tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72795963233143214402024-03-05T20:29:45.985-08:00cancer lawyer mesotheliomamesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-36978600307503412242016-02-24T01:55:00.000-08:002016-02-24T01:55:12.388-08:00Mesothelioma Death and Mortality Rate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma Death and Mortality Rate</h1>
<div class="cta--inline4--orange clearfix four right center-text no-mobile side-float-zindex cta-g" style="cursor: pointer; text-align: justify;">
Death rates, also known as mortality rates, provide
valuable information about a cancer's effect on specific geographical
locations and groups of people. Death rate can be explained in several
ways, but is most commonly expressed as the number of deaths per million
people for a specific population. Mesothelioma death rates are often
age-adjusted, which compensates for varying age distributions across the
populations being compared.
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Death rate and mortality rate may sound different, but they actually
refer to the same thing: The number of deaths in general, or from a
precise cause, in a specific group of people.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
From 1999 to 2010, for example, the age-adjusted death rate for
Americans 25 and older was 12.8 deaths per million people. For
comparison, the country with the highest age-adjusted death rate from
1994 to 2008 was the United Kingdom with 17.8 deaths per million.</div>
<div class="cta--text" style="text-align: justify;">
Overall, nearly 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States, which represents 0.02 percent of all U.S. cancer cases.</div>
<h4 class="ul-title" style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma Death Rate by Gender, United States, 1999-2010</h4>
<div class="center-text" style="text-align: justify;">
<img alt="Mesothelioma Death Rate by Gender, United States" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/Mesothelioma-Death-Rate-Graph.jpg" />
<div class="caption center-text">
*Age-adjusted death rate for people 25 and older per 1 million population.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For a variety of reasons, disease specialists did not track the death
rates from asbestos cancers over a long period of time. It wasn't until
1999 that the U.S. government began classifying the diseases as a cause
of death. This was mostly because doctors rarely discovered them until a
post-mortem examination. This was also because pleural mesothelioma is
so rare it often was mistaken for lung cancer or another respiratory
disease.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now that asbestos cancers are more well-known and diagnosed more
accurately, their mortality rates are coming more into focus. However,
the numbers are not positive, and some evidence suggests the death rates
are decreasing over time.</div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
CDC Database</h3>
The most up-to-date information on asbestos-related death
rates comes from CDC WONDER, an online database offered by the United
States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The database
specifies the number of people who died from the disease over an 11-year
period from 1999 to 2010. <br />
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Age-adjusted Death Rates</h3>
Because the latency period between the first exposure to
asbestos and the diagnosis of a related cancer is usually between 25 and
50 years, the death rates that follow include only people aged 25 years
and older. Death rates are age-adjusted according to the 2000 U.S.
standard population.<br />
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Death Rates</h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="asbestos-destroyers-cardstack">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li class="no-mobile">Mesothelioma Death Rate by State, 1999-2010*</li>
<li class="no-mobile">Death Rate by Age, Gender and Race</li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 1066px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 415%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Mesothelioma Death Rate by State, 1999-2010*</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div>
<img alt="Mesothelioma Death Rate by State, 1999-2010" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/Mesothelioma-Death-Rates-US.jpg" />
<div class="caption center">
*Deaths per year per 1 million people 25+ years old. Age-adjusted rate per 1 million population.</div>
</div>
<ul class="ul--checklist no-pl">
<li>From 1999 to 2010, the age-adjusted mesothelioma death rate in the United States was 12.8 deaths per million people.</li>
<li>In 1999, the adjusted rate was 13.2 deaths per million. The
death rate dropped to 12.3 deaths per million by the end of 2010, a
decline of nearly 7 percent.</li>
<li>During the 11-year period, 27 states surpassed the national
average. The five states with the highest rates of asbestos cancer
deaths are:</li>
</ul>
<div class="ul-container attn">
<h4 class="ul-title">
State Mesothelioma Death Rate (1999-2010)</h4>
<ul class="ul--checklist clearfix no-pl"><div class="col six mobile-full">
<li>Maine - 22.5 deaths per million</li>
<li>Alaska - 21.1 deaths per million</li>
<li>Washington - 20.3 deaths per million</li>
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<li>Wyoming - 18.6 deaths per million</li>
<li>New Jersey - 17.8 deaths per million</li>
</div>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Death Rate by Age, Gender and Race</h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
Asbestos cancer death rates vary greatly by age group. When sorted by
10-year age groups, the crude (not age-adjusted) death rate was highest
among 75-84-year-olds at 72.4 deaths per million. The death rates for
the 25-34-year-old group and the 35-44-year-old group were both fewer
than one death per million.<br />
<ul class="ul--checklist">
<li>The mesothelioma death rate is much higher among men. From 1999
to 2010, the age-adjusted death rate for men was 24.6 deaths per
million, compared with 4.5 deaths per million for women. </li>
<li>The rate among men fell from 25.5 deaths per million in 1999 to
23 deaths per million in 2010. For women, the death rate fluctuated from
1999-2010, but remained close to this period's average rate of 4.5
deaths per million.</li>
<li>The rate for whites is more than double that of any other race.
From 1999 to 2010, the age-adjusted death rate among whites was 13.9
deaths per million. The second highest rate was observed in American
Indians or Alaska Natives (5.6 deaths per million), followed by Blacks
or African Americans (5.4 deaths per million) and Asians or Pacific
Islanders (3.3 deaths per million).</li>
<li>The mesothelioma death rate varies depending on the location of
the primary tumor because of the different incidence rates of the two
main types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma originates in the
lining of the lungs and accounts for about 80 percent of all
mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the lining of the
abdomen and makes up about 20 percent of cases. More people die of
pleural mesothelioma because of its higher incidence, which gives the
pleural type a higher mortality rate per million. However, the CDC does
not calculate average mortality rates by type. We don't know the true
death rate for each type of mesothelioma because the CDC rarely records
the specific type on death certificates. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="bx-nav clearfix no-mobile">
<div class="next no-mobile" data-nexttext="Stat">
Next Stat <span class="icon"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Mortality</h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="mortality-cardstack">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li class="no-mobile">Mesothelioma Deaths by State, 1999-2010</li>
<li class="no-mobile">Mortality by Age, Gender and Race</li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 1346px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 415%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Mesothelioma Deaths by State, 1999-2010</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div>
<img alt="Mesothelioma Deaths by State, 1999-2010" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/Mesothelioma-Deaths-By-State.jpg" />
</div>
<ul class="ul--checklist no-pl">
<li>From 1999 to 2010, 29,639 people in the United States died of
mesothelioma. The number of deaths rose from 2,342 in 1999 to 2,573 in
2010, an increase of 231 deaths.</li>
<li>In the majority of cases, death records do not indicate the
exact type or subtype of cancer. From 1999 to 2010, there were 2,175
deaths attributed to pleural mesothelioma, 1,071 attributed to
peritoneal mesothelioma and 31 attributed to pericardial mesothelioma.
There were 3,724 deaths from mesothelioma of other sites.</li>
<li>In all, that is 9,001 deaths by all types. By contrast, 22,638 cases had an unspecified site of origin.</li>
<li>Although the United States no longer mines asbestos, a wide
variety of industries and occupations used the toxic mineral throughout
the 20th century. Asbestos use in the United States peaked at 803,000
metric tons in 1973 and then declined to approximately 1,700 metric tons
in 2007.</li>
<li>The prevalence of asbestos use during the 20th century now poses
serious risks, including death, for 1.3 million U.S. construction and
general industry workers. The five most at-risk industries are ship and
boat building and repairing, industrial and miscellaneous chemicals,
petroleum refining, electric light and power and construction. Occupations
such as plumbers, pipefitters and boiler makers, mechanical engineers,
electricians and elementary school teachers are also at high risk.</li>
<li>Research shows that the incidence of asbestos cancer in the
United States likely peaked in 2010. People exposed to asbestos in the
1970s, when the U.S. government first began restricting asbestos use,
continue to develop mesothelioma because of the disease's decades-long latency period. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Mortality by Age, Gender and Race</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<ul class="ul--checklist">
<li>The majority of people who died of asbestos-related cancer from
1999 to 2010 were between the ages of 75 and 84 (11,170 deaths),
followed by ages 65 to 74 (8,637 deaths). There were only 91
mesothelioma deaths among 25-34-year-olds.</li>
<li>Men are diagnosed far more often than women. From 1999 to 2010,
23,784 men accounted for 80.2 percent of related deaths in the United
States.</li>
<li>By race, whites comprised nearly 95 percent of deaths from
asbestos cancers in the 11-year period, with 28,639 deaths. Blacks and
African Americans, the next largest racial group for mesothelioma
deaths, comprised nearly 3.9 percent of all deaths with 1,149.</li>
<li>Asbestos cancer cases among males peaked from 2008 to 2010, with
more than 2,000 cases reported per year. The CDC predicts the number of
cases should be on the decline, with an expected return to background
levels by 2055. Mesothelioma cases among women are expected to increase
slightly.</li>
</ul>
Research<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> and extensive studies are conducted daily to improve treatments for mesothelioma patients and search for a cure for the cancer. Through medical advances and developments in clinical trials,
more options will continue to be available to combat mesothelioma and
improve the mesothelioma death rate in the United States. </a><br />
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="bx-nav clearfix no-mobile">
<div class="next no-mobile" data-nexttext="Stat">
Next Stat <span class="icon"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Number of U.S. Malignant Mesothelioma Deaths 2004 - 2010 </h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" class="table-2013 table-fix sources" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;">
<thead>
<tr>
<th><br /></th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2004
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2005
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2006
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2007
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2008
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2009
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2010
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
Total
</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr class="table-subheader">
<th>
Total
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2,503
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2,553
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2,450
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2,429
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2,535
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2,605
</th>
<th class="no-mobile">
2,573
</th>
<th>
17,648
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="table-subheader" colspan="9">
Age
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
25-34
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
9
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
6
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
11
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
8
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
9
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
5
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
10
</td>
<th>
58
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
35-44
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
40
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
31
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
39
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
23
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
28
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
18
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
25
</td>
<th>
204
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
45-54
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
119
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
113
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
102
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
109
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
95
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
103
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
95
</td>
<th>
736
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
55-64
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
385
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
416
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
333
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
371
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
371
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
365
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
325
</td>
<th>
2,566
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
65-74
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
645
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
699
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
705
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
664
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
737
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
748
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
762
</td>
<th>
4,980
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
75-84
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
1,028
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
963
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
941
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
921
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
945
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
945
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
981
</td>
<th>
6,724
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
85+
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
277
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
325
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
319
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
333
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
350
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
421
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
375
</td>
<th>
2,400
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="table-subheader" colspan="9">
Sex
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Male
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,009
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,018
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
1,972
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
1,937
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,008
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,077
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,043
</td>
<th>
14,064
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Female
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
494
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
535
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
478
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
492
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
527
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
528
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
530
</td>
<th>
3,584
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th class="table-subheader" colspan="9">
Race
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
White
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,391
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,423
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,308
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,298
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,397
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,489
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
2,436
</td>
<th>
16,742
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Black/ African American
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
89
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
103
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
121
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
92
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
98
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
79
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
106
</td>
<th>
688
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Asian/ Pacific Islander
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
18
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
23
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
13
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
28
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
29
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
30
</td>
<td class="no-mobile">
24
</td>
<th>
165
</th>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Is There a Mesothelioma Cure?</h2>
<div class="collapse-content">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
No cure for mesothelioma
has been discovered, but advancements in treatment are helping people
to live longer with this cancer.
Current therapies and clinical trials are helping many people with early
stage mesothelioma live at least three, five or more years. Some
late-stage mesothelioma patients who participate in clinical trials are
living around three years with innovative therapies like immunotherapy.
People in otherwise good health with up to stage III mesothelioma may
qualify for multimodal therapy that pairs aggressive surgery with
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This combined approach attacks the
cancer multiple ways to improve treatment results. Many people who
receive multimodal therapy for mesothelioma live longer than the average
one-year survival rate.</div>
</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-69425792353403875702016-02-24T01:52:00.004-08:002016-02-24T01:52:45.681-08:00Mesothelioma Survival Rates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w7Pn2ZBZZzfShgVxv_fvQWGCORl7d0X5fsmycZhyhiFFlc0hKp9YhHR97yquBKcWJEsUOY_nAe8b5btoS7O2QrwIwPW2xOYsRFHr39meUTvGZKc0iFQovTyUMS04QJb9I7v7Pq6Xthuj/s1600/Mesothelioma+Survival+Rates.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mesothelioma Survival Rates" border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5w7Pn2ZBZZzfShgVxv_fvQWGCORl7d0X5fsmycZhyhiFFlc0hKp9YhHR97yquBKcWJEsUOY_nAe8b5btoS7O2QrwIwPW2xOYsRFHr39meUTvGZKc0iFQovTyUMS04QJb9I7v7Pq6Xthuj/s640/Mesothelioma+Survival+Rates.jpg" title="Mesothelioma Survival Rates" width="640" /></a></div>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
<br />Mesothelioma Survival Rates</h1>
<div class="intro" style="text-align: justify;">
About 40 percent of patients with mesothelioma survive
the first year after diagnosis. That survival rate depends on many
factors, including age, cancer stage, cancer type, race and gender.
Long-term survivors attribute their success to treatment from a
mesothelioma specialist, alternative medicine and nutritional changes.</div>
<div class="section clear" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col six mobile-full" style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
How is survival rate measured?</h3>
Researchers describe the mesothelioma survival rate in
several ways. They usually talk about it in terms of one-year survival,
the percentage of people who survive for a year after diagnosis. Through
their studies, they also look at longer survival times, including the
number of people who live two years, three years and five years.<br />
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full" style="text-align: justify;">
<h3>
Average mesothelioma survival rates</h3>
Mesothelioma<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
claimed nearly 30,000 American lives between 1999 and 2010. About 40
percent of U.S. patients live to the one year mark. By the second year,
about 20 percent of patients are still alive. And by the third year, the
number is 8 percent.</a><br />
<br />
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2">
Factors That Affect Survival Rate</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalCondition">
Survival rates for <span itemprop="name">mesothelioma cancer</span>
vary by the patient's age, gender, race and several other factors. The
location, stage and cell type of the cancer, as well as your overall
health, have the strongest influence on your prognosis.<br />
Below is a breakdown of some common factors and how each correlates to a patient's survival rate:<br />
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="factors-affect-survival-rate">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li>Age</li>
<li>Gender</li>
<li>Race</li>
<li>Cancer Site</li>
<li>Location</li>
<li>Stage</li>
<li>Histology</li>
</ul>
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<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
<span itemprop="name">Age</span></h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
Overall, older mesothelioma patients have a much lower survival rate than younger ones. More than <strong>50 percent</strong> of patients diagnosed before the age of 50 live one year, but less than <strong>33 percent</strong>
of patients 75 or older live the same amount of time. Rates are similar
for long-term survival. Younger patients have a 20 percent chance of
surviving a decade; older individuals have a 1 percent chance.<br />
<h4 class="ul-title center">
Mesothelioma Deaths by Age Range: 1999-2005</h4>
<div class="twelve center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Mesothelioma Deaths by Age Range" class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Mesothelioma-Death-Age-Group-Pie-Chart.jpg" />
</div>
This difference is largely because younger patients are eligible for more intensive treatments like surgery. Older individuals may not be candidates for these procedures because of poor overall health or a high risk of complications.<br />
Elderly people often manage one or more
chronic medical conditions in addition to mesothelioma, such as
diabetes, heart disease and COPD. Survival is generally better for
younger people because they are less likely to have serious conditions
that may make them ineligible for effective treatment options. <br />
It's rare when someone younger than 50
receives a diagnosis of asbestos-related cancer. The average age at
diagnosis is 60, and from 1999 to 2010, nearly 80 percent of Americans
who died from mesothelioma were older than 65.<br />
<h4 class="ul-title center">
Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Age</h4>
<div class="twelve center">
</div>
<div class="twelve center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Mesothelioma survival rates by age line graph." class="responsive twelve " src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Mesothelioma-Survival-by-Age.jpg" />
</div>
When researchers break down survival
rates by age, it's easy to see that the long-term outlook is best for
patients diagnosed at a young age. National Cancer institute data show
that while 43 percent of patients younger than 45 survive five years
after diagnosis, that drops sharply — to 14.3 percent — for patients
between the ages of 45 and 54. Overall, 5.7 percent of patients ages 65
and older at diagnosis survive after five years.<br />
<h3>
Beating the Odds: Odell R.</h3>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<div class="circle-img--150 center">
<img alt="Odell Rankins" class="responsive block center mtb" src="http://www.asbestos.com/uploads/150x150/blog-images/2013/09/Sydney-Rankins.jpg" /></div>
</div>
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
It took considerable persuasion
from his granddaughter to convince Navy veteran and pleural mesothelioma
survivor Odell to travel to Boston in 2012 to see surgeon Dr. Abraham Lebenthal. Odell, from Mississippi, is now back on his farm and thriving after complex surgery that has extended his life.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
See Odell's Story
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
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<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
<span itemprop="name">Gender</span></h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
Research shows that women with pleural mesothelioma
experience nearly three-fold better survival rate compared to men.
