned for their exceptional care of both mesothelioma and lung care patients. Dr. Temel’s recent contribution to The New England Journal of Medicine contends that palliative care may provide more complicated benefits than previously believed.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 7th, 2010 at 4:26 AM and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

View the original article here

Fire at Remington Arms Plant in Connecticut May Reveal Asbestos

Mesothelioma Law Blog: Fire at Remington Arms Plant in Connecticut May Reveal Asbestos Mesothelioma Law Blog« Mesothelioma Cancer Causing Asbestos Uncovered in 7 Virginia Beach Schools |Main| Study suggests radical surgeries produce better results »

Fire at Remington Arms Plant in Connecticut May Reveal Asbestos A weekend fire at the Remington Arms plant in Bridgeport razed three buildings which are suspected by fire officials of containing asbestos.

The fire took four ladder companies, six (fire) engine companies, and five hours to knock back. Until the flames were extinguished, black, oily smoke clouded the sky – the result of machines used to manufacture ammunition which, during their lifetime, coated the floorboards of the three buildings with oil.

Beginning life as the Union Metallic Cartridge Company, the building – which went up in 1867, and was added to many times after – likely contains a number of toxic ingredients besides asbestos, but the asbestos is the most disconcerting to the firemen who fought the fire and the Bridgeport residents who breathed the smoky air on Saturday, August 28.

Asbestos was a very common ingredient in any number of building products during most of the last century, up to about the mid-1970s. Contained in drywall, drywall patching compound, wall insulation, pipe insulation, sheet and tile flooring and flooring glues, the product was valued for both its insulative qualities and its resistance to chemical degradation.

That value fell, however, when health officials, manufacturers and government officials all began to observe a trend of asbestos-related diseases emerging in the public sector, most notably mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma, a cancer of the mesothelial tissues that surround and protect the lungs, heart and abdominal organs, occurs most often as pleural mesothelioma (in the lungs). After a long period of dormancy, which can extend to as much as half a century, mesothelial cancer becomes highly aggressive, forcing doctors to deliver prognoses that offer patients little more than a year to live.

There is no cure, and palliative, mainstream treatments like surgery, radiation and chemotherapy – used separately or in combination to reduce pain and improve breathing – do not extend lifetimes by more than a few months. In fact, many mesothelioma sufferers are so debilitated, by the time they are diagnosed, that many doctors fear using any mainstream treatment, and patients will often opt for peripheral therapies like aromatherapy, acupuncture and massage.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the Remington Arms fire, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) have been to the site conducting air quality tests to determine if asbestos has been released, and how much.

The cause of last week’s fire, like others in the past, is suspected as arson, since the buildings in question have been vacant for quite a long time. The three buildings now being demolished as a result are only part of a larger complex.

The city estimates the cost of cleanup at about $11 million, though no one has specified whether this includes asbestos remediation. The buildings’ former owner, according to city officials, currently owes millions of dollars in unpaid taxes.

According to Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch, who described the buildings as a public health hazard, his administration has been “aggressively pursuing” the buildings’ owner to pay taxes and fund building demolition.

Remington, a private company, is the oldest company in the U.S., and has headquarters in Madison, North Carolina. In 2009, Remington became a subsidiary of Freedom Group, which was taken public by investment firm Cerberus Capital Management.

SourceSeptember 11, 2010 in Asbestos | Permalink

Comments Verify your Comment Previewing your CommentPosted by:  | 

This is only a preview. Your comment has not yet been posted.

Your comment could not be posted. Error type: Your comment has been saved. Comments are moderated and will not appear until approved by the author. Post another comment The letters and numbers you entered did not match the image. Please try again.

As a final step before posting your comment, enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below. This prevents automated programs from posting comments.

Having trouble reading this image? View an alternate.

Post a comment Comments are moderated, and will not appear until the author has approved them.

Comment below or sign in with TypePad Facebook Twitter and more... You are currently signed in as (nobody). Sign Out (URLs automatically linked.)

