Iron Range study finds four new cases of mesothelioma

This week the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) alerted me through a link on their web site to an update in the ongoing mesothelioma study in Minnesota. We have been following this study, which is investigating the high incidence of mesothelioma among Iron Range miners in that state. According to a report in the Duluth News Tribune, the study has identified four new cases of mesothelioma.
The five-year study is being directed by the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Department of Health, and funded by a $4.9 million grant from the Minnestoa state legislature. The new cases bring the total number of former miners diagnosed with mesothelioma to 63.
Mesothelioma has traditionally been linked exclusively to asbestos. However, an investigation into the link between taconite mining – which takes place in what is known as Minnesota’s Iron Range, – began when state health officials noted an unusually high incidence of mesothelioma occurring in taconite mine workers. Mesothelioma occurs at twice the expected rate in the Iron Range.
As part of the study, researchers are screening workers and their immediate families. To date, they have interviewed about 1,000 people, and would like to double that number.
Taconite is an iron-bearing, flint-like rock. Processed taconite pellets are used in the steel making industry.  To process taconite, the ore is ground into a fine powder, the iron is separated from the waste rock using strong magnets and the powdered iron concentrate is combined with bentonite clay and limestone and rolled into pellets. The Mesabi Iron Range region of Minnesota is a major taconite production area.

Mesothelioma attorney assistance useful in mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a disease of mesothelium. Due to prolong exposure to dust and dust like particles a man can be affected with mesothelioma. The dust like particles can be from stone-crushing industries, asbestos industries, tyre factory, chemical factory etc. These particles gradually get accumulated over the mesothelium membrane of the lungs and during later stage in life it turns into fatal disease. In most cases it develops carcinoma and cause the fatal type of lungs cancer named mesothelioma.

Photo: euthman
Almost all important body organs are covered by mesothelium membrane which works as a protective layer against all friction and corrosion of the organ, during physiochemical activities. Lung is the most vulnerable organ to disease of mesothelium because the microscopic dust particles are taken in during respiration and the air is purified in lungs. The oxygenated blood flows through the body while de-oxygenated air is exhaled out. In the entire process the dust particles are screened and accumulate in the mesothelium membrane.

The workers in those said industries are affected mainly because they are not given protective equipments to save themselves from these microscopic particles. It is then pretty obvious that these affected workers have right to be compensated in terms of money to spend for their medical treatment. In such situation, mesothelioma attorney assistance is indispensable. The said compensation does not come easy to the workers as in most cases the concerned company refuses to accept any liability of mesothelioma. So, taking resort to a mesothelioma attorney remains in most cases as the only accessible option. But, it is essential to avail mesothelioma attorney assistance in time. There is time bar or in other words period of limitation in filing of the suit. So, only a mesothelioma attorney would decide the proper time for filing of the suit.
It is worthy to avail mesothelima attorney assistance because at the first instance the client does not need to pay anything. The attorney may engage private investigator to find the relevant and necessary details of the case at his own cost. These facts regarding the period of exposure, the level and duration of working, protective equipments provided by the company etc are of great importance while filing the case. It is up to the attorney to decide the proper timing and jurisdiction to file the case. This is important because different jurisdictions may provide different amount of compensation to the concerned client. The petitioner or someone who is filing the case holds an important legal position regarding the right to file the case. The mesothelioma attorney assistance can be availed by anyone who is a near or far relation to the patient, but it is only to be decided by the mesothelioma attorney as to whether the person seeking legal advice has any right to file the suit on behalf of the client or not.
Seeking advice from mesothelioma attorney is always a wise decision, it is wiser still to avail mesothelioma attorney assistance at the very first instance as soon as the mesothelioma is diagnosed. Because unless and until the compensation is awarded, at no point the client has to pay any fees to the attorney.

What Factors Affect Mesothelioma Prognosis

Thousands of new cases of mesothelioma cancer diagnosis are made each year in America. When someone is diagnosed, a physician will talk about the prognosis of the patient at some time or another and what factors affect mesothelioma prognosis. They will discuss what factors affect mesothelioma prognosis and what the patient should prepare for in the coming year or so.

Early Discover Affect Mesothelioma Cancer Prognosis

A leading American cancer patient advocate groups, says 10% of those diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer have a prognosis of 5 years. Reports from medical professionals show that the average prognosis for mesothelioma cancer is 4 months to a year and a half. Due to the rare nature of mesothelioma cancer, it is hard to get exact figures on prognosis. Usually the prognosis for mesothelioma cancer patients improves when it is discovered early.

Mesothelioma Cancer Prognosis Factors

Numbers from an American organization that keeps track of cancer statistics show the prognosis when divide by race, sex and the age of the victim when mesothelioma is detected. The five-year mesothelioma prognosis tracked at between 8 and 10 percent from 1996 to 2005. Women and African-Americans seem to have a better mesothelioma prognosis rate overall. Also the age of a mesothelioma cancer victim was the biggest factor in increasing prognosis rates. Younger patient do better also.