After analyzing more than 14,000 pleural mesothelioma cases reported in
the National Cancer Institute’s SEER database from 1973 to 2009,
researchers found that the overall five-year survival rate for men was
4.5 percent, compared with 13.4 percent for women.<br />
<h4 class="ul-title center">
Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Gender</h4>
<div class="center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Mesothelioma survival rates by gender line graph." class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Mesothelioma-Survival-by-Gender.jpg" />
</div>
Most asbestos exposure occurs in the workplace,
particularly in industrial jobs traditionally held by men. That helps
explain why men account for around 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases.<br />
When asbestos use was far more pervasive
decades ago, the few women who did develop a related illness were
usually exposed because they lived near mines or factories – especially
those that processed the mineral. Women also found themselves exposed by
spouses, family members or friends who worked around asbestos brought
home the tiny fibers on their clothes.<br />
Although numerous factors contribute to
patient survival, women with mesothelioma appear to survive longer than
men regardless of age, cancer stage, race or type of treatment. For
every age group studied in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance,
Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program, women fared significantly
better than men. There is currently no conclusive answer as to why, but
some researchers believe the improved survival could be explained by
hormonal differences between genders.<br />
<h3>
Beating the Odds: Jacob H.</h3>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<div class="circle-img--150 center">
<img alt="Jacob Hess" class="responsive block center mtb" src="http://www.asbestos.com/uploads/150x150/blog-images/2012/08/Jacob-Hess-Tim-Survivor-Story.jpg" /></div>
</div>
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Jacob, 60, went back to work quickly, and is
still going strong four years after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC at
the University of Maryland's Greenebaum Cancer Center.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
See Jacob's Story
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
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<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
<span itemprop="name">Race</span></h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
Mesothelioma is almost exclusive to white individuals, who
make up 95 percent of patients. This vast difference may be in large
part because black and Hispanic individuals are less likely to be
diagnosed with any type of cancer, mesothelioma included. Data from SEER
state that African-Americans and Hispanics account for only 8 percent
of all cancer diagnoses.<br />
<h4 class="ul-title center">
Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Race</h4>
<div class="center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Mesothelioma survival rates by race line graph." class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Mesothelioma-Survival-by-Race.jpg" />
</div>
Regardless of race, about 40 percent of mesothelioma
patients survive one year. Two years from diagnosis, approximately 20
percent of patients survive. Although race does not appear to impact
mesothelioma survival rate initially, as time goes on race becomes a
more telling factor. From three years on, the survival rate of white
patients is slightly worse than other ethnicities.<br />
Five-year survival among whites is 7.6 percent, compared
with 12.3 percent for blacks. After 10 years, only 4.2 percent of white
patients survive, while 9.5 percent of blacks are alive after the same
amount of time. SEER data used to calculate these survival rates
includes Hispanics among patients who identify as both black and white.
Because mesothelioma is so rare among other races, reliable survival
statistics are not available.<br />
Survival rates by ethnicity may be influenced by treatment
decisions. One 2010 report that studied mesothelioma rates from 1990 to
2004 concluded that although black and Hispanic patients have better
long-term survival, they are less likely to undergo surgery. While 25
percent of white patients received surgery during this time, among black
patients the rate was 14 percent.<br />
<h3>
Beating the Odds: John Conway</h3>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<div class="circle-img--150 center">
<img alt="John Conway" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/uploads/150x150/blog-images/2013/08/John-Conway-1.jpg" /> </div>
</div>
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
John Conway is a 19-year Navy Veteran diagnosed
with pleural mesothelioma in 2012. After nine rounds of chemotherapy he
is now ready to get back out and do what he loves, deep sea fishing.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
See John's Story
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
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<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
<span itemprop="name">Cancer Site</span></h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
There are four types of mesothelioma,
and the site where the cancer originates can greatly affect patient
survival. Of the two most common mesothelioma types, pleural and
peritoneal, survival is significantly better for peritoneal mesothelioma
patients. This, however, has not always been the case.<br />
<h4 class="ul-title center">
Mesothelioma Survival Rates by Site</h4>
<div class="center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Mesothelioma survival rates by site line graph." class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Mesothelioma-Survival-Rates-by-Site.jpg" />
</div>
Before the emergence of an advanced peritoneal mesothelioma therapy called HIPEC
that combines cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy, median
survival for untreated patients was about 6 months. This compares to a
median survival of less than 12 months for patients with untreated
pleural mesothelioma. In select studies, heated chemotherapy has boosted
peritoneal mesothelioma survival to between 40 and 92 months.<br />
The remaining two types, pericardial and testicular
mesothelioma, combined account for less than 2 percent of all
asbestos-related cancer cases. Median survival for testicular
mesothelioma, the rarest type, is 24 months. About 40 percent of
patients die from the disease. Pericardial mesothelioma has a median
survival ranging from six to 10 months.<br />
Although you have no control over the location of your
cancer, you may be able to prolong survival by investigating all
treatment options available to you. People diagnosed at an early stage
can greatly benefit from a treatment plan involving aggressive surgery.<br />
People with advanced cancer are unlikely to qualify for
surgery, but may improve survival and quality of life by participating
in clinical trials exploring the latest experimental treatment options.
Be sure to ask your doctor about potential treatment options and how
they may affect your outlook.<br />
<h3>
Beating the Odds: Tim C.</h3>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<div class="circle-img--150 center">
<img alt="Tim C." class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/uploads/150x150/blog-images/2012/09/Tim-Crisler-Survivor-Blog.jpg" /> </div>
</div>
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Tim is a pleural mesothelioma survivor in Georgia
who first was diagnosed more than 10 years ago at age 45. He was young
enough and strong enough to withstand an extrapleural pneumonectomy
(EPP), which removed one of his lungs, and the subsequent chemotherapy
and radiation. <br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Read Tim's Story
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
<span itemprop="name">State and Region</span></h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
Mesothelioma predominantly affects groups living in more
industrial states or those with naturally occurring asbestos deposits.
While survival rates by state are not significant, death rates can be
used to describe the total number of deaths in each state. This figure
is usually expressed in deaths per million, meaning the number of deaths
for every million residents of the state.<br />
<h4 class="ul-title center-text">
Mesothelioma Death Rates by State, 1999-2010</h4>
<div class="center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Mesothelioma Death Rates by State, 1999-2010" class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Mesothelioma-Death-Rates-by-State-1999-2010.jpg" />
</div>
The basic formula is this:<br />
<strong>Death Rate (in deaths per million) = (Mesothelioma Deaths / Total Population) * 1,000,000</strong><br />
If the total number of residents in a state is 2 million, for example, and a total of 10 people died of mesothelioma,
the death rate is 5 deaths per million. This formula provides a way for
researchers to account for vast population differences between states.
In more populous states, there may be a high number of mesothelioma
deaths but a comparatively low death rate.<br />
In addition to correcting for population differences
between states, researchers may also adjust statistics for age
differences. Because mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in people
between 50 and 70 years old, states with older populations appear to
have higher mesothelioma death rates, even when this may not be true.<br />
For more meaningful comparisons across states and other
regions, researchers can calculate age-adjusted death rates. When
researchers do not age-adjust data, such as in the death rate formula
above, the results are known as the crude death rate.
Based on data from 1999 to 2010, Maine has the highest age-adjusted
death rate of 14.6 deaths per million people. Besides Maine, 26 other
states had a higher mesothelioma death rate than the national average of
8.3 deaths per million.<br />
<h4>
The top five states by age-adjusted death rates include:</h4>
<ul class="ul--checklist">
<li>Maine — 14.6 deaths per million</li>
<li>Alaska — 13.6 deaths per million</li>
<li>Washington — 13.1 deaths per million</li>
<li>Wyoming — 12.0 deaths per million</li>
<li>New Jersey — 11.5 deaths per million</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Stage of Cancer</h3>
<div class="collapse-content" itemscope="" itemtype="https://schema.org/MedicalConditionStage">
The stage of your cancer at diagnosis is a strong
predictor of overall survival. Survival is best among people diagnosed
with mesothelioma at an early stage, before cancer spread starts to
limit treatment options.<br />
Early-stage patients who receive prompt treatment
experience improved survival because they are more likely to qualify for
surgery and other aggressive treatments associated with better
outcomes.<br />
<h4 class="ul-title center">
Pleural Mesothelioma Median Survival Rate by Stage</h4>
<div class="center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Pleural Mesothelioma Median Survival by Stage" class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Pleural-Mesothelioma-Median-Survival-by-Stage.jpg" />
</div>
Normally, mesothelioma is not diagnosed until it reaches stage <span itemprop="stageAsNumber">III</span> or stage <span itemprop="stageAsNumber">IV</span>,
the last stages of development. This can include a larger tumor or
extensive cancer spread throughout the body. Later stages of
mesothelioma are more difficult to treat effectively, so these patients
have worse survival rates.<br />
A late diagnosis is common because it can take 20 to 50
years after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to develop, and many
people don't experience symptoms until the cancer has already reached an
advanced stage.<br />
While there is no established staging system for
peritoneal mesothelioma, some researchers have proposed their own
systems based on the TNM system, which uses tumor size, lymph node
involvement and cancer spread to describe the extent of many types of
cancer.<br />
<div itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalStudy">
One
such novel staging system has three stages based on TNM characteristics
and a measure of tumor burden called the peritoneal cancer index (PCI).
In a 2011 international study involving <span itemprop="population">294 peritoneal mesothelioma patients</span> treated with cytoreductive surgery and heated chemotherapy, researchers used this system to describe <span itemprop="studySubject">patient survival.</span></div>
One-year survival for stage I patients was 94 percent, 87
percent for stage II and 66 percent for stage III. The researchers also
calculated five-year survival, which was 87 percent for stage I, 53
percent for stage II and 29 percent for stage III.<br />
<h3>
Beating the Odds: Andy A.</h3>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col four mobile-full center-text">
<div class="circle-img--150 center">
<img alt="Andy A." class="responsive block center mtb" src="http://www.asbestos.com/uploads/150x150/blog-images/2013/10/Meso-Survivor-Andy-Ashcraft.jpg" /></div>
</div>
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Andy survived a 70 mph motorcycle crash in 2004
and beat the odds again surviving for the past three years with stage IV
mesothelioma. He credits his survival with the immunotherapy drug
Amatuximab (MORab-009), which is currently being tested in clinical
trials.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
See Andy's Story
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalRiskEstimator">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Tumor <span itemprop="name">Histology</span></h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
<div itemprop="description">
The histology,
or cellular makeup, of a mesothelioma tumor is also an accurate
predictor for patient survival. Mesothelioma has three primary cell
types: Epithelial, sarcomatoid and biphasic. They differ not only in
appearance, but also in behavior.</div>
<h4 class="ul-title center">
Median Survival Rate by Tumor Histology</h4>
<div class="center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Pleural Mesothelioma Median Survival by Tumor Histology" class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Pleural-Mesothelioma-Median-Survival-by-Tumor-Histology.jpg" />
</div>
With a median survival of 12 to 24 months, epithelial
mesothelioma has the best prognosis. This cell type is the least
aggressive and responds best to treatment. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma,
on the other hand, has a median survival of six months. Sarcomatoid
tumors exhibit more aggressive behavior in terms of cell growth and
invasive spread. Biphasic mesothelioma, which has both epithelial and
sarcomatoid features, has a median survival of 12 months.<br />
<div itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalStudy">
In a large, multi-institutional study that investigated <span itemprop="studySubject">how tumor histology and other factors affect survival</span>, researchers observed similar survival rates. Among more than <span itemprop="population">3,000 pleural mesothelioma patients</span>, <span itemprop="outcome">epithelial cell type had the best survival rate, with a median survival of 19 months</span>. <span itemprop="outcome">Sarcomatoid patients experienced a median survival of eight months, the worst outcome of all cell types</span>. <span itemprop="outcome">Median survival for biphasic patients was 13 months.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2>
Additional Resources</h2>
<div class="section clearfix no-mobile">
<span class="cta-icon icon-heart"></span>
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<span class="cta-button">Join the Group Now</span>
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<span class="cta-text">Get Help Paying for Treatment</span>
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</div>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="circle-img authorBlurb__img left">
<img alt="Karen Selby" itemprop="image" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/thumb.php?src=/images/karen-bio-bg.jpg&h=110&w=110" />
</div>
<div class="left">
<h4 class="authorBlurb__title">
Author</h4>
<h3 class="authorBlurb__name" itemprop="name">
Karen Selby</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div itemprop="description">
Karen Selby is a registered nurse and a
Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center. She worked in several
subspecialties within nursing before joining Asbestos.com in 2009.</div>
<br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-78147487632476904232016-02-24T01:50:00.001-08:002016-02-24T01:50:01.942-08:00Mesothelioma Life Expectancy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="two-col-content col nine clearfix mobile-full" itemprop="mainContentOfPage" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/WebPageElement">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbgVXHMnQlBOzDOpC88qhXLVxNm2mjO_fBBvaXWYfHDX69-LmYBykP3eDmeDnnsyTZEMQTPmFXmRD0NcrCjcAsWIOhazpRq4Fr_Tutb7mveo6Zt3KC_BZbY0CmYpX1zKN75-iv3s3M_qJ/s1600/Mesothelioma+Life+Expectancy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mesothelioma Life Expectancy" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbgVXHMnQlBOzDOpC88qhXLVxNm2mjO_fBBvaXWYfHDX69-LmYBykP3eDmeDnnsyTZEMQTPmFXmRD0NcrCjcAsWIOhazpRq4Fr_Tutb7mveo6Zt3KC_BZbY0CmYpX1zKN75-iv3s3M_qJ/s640/Mesothelioma+Life+Expectancy.png" title="Mesothelioma Life Expectancy" width="623" /></a></div>
</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma Life Expectancy</h1>
<div class="intro" style="text-align: justify;">
The average life expectancy for a mesothelioma patient ranges from <strong>12 to 21 months</strong>,
depending on a variety of factors, such as the stage in which the
patient was first diagnosed with the cancer. About 40 percent of
mesothelioma patients survive one year, and 20 percent live more than
two years.</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Staging and Mesothelioma Life Expectancy</h2>
<div class="section clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col seven mobile-full">
Increasingly, people who have aggressive asbestos-related
cancer find their lives being measured in years — not months. Improved
therapies and emerging drug combinations offer newly diagnosed patients a
reason to hope and spend more time with their loved ones.<br />
Given the progressive nature of the disease, staging plays an
important role in determining a mesothelioma patient's life expectancy.<br />
<table class="table-mobile" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Stage</th>
<th>Median Life Expectancy</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>I</td>
<td>21 months</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>II</td>
<td>19 months</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>III</td>
<td>16 months</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>IV</td>
<td>12 months</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div class="col five mobile-full center-text">
<img alt="Life Expectancy Chart" class="responsive mb--l" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/survival-rate-chart.png" style="max-width: 250px;" />
<div class="center-text">
Experts say generalized life expectancy
predictions are almost impossible to make because each case is so
different, but the news is slowly getting better.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="section lt-blue-box" style="text-align: justify;">
<h2>
Extending Life Expectancy</h2>
Today, patients live longer than ever before. Some survive three, five, even 10 years
and beyond their original prognosis, providing inspirational comeback
stories for other potential survivors. The disease can change you
forever, but many survivors continue to lead active lives, traveling and
doing activities with grandkids and other loved ones.<br />
<div class="section clear">
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Cutting-Edge Treatment</h3>
Exceptions are becoming the rule, with the advent of
genetic therapy, immunotherapy and today's multimodal treatments.
Ongoing clinical trials are changing the perception of mesothelioma.<br />
Get Help Finding Clinical Trials
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Specialized Care</h3>
Specialty cancer centers
give patients the best chance at survival. That's why finding a
specialist with experience in treating the disease is the first step
toward increasing your life expectancy.<br />
Find a Mesothelioma Specialist
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Factors That Affect Mesothelioma Life Expectancy</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">What influences how long you live after being diagnosed with mesothelioma?
Factors that affect life expectancy include the stage of the cancer,
tumor location and cell type as well as non-tumor factors such as age,
sex, blood characteristics and general health.</a><br />
<h3>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Tumor-Related Factors</a></h3>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">The stage of the cancer at the time of diagnosis, tumor cell type,
and the location of the tumor are known as tumor-related factors. These
factors influence the type of treatment options you have available to
you.</a><br />
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="tumor-factors">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li><a class="current active" data-slide-index="0" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Staging</a></li>
<li><a data-slide-index="1" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Tumor Location</a></li>
<li><a data-slide-index="2" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Cell Type</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 497px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 515%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Staging</a></h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Staging refers to how far the cancer has progressed at the time of the diagnosis. The exact stage of the cancer
has the highest impact on life expectancy. Unfortunately, most patients
are not diagnosed until stage III or IV because symptoms can remain
hidden, but the earlier the cancer is caught, the better the prognosis
and expected survival rate.</a><br />
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><img alt="Stage 1 Mesothelioma" class="center-text responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/le-stage-1.png" /></a>
<div class="caption center-text ptb">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Stage I mesothelioma is localized and life expectancy is significantly improved compared to stage III or IV cancer.</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Tumor Location</a></h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Different types of mesothelioma are identified
location and that placement can affect life expectancy. Tumors that
initially form in the lung lining are called pleural mesotheliomas and average survival is around eight months if left untreated. Tumors that form in the abdominal lining are called peritoneal mesotheliomas and average survival is around six months if left untreated.</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Treatment can extend survival for pleural and
peritoneal mesothelioma, the two most common types of the cancer. People
with pleural mesothelioma can live longer than a year with
chemotherapy. Some early stage patients who undergo multimodal treatment
with surgery can live beyond two or three years. People with peritoneal
mesothelioma who undergo surgery and heated chemotherapy can live
longer than three years.</a><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">The rarest types of mesothelioma affect the heart (pericardial mesothelioma) and testicles (testicular mesothelioma).