Your Information

(Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.)

Name is required to post a comment

Please enter a valid email address

Invalid URL

November 2010SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930    Recent PostsN.Y.'s high court tosses asbestos suitMesothelioma Cases Rising in the United KingdomDisagreement over the use of surgery to treat mesothelioma patientsAsbestos group wants research not reviewMesothelioma Testing May Predict Cancer Development and Improve Prevention EffortsMesothelioma Treatment Improved with the Addition of Tomudex to Cisplatin TherapyFemale Mesothelioma Patients Live Longer After Surgery Test May Detect MesotheliomaStudy suggests radical surgeries produce better resultsFire at Remington Arms Plant in Connecticut May Reveal Asbestos CategoriesAnti Cancer TreatmentAsbestosAsbestos BillsAsbestos CasesAsbestos CleanupAsbestos CompensationAsbestos DangersAsbestos DeathsAsbestos in the WorkplaceAsbestos SettlementsAsbestos WisconsinColorado MesotheliomaConnecticut AsbestosCrocidolite AsbestosDetecting MesotheliomaErie County AsbestosFight Against CancerFiji AsbestosGeneral Mesothelioma NewsGeorgie AsbestosIllinois AsbestosLegal QuestionsLegal RightsLondon AsbestosMaryland AsbestosMasschusetts AsbestosMesotheliom ResearchMesothelioma AnswersMesothelioma CancerMesothelioma CasesMesothelioma CompensationMesothelioma LawMesothelioma law verdictsMesothelioma LawyerMesothelioma LawyersMesothelioma Legal NewsMesothelioma SettlementsMesothelioma StoriesMesothelioma Treatment OptionsMinnesota Minnesota MesotheliomaMissouri AsbestosNew Jersey MesotheliomaNew York AsbestosOhio ResearchPitsburgh MesotheliomaPreventing MesotheliomaSouth Carolina MesotheliomaTelomerase Gene SequenceTennessee MesotheliomaTexas Mesothelioma AttorneysUK AsbestosUncategorizedUnderstanding MesotheliomaVermont AsbestosVermont Asbestos LawVirginia AsbestosMesothelioma News From Topix.netBlog Created ByLawyers CourtOther Legal BlogsDUI SarasotaKent Washington Personal InjuryRenton Personal InjuryLynnwood Personal InjuryBellevue Personal InjuryEverett Personal Injury LawyerCriminal Tax BlogSecurities Law NewsSacramento DUI LawTax Litigation BlogSearch Engine BlogsExecutive SEO MarketingSearch Engine WatchSearch Engine LowdownGoogle BlogYahoo Search BlogSEARCH MARKETING NEWSSubscribe to this blog's feedAdd me to your TypePad People listOther Legal SitesChicago Medical MalpracticeClearwater DUI AttorneyKirkland Personal Injury LawyerChicago Personal InjuryPolk County Drunk Driving LawyersOrlando DUI Law FirmWashington Auto Accident AttorneysRenton Family LawyersFort Wayne Slip & FallDUI ExpungementDeer Park LawyerChicago LawyersSecurities Arbitration AttorneysMinnesota LawyersPalm Springs DUIChicago AttorneysIllinois Tax AttorneyChicago Securities LawSeattle Car Accident LawyerChicago Illinois AttorneyNew York Construction LawyerChicago Shareholder DisputesCalifornia DUI LawyersIllinois Antitrust LawyersWashington Accident AttorneySeattle Personal InjuryChicago Eminent DomainChicago Corporate LawyersPortland Real Estate LawIowa Injury LawyersChicago Business LawLegal DirectoryChicago Securities LawyerChicago Wills AttorneyChicago Probate LawyersChicago LawyersLegal News FeedsLaw Firm ConsultantChicago Tax LawyersAttorney SEOOther SitesChicago Gutter CleaningHospitality TrainingCredit InsuranceSun ProtectionChicago Career CoachWest Palm Beach BankJackson Hole ContractorsBoston LimousinesSun HatsChicago Web DesignArchivesNovember 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010More...