Average survival for pericardial mesothelioma is around six to 10
months. People with testicular mesothelioma live at least two years on
average.</a><br />
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><img alt="Peritoneal Mesothelioma" class="center-text responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/le-peritoneal.png" /></a>
<div class="caption center-text ptb">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma typically have a longer life expectancy.</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Cell Type</a></h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Certain types of cells
that make up a mesothelioma tumor respond better to treatment than
others. Tumors made up primarily of epithelial cells respond best to
treatment, and patients with this cell type have a better life
expectancy. In contrast, tumors made up primarily of the sarcomatoid
cell type or the biphasic (mixed) cell type are more difficult to treat
and are associated with a shorter life expectancy. </a><br />
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><img alt="Epithelial Cells" class="center-text responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/le-sarcomatoid.png" /></a>
<div class="caption center-text ptb">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Tumors made up primarily of epithelial cells respond best to treatment.</a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="bx-nav clearfix no-mobile">
<div class="next no-mobile" data-nexttext="Factor">
<a class="bx-next" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Next Factor <span class="icon"></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
<a class="cta--inline5--orange clearfix no-mobile cta-g" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" style="cursor: pointer;">
<div class="col seven">
<h3>
Get a Free Mesothelioma Guide</h3>
Free information, books, wristbands and more for patients and caregivers.<br />
<div class="button2--green cta__button2 ten">
Get Your Free Guide</div>
</div>
<div class="col five center-text">
<img alt="Free Mesothelioma Packet" class="responsive cta--inline5__img center-text" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma-guide-small2.png" />
</div>
</a>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalRiskFactor">
<h3>
Non-Tumor Factors</h3>
In addition to tumor-related factors, other factors also can
influence your life expectancy. Traits like overall health, age, gender
and even characteristics of your blood indicate to a doctor how well
your body will respond to treatment.<br />
</span></a><div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="non-tumor-factors">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
</a><ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a>
<li><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a><a class="current active" data-slide-index="0" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Performance Status</a></li>
<li><a data-slide-index="1" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Gender</a></li>
<li><a data-slide-index="2" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Age</a></li>
<li><a data-slide-index="3" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Blood Characteristics</a></li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 454px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 615%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemprop="name">
Performance Status</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
<div itemprop="description">
Performance status is a
more technical term for overall health, and indicates the activity level
and general fitness of a patient. Nearly all studies that examined
performance status in pleural mesothelioma patients showed a significant
effect on survival. The more active and fit you are, the more likely
your body will be able to withstand and recover from aggressive cancer
treatments. </div>
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<img alt="Smokers & Mesothelioma" class="center-text responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/le-smoking.png" />
<div class="caption center-text ptb">
Smokers are 90% more likely to develop lung cancer after exposure to asbestos.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemprop="name">
Gender</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
<div itemprop="description">
Historically, men experienced more occupational exposure to asbestos than women.
Because of their increased exposure, men are four times more likely to
develop mesothelioma than women. Studies show that women with epithelial
mesothelioma tend to live longer than men do. Researchers are not sure
why women have better life expectancies.</div>
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<img alt="Gender Pie Chart" class="center-text responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/le-gender.png" />
<div class="caption center-text ptb">
Men are four times more likely to develop mesothelioma than women.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemprop="name">
Age</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
<div itemprop="description">
Younger, healthier
patients with mesothelioma have more options for treatment than older,
less healthy patients. That's because as we age, our bodies lose the
ability to recover from aggressive therapies and procedures. And as we
get older, we are more likely to have other health conditions that could
leave certain types of treatment out of reach.</div>
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<img alt="Age Pie Chart" class="center-text responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/le-age.png" />
<div class="caption center-text ptb">
75 percent of mesothelioma cases in the U.S. occur in men age 55 or older.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2" itemprop="name">
Blood Characteristics</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
<div itemprop="description">
Some cells and biomarkers
found in the blood appear to have an impact on life expectancy. Several
studies report that thrombocytosis (high blood platelet count) and
leukocytosis (high white blood cell count) prior to surgery are
associated with shorter life expectancy. Biomarkers such as COX-2,
antigen p27, MIB-1, VEGF and glycoprotein 90K may have an effect on life
expectancy. Your doctor can explain your blood test results and how
they may affect your expected survival.</div>
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<img alt="Blood Characteristics" class="center-text responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/le-blood-cells.png" />
<div class="caption center-text ptb">
Thrombocytosis
(high blood platelet count) and leukocytosis (high white blood cell
count) prior to surgery are associated with shorter life expectancy.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="bx-nav clearfix no-mobile">
<div class="next no-mobile" data-nexttext="Factor">
<a class="bx-next" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Next Factor <span class="icon"></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Treatment and Life Expectancy</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">In developing a treatment strategy, your doctor will choose
treatments that he or she believes will have the most positive impact on
your life expectancy with the least physical side effects. He or she
will take into account all the factors and develop a treatment strategy
that will balance risk versus reward.</a><br />
<div class="cta--inline--drblue no-mobile cta-g" style="cursor: pointer;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Get Connected with a Top Doctor</a></h3>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">We can help you or a loved one find a top mesothelioma specialist and treatment center.</a><br />
</div>
<div class="col four">
<a class="button2--orange cta__button2" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Get Started Today</a>
</div>
</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span class="cta__bg-icon icon-stethoscope"></span></a>
</div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalTherapy">
<h3 itemprop="name">
Multimodal Therapy</h3>
Medical studies show that multimodal therapy has the most positive impact on mesothelioma life expectancy. However, this type of treatment strategy
is usually considered aggressive and places a tremendous strain on the
body. Based on your situation, you may not qualify for this type of
treatment.
<br />
<div class="cta--text">
Generally, to qualify for multimodal therapy,
the cancer must be in stage I or stage II. Some stage III patients
qualify, too, if they are in otherwise good health, are relatively
younger and have an epithelial or biphasic tumor type. </div>
<div class="section clearfix">
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<h3 itemprop="name">
High-Dose Radiation</h3>
Doctors in Italy have conducted a study showing impressive results from a new high-dose radiation system following aggressive pleurectomy/decortication surgery. The two-year survival rate was 70 percent.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<h3 itemprop="name">
Alternative Therapy</h3>
Studies show that mesothelioma patients have benefitted from alternative or complementary therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, massage and yoga. These therapies may reduce stress, pain and improve quality of life. <br />
</div>
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<h3 itemprop="name">
Diet & Nutrition</h3>
In addition, a number of dietary changes can affect a
mesothelioma patient's life expectancy. Considering nutrition in the
treatment plan could have positive impacts on side effects, stress
levels and response to treatment.<br />
</div>
</div>
</span></a></div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Experimental Treatments</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
There is a chance that your best opportunity at a longer life could come from experimental treatment in a clinical trial.
Mesothelioma researchers constantly test new medications and treatment
approaches, and clinical trials allow patients to take advantage of new
treatments that may extend survival. Unfortunately, new treatment may
also come with a higher element of risk.<br />
There are several experimental therapies being investigated to slow
the progress of mesothelioma. Some show promise in extending life
expectancy, including immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT).
Newer, targeted drugs that are effective in killing cancer cells — such
as gene therapy — may soon extend life expectancy.<br />
Medical advancements continue to refine methods of detecting and
managing the disease. As a result, the life span of its sufferers is
gradually improving. As more research is done and more alternative
treatment options are explored, mesothelioma patients are being offered a
wider range of choices that may ultimately modify their prognosis and
significantly extend their life spans. <br />
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Survivor Stories</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="video-container--2 right five mobile-full" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/VideoObject">
<div class="video-container--2__lbbottom">
<img alt="Karen Selby, Patient Advocate" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/video-still-ks-meso-life-expect-2.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="center-text">
Karen Selby talks about what she would say to someone who was just diagnosed with mesothelioma.</div>
</div>
Many long-term survivors
seem to have a unifying link: They integrate holistic and natural
medicine into a traditional treatment plan. Nutritional regimens,
supplementation and alternative therapies like acupuncture are among the
holistic approaches mesothelioma survivors have used to their
advantage. A number of mesothelioma patients have survived five years or
longer because of their treatment, exercise and nutritional regimens.<br />
Paul Kraus is an Australian factory worker who was diagnosed with
peritoneal mesothelioma in 1997. Kraus applied several different
therapies and lifestyle changes, including shifting to a vegetarian diet
and taking nutritional supplements. He still has mesothelioma but is
pain-free. At the extreme limit of mesothelioma survival is the case of
acclaimed American scientist Stephen J. Gould, who lived for 20 years
after being diagnosed. He died of an unrelated condition and authored a
popular article about mesothelioma statistics that inspires patients to
remain hopeful because each case is so unique.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
See More Survivor Stories
</div>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Additional Resources</h2>
<div class="section clearfix no-mobile" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="cta-icon icon-medal"></span>
<span class="cta-text">Free VA Claims Help for Mesothelioma</span>
<span class="cta-button">Get Help Now</span>
<a class="col four cta-med orange" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
<img alt="Free Mesothelioma Packet" class="responsive no-mobile" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma-guide-small.png" />
<span class="cta-text">Free Mesothelioma Information Guide</span>
<span class="cta-button">Request Yours Now</span>
</a>
<a class="col four cta-med dk-blue" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
<span class="cta-icon icon-banknote"></span>
<span class="cta-text">Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma</span>
<span class="cta-button">Learn More</span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="circle-img authorBlurb__img left">
<img alt="Karen Selby" itemprop="image" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/thumb.php?src=/images/karen-bio-bg.jpg&h=110&w=110" />
</div>
<div class="left">
<h4 class="authorBlurb__title">
Author</h4>
<h3 class="authorBlurb__name" itemprop="name">
Karen Selby</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div itemprop="description" style="text-align: justify;">
Karen Selby is a registered nurse and a
Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center. She worked in several
subspecialties within nursing before joining Asbestos.com in 2009.</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-88782854752429660342016-02-24T01:48:00.001-08:002016-02-24T01:48:21.328-08:00Mesothelioma Prognosis<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="two-col-content col nine clearfix mobile-full" itemprop="mainContentOfPage" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/WebPageElement">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mYD24F1omhXu0tYKWdT-Cwt7DUVMIWrpEkwq7TCl8noNqHMdJnfR9NNtq_2EiaTJjd-VwiSSl9UrxNRraVd71aeBq1UuTdL1JHWEp073S4WRyAdtzYPuOtT56DMeQdDpCc0gWJumZE7x/s1600/Mesothelioma+Prognosis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mesothelioma Prognosis" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mYD24F1omhXu0tYKWdT-Cwt7DUVMIWrpEkwq7TCl8noNqHMdJnfR9NNtq_2EiaTJjd-VwiSSl9UrxNRraVd71aeBq1UuTdL1JHWEp073S4WRyAdtzYPuOtT56DMeQdDpCc0gWJumZE7x/s640/Mesothelioma+Prognosis.jpg" title="Mesothelioma Prognosis" width="640" /></a></div>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma Prognosis</h1>
<div class="intro" style="text-align: justify;">
Your prognosis with mesothelioma depends mostly on the
stage and type of cancer you have. Improving that prognosis can depend
on finding a specialist with experience treating your form of the
disease. </div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Typical Prognosis</h2>
<div class="cta--inline4--orange clearfix four right center-text no-mobile side-float-zindex cta-g" style="cursor: pointer; text-align: justify;">
<h3>
Improving your prognosis starts with having the right information</h3>
<img alt="Free Mesothelioma Packet" class="responsive no-mobile" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/homepage/packet-banner-packet.png" />
<a class="button2--orange cta--inline4__button" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Get Your Free Guide Now</a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Cancer specialists diagnose between 2,000 and 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma
a year in the United States. When they confirm the existence of
asbestos cancer, they quickly turn to prognosis — their best estimate of
your battle ahead and also the probable outcome. Mesothelioma is a
difficult disease to beat. And while there are many aspects to it that
you can't control, there are things that you can do to help improve your
quality of life and possibly improve your survival.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Although prognosis varies greatly depending on the factors described
above, younger patients appear to have the most optimistic prognosis. A
2,959-patient study conducted by the American Cancer Society (ACS) noted
that nearly 37 percent of mesothelioma patients younger than 45 years
old survived for more than five years after diagnosis.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Approximately 20 percent of patients aged 45 to 54 survived for longer than five years.
According to a study published by the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the survival rate for patients is generally considered to be one year.</div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Patients Surviving 3 or More Years Following a Mesothelioma Diagnosis (%)</h3>
<div class="twelve" style="text-align: justify;">
<img alt="Mesothelioma Prognosis 5 Year survival rate pie charts" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/prognosis-5year-survival-rate-piechart.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="cta--text--green" style="text-align: justify;">
Although the typical survival rate for
patients is low, there have been long-term survivors of the disease.
Read their survival stories on our Wall of Hope. </div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Factors That Affect Your Prognosis</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="video-container--2 right five mobile-full" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/VideoObject">
<div class="video-container--2__lbbottom">
<img alt="Dr. Fontaine Video Thumbnail" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/video-thumbnails/dr-fontaine-2.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="center-text">
Dr. Fontaine explains what treatments give patients the best chance to live longer</div>
</div>
Your mesothelioma prognosis depends on several factors, including the
cancer's stage, plus your age, gender, overall health and history of
asbestos exposure. Unique qualities of your cancer at the time of
diagnosis such as the exact type of cancer you have, the cellular
subtype, the stage of your cancer and whether your cancer has spread
are all equally important in shaping prognosis. <br />
These things also determine the treatments your doctor will recommend.<br />
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="prognosis-factors">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li>Types</li>
<li>Stages</li>
<li>Cell Type</li>
<li>Symptoms</li>
<li>Health</li>
<li>Other Factors</li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 576px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 815%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Type of Mesothelioma</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
There are several types of mesothelioma, each
with its own prognosis. Statistically speaking, peritoneal patients
have a better chance at long-term survival than those with any other
type. <br />
Research shows that approximately 40 percent of
patients with the pleural form of the disease will survive for one year
after diagnosis, while new treatments for peritoneal like heated
chemotherapy have increased survival to more than seven years for some
patients. <br />
</div>
<div class="col four center-text no-mobile">
<div class="cardstack-square-img">
<img alt="Pleural Mesothelioma 5-Year Survival Chart" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/pleural-survival-10-percent.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="caption center-text ptb">
10 percent of pleural mesothelioma patients survive > 5 years</div>
</div>
</div>
The prognosis for pericardial mesothelioma is generally
worse than for pleural and peritoneal. And while testicular mesothelioma
is the rarest type, its prognosis is typically the best. <br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about the different types of mesothelioma
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Stage of Mesothelioma</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
The size of a tumor and how far it has spread
(metastasized) from its original location affects prognosis. Doctors
typically discuss tumor size and the extent of a cancer's spread in
terms of stages, ranging from stage I to stage IV in order of severity.
Patients with stage I or stage II (early-stage) will typically have a
better prognosis than patients with stage III or stage IV (advanced).<br />
In stage I and II, the cancer hasn’t metastasized
much and remains contained within the lung lining and lung tissue,
allowing for easier removal of tumors through surgery. By stage III, the
cancer is still operable, but has metastasized beyond the lung and its
lining and into the chest wall, nearby lymph nodes or the heart’s
lining. Metastasis at stage IV is so extensive — tumors spread beyond
the chest and into the spine, abdomen or other body parts — that surgery
becomes ineffective.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about the stages of mesothelioma
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Cell Type Impacts Survival</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
The type of cells that make up your tumor, what
doctors call histology, can impact your prognosis. Patients with
epithelial mesothelioma generally have a better life expectancy than
those with either the sarcomatoid or biphasic subtypes.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about cell types
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Progression of Symptoms</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
Patients suffering from serious symptoms, like
severe chest pain or difficulty breathing, may have a worse outlook.
This is because the presence of symptoms often means cancer has already
progressed to a later stage of development.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about the symptoms of mesothelioma
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Overall Health</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
People in otherwise good health may qualify for
treatments that are more intensive. On the other hand, if you have
pre-existing health issues, you may not be able to tolerate aggressive
surgery or chemotherapy. Additionally, non-smokers often have a better mesothelioma prognosis than patients who smoke. <br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Additional factors, such as age, gender and history of asbestos exposure can also affect your prognosis.</h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
<table class="" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; text-align: left;">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Favorable Prognostic Factors</th>
<th>Poor Prognostic Factors</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Stage I or Stage II cancer</td>
<td>Stage III or Stage IV cancer</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tumor located in one area of the body</td>
<td>Tumor has spread to other parts of the body</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Good overall health</td>
<td>Pre-existing health conditions or poor overall health</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Epithelial cell type</td>
<td>Sarcomatoid or biphasic cell type</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Age 55 or below</td>
<td>Over age 55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Non-smoker</td>
<td>Smoker</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Female</td>
<td>Male</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
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Next Factor <span class="icon"></span></div>
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<div class="cta--text--ff">
<strong>Current Prognosis Studies:</strong>
As results from ongoing asbestos-related cancer studies surface,
doctors learn more about the diseases. New data leads to more accurate
prognosis estimates. New research on cases reported to the National
Cancer Institute from 2003 to 2009 show that 14.1 percent of women with
pleural mesothelioma survive for five years, compared with only 6
percent of men. Additionally, a 2011 pleural mesothelioma study at
Brigham and Women's Hospital in Massachusetts involving 636 patients
found that patients who underwent an aggressive surgery called extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) experienced extended survival. </div>
Another surgery called pleurectomy/decortication
(P/D) has improved survival. A 2012 European study reported longer
survival among epithelioid pleural mesothelioma patients who had a
pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) surgery versus EPP surgery. Patients who
had a P/D lived an average of 30 months while EPP patients lived for 14
months.<br />
A 2015 Italian study found that age, epithelioid cell type and
cancer-free lymph nodes were prognostic factors associated with
long-term survival in pleural mesothelioma patients who had an EPP.
Nearly 23 percent of the study’s 468 participants lived longer than
three years.<br />
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Improving and Beating Your Prognosis</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
While you can't change important prognostic factors like your
age, gender or cancer stage, you can choose to be proactive and take
steps to improve your prognosis.<br />
<div class="cta--inline--drblue no-mobile cta-g" style="cursor: pointer;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
Find a Mesothelioma Specialist</h3>
A specialist is essential in providing you or a loved one with a treatment plan that can improve your life expectancy.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four">
Find a Specialist
</div>
</div>
<span class="cta__bg-icon icon-stethoscope"></span>
</div>
Beating the typical prognosis is happening more frequently with
advances in treatment and care for mesothelioma patients. Survivors
credit life span increases to multimodal treatment, improvements in
nutrition and complementary medicines. There are other factors and ways
that can play a part in improving a patient's prognosis.<br />
<h3>
Early Detection</h3>
Those diagnosed early in the cancer’s development have the best
prognosis and longest survival. If doctors can diagnose the disease
before it spreads into lymph nodes and to other parts of the body,
treatment is more successful.<br />
<h3>
Other Ways</h3>
Enrolling in a clinical trial might improve your prognosis. These
studies test up-and-coming therapies that may be more effective than
current treatment options.<br />
Once you've started treatment, you can take a few extra steps to
improve your chances of recovery. If you're a smoker, find a cessation
program. Smoking increases your risk of lung complications if you opt
for surgery, so you should stop immediately. You can also talk to an
oncology dietitian about how to strengthen your body through your diet,
or ask your practitioner about complementary therapies that can help control your symptoms. <br />
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Survivors Who Have Surpassed Their Prognosis</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
Living with mesothelioma is far from easy, but not impossible. The latest treatment regimens,
which often combine surgery with chemotherapy and radiation therapy,
have helped many people survive past the disease's average life
expectancy of one year. In some exceptional cases, mesothelioma
survivors have lived with the cancer for more than a decade.<br />
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="prognosis-survivors">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li>Judy G.</li>
<li>Wayne N.</li>
<li>Kasie Coleman </li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 304px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 515%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Judy G.</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col three mobile-full">
<div class="circle-img w-125 center">
<img alt="Judy Glezinkski & Mesothelioma" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/profile/judy-glezinski.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
<div class="col nine mobile-full">
Judy, diagnosed with pleural
mesothelioma in 1990, survived nearly 20 years. She extended her
prognosis with extensive surgeries and radiation therapy. She also drank
mangosteen juice and believed in the power of prayer. Judy shared her
journey with the mesothelioma community in a book, Surviving
Mesothelioma: Making your Own Miracle. <br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Read Judy's full story in our free book
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Wayne N.</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col three mobile-full">
<div class="circle-img w-125 center">
<img alt="Wayne Neal & Mesothelioma" src="http://www.asbestos.com/uploads/150x150/blog-images/2011/10/Wayne_Neal.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
<div class="col nine mobile-full">
Wayne, another 20-year
survivor, is a former union electrician who was diagnosed with
peritoneal mesothelioma in 1991. Still fighting, Wayne attributes his
success to antioxidants found in red tart cherries, which he eats
nightly. <br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Read Wayne's full story
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Kasie Coleman</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col three mobile-full">
<div class="circle-img w-125 center">
<img alt="Kasie Coleman Mesothelioma Survivor" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/thumb.php?src=/images/kasie-bio-bg.jpg&h=150&w=150" />
</div>
</div>
<div class="col nine mobile-full">
Kasie Coleman is a wife and
mother of two who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 2010.
After a series of misdiagnoses, Kasie opted for several cycles of
chemotherapy and two HIPEC (surgery with heated chemotherapy) treatments
that put her cancer into remission in 2012. Since then, she has opened
her own cupcake bakery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. <br />
In one of several blogs she's
written for The Mesothelioma Center, Kasie stresses the importance of
keeping a positive attitude and viewing yourself as an exception to
mesothelioma's bleak prognosis. Hold tight to the hope that you'll join
the growing community of remarkable mesothelioma survivors.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Read Kasie's full story
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="bx-nav clearfix no-mobile">
<div class="next no-mobile" data-nexttext="Survivor">
Next Survivor <span class="icon"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Additional Resources</h2>
<div class="section row-two clearfix no-mobile" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="cta-icon icon-banknote"></span>
<span class="cta-text">Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma</span>
<span class="cta-button">Learn More</span>
<a class="col four cta-med orange" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
<span class="cta-icon icon-heart"></span>
<span class="cta-text">Support Group for Mesothelioma Patients</span>
<span class="cta-button">Join the Group Now</span>
</a>
<a class="col four cta-med dk-blue" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
<span class="cta-icon icon-medal"></span>
<span class="cta-text">Free VA Claims Help for Mesothelioma</span>
<span class="cta-button">Get Help Now</span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="circle-img authorBlurb__img left">
<img alt="Karen Selby" itemprop="image" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/thumb.php?src=/images/karen-bio-bg.jpg&h=110&w=110" />
</div>
<div class="left">
<h4 class="authorBlurb__title">
Author</h4>
<h3 class="authorBlurb__name" itemprop="name">
Karen Selby</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div itemprop="description" style="text-align: justify;">
Karen Selby is a registered nurse and a
Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center. She worked in several
subspecialties within nursing before joining Asbestos.com in 2009.</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-58029951533684864912016-02-24T01:46:00.000-08:002016-02-24T01:46:35.374-08:00Mesothelioma Histology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdXxQE46xkFNuDQgZTECgmMvz1tQRpdb9QiaCus7df7MpeWsXKMOUXqgRnihH2ajjfUGt0t7Nwc5yyVw3kix4BNY30lM1gcb7Erg4kDSkpM7ITvxCrh7DtLkco61W4Y6w2a0Ew3cSyi-o/s1600/Mesothelioma+Histology.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mesothelioma Histology" border="0" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdXxQE46xkFNuDQgZTECgmMvz1tQRpdb9QiaCus7df7MpeWsXKMOUXqgRnihH2ajjfUGt0t7Nwc5yyVw3kix4BNY30lM1gcb7Erg4kDSkpM7ITvxCrh7DtLkco61W4Y6w2a0Ew3cSyi-o/s640/Mesothelioma+Histology.jpg" title="Mesothelioma Histology" width="640" /></a></div>
</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma Histology</h1>
<div class="intro" style="text-align: justify;">
Cancer specialists can uncover important microscopic
features of your disease with the science of histology. These features
play an important role in diagnosis, treatment and your life expectancy.
</div>
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<h3>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Histology is a branch of biology and medicine that involves the study
of the cells and tissues of animals and plants. Samples of tissue are
stained on a slide and observed under a microscope to study the
structure and composition of each cell. Because mesothelioma histology
involves the study of cancerous mesothelial cells, it is considered a
branch of histopathology, which is the study of diseased cells. Trained
medical doctors, usually board-certified pathologists, examine the tumor
tissue under a microscope and classify cells by type.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Histopathology is within the larger field of pathology,
which studies the nature, cause and effect of diseases. Pathologists
are highly trained medical professionals who examine tissue samples to
get an accurate diagnosis, and they’re assisted by histotechnicians and
histopathologists, who help with tissue staining to identify diseased
cells.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are several types of mesothelioma cancer cells. Each cellular
type responds to different treatments and affects the individual
patient's prognosis, so an accurate diagnosis
of cancer cell type is essential to develop an effective treatment
plan. After treatment is administered, studying tissue samples can also
provide insight on the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs and other
treatments.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Histology also helps prevent mesothelioma misdiagnosis.
For example, peritoneal cancer in women and ovarian cancer can be
difficult to differentiate without analyzing the cell type through
histopathology. If patients are pursuing legal action against an
asbestos-producing company that may have caused their cancer, a
misdiagnosis can also negatively affect their chances of obtaining
compensation.</div>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="lt-blue-box clearfix">
<h2 class="no-mobile">
Cell Types</h2>
<h4>
When specifically examining a tumor sample for the presence of
mesothelioma, a histopathologist will carefully inspect the sample for
three types of cells:</h4>
<div class="section clearfix center-text">
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<img alt="Epithelial Cells" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/epithelial-cells-icon.jpg" title="Epithelial Mesothelioma Cells" />
<div class="m-t2">
Epithelial cells<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
appear most often in these tumors, and this subtype accounts for 50 to
70 percent of all cases. These cells, which are uniform and sharply
defined, feature prominent nuclei and often form complex branching
patterns.</a></div>
</div>
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<img alt="Sarcomatoid Cells" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/sarcomatoid-cells-icon.jpg" title="Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Cells" />
<div class="m-t2">
These spindle-shaped sarcomatoid
cells typically lack strong characteristics and occur in approximately
10 to 20 percent of reported cases. While they are the most aggressive
cell type, they are also the least common.</div>
</div>
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<img alt="Biphasic Cells" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/biphasic-cells-icon.jpg" title="Biphasic Mesothelioma Cells" />
<div class="m-t2">
Malignant mesothelioma is considered biphasic
when both epithelial and sarcomatoid cells are present and each type
accounts for at least 10 percent of the tumor's mass. Biphasic (mixed)
cells are present in 20 to 35 percent of all mesothelioma cases.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="video-container--2 right five mobile-full" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/VideoObject">
<div class="video-container--2__lbbottom">
<img alt="Dr. Fontaine Video Thumbnail" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/video-thumbnails/dr-fontaine.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="center-text">
Dr. Fontaine explains how does mesothelioma cell types affect a patients treatment options.</div>
</div>
Doctors use these histological classifications to develop a prognosis
and treatment plan for patients. Although the life span associated with
mesothelioma can be short, your cell type can account for differences
in life expectancy ranging up to 200 days.<br />
<h3>
Cell Types</h3>
Of all subtypes, tumors involving epithelial cells are typically most
responsive to treatment, which often leads to a better prognosis.
Because sarcomatoid cells are the most resistant to treatment, some
surgeons do not consider sarcomatoid tumors eligible for surgery. The
biphasic cell type is also considered less responsive to treatment than
epithelial.<br />
<div class="center center-text mtb--l">
<img alt="Cell Types Graph" class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/histology-bar-graph.png" title="Mesothelioma Cell Types Graph" />
</div>
Diagnosing a patient's specific type of cancer can be challenging for
doctors. One common obstacle is differentiating mesothelioma from
adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer among non- smokers.<br />
<div class="cta--inline--orange clearfix no-mobile cta-g" style="cursor: pointer;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
Have Questions About Cell Types?</h3>
If you or a loved one needs advice, our Patient Advocates can help you take the right next steps.<br />
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<h3>
Characteristics of Malignant Mesothelioma Cells</h3>
Each specific cell type has different visible characteristics.
For example, sarcomatoid cells have elongated nuclei, while epithelial
cells are most commonly distinguished by the identification of
microvilli (microscopic protrusions of a cell) or cell organelle. <br />
The characteristics noted in the different cell types are very
subtle. Unfortunately, this can make the diagnosis process quite
challenging. Specifically, distinguishing mesothelioma cells from
adenocarcinoma cells, a cancer that affects glandular tissue, can be a
serious challenge because the cells can appear similar. <br />
<div class="fast-fact-3">
<strong>Fast Fact:</strong> Frozen section
fixation is a histology process where a surgically removed tumor is
quickly frozen. A slice of the frozen tissue is stained and placed on a
slide to determine if a tumor is malignant, usually while the patient is
still in surgery.</div>
<h3>
Rare Variances in Histological Mesothelioma Types</h3>
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="diagnostic-procedures">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li>Deciduoid</li>
<li>Desmoplastic</li>
<li>Lymphohistiocytoid</li>
<li>Small Cell</li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 151px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 615%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Deciduoid Mesothelioma</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
A rare variant of epithelial mesothelioma, this cell
type has been diagnosed in approximately 45 cases. Roughly half of these
cases originate in either the pleura or the peritoneum.<br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Desmoplastic Mesothelioma</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
A form of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, the framework of
these cells is more than 50 percent collagenized, or made up of fibrous
tissue that produces collagen.<br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Lymphohistiocytoid Mesothelioma</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
This cell type is a rare and often misdiagnosed
variant of sarcomatoid mesothelioma that contains histiocyte-like dense
lymphocytic infiltrates.<br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2 ">
Small Cell Mesothelioma</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
A rare variant, this cell type occurs when at least 50 percent of desmoplastic cells are formed by small cells.<br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div class="bx-nav clearfix no-mobile">
<div class="next no-mobile" data-nexttext="Type">
Next Type <span class="icon"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Additional histological variances include adenoid cystic,
tubulopapillary, glandular, histiocytoid, microcystic, macrocystic,
signet ring, single file; diffuse, not otherwise specified (NOS),
glomeruloid, poorly differentiated (large cell) or pleomorphic, mucin
positive, gaucher cell-like, in situ and well-differentiated papillary.<br />
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
The Histology Process</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Before a diagnosis of cell type is made, tissue samples are
obtained and prepared for study. Teams made up of surgeons,
histotechnicians, histopathologists and other professionals work
together to provide a patient's doctor with information.</div>
<div class="center-text mb--l" style="text-align: justify;">
<img alt="Histology Process" class="responsive twelve" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/histology-process.jpg" title="Mesothelioma Histology Process" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When testing for mesothelioma, a medical test involving the removal and examination of cells,
tissue or fluids from the body, known as a biopsy, is often performed.