document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js'%3E%3C/script%3E"));COMSCORE.beacon({ c1: 2, c2: "6035669", c3: "", c4: "http://www.mesotheliomalawblog.com/2010/09/a-weekend-fire-at-the-remington-arms-plant-in-bridgeport-razed-three-buildings-which-are-suspected-by-fire-officials-of-conta.html", c5: "", c6: "", c15: ""});

View the original article here

Hepatic Mesothelioma

hepatic mesothelioma

Cancer is a disease in which the body cells grow uncontrollably because their normal regulatory mechanisms have been damaged. There are literally hundreds of different types and subtypes of cancer however the majority form solid tumours in specific areas of the body. The most common cancers are skin cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, bowel cancer and prostate cancer. Unfortunately the disease is very proficient at spreading through the blood and the lymphatic system and so in advanced cancer cases it is not uncommon to see secondary tumours in far off areas of the body.

The Genetics of Cancer

One of the most important breakthroughs in cancer research came in the late 1970s when scientists discovered that all types of cancer begin with the genetic material within normal body cells becoming damaged. Every cell contains genetic information in the form of more than 90,000 pairs of genes which work together to control the activities of the cell. A cell can become cancerous when specific genes, such as those that control division, become damaged beyond repair. How and why genes become damaged is still a hot topic for research however it would seem that faulty genes are either inherited or they are caused by carcinogens (cancer-causing agents), for example sunlight and cigarette smoke.

Our body cells are continually exposed to carcinogens however in the majority of cases cancer doesn't develop. There are a number of reasons why this is so, for example:

· Cells can normally repair their own damaged genes so that they continue to function properly. · More than one gene has to be damaged in order for cancer to develop.
· The body's immune system can normally kill any cancer cells before they get the chance to multiply and form a tumour.

The Causes of Cancer

Although most cancers appear to be caused by several factors, including genetic/inherited ones, a main environmental cause can often be identified for a particular cancer i.e. smoking cigarettes is commonly associated with lung cancer.

Approximately 35% of stomach cancer and prostate cancer cases are related to diets of unhealthy foods with little or no fresh fruit and vegetables. 30% of lung, breast, colon, cervical and throat cancers are related to tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars. 10% of skin cancer cases are related to the sun and UV rays. 7% of lymphoma, leukaemia, bone cancer and liver cancer cases are related to viruses such as Epstein Barr, HIV, Hepatitis C etc. Pesticides and chemicals, or occupational factors figure into 4% or mouth, throat, stomach and lymphoma cancer cases. Approx 3% of stomach, colon and liver cancer have been linked to excessive consumption of alchohol.

Aging and Cancer

Cancer is most common among older people, largely because their cells have had more time to accumulate genetic damage, but also because the body's defences against cancer, particularly the cells and proteins of the immune system, gradually become less efficient with age. In addition a cancer that began earlier in life may not be diagnosed until old age because it can take years for some types of cancer, most noticeably prostate cancer, to grow large enough to produce noticeable symptoms.

Because life expectancy has increased dramatically over the last 50 years it means that cancer is now one of the most common causes of death in the developed world, second only to coronary heart disease.

Cancer treatment today

For over 2000 years, doctors have attempted to cure cancer by surgically removing visible tumours. For some localised cancers radiotherapy is very effective and this treatment is often combined with surgery with the aim of achieving a cure. Treatment with anti-cancer drugs, known as chemotherapy, may be used instead of or in combination with surgery to destroy cancers that have unfortunately already spread around the body.

New therapies for the treatment of cancer that are currently being assessed include inactivating the damaged genes so that they no longer send messages to the cell, and boosting the body's natural immune system so that it has the ability to destroy any cancerous cells. These therapies are still in the experimental phase however both the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute of the UK, i.e. Cancer Research, are working towards making them viable treatment options for future generation.