After the biopsy, the tissue is prepared by specialists called
histotechnicians. These scientists process the tissue by preserving it
and staining it with a number of special chemicals that will reveal the
minute structures of the cells. They also observe the size, shape and
anatomical structure of cells, which helps identify the cell type.</div>
<h4 class="ul--bg__header" style="text-align: justify;">
How Histotechnicians Prepare a Tissue Sample for Staining</h4>
<ul class="ul--bg" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="col six mobile-full">
<li><h3 class="m-t0">
Fixing</h3>
Makes the tissue more rigid and allows for easier slicing. The tissue is placed in a chemical like formaldehyde.</li>
<li><h3>
Sectioning</h3>
Takes place in a machine called a microtome. The microtome can slice extremely thin pieces of the sample.</li>
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<li><h3 class="m-t0">
Embedding</h3>
The tissue is embedded in a block of paraffin or plastic resin to make the material easy to cut.</li>
<li><h3>
Mounting</h3>
After the slices of embedded tissue are smoothed out in a water bath, they are placed on slides and baked to set the paraffin.</li>
</div>
</ul>
<div class="cta--text--green" style="text-align: justify;">
After the cancerous tissue is mounted
and stained on a slide, the specimen is now ready for study. Then,
histopathologists take the slide and view it under a microscope. They
can determine what type of cancer may be present by viewing the
structure of cells in the tissue. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In addition to staining, histotechnicians may choose to use
different techniques for highlighting the details in cells that may be
of interest, such as in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. In
situ hybridization uses the application of fluorescent or radioactive
probes to bind DNA and RNA and analyze the genes of a cell. Using this
method, scientists can detect genetic abnormalities present in the
cells. </div>
<div class="cta--inline--green no-mobile clearfix cta-g" style="cursor: pointer; text-align: justify;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims</h3>
Get help accessing trust funds and other forms of compensation available to mesothelioma victims.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four">
Get Help Now
</div>
</div>
<span class="cta__bg-icon icon-banknote"></span>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Immunohistochemistry </h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Immunohistochemistry is based on the principle that antibodies
bind to specific antigens and proteins called oncoproteins in human
tissue. Different antibodies are applied to tissues on a microscope
slide. The tissue samples are then analyzed for specific visual patterns
created by the interaction of antibodies and proteins. </div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col nine mobile-full">
Immunohistochemical staining is widely used in the diagnosis
of mesothelioma cells and other abnormal cells. However, many medical
experts say that immunohistochemistry should be used in context with
other diagnostic data. In other words, the results of an
immunohistochemistry analysis should not be considered the primary
indicator for a mesothelioma diagnosis.<br />
</div>
<div class="col two center-text no-mobile">
<img alt="Immunohistochemical Staining" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/immunohistochemical-staining.jpg" title="Doctor Using a Microscope" />
</div>
</div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col three center-text mobile-full">
<img alt="Immunohistochemical Diagnosis" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/immunohistochemistry-diagnosis.jpg" title="Doctors Discussing a Scan" />
</div>
<div class="col nine mobile-full">
However, other studies have found that immunohistochemical
stains improve the accuracy of diagnosis. In one Japanese study, it was
estimated that 10 to 15 percent of patients received an inadequate
diagnosis. Since many patients require this diagnosis for legal action,
the study recommended improving current diagnostic techniques by
improving the quality of immunohistochemistry stains. <br />
</div>
</div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Two antibodies often used to aid in diagnosis are BerEP4 and
vimentin. BerEP4 is helpful in the diagnosis of epithelial
mesotheliomas. However, immunohistochemists are still researching the
efficacy of BerEP4 as a diagnostic indicator, because this antibody has
appeared both in mesotheliomas and other similar tumors. <br />
</div>
<div class="col three center-text no-mobile">
<img alt="BerEP4" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/BerEP4.jpg" title="BerEP4" />
</div>
</div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col four center-text mobile-full" style="text-align: justify;">
<img alt="Vimentin" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/vimentin.jpg" title="Vimentin" />
</div>
<div class="col eight mobile-full" style="text-align: justify;">
Like the antibody BerEP4, vimentin helps diagnose mesothelioma,
but the protein also appears in other tumors. Because vimentin appears
in other malignant tumors, it is not considered a discriminatory marker
for mesothelioma, but rather a piece of the diagnostic puzzle.<br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-28947539528043087592016-02-24T01:43:00.001-08:002016-02-24T01:43:06.304-08:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxe7nH-zPR6GIsgjAKlQyZgircOWHNqi36lBkn6ujcAozEv4k9gmnXSoCrR3d4V6qnsVlpDG9-s0nxqxYc4xkjb4gVXY_nBR4gRuc2JsSHE_-Ak3DuNqnaoKTGSK5Dck5WeB-PLxCBqK-/s1600/Testicular+Mesothelioma.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Testicular Mesothelioma" border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCxe7nH-zPR6GIsgjAKlQyZgircOWHNqi36lBkn6ujcAozEv4k9gmnXSoCrR3d4V6qnsVlpDG9-s0nxqxYc4xkjb4gVXY_nBR4gRuc2JsSHE_-Ak3DuNqnaoKTGSK5Dck5WeB-PLxCBqK-/s640/Testicular+Mesothelioma.png" title="Testicular Mesothelioma" width="640" /></a></div>
</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Testicular Mesothelioma</h1>
<div class="intro" style="text-align: justify;">
Testicular mesothelioma is a cancer of the membrane
lining that covers the testicles. This rare disease, also known as
mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis, accounts for less than 1
percent of all mesothelioma cases. </div>
<div class="cta--inline4--orange clearfix four right center-text no-mobile side-float-zindex cta-g" style="cursor: pointer; text-align: justify;">
<h3>
Learn About Testicular Mesothelioma in Our Free Guide</h3>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This diagnosis puzzles researchers because most people with
mesothelioma can trace their disease to the inhalation or ingestion of
asbestos dust or fibers.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Most testicular mesothelioma patients have no history of asbestos
exposure. There is limited research on testicular mesothelioma because
of the rarity of this diagnosis. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Despite the limited number of known cases, men with this type of
cancer have a significantly better prognosis than most people with other
forms of mesothelioma. Most studies report median survivals of about 20 to 23 months, and one patient lived 15 years after diagnosis.</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Symptoms and Diagnosis</h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
There is no set of symptoms unique to testicular mesothelioma. Many
people with this cancer initially receive the wrong diagnosis because
doctors may mistake it for a more common condition such as a hernia.<br />
The most common symptom is a hydrocele, a buildup of fluid in the
scrotum. Men may also notice an abnormal lump inside the scrotum or pain
and swelling of the testicles. Typically, testicular mesothelioma is
only properly diagnosed during surgery.<br />
The diagnostic process usually starts when someone visits the doctor
to discuss a problem with his testicles. The doctor will ask about the
patient’s medical history and perform a physical examination.<br />
Next, the doctor will order an ultrasound, a type of imaging scan
that is 90 percent accurate for detecting testicular tumors. If a
potential tumor is spotted, a CT scan will be performed to determine the
stage of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread.<br />
To confirm the tumor is testicular mesothelioma, doctors can collect a
blood sample and perform a blood test. They look for mesothelioma tumor
markers, or substances released by mesothelioma tumors that help
confirm a diagnosis. Tumor markers for testicular mesothelioma include
calretinin, cytokeratin 5/6 and Wilms’ tumor gene 1, also known as WT1.<br />
A much more accurate way of confirming a mesothelioma diagnosis is performing a biopsy.
This involves removing a tissue sample from the tumor and sending it to
the lab for testing. Evaluating the sample with a technique called
immunohistochemical staining helps doctors determine if the patient has
testicular mesothelioma or another condition.<br />
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Treatment</h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
Testicular mesothelioma treatment typically involves removing a
portion of one testicle, or an entire testicle if necessary, depending
on the extent of the cancer. <br />
One 2015 study<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
explains the most effective surgery for localized testicular
mesotheliomas that have not spread is a radical inguinal orchiectomy.
This procedure removes the affected testicle and the entire spermatic
chord. If the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, doctors will
remove them as well with a surgery called lymphadenectomy. </a><br />
Surgery may be followed by chemotherapy
with cisplatin and pemetrexed. Radiation therapy may be offered next to
kill any remaining cancer cells and prevent the cancer from returning.
If the cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, chemotherapy and radiation
therapy may not be needed after surgery.<br />
In some cases, testicular mesothelioma is a secondary tumor, with the
primary tumor located within the peritoneum, the membrane that lines
the abdominal cavity. For situations like this, doctors will have to
treat the patient for peritoneal mesothelioma as well.<br />
Doctors treat peritoneal mesothelioma with similar techniques to
those described above — a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy
is often avoided because of the damage it can cause to vital organs
near the tumor. A special technique called HIPEC may also be used. This
involves delivering high doses of heated chemotherapy immediately after
surgery.<br />
<div class="cta--text--ff">
It should be noted that peritoneal and
testicular mesothelioma are classified as being clinically aggressive
types of cancer. This means they can spread rapidly. In addition, the
testicular type tends to recur within a few years, even in cases where
tumors are surgically removed. </div>
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Asbestos and Testicular Mesothelioma</h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
Because this type of cancer is extremely rare, little is known about
how it develops. Most researchers theorize there are two possible points
of origin for testicular mesothelioma. The tunica vaginalis, the
membrane where the cancer develops, is composed of mesothelial cells,
which are present in most of the body's membranous linings. The tunica
vaginalis is made up of two layers, known as the parietal (outer) and
visceral (inner) layers. <br />
Firm white-yellow nodules can be found on the serosal surface of the
tunica vaginalis. The nodules can eventually encase the contents of the
scrotum and cause the tunica vaginalis to thicken.<br />
While there is currently no theory to explain how asbestos exposure
might cause a primary tumor to develop in the testicles, it is
understood that once the asbestos fibers enter the body, they can become
lodged in organs and cause inflammation or infection. Eventually, this
can result in the development of mesothelioma. The fibers cause
cancerous cells to divide abnormally, causing buildup of fluid and the
formation of tumors. <br />
Once cells have become cancerous, they are no longer able to regulate
their own cycles of growth and division. A primary tumor that develops
in the testicle is formed from cancerous cells that divide without
restraint, which causes the thickening of the tunica vaginalis and can
eventually lead to the formation of tumors. <br />
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Legal Claims</h2>
<div class="collapse-content">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
As with other asbestos-related injuries, legal compensation may be available for men who develop testicular mesothelioma.</div>
<div class="cta--text--ff" style="text-align: justify;">
In September 2013, a South Carolina jury awarded $38 million to a former millwright
who developed testicular mesothelioma. Given the extreme rarity of the
cancer, the case may be one of relatively few lawsuits involving the
disease, compared with widespread lawsuits for other asbestos-related
illnesses.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The plaintiff, Lloyd Strom Garvin, alleged he was exposed to
asbestos-laced gaskets and valve packing stemming from the negligence of
13 defendants. He and his wife filed their lawsuit in the South
Carolina Court of Common Pleas for Richland County. The jury took only
four hours to deliver its verdict following a 12-day trial.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The case is significant, not only for the plaintiff's substantial
award, but also because the plaintiff successfully proved his illness
was caused by asbestos exposure. Although mesothelioma is caused almost
exclusively by asbestos exposure, a small number of cases have been
reported with no known exposure to asbestos. Therefore, it's a good idea
for all mesothelioma claimants, including those who are diagnosed with
testicular mesothelioma, to get a mesothelioma attorney's help when
tracing their exposure history.</div>
</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-68930018197085436322016-02-24T01:41:00.000-08:002016-02-24T01:41:01.033-08:00Pericardial Mesothelioma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="two-col-content col nine clearfix mobile-full" itemprop="mainContentOfPage" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/WebPageElement">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2NEXi4-ovSdEKJHZWDKzxNC3VrjkTb6tChNegL7KEZpBaeRJaHwmFJFWqZ_mtPXxcxY-CAkBti3gzvLGBmpq4H3eo7z5k29GBgC0Bv6IIJC8uzL-XrX1xsdv1y6xzeU_E2Z4fUWh4VlP/s1600/pericardial-mesothelioma-click.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="pericardial mesothelioma" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2NEXi4-ovSdEKJHZWDKzxNC3VrjkTb6tChNegL7KEZpBaeRJaHwmFJFWqZ_mtPXxcxY-CAkBti3gzvLGBmpq4H3eo7z5k29GBgC0Bv6IIJC8uzL-XrX1xsdv1y6xzeU_E2Z4fUWh4VlP/s640/pericardial-mesothelioma-click.jpg" title="pericardial mesothelioma" width="577" /></a></div>
</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Pericardial Mesothelioma</h1>
<div class="section clearfix hummingbird-img" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col three center-text no-mobile">
<img alt="Pericardial Heart Icon" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/pericadial-heart-icon.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="col nine mobile-full">
<div class="intro">
It's one of the rarest types of
asbestos-related cancers. Treatment options are few because the heart
lining, which is where tumors develop, is too close to the delicate
organ; however, there are some cases where surgery can help remove small
tumors.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="cta--inline4--orange clearfix four right center-text no-mobile side-float-zindex cta-g" style="cursor: pointer; text-align: justify;">
<h3>
Learn About Pericardial Mesothelioma in Our Free Guide</h3>
<img alt="Free Mesothelioma Packet" class="responsive no-mobile" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/homepage/packet-banner-packet.png" />
<a class="button2--orange cta--inline4__button" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">Get Your Free Guide Now</a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the thin membrane surrounding
the heart, known as the pericardium. The membrane has two layers: An
outer layer called the parietal layer, heart sac or <em>theca cordis</em>; and an inner layer known as the visceral layer or <em>epicardium</em>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are four common forms of mesothelioma,
and pericardial and testicular are the rarest. To date, approximately
200 cases of pericardial mesothelioma are described in medical
literature — that's 1 percent of all known diagnosed mesotheliomas.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Almost all mesotheliomas can be traced to asbestos exposure, but
medical researchers continue to study the link between asbestos and
cancer of the pericardium. Studies are clear on how inhaled microscopic
fibers reach the lungs, but less clear on how the fibers reach the
heart.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This form of cancer strikes twice as many men as women, and is most
often diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 and 70. Like the other
types of mesothelioma, the disease develops over a long period of time —
one to five decades — and is typically discovered at a later stage.
Symptoms include chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath. Diagnosis
is difficult because symptoms mimic those of other disorders.</div>
<div class="cta--text--green" style="text-align: justify;">
Pericardial treatment options: Surgery (if a
patient is deemed healthy enough), chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a
combination of all three modalities. About half of the people who
contract the pericardial type survive longer than six months.</div>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="lt-blue-box clearfix p-b0">
<h2 class="no-mobile">
What Are the Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma?</h2>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col twelve">
Most pericardial mesothelioma patients experience no
symptoms when the cancer initially develops, a fact that contributes to a
late-stage diagnosis. The symptoms also resemble those of other heart
conditions, making the cancer difficult to accurately diagnose. Most
symptoms are caused by fluid buildup around the heart and thickening of
the pericardial layers.<br />
Most symptoms are caused by the buildup of fluid and the
thickening of pericardial layers. The presence of any of these symptoms
should be followed by a visit to the doctor with recommended screenings
such as an X-ray or CT scan.<br />
</div>
</div>
<h3>
The following symptoms may indicate pericardial mesothelioma:</h3>
<ul class="ul--checklist no-pl"><div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<li>Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)</li>
<li>Difficulty breathing, even when at rest (dyspnea)</li>
<li>Murmurs</li>
<li>Cough</li>
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<li>Shortness of breath when lying flat</li>
<li>Chest pain</li>
<li>Fatigue</li>
<li>Fever</li>
<li>Night sweats</li>
</div>
</div>
</ul>
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially
heart-related symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor
immediately. Screening tests like X-rays, CT scans and echocardiograms
can usually reveal the underlying cause of these health problems.<br />
</div>
<div class="cta--inline--orange clearfix no-mobile cta-g" style="cursor: pointer;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
Are You Experiencing Symptoms?</h3>
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<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
How Does Asbestos Cause Pericardial Mesothelioma?</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
The causal relationship between asbestos exposure and this type
of mesothelioma is not fully understood. Researchers confirm the
pleural and peritoneal types of the cancers are primarily caused by
exposure to asbestos, yet the causes of the pericardial type are less
definitive. Some patients with this rare type of mesothelioma have a
history of exposure, but the limited number of reported cases prohibits
researchers from effectively analyzing the relationship between the two.
A 1982 study found a history of asbestos exposure in three of 15 cases,
and a 1994 study reported asbestos exposure in four of 15 cases.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four center-text no-mobile">
<div class="ten center">
<img alt="Pericardial Mesothelioma Affecting the Heart" class="img-treatment" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/pericardial-mesothelioma-click.jpg" width="100%" />
</div>
<div class="twelve center">
<div class="caption center-text">
Pericardial mesothelioma is thought to occur when asbestos lodges itself around the heart.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Asbestos fibers can become lodged in the membranes that surround the
heart. When this occurs, just as it does in the linings of the lungs and
abdomen, the body experiences extreme difficulty in eliminating the
fibers. They can remain stuck in the membranes, and over a long period
of time — sometimes up to 50 years — the asbestos fibers cause the cells
to undergo changes that may result in cancer.<br />
Once cells become cancerous, they begin to divide more rapidly,
without the restraint that regulates the growth cycles of healthy cells.
As the mesothelioma cells continue to grow, they cause the lining of
the heart to thicken, and eventually tumors develop. These changes in
the membrane lead to the buildup of fluid between the pericardial
layers, which combined with the thickening of the layers, puts pressure
on the heart.<br />
</div>
</div>
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>Learn more about asbestos exposure</div>
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
How Is Pericardial Mesothelioma Diagnosed?</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
To diagnose pericardial mesothelioma, doctors make a cumulative
assessment of your symptoms, medical history and current medical
condition. Next, you will receive a physical examination, imaging tests
and biopsy to determine the location of tumors and confirm whether or
not they are cancerous.<br />
When you see a doctor to discuss heart-related symptoms, one of the
first diagnostic tests you will receive is an echocardiogram, which is
essentially an ultrasound for your heart. This noninvasive test uses
sound waves to help doctors see the size and shape of your heart and
determine how well it's working overall.<br />
Although an echocardiogram can reveal fluid buildup around the heart
and help guide pericardiocentesis, the procedure doctors perform to
drain the fluid, other imaging scans are needed to determine if
potential tumors are present. If doctors spot abnormal growths, they
need to take a fluid or tissue sample and perform a biopsy, which can
confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.<br />
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col four center-text mobile-full">
<img alt="Stethoscope Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Basic-Physical-Exam.jpg" />
<h3>
Physical Examination</h3>
<div class="center-text">
A small percentage of all
heart-related mesothelioma diagnoses, between 10 and 20 percent, are
made before a patient dies. Some of the challenges with early and
accurate diagnosing of the pericardial type include the minuscule number
of people with the disease and the delayed presentation of symptoms.</div>
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>Learn more
</div>
</div>
<div class="col four center-text mobile-full">
<img alt="Medical Cross Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Medical-History-Review.jpg" />
<h3>
Imaging Tests</h3>
<div class="center-text">
Radionuclide imaging is an
advanced detection method involving the injection of radiogallium, a
radioactive material, to identify cancerous cells. It was reportedly
used to detect at least one case of this type of cancer. Patterns of
radioactivity show possible tumor sites in the human body.</div>
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>Learn more
</div>
</div>
<div class="col four center-text mobile-full">
<img alt="Surgery Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/surgery-blue-icon.jpg" />
<h3>
Biopsy</h3>
<div class="center-text">
A biopsy is a crucial diagnostic
procedure that can be more suitable in determining the cancer's point of
origin. A surgeon will remove tissue or fluid from the pericardium,
examine its cells under a microscope to positively confirm the presence
of pericardial mesothelioma.</div>
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>Learn more
</div>
</div>
</div>
Computed tomography (CT) scans are effective for detecting
pericardial tumors, making them a preferred diagnostic tool. Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) can also yield extremely successful results in
identifying and assessing the cancer. These tumors generally are not
localized, and they tend to cover most of the heart. Furthermore, this
cancer type accounts for approximately half of all pericardial tumors.<br />
<h3>
Seek a Second Opinion to Avoid Misdiagnosis</h3>
Because pericardial mesothelioma symptoms like chest pain, cough and
difficulty breathing are shared with various other diseases, it's
crucial to meet with a specialist to confirm your diagnosis. To ensure
an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment, you need to speak with an
expert who knows the intricacies of this rare cancer.<br />
Pericardial mesothelioma is often mistaken for more common heart illnesses, including:<br />
<ul class="ul--checklist">
<li>Heart failure</li>
<li>Coronary heart disease</li>
<li>Tuberculosis pericarditis</li>
<li>Constrictive pericarditis</li>
<li>Cardiac tamponade</li>
<li>Intra-atrial myxoma</li>
<li>Cardiomyopathy</li>
</ul>
If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, always seek a
specialist to confirm. An accurate and early diagnosis not only gives
you access to a wider range of treatment options, but it may also lead
to improved survival.<br />
<div class="cta--inline--drblue no-mobile cta-g" style="cursor: pointer;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
Find a Pericardial Mesothelioma Specialist</h3>
A specialist is essential in providing you or a loved one with a treatment plan that can improve your life expectancy.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four">
Get Help now
</div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
What Treatments Are Available?</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
Treatment options<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
are limited because the heart lining rests so closely to the heart
itself that most therapies can easily damage this delicate organ. Most
patients with pericardial mesothelioma are not ideal candidates for
surgery, which is often the most effective treatment for this cancer.
However, there are rare cases where the cancer is diagnosed early and
surgery can be carried out to remove small, localized tumors. Still, any
surgery near this area is extremely dangerous because of the close
proximity to the heart.</a><br />
The four primary treatment options for pericardial mesothelioma are
pericardiectomy, chemotherapy, palliative treatment and fine needle
aspiration.<br />
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="diagnostic-procedures">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li>Pericardiectomy</li>
<li>Chemotherapy</li>
<li>Palliative Treatment</li>
<li>Fine Needle Aspiration</li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 213px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 615%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Pericardiectomy</h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
Patients who doctors decide are good
candidates for surgery are treated with a pericardiectomy, the surgical
process of removing part or all of the pericardium. A pericardiectomy
can relieve pressure and minimize fluid buildup, allowing the heart to
continue functioning properly. A pericardiocentesis removes excess fluid from the pericardium to relieve pressure around the heart.<br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Chemotherapy</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
Chemotherapy is an option that is
normally considered for asbestos-related cancers, but the clinical
benefits seen in pericardial patients who received this treatment were
minimal. Similarly, radiation therapy, which is considered one of the
primary therapies for most peritoneal and pleural cases, is considered
minimally effective for this rare cancer.<br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Palliative Treatment</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
Palliative treatment options are the most
viable and common treatments, which aim to minimize pain and reduce the
symptoms caused by the buildup of fluid in the pericardium. Essentially,
palliative care can improve quality of life and make patients more
comfortable. Palliative treatments can include therapies that relieve
pain and pressure around the heart, such as a pericardiocentesis or pain
medication.<br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Fine Needle Aspiration</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
Another treatment that removes excess fluid
is known as a fine needle aspiration. This palliative procedure is more
commonly used as a diagnostic method for pleural mesothelioma patients,
but can provide comfort for certain patients.<br />
</div>
</div>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
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<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
What Is the Average Prognosis?</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col nine mobile-full">
The common prognosis
for the pericardial type is poor, compared to that of peritoneal or
pleural mesothelioma. Nearly 50 to 60 percent of pericardial patients
pass away within six months of receiving a diagnosis. However, this is
not the case for everyone.<br />
Hope exists for some patients because researchers have cited
positive results after surgery to remove local tumors. In one study,
surgery to remove part of the heart's lining combined with radiation
therapy improved survival in two patients.
<br />
One patient lived a year after treatment, and another was
alive five years after treatment. Smaller, less impactful benefits were
demonstrated from chemotherapy.<br />
</div>
<div class="col three center-text no-mobile">
<img alt="Checklist Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/Discussion-of-Current-Symptoms.jpg" />
<div class="twelve m-t1">
<div class="caption center-text">
Early diagnosis can yield a more optimistic prognosis, often resulting in more treatment options.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Additional Resources</h2>
<div class="section clearfix no-mobile" style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="cta-icon icon-medal"></span>
<span class="cta-text">Free VA Claims Help for Mesothelioma</span>
<span class="cta-button">Get Help Now</span>
<a class="col four cta-med orange" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
<span class="cta-icon icon-banknote"></span>
<span class="cta-text">Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma</span>
<span class="cta-button">Learn More</span>
</a>
<a class="col four cta-med dk-blue" href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
<span class="cta-icon icon-heart"></span>
<span class="cta-text">Join a Mesothelioma Support Group</span>
<span class="cta-button">Learn More</span>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="circle-img authorBlurb__img left">
<img alt="Karen Selby" itemprop="image" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/thumb.php?src=/images/karen-bio-bg.jpg&h=110&w=110" />
</div>
<div class="left">
<h4 class="authorBlurb__title">
Author</h4>
<h3 class="authorBlurb__name" itemprop="name">
Karen Selby</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div itemprop="description" style="text-align: justify;">
Karen Selby is a registered nurse and a
Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center. She worked in several
subspecialties within nursing before joining Asbestos.com in 2009.</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-62279753955963089062016-02-24T01:38:00.002-08:002016-02-24T01:38:28.023-08:00Peritoneal Mesothelioma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiITsJ8Lex2i6Mr4vBWCxzhonTlhwqup6vjLpSXRDds1FDIcGEALwIYQFDqbkhiwBtYN0SrakZ6z3K9v2oQqlyOU-0aRseyQE2AVbB7oQN-zI46KPffkdXNo6TBVOeW5Ukh1aDcZ0Tx8VP/s1600/Peritoneal+Mesothelioma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Peritoneal Mesothelioma" border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiITsJ8Lex2i6Mr4vBWCxzhonTlhwqup6vjLpSXRDds1FDIcGEALwIYQFDqbkhiwBtYN0SrakZ6z3K9v2oQqlyOU-0aRseyQE2AVbB7oQN-zI46KPffkdXNo6TBVOeW5Ukh1aDcZ0Tx8VP/s640/Peritoneal+Mesothelioma.jpg" title="Peritoneal Mesothelioma" width="640" /></a></div>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Peritoneal Mesothelioma</h1>
<div class="intro" style="text-align: justify;">
Peritoneal mesothelioma is one of the four primary
types of malignant mesothelioma. The name stems from the area where the
cancer develops, along the peritoneum, also known as the lining of the
abdomen. Roughly 250 to 500 new cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are
diagnosed in the U.S. each year, making it the second-most common
mesothelioma type.</div>
<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="col seven mobile-full">
All mesotheliomas, including peritoneal, stem from extended
exposure to asbestos, usually at work. People diagnosed with the disease
often can pinpoint a time in their lives when they were around asbestos
dust, fibers or products for a sustained period. This exposure leads to
ingestion or inhalation of microscopic asbestos particles, which can
produce cancerous cells and then tumors.<br />
</div>
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<h3>
Just Diagnosed?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Get Help Finding Treatment</li>
<li>Compensation for Mesothelioma</li>
<li>Benefits For Veterans</li>
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</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma in the Peritoneum</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col seven mobile-full">
The peritoneum is a protective membrane that surrounds the
abdomen, or belly. It has two layers, and mesothelioma can develop on
both. The parietal layer covers the abdominal cavity, while the visceral
layer surrounds the stomach, liver and other organs of the abdomen.
Together, the layers support the abdominal cavity as a whole and the
organs within it. <br />
<h3>
What Causes Peritoneal Mesothelioma?</h3>
Although no definitive answer is available, cancer experts
most commonly associate the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma with the
following theories:<br />
<ul class="ul--checklist no-margin-clear">
<li>Swallowed asbestos fibers travel from the digestive system to the peritoneum.</li>
<li>Inhaled asbestos fibers reach the peritoneum through the lymphatic system, which produces and stores cells that fight disease. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="col five mobile-full mobile-center mobile-center-text">
<img alt="Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagram" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/peritoneal-diagram.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
<div class="col seven">
<h3>
Get a Free Peritoneal Mesothelioma Guide</h3>
Free information about peritoneal mesothelioma, books, wristbands and more for patients and caregivers.<br />
<div class="button2--green cta__button2 ten">
Get Your Free Guide</div>
</div>
<div class="col five center-text">
<img alt="Free Mesothelioma Packet" class="responsive cta--inline5__img center-text" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma-guide-small2.png" />
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col five mobile-full">
Early symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include
abdominal pain or swelling, and diarrhea or constipation. Unfortunately,
some patients don't experience any symptoms until tumors have spread.
This scenario makes treating the disease hard and surviving it even
harder.<br />
</div>
<div class="col seven mobile-full center-text">
<img alt="Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms Diagram" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/peritoneal-symptoms-diagram.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
<h3 class="ul--bg__header">
Common peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include:</h3>
<ul class="ul--bg clearfix"><div class="col six mobile-full">
<li>Abdominal pain or swelling</li>
<li>Diarrhea or constipation </li>
<li>Changes in bowel habits (including diarrhea or constipation) </li>
<li>A feeling of fullness</li>
<li>Night sweats or fever</li>
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<li>Unexplained weight loss </li>
<li>Nausea or vomiting </li>
<li>Fatigue </li>
<li>Anemia</li>
</div>
</ul>
You may not experience cancer symptoms for 20 to 50 years after your
first exposure to asbestos. Once asbestos fibers reach the peritoneum
and irritate the cells, the peritoneal lining starts to thicken. As the
cancer develops, the buildup of excess fluid in the abdomen, known as
ascites, may occur next. Over time, tumors form and place pressure on
the organs.<br />
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Diagnosis</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col seven mobile-full">
The latest advances in medical technology allow doctors to diagnose this disease
earlier than ever before, yet even experienced cancer doctors can
struggle to diagnose it accurately. In fact, the process can take
months.<br />
</div>
<div class="col five center-text mobile-full">
<img alt="Peritoneal diagnosis diagram" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/peritoneal-diagnosis-diagram.jpg" />
<div class="caption center-text mt">
Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for 10-20 percent of all diagnosed cases.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="cta--inline--drblue clearfix no-mobile cta-g" style="cursor: pointer;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
Talk to a Doctor About Your Diagnosis</h3>
We can help you or a loved one get a diagnosis or a second opinion from a peritoneal mesothelioma specialist.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four">
Get Started Today
</div>
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</div>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="section lt-blue-box">
<h2 class="no-mobile">
The Diagnostic Process for Peritoneal Mesothelioma</h2>
The process of diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma is
similar to that of other types. It starts with a thorough examination
of your medical history, occupational history, and overall physical
condition, followed by a series of tests including imaging scans and
biopsies.<br />
Be sure to mention any history of asbestos exposure,
even if your doctors forget to ask. It's important to share every detail
you can remember, including the dates the incidents occurred and the
length and duration of the exposures. This information will alert your
doctors about the possibility of an asbestos-related disease and help
them determine the appropriate next steps. <br />
Because this cancer is so rare, doctors who lack experience with the disease often misdiagnose mesothelioma patients
with more common illnesses who have similar symptoms — a serious
mistake that delays proper treatment. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms
like abdominal swelling, weight loss and hernia also arise in other
abdominal cancers and many less serious conditions, increasing the
likelihood of a misdiagnosis.<br />
If you have a history of asbestos exposure, the best way
to ensure an accurate diagnosis is to schedule an appointment with a
specialist. Doctors who specialize in mesothelioma and other
asbestos-related conditions have the knowledge and tools needed to make a
prompt diagnosis and explain all the treatment options available to
you.<br />
<div class="section clear">
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Imaging Scanning</h3>
When a patient is experiencing symptoms like pain or
swelling in the abdomen, doctors likely will
ask for a chest X-ray, CT scan or another type of imaging scan. These
tests will help detect potential tumors and show any cancer spread. They
also help doctors choose the best biopsy locations.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about image scanning
</div>
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Biopsies</h3>
Biopsies come next. Radiologic biopsies are minor
procedures that pull fluid and tissue samples that can be inspected
under a microscope and can be used for other tests. This is an essential
step in the diagnostic process because only a biopsy can confirm a
peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about biopsies
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Sometimes doctors need to perform a laparoscopic surgical biopsy,
which is more invasive. In both cases, pathologists look to see if lab
results show cancerous cells in your peritoneal fluid or tissue. This
delay, combined with the speedy progression of tumors, usually results
in a late-stage diagnosis for most patients.<br />
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Prognosis</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col seven mobile-full">
Doctors who treat peritoneal mesothelioma generally deliver a
projected life expectancy of less than one year. However, one promising
and innovative treatment called HIPEC, which combines surgery and heated
chemotherapy, can extend survival by several years.<br />
Peritoneal cancer survival rates are better among those with an
early diagnosis (stage I and stage II) than a late stage (stage III and
stage IV) which makes early detection a key in improving a patient's prognosis.
Stage I or stage II diagnoses typically give oncologists more options
for treatment and gives patients more time for those treatments to work.<br />
Although the stage of the cancer is the most important factor for
determining the peritoneal cancer survival rate early, other things
about the cancer can be meaningful. The location of tumors, their cell
type, a patient's age and overall health all come into play. Someone who
can withstand aggressive treatments like surgery often have an improved
long-term prognosis.<br />
</div>
<div class="col five center-text no-mobile">
<img alt="Peritoneal Mesothelioma Life Expectancy" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/peritoneal-prognosis-diagram.jpg" />
<div class="caption center-text">
25 percent of peritoneal mesothelioma patients survive three years after diagnosis.</div>
</div>
</div>
There are many stories of patients surviving several years after diagnosis. The best way for you to improve your prognosis is by seeking the best available treatment options.<br />
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Treatment Options</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
Although an increasing number of cancer specialists
have emerged as treatment leaders for peritoneal diseases in recent
years, the total number of specialists remains small. If there are no
peritoneal specialists nearby, you may want to look for one in a
neighboring state.<br />
Treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma include surgery,
chemotherapy, radiation therapy and combination therapy. Doctors believe
combining traditional treatments often works better than any single
treatment. A combination of one or more treatments is called multimodal therapy. Research shows that a multimodal treatment approach usually offers the best improvement in terms of survival.<br />
The most promising therapy for peritoneal mesothelioma may be heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC),
a multimodal treatment that combines surgery and heated chemotherapy.
While doctors only give HIPEC on a case-by-case basis, it has shown
excellent results for select patients in terms of extended survival and
improved quality of life. In studies on small groups of patients treated
with HIPEC, some people lived five years or longer.<br />
To qualify for HIPEC, a patient's cancer must be limited enough for
doctors to completely remove with surgery, and must not have spread
beyond the abdomen. In addition, qualifying patients must spend more
than half of their waking hours up and about and be capable of
self-care, which includes basic health maintenance, personal hygiene and
the ability to follow doctor recommendations. In studies on small
groups of patients treated with HIPEC, some people lived five years or
longer.<br />
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<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
Questions About Peritoneal Mesothelioma?</h3>
Our Patient Advocates can answer your questions about peritoneal mesothelioma and help you find a top specialist.<br />
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<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="peritoneal-pg-treatment">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li>Surgery</li>
<li>Chemotherapy</li>
<li>Radiation</li>
<li>Alternative Treatments</li>
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<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Surgery</h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Surgery is the most promising traditional
treatment option for peritoneal mesothelioma, but it is only effective
for early-stage cancer. Because doctors most commonly diagnose
asbestos-related diseases after the cancer has spread, most surgeries
only attempt to remove sections of the tumor.<br />
Surgery can be curative or palliative. Curative
surgery aims to remove as much of the tumor as possible in hopes of
curing the cancer. Otherwise, doctors may perform palliative surgery,
which aims to remove parts of the tumor to relieve symptoms and improve
quality of life. Palliative therapies do not stop the cancer. <br />
Tumor spread is usually too vast at stage IV for
surgery to completely remove the cancer. Surgery with a curative intent
is not recommended at stage IV. However, a surgery to remove the
majority of tumors may be performed to alleviate pain and improve
breathing.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about mesothelioma surgeries
</div>
</div>
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<img alt="Surgery Icon" class="center cardstack-img-margin" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/icon-shadow-surgery_greybg.jpg" />
<div class="caption center-text">
Typical surgeries include peritonectomy, cytoreductive surgery, bowel resection and removal of some organs.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Chemotherapy</h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Doctors can provide chemotherapy drugs that shrink
tumors and slow the growth and spread of cancer. It can be given before,
during or after surgery. In some cases, doctors offer chemotherapy as
the only treatment option. Chemotherapy drugs considered effective in
peritoneal treatment include pemetrexed, cisplatin, carboplatin and
gemcitabine.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four center-text no-mobile">
<img alt="Chemotherapy Icon" class="center cardstack-img-margin" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/icon-shadow-chemo_greybg.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
Doctors are now seeing extraordinary results with HIPEC.