Article Source: http://www.depositarticles.com

Andrew Daigle is the owner, creator and author of many successful websites including CancerAbout, a Cancer Resource site and a Mesothelioma Lawyer Resource site.

About the Author

Andrew Daigle is a successful author. Visit http://www.depositarticles.com to read more articles from Andrew Daigle.

Account limit of 2000 requests per hour exceeded. This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010 at 9:29 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

View the original article here

What can affect life Expectancy of Mesothelioma Patients?

There are various factors that can affect the prognosis and life expectancy (survival) of mesothelioma patients. Some of the factors have greater affect on the survival of mesothelioma patients than others. The common factors that influence survival and life expectancy of a mesothelioma patiets are:

Type of mesothelioma:

Generally three types of mesothelioma are common and they are pleural, peritoneal (lining of abdomen) and pericardial (covering of heart is known as pericardium) mesothelioma. There can also be other uncommon types of mesothelioma like testicular mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the commonest type which affects the pleura or the lining or the coverings of lungs. Generally patients with pleural mesothelioma lives longer, because it is the commonest form of mesothelioma and most of the research and treatment studies are done on pleural mesothelioma in compare to other less common types.

Age of patient at diagnosis:

Most (more than 75% of total) of the mesothelioma cases occur in older age group of 55 years or above. But recent reports suggest that the average age of onset of mesothelioma is declining, may be due to mesothelioma occurring in secondary exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma occurring in older individuals may succumb to the disease earlier than younger patients due to associated chronic and severe diseases like heart disease or chronic lung disease. The general health condition of older people also less favorable for better prognosis and better life expectancy.

Smoking:

Smoking can reduce the life expectancy of mesothelioma patient to a great extent, especially in pleural mesothelioma patients. Smoking can affect the disease process in a negative way. The ill effects of smoking on health are well known to all.

The period taken to develop mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos also affects the prognosis and life expectancy of mesothelioma patienst. Sometimes it may take more than 30 years after the last exposure to asbestos to develop mesothelioma. The long latency period can cause difficulty in diagnosing the disease as well as delay in diagnosis. Most of the cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed when it is in the last stage when it may not be amenable to surgery. If diagnosis is in the late stage generally the treatment is only palliative to reduce suffering.

Psychological aspect:

The psychological status of the mesothelioma patient can influence the life expectancy (at least to some extent) of mesothelioma patient, as is the case in most of the chronic and serious diseases. A patient with sound psychology to withstand the serious disease like mesothelioma can have a positive effect on the outcome.

Other associated chronic and serious diseases as well as the type of symptoms mesothelioma produce can affect the prognosis and quality of life of patient.

Categories: Mesothelioma  Tags:

View the original article here

Importance of Hiring a Mesothelioma Attorney who Specializes in Asbestos Lawsuits

Expert Asbestos Attorneys

It is often the case that individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos related lung disease were actually exposed many years in the past from products or activities of corporations that have long since disappeared. Some have entered into bankruptcy and set up trusts for their asbestos related liabilities while others have merely been consumed by other corporations in transactions that are not only confusing, obscure but sometimes downright impossible to comprehend.

Mesothelioma attorneys who specialize in handling asbestos lawsuits are experts in untangling these corporate relationships to determine who has succeeded to the liabilities of the corporation that was initially legally responsible for the product or activity that contributed to the onset of these asbestos related diseases. The lawyers at Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason will not sit by and let corporations relieve themselves of liability by entering into transactions that muddy the water so bad a normal person would be at a loss to determine where those liabilities were transferred to. We take pride in the fact that we have successfully brought to light corporate liabilities asbestos defendants have attempted to hide from the public.

If you have a history of asbestos exposure and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we strongly suggest you work with a firm that only handles asbestos litigation and are experts in getting you help as quickly and painlessly as possible.  We work tirelessly to shine light on those responsible in our efforts to reach just compensation for your injuries, and have a long history of success.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 28th, 2010 at 7:38 am and is filed under asbestos attorneys. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

View the original article here