Once an experimental treatment, HIPEC starts with surgery to remove all
visible tumors from the patient’s peritoneum. Next, doctors introduce a
heated salt-water solution that contains chemotherapy drugs.<br />
A machine pumps the medicine throughout the patient’s abdomen,
which helps destroy any cancer cells left behind after surgery. Some
peritoneal mesothelioma patients who receive HIPEC can live several
years after diagnosis. <br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about chemotherapy for mesothelioma
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Radiation Therapy</h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Although some studies show
radiation therapy can improve survival slightly when combined with
surgery and chemotherapy, doctors tend not to recommend radiation for
peritoneal patients. Even though targeted radiation can shrink tumors
and slow cancer growth, the procedure is risky because of the location
of these tumors. The peritoneum wraps around the stomach, liver and
intestines. Aiming radiation at nearby tumors could harm these organs
and cause damage.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about radiation therapy for mesothelioma
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<img alt="Radiation Icon" class="center cardstack-img-margin" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/icon-shadow-radiation_greybg.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Alternative Treatments</h3>
<div class="collapse-content">
Alternative treatments and emerging therapies are available,
but these treatments have less predictable outcomes. One emerging
therapy called immunotherapy
works by boosting the body’s immune system to help fight off cancer.
However, research on this approach mainly focuses on the treatment of pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the lining of the lungs. <br />
Many patients find hope in clinical trials,
medical studies that test new and experimental treatments. Research
from clinical trials helps improve treatment outcomes and may bring us
the standard treatments of tomorrow.<br />
<div class="learn-more-link sixteen">
<span class="icon-lml"></span>
Learn more about alternative mesothelioma treatments
</div>
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<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Omental Mesothelioma</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
Omental mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that grows in the
omentum, a sheet of fatty tissue in the abdomen that hangs in front of
the intestines like an apron. The omentum protects our organs, stores
nutrients and prevents the spread of infection. The peritoneum covers
the omentum, and both contain mesothelial cells that can turn cancerous
and form tumors.<br />
Peritoneal mesothelioma usually causes omental mesothelioma because
the cancer spreads from the peritoneum to the omentum. It's also
possible for cancer to develop in the omentum and spread to the
peritoneum, but fewer than five cases like this have been reported in
medical literature.<br />
Symptoms of both cancers are similar, although someone with omental
cancer may experience lower back pain and no other symptoms. Because
this kind of cancer is so rare, it is difficult to diagnose and treat.
In some cases, surgery and chemotherapy have proved successful.<br />
It's unclear if the prognosis for patients with omental mesothelioma
is better, worse or the same as for patients with peritoneal cancer.
While there is not much data available on patient outcomes, some
evidence suggests a reason for optimism.<br />
In 2009, a patient diagnosed with omental mesothelioma was treated
successfully with chemotherapy. When the study was published 14 months
after diagnosis, the patient was still alive. In another case reported
in 2004, surgeons removed a malignant tumor from the omentum and watched
the patient recover and remain in good health for nearly three years. <br />
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Additional Resources</h2>
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<div class="row clearfix" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="circle-img authorBlurb__img left">
<img alt="Dr. W. Charles Conway" itemprop="image" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/thumb.php?src=/images/conway-bio-bg.jpg&h=110&w=110" />
</div>
<div class="left">
<h4 class="authorBlurb__title">
Author</h4>
<h3 class="authorBlurb__name" itemprop="name">
Dr. W. Charles Conway</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dr. Conway is a surgical oncologist
who joined the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans in 2009, taking a
special interest in peritoneal mesothelioma, along with pancreatic,
esophageal and </div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-61964805968155242942016-02-24T01:36:00.000-08:002016-02-24T01:36:42.184-08:00Pleural Mesothelioma<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="two-col-content col nine clearfix mobile-full" itemprop="mainContentOfPage" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/WebPageElement">
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLIZeNR6WIBjAXUXvCXEo4UB0_0TUkyqm0krXHFmh98hNmzZYwmxp56RaHhrjHintl1orP3BGx241iWERDBi1kVHL1ndHsGTsT_-psUD8IM_a4D8J053V73Lh_bSBvdyobBxiqS3A0fli/s1600/Pleural+Mesothelioma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pleural Mesothelioma" border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLIZeNR6WIBjAXUXvCXEo4UB0_0TUkyqm0krXHFmh98hNmzZYwmxp56RaHhrjHintl1orP3BGx241iWERDBi1kVHL1ndHsGTsT_-psUD8IM_a4D8J053V73Lh_bSBvdyobBxiqS3A0fli/s640/Pleural+Mesothelioma.jpg" title="Pleural Mesothelioma" width="640" /></a></div>
</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Pleural Mesothelioma</h1>
<div class="intro" style="text-align: justify;">
Pleural mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that
develops on the lining of the lungs called the pleura. It is the most
common type of mesothelioma. Although the prognosis is typically poor,
finding a pleural cancer specialist can diversify your treatment options
and help improve your prognosis.</div>
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<h3>
Learn About Pleural Mesothelioma with Our Free Guide</h3>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Pleural mesothelioma accounts for about 75 percent of all
mesothelioma cases. Like other types of mesothelioma, this particular
form of the disease gets its name because of where it is formed — in the
pleura, a soft tissue that surrounds the lungs. In almost all cases,
pleural mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first symptoms of pleural mesothelioma typically include chest
pain and shortness of breath. You may experience no symptoms at all in
the first few stages of the cancer’s progression.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The life expectancy
of someone with pleural mesothelioma is less than 18 months, but some
patients live much longer. It often takes decades (20 to 50 years) for
mesothelioma to develop after someone is first exposed to asbestos. This
lag time — called a latency period — explains why the disease usually
affects older people.</div>
<div class="lt-blue-box clearfix clear" style="text-align: justify;">
<h2>
How Asbestos Leads to Mesothelioma</h2>
Once inhaled into the lungs, asbestos travels to the pleura. The
body then struggles to get rid of the needle-like fibers. Over a long
period of time, trapped fibers irritate the pleural membrane, causing
chronic inflammation and scarring. <br />
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Odds of Development</h3>
In 2 to 10 percent of people heavily exposed to asbestos,
the trapped fibers cause pleural mesothelioma by triggering genetic
changes in cells that make up the pleura. These cancerous cells grow
fast and uncontrollably, forming tumors that wrap around the lungs.<br />
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Who Is Affected?</h3>
About 80 percent of people diagnosed with pleural
mesothelioma are older men, mainly because most asbestos exposure
occurred at industrial jobs traditionally worked by men. <br />
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
What Are Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms?</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include persistent dry or raspy
cough, coughing up blood (hemoptysis), shortness of breath (dyspnea),
and difficulty swallowing (dysphagia). There are four stages of mesothelioma
that doctors use to describe how far the cancer has progressed. For
many people, unfortunately, symptoms are not noticeable until the cancer
is in a later stage — stage III or IV. <br />
<div class="row row-two clearfix">
<div class="col six mobile-full mobile-center-text">
<img alt="Pleural Effusion Diagram" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/pleural-effusion.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
Asbestos fibers can cause excess fluid to build up between the two layers of the pleura, a condition called pleural effusion.
While a little fluid in your pleural space is important, too much can
make breathing difficult. The extra fluid puts pressure on the lungs,
causing chest pain that gets worse when you cough or take deep breaths.<br />
</div>
</div>
<h4 class="ul--bg__header">
Tumor Complications Are Largely Responsible for Symptoms, Which May Include:</h4>
<ul class="ul--bg clearfix"><div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<li>Persistent dry or raspy cough</li>
<li>Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)</li>
<li>Shortness of breath (dyspnea)</li>
<li>Pain in the lower back or rib area </li>
<li>Painful breathing</li>
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<li>Lumps under the skin on the chest</li>
<li>Difficulty with swallowing (dysphagia)</li>
<li>Night sweats or fever</li>
<li>Unexplained weight loss</li>
<li>Fatigue</li>
</div>
</div>
</ul>
In their first meeting with a doctor, a majority of pleural
mesothelioma patients report chest pain and shortness of breath.
Patients rarely mention weight loss and fatigue during their initial
doctor visit, but these symptoms may be present if the cancer is in a
later stage. <br />
<div class="cta--inline--green no-mobile clearfix cta-g cta-g" style="cursor: pointer;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight">
<h3>
Compensation for Pleural Mesothelioma Victims</h3>
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.<br />
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<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Diagnosis</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col seven mobile-full">
Two layers of tissue make up the pleura. These tissues
protect and support the lungs and other important structures of the
chest. They also produce lubricating fluid between to help the lungs
move smoothly as we breathe. The outer layer, the parietal pleura, lines
the entire inside of the chest cavity.
The inner layer, or visceral pleura, covers the lungs.<br />
Mesothelioma commonly affects both layers of the pleura.
The cancer generally forms in one layer of the pleura and rapidly
invades the other pleural layer, diaphragm, chest wall or lung. If the
cancer reaches nearby glands called lymph nodes, it can metastasize, or
spread, to other parts of the body.<br />
Non-cancerous conditions like pleural plaques and
atelactasis can develop on the surface of the pleura as a result of
asbestos exposure and these conditions are not associated with pleural
mesothelioma. They don’t develop into cancer and they don’t increase the
risk of developing lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma.<br />
</div>
<div class="col five mobile-full mobile-center-text">
<img alt="Diagram of Healthy Lung vs Diseased Lung" class="responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/healthy-vs-diseased-lung.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
Pleural mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose, since
symptoms usually do not arise until long after the first exposure to
asbestos. Since many diseases of the lungs and respiratory system have
the same symptoms as pleural mesothelioma, doctors may mistake it for
the flu or pneumonia. <br />
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Difficult to Confirm a Diagnosis</h3>
It is challenging for doctors to tell the
difference between pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. While doctors
may suspect mesothelioma based on a patient's symptoms, history of
asbestos exposure and irregular imaging scan results, these signs are
not enough to confirm a diagnosis. <br />
</div>
<div class="col six mobile-full">
<h3>
Reliable Ways to Diagnose</h3>
More reliable ways to diagnose the disease
include thoracoscopy, which allows doctors to view the patient's chest
through a small camera and collect a tissue biopsy, which doctors use to
test tissue and fluid samples for cancerous cells.<br />
</div>
</div>
<div class="section clearfix lt-blue-box three-col-img center-text">
<h2 class="center">
Diagnostic Imaging</h2>
<div class="center-text">
To achieve the best treatment options and survival outlook, an early diagnosis
is crucial. After a review of medical and occupational history and a
physical examination, patients typically undergo imaging tests that can
reveal potentially cancerous tumors. There are three primary imaging
tests used to diagnose pleural mesothelioma: Chest X-rays, CT Scans, and
PET Scans.</div>
<img alt="Diagnostic Imaging" class="mobile-full responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/diagnostic-imaging.jpg" />
<div class="section clearfix center-text">
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<h3>
Chest X-rays</h3>
<div class="center-text">
X-rays can reveal pleural effusions and pleural-based masses in some cases.</div>
</div>
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<h3>
CT Scans</h3>
<div class="center-text">
CT scans provide more advanced images that often show evidence of asbestos exposure.</div>
</div>
<div class="col four mobile-full">
<h3>
PET Scans</h3>
<div class="center-text">
PET scans can also detect signs of cancerous spread to the lymph nodes.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
With the introduction of the PET scan in the early 1960s, doctors
could better distinguish between cancerous and non-cancerous growths on
the pleura. While imaging plays an important role in staging
mesothelioma and guiding treatment, it cannot be used to diagnose the
cancer on its own.<br />
<h3>
Cytology and Biopsy</h3>
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Other tests are needed to diagnose mesothelioma with a high
level of confidence. One test is thoracentesis, in which doctors insert a
hollow needle into the lungs to collect pleural fluid.<br />
Doctors look at the cell samples from the fluid under a microscope.
They look for substances called biomarkers that indicate the presence
of cancer. Specialists can use this analysis to make an accurate
diagnosis in 80 percent of malignant mesothelioma cases.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four center-text no-mobile">
<img alt="Cytology and biopsy in the lab" class="circle-img--160 responsive" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/mesothelioma/biopsy-cytology.jpg" />
<div class="caption center-text">
Cytologies and biopsies help to accurately diagnose mesothelioma.</div>
</div>
</div>
Sometimes, however, a thoracentesis isn't enough, or there may be no pleural fluid to study. In these cases, doctors perform biopsies
to collect pleural tissue samples. During a biopsy, doctors remove a
tissue sample and look for cancerous cells. A thoracoscopic biopsy
produces an accurate diagnosis in 98 percent of mesothelioma patients. <br />
If a series of tests or biopsies confirm the presence of mesothelioma, doctors develop a treatment plan based on the results.<br />
Similar diagnostic tests will be performed on different parts of the
body for other forms of mesothelioma. For example, even though similar
imaging scans and biopsies are used to diagnose all types of
mesothelioma, the part of the body that undergoes imaging or biopsy will
differ for each type of mesothelioma. <br />
Because mesothelioma locally invades the body cavity in which it
develops before spreading, doctors rarely have a hard time
differentiating one form of mesothelioma from another. Only in late
stage IV cases may there be enough spreading to or from the lung to the
abdomen to question whether the cancer originated in the lining of the
lungs or abdomen.<br />
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<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Treatment Options</h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="cta--inline4--drblue four right center-text clearfix no-mobile side-float-zindex cta-g" style="cursor: pointer;">
<h3>
Get the Best Treatment</h3>
Get help connecting with the nation's top pleural mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers.<br />
Get Help Now
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Historically, doctors have treated pleural mesothelioma with
traditional cancer treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation
therapy. Most treatment plans used a combination of the three which is
called multimodal therapy.<br />
Depending on how far your mesothelioma has progressed, these
therapies can be either either cytoreductive (meaning reduction of tumor
cells) or palliative (meaning control of symptoms).<br />
Cytoreductive treatments aim to control the cancer, while palliative
treatments only address the symptoms and try to improve the quality of
life for patients. <br />
<h3>
The most common treatments for pleural mesothelioma are the following:</h3>
<div class="cardstack-wrapper" id="pleural-treatment-types-cardstack">
<ul class="bxpager cardstack-tabs no-mobile">
<li class="no-mobile">Surgery</li>
<li class="no-mobile">Chemotherapy</li>
<li class="no-mobile">Radiation</li>
<li class="no-mobile">Mulitmodal</li>
</ul>
<div class="bx-wrapper" style="max-width: 100%;">
<div class="bx-viewport" style="height: 310px; overflow: hidden; position: relative; width: 100%;">
<ul class="bxslider cardstack-slider" style="position: relative; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); transition-duration: 0s; width: 615%;">
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Surgery</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
Surgery<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"> may be a treatment option for pleural mesothelioma patients. One common procedure is pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), in which doctors remove the tumor and affected pleura. A more aggressive surgical option, extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP),
aims to remove the pleura, the entire cancerous lung, the diaphragm and
the pericardium, a protective membrane that covers the heart. </a><br />
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<img alt="Surgery Icon" class="center cardstack-img-margin" src="http://www.asbestos.com/images/treatment/slider-surgery-icon.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Chemotherapy</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
One of the most common mesothelioma treatments is chemotherapy,
which uses one or more drugs to kill cancer cells and decrease the size
of tumors. While recent advancements have improved how well patients
respond to chemotherapy, success rates have been low overall.
<br />
However, clinical trials
that combine several chemotherapy drugs in one treatment have shown
great potential. While researchers have not yet found a combination of
chemotherapy drugs that can cure pleural mesothelioma, this is a primary goal of countless clinical trials.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<img alt="Chemotherapy Icon" class="center cardstack-img-margin" src="http://image.asbestos.com/images/treatment/slider-chemo-icon.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Radiation Therapy</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
During radiation therapy, doctors
administer targeted radiation that destroys cancer cells and decreases
tumor size. Pleural mesothelioma often resists radiation therapy, but it can be effective for managing symptoms like chest pain.
<br />
One of the most successful radiotherapy techniques is called
intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Usually given in intervals after a
radical surgery like EPP, this technique prevents cancer recurrence in
many cases. <br />
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<img alt="Radiation Icon" class="center cardstack-img-margin" src="http://image.asbestos.com/images/treatment/slider-radiation-icon.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
<li class="collapse-li" style="float: left; list-style: outside none none; position: relative; width: 670px;">
<div class="section clear">
<h3 class="collapse-li collapse-h2">
Multimodal Therapies</h3>
<div class="collapse-content ">
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col eight mobile-full">
While there is no single course of treatment for
pleural mesothelioma that all doctors agree on, the majority of experts
believe that survival is best when several treatments are used. This
approach is known as multimodal therapy.
Researchers are constantly experimenting with surgery, chemotherapy and
radiation therapy to uncover the most effective combination and timing
for these treatments. <br />
In one example of a multimodal pleural
mesothelioma treatment, doctors first perform extrapleural pneumonectomy
surgery. Radiation therapy is then administered to reduce the risk of
local cancer recurrence, and distant spread is prevented with
chemotherapy.<br />
</div>
<div class="col four no-mobile">
<img alt="Multimodal Icon" class="center cardstack-img-margin" src="http://image.asbestos.com/images/treatment/slider-multimodal-icon.jpg" />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</li>
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<h3>
Questions About Pleural Mesothelioma?</h3>
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<h3>
Complementary Therapies</h3>
Some people with pleural mesothelioma take an integrative approach to treatment
by combining complementary therapies with traditional cancer treatment.
While complementary therapies cannot cure pleural mesothelioma, they
can ease cancer symptoms and reduce side effects of cancer treatment. <br />
For example, certain herbs like slippery elm bark may help relieve a
cough and pulmonary discomfort. Some yoga breathing techniques may feel
soothing to the lungs and most offer a sense of relaxation to ease
stress. Mental health counseling is the most effective therapy for
psychological stress.<br />
Acupuncture and acupressure are clinically proven to help control
nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Other complementary
therapies used in cancer care include:<br />
<ul class="ul--checklist">
<li>Nutrition</li>
<li>Meditation</li>
<li>Tai chi and qigong</li>
<li>Osteopathic medicine</li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 class="colapse-li collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Prognosis</h2>
<div class="collapse-content active" style="text-align: justify;">
After the diagnostic process, doctors analyze the expected course and outcome for the disease — your prognosis.
While some cancers carry promising prognoses, malignant mesotheliomas
do not. Providing an accurate prognosis challenges doctors because the
disease is so complex and aggressive.<br />
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col five mobile-full">
<h4 class="ul--bg__header">
Factors That Affect Your Prognosis</h4>
<ul class="ul--bg clearfix">
<li>Stage of disease at diagnosis</li>
<li>Age of patient</li>
<li>Gender of patient</li>
<li>Patient's smoking history </li>
<li>Painful breathing</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="col seven mobile-full">
The most important factor in a pleural mesothelioma prognosis is
the stage of the disease at diagnosis. Staging is how doctors describe
cancer's progression. An early stage cancer offers a better change of
long-term survival than a late-stage cancer. Patients in otherwise good
health who can still perform normal daily tasks tend to respond better
to treatment, which is also a significant factor for survival.<br />
<div class="clearfix">
Other important prognostic factors include your
age, sex and smoking history. Generally speaking, survival rates are
higher for female patients, non-smokers and patients younger than 55. A
cancerous tumor's cellular makeup — called histology — also can have a
major influence on prognosis.</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="five pleural">
</div>
<h3>
Subtypes</h3>
Among the subtypes of this disease, epithelial mesothelioma makes up the most cases (50 to 70 percent) and also offers the most long-term hope.<br />
<div class="row clearfix">
<div class="col five mobile-full">
<h4 class="ul--bg__header">
Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rate by Year</h4>
<ul class="ul--bg clearfix">
<li><strong>40%</strong> Survive one year after diagnosis.</li>
<li><strong>20%</strong> Survive two or more years after diagnosis.</li>
<li><strong>10%</strong> Survive three years after diagnosis.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="col seven mobile-full">
Patients with epithelial mesothelioma respond best to treatment and
typically live at least one year. Other subtypes like sarcomatoid and
biphasic mesothelioma have poorer survival rates, usually around six or
eight months.<br />
Sarcomatoid cells are the most aggressive mesothelioma cells in terms
of rapid growth and resistance to treatments like chemotherapy. Because
biphasic mesothelioma is a mix of both epithelial and sarcomatoid
cells, how a patient responds to treatment and how long they live will
depend upon the percentages of epithelial and sarcomatoid cells. A
higher ratio of epithelial cells translates into longer survival.<br />
</div>
</div>
<div class="five pleural">
</div>
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Additional Resources</h2>
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<div class="circle-img authorBlurb__img left">
<img alt="Karen Selby" itemprop="image" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/thumb.php?src=/images/karen-bio-bg.jpg&h=110&w=110" />
</div>
<div class="left">
<h4 class="authorBlurb__title">
Author</h4>
<h3 class="authorBlurb__name" itemprop="name">
Karen Selby</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div itemprop="description" style="text-align: justify;">
Karen Selby is a registered nurse and a
Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center. She worked in several
subspecialties within nursing before joining Asbestos.com in 2009.</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7279596323314321440.post-12352285217831527592016-02-24T01:33:00.001-08:002016-02-24T01:33:35.904-08:00Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawyers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGONAzKDDdrP8zufGTp-35ps3XpWqG_hRkR-A3D3EBmavOcllW2cBPciLzhm4jm5mqafHH_tdUS1Pw4L5dC_OaETxAUBDZ3XY1NjEw7NpkI2L1Hie-ePCSCAig7363liQAh7ecsieIzj9B/s1600/cancer+lawyer+mesothelioma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cancer lawyer mesothelioma" border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGONAzKDDdrP8zufGTp-35ps3XpWqG_hRkR-A3D3EBmavOcllW2cBPciLzhm4jm5mqafHH_tdUS1Pw4L5dC_OaETxAUBDZ3XY1NjEw7NpkI2L1Hie-ePCSCAig7363liQAh7ecsieIzj9B/s640/cancer+lawyer+mesothelioma.jpg" title="cancer lawyer mesothelioma" width="640" /></a></div>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
</h1>
<h1 style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawyers</h1>
<div class="intro" style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma attorneys understand asbestos legal issues
and the unique challenges asbestos victims face. We offer information
on what to expect when working with a mesothelioma lawyer, as well as
help finding a qualified mesothelioma attorney for your case.</div>
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<h3>
Compensation for Mesothelioma Victims</h3>
Gain access to trust funds, grants and other forms of compensation for you or your loved ones.<br />
Get Help Now
</div>
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Successful asbestos ligation requires an attorney who understands the
many facets of the case, from how people get exposed to asbestos to the
state-by-state regulations about filing lawsuits, to the fragile nature
of many clients. Often, people who inquire about an asbestos-related
claim are people who are also coping with mesothelioma cancer and all
the health issues that go along with treatment.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Choosing a lawyer to represent you in depositions and in legal
filings can be as important to your family's future as selecting the
right doctor. If were you exposed to asbestos and you got sick as a
result, you have a right to stake a claim for compensation. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The dangers and toxicity of asbestos were well-known in the 1930s,
yet corporations continued using it extensively through much of the 20th
century. They willingly put profits ahead of the health and well-being
of employees and the public. An experienced asbestos lawyer will know
how to hold those corporations responsible.</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Tips When Looking For an Asbestos Litigation Specialist</h2>
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You should consider several things when you start to evaluate
the hiring of an attorney. You want to find someone with whom you feel
comfortable talking because you will be discussing intimate details
about your health and about where you used to work. Although your lawyer
likely will know all the right questions to ask you, good communication
is essential.<br />
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<img alt="Clipboard Icon" class="mt--l" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-clipboard.jpg" />
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You should not restrict yourself to your community. Your case may not get filed in the state where you live.</div>
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<img alt="USA Icon" class="mt--l" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-world.jpg" />
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Qualified attorneys in this area of the law have practices in many states and understand your cancer prognosis. </div>
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<img alt="Clipboard Icon" class="mt--l" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-clipboard.jpg" />
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Lawyers should be aware of the importance of collecting information early on in the process.</div>
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<h2>
Before You Hire an Attorney, You Need to Determine if He or She:</h2>
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Has a proven track record with asbestos lawsuits (large settlements and winning verdicts).</div>
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<img alt="Gavel Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-gavel-icon.png" />
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Has experience filing claims with asbestos trust funds.</div>
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<img alt="Travel Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-plane-icon.png" />
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Has the ability to travel to you to gather information.</div>
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<img alt="Money Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-dolla-icon.png" />
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Has the ability to evaluate your potential compensation based on the facts of your case.</div>
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A trustworthy attorney will never guarantee you an outcome, a settlement or a successful jury verdict.</div>
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Find a Mesothelioma Attorney
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<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Affording an Attorney</h2>
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In the area of asbestos lawsuits, attorneys work on a
contingency fee basis. You pay nothing until you receive compensation,
and nothing at all if your case is not successful. There is very little
risk to you. Contingency fees protect you because they usually are based
on a percentage of any compensation you receive. Be sure to discuss
this percentage during your first meeting with an attorney. <br />
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<img alt="Contigency Fee Icon" class="m-b2" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-percentage.jpg" />
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Contingency fee basis means you pay nothing unless you receive compensation.</div>
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<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
How Attorneys Help in Asbestos Cases</h2>
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Mesothelioma claims<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null">
are different from other workplace injuries in a couple of ways. They
fall into a special area of the law because the injuries that are in
question do not typically occur because of an accident or sudden event.
Instead exposure to asbestos takes place over time, with an illness
developing 20 to 50 years later. This is why a qualified mesothelioma
attorney makes sense for someone considering litigation or a trust
claim.</a><br />
<h3 class="ul--bg__header">
Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Attorney</h3>
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<li><h3>
Do you have an asbestos claim?</h3>
</li>
Mesothelioma attorneys are familiar with important legal
decisions and stay up to date on asbestos-related cases all over the
country. They use this knowledge to offer an opinion about your case and
also to present the strongest possible case, should you decide to file a
claim.<br />
<li><h3>
When were you exposed to asbestos? </h3>
</li>
Identifying when and where you were exposed to asbestos is very
important to your lawsuit. Without this information, it may be difficult
to make a claim. Mesothelioma attorneys can help gather evidence
related to your asbestos exposure. They routinely work with medical
experts to trace when and where asbestos exposure occurred. They already
have research and medical evidence at their disposal, which may be
helpful to your case. They may also have helpful contacts with other
organizations that fight for workers' rights concerning asbestos-related
diseases.<br />
<li><h3>
Who is responsible for your asbestos exposure? </h3>
</li>
It can be difficult to know which companies
to sue in an asbestos lawsuit. During the decades that usually pass
between asbestos exposure and diagnosis, the companies at fault may go
out of business, move, change their names or even be sold to other
companies. Mesothelioma attorneys have experience identifying and
locating the companies responsible for their clients' suffering.<br />
<li><h3>
What is your case worth? </h3>
</li>
Part of presenting a strong case is adequately estimating how
much compensation you should receive. Mesothelioma attorneys are
familiar with the medical and other day-to-day costs of living with
asbestos-related illnesses. They also have experience estimating the
value of future expenses, as well as the value of damages that are
harder to put a number on, such as emotional anguish.</ul>
Experienced law firms have detailed records of asbestos claims,
asbestos workplaces and asbestos products dating back more than 50
years. They can help you pinpoint potential exposure sites from anywhere
in the country.<br />
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<h3>
Looking for a Mesothelioma Attorney?</h3>
Our Patient Advocates are available to answer your questions and help you find an experienced attorney.<br />
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Chat Now
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Filing a Claim</h2>
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<img alt="Tim Povtak, Senior Writer" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/tim-legal.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="center-text">
Tim Povtak talks about why choosing a mesothelioma attorney is important.</div>
</div>
The financial aspects of mesothelioma care can be overwhelming.
They can include income loss, expensive treatments that may not be
covered by your health insurance, plus pain and suffering suffered by
you and for your family. <br />
<h3>
Asbestos Exposure and Negligence </h3>
Because the disease is preventable - asbestos exposure usually is
caused by someone else's negligence - legal options may be available to
help recover these costs. Learn more about asbestos exposure:<br />
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<img alt="Occupations Icon" class="m-t1-b2" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-crane.jpg" />
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Occupations at Risk of Asbestos Exposure</div>
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<img alt="Products Icon" class="m-t1-b2" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-roll.jpg" />
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Products Containing Asbestos</div>
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Asbestos lawyers focus their practice on knowledgeably and
effectively bringing to justice companies that exposed employees and the
public to asbestos products. An attorney can help you consider your
options and file a claim against the company responsible for your
asbestos-related illness. More than one company may be responsible, too.
A mesothelioma attorney can identify all companies at fault.<br />
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Obtaining Compensation</h2>
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Mesothelioma lawsuits have helped thousands of victims receive
financial assistance. The ultimate goal is to put money in the hands of
someone who deserves it - someone who needs help reducing financial
hardships during an illness and providing a more stable future for loved
ones.<br />
Every claim is different, and an experienced attorney will treat
each client individually. This is not class-action law. A good attorney
can explain what types of compensation are available specific to your
individual case. It is important to save all your medical and financial
records so that your lawyer can have up-to-date information about your
expenses. <br />
<h3 class="ul--bg__header">
Common expenses related to illness caused by asbestos exposure:</h3>
<ul class="ul--bg">
<li>Lost wages</li>
<li>Medical bills</li>
<li>Expenses not covered by insurance</li>
<li>Travel expenses for medical treatments</li>
<li>Pain and suffering</li>
<li>Caregiver costs</li>
<li>Funeral expenses</li>
</ul>
You will be asked to show medical records and to answer questions
about how you may have been exposed to asbestos. A good attorney can
walk you step-by-step through the process, making sure you are kept up
to date on every development. Much of the time, the attorney handles
almost everything for you, making the whole process easier. <br />
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<h3>
$32 Billion in Trust Funds Remaining</h3>
Our team can you help you understand how these funds help compensate victims of asbestos exposure.<br />
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Get Help Now
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<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Mesothelioma Lawsuits: Different Types</h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
There are two types of asbestos injury cases. A lawsuit filed by an
individual suffering with an asbestos-related illness is a personal
injury claim. A lawsuit filed by the family of someone who has passed
away from an asbestos-related disease is a wrongful death suit. Specific
rights in these lawsuits depend on the county and state where the case
is filed. A lawyer can explain your options and take care of filing a
lawsuit.<br />
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<img alt="Singular Person Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-personal-injury.jpg" />
<h3>
Personal Injury Claim</h3>
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A lawsuit filed by an individual suffering with an asbestos-related illness.</div>
</div>
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<img alt="Family Icon" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/images/legal/lawyer-wrongful-death.jpg" />
<h3>
Wrongful Death Suit</h3>
<div class="center-text">
A lawsuit filed by the family of someone who has passed away from an asbestos-related disease. </div>
</div>
</div>
Most mesothelioma lawsuits are between people who had direct
exposure (also known as primary asbestos exposure) and the manufacturers
of asbestos products. There also are cases of secondary exposure. A
person can be exposed by a family member who unknowingly brings home the
asbestos fibers on his clothes from a workplace. A mesothelioma lawyer
can help understand if you, too, should file a claim.<br />
<div class="cta--text--ff">
Overall, asbestos litigation is
regarded as the longest, most costly mass tort in U.S. history. Legal
analysts calculate that there have been more than 600,000 plaintiffs,
more than 6,000 defendants, and a total outlay for the lawsuits reaching
$200 billion.</div>
Although many asbestos companies have gone out of business,
there remains an estimated $32 billion in trust funds designed to
compensate victims of asbestos exposure.<br />
</div>
<h2 class="collapse-h2" style="text-align: justify;">
Furthering Asbestos Claims Transparency (FACT) Act</h2>
<div class="collapse-content" style="text-align: justify;">
The U.S. House of Representatives in 2013 passed the Furthering Asbestos Compensation Transparency (FACT) Act,
much to the dismay of the asbestos victims and mesothelioma advocate
groups. The legislation, if it clears the Senate and the White House,
would impose unnecessary, burdensome reporting requirements on asbestos
bankruptcy trusts and threaten victims' privacy. It also would bring
more attention to meritless accusations of widespread fraud among
asbestos victims who seek compensation for their injuries.<br />
Hopefully, recent political developments won't dissuade asbestos
victims from exercising their rights to seek legal compensation for
their injuries. A recent verdict from an Ohio
jury demonstrated that defendants should be held accountable for
injuring innocent victims, including victims of secondary asbestos
exposure. The jury awarded $27.5 million to a 40-year-old mesothelioma
patient who was exposed to asbestos fibers as a child from his father's
work clothes. The verdict was reported to be the largest of its kind in
Ohio.<br />
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
Additional Resources</h2>
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<img alt="Tim Povtak" itemprop="image" src="http://www.asbestos.com/assets/thumb.php?src=/images/tim-bio-bg.jpg&h=110&w=110" />
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<div class="left">
<h4 class="authorBlurb__title">
Author</h4>
<h3 class="authorBlurb__name" itemprop="name">
Tim Povtak</h3>
</div>
</div>
<div itemprop="description" style="text-align: justify;">
Tim Povtak is an award-winning writer
with more than 30 years of reporting national and international news.
His most recent experience is in researching and writing about asbestos
litigation issues and asbestos-related conditions like mesothelioma. If
you have a story idea for Tim, please email him at tpovtak@asbestos.com</div>
</div>
mesothelioma law firmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02675310193924580994noreply@blogger.com0