Improvements Affect Mesothelioma Prognosis

One should note that these numbers are dated and the latest advances in mesothelioma cancer treatment have improved survival prognosis rates across the board however there are no statistics to prove these improvement.

List of Mesothelioma Cancer Prognosis Factors

What most number seems to point to is the factors that affecting mesothelioma prognosis is:

• health state of the patient at time of diagnosis
• how old the patient is at diagnosis
• range of symptoms
• stage of mesothelioma cancer development when detected
• size of the cancerous tumors in the patient
• whether the cancer has spread to other body parts
• the kind of mesothelioma cancer cells present

Mesothelioma Cancer Prognosis Numbers

Prognosis numbers should only be used as a general guide, however factoring all the conditions which are different for each patient, numbers can not be used the predict prognosis and survival rates for an individual patient. A doctor can determine better than statistics the prognosis of his or her patient because he or she has access to all the variables which need to be factored in.

Doctor Have the Best Information on What Factors Affect Mesothelioma Prognosis

Mesothelioma cancer patients may not feel encouraged when the read prognosis numbers, however it is vital for those mesothelioma patients to note that advances are being made all over the nation which have improved the prognosis for these victims. Treatment advances and the latest solutions must be factored in the prognosis of mesothelioma cancer patients. What doctors report and the numbers show are very different. So hope should note be lost. Patient should rely of there doctors to inform them about what factors affect mesothelioma prognosis.

Mesot

Mesothelioma Health has been dedicated to delivering the most comprehensive and complete mesothelioma information on the web. We specialize helping people understand the dangers that are associated with asbestos and asbestos exposure. Please browse through our resource library to find any information you may be looking for. If you have any more questions, or believe that you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos, please fill out the form below.

Causes

This cancer is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was a commonly used building material years ago before anyone knew how hazardous it was to their health. It is a natural fiber that is still mined all over the world today.

Summary

Asbestos is a natural mineral that is made up of varying lengths of fibers. These asbestos fibers we now know is carcinogenic (cancer causing). When asbestos is disturbed, as in renovations of old houses, the asbestos dust and fibers become airborne. These airborne particles are then swallowed or inhaled and become lodged in the soft tissue of the body, usually in the lungs. The immune system kicks in and inflammation is the result. The body can't remove foreign bodies so it attempts to break down these fibers, and scarring occurs. This stage is called asbestosis. Asbestosis is not a cancer; it is an uncomfortable lung condition that, years later can leads to the development of abnormal cells. These cells eventually develop into tumors. This is now mesothelioma. Please fill out the form below if you'd like to receive more information on this disease.

Types of Mesothelioma

Depending on where the asbestos fibers become lodged in the body, determines the type of mesothelioma that a person develops. There are three main kinds of mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type. In this case, the asbestos particles have been inhaled and become embedded in the lining of the chest cavity.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common form. Here the asbestos particles were swallowed directly or somehow caught up in the mucous in the trachea and swallowed that way. They have traveled down to the stomach and become embedded in the abdominal wall.
Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of this disease and is responsible for less than 10% of the patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. The pericardium is the sac of tissue covering the heart and the base of the main blood vessels. It's unknown for sure how the particles make their way to the chest region but the current theory believes the particles are somewhat broken down by the body and are possibly carried via the bloodstreams into the heart where they become embedded in the pericardium.

Diagnosis

Part of the problem with making a correct diagnosis of mesothelioma is the length of time between the exposure to asbestos and the time it takes for the symptoms to appear. In many cases signs of mesothelioma don't show up for twenty to thirty or even forty years later. Initially, the symptoms appear as a tight sensation in the chest, coughing, maybe some vomiting, possibly even weight loss. But this could pass as flu or cold symptoms. Over time, these symptoms get worse, the tightness in the chest becomes more severe, abdominal pain starts, there is trouble breathing, and the weight loss and vomiting could become quite severe. It's at this point that most people go and see their physician.
He would, hopefully know about your asbestos exposure, and therefore would take a complete medical history and do a comprehensive physical exam. He would be looking for:

• Fluid in the chest cavity (signs of pleural mesothelioma),
• Fluid in the abdomen (signs of peritoneal mesothelioma),
• Fluid in the pericardium (signs of pericardium mesothelioma).

The next step would be to order any of the following: a CAT scan, an MRI, or an x-ray.
Once a diagnosis has been made, a comprehensive treatment plan is developed. If at this point, you feel you'd like to receive more information please fill out the form below.

Treatment

As there is no cure for mesothelioma, all treatments are geared to prolonging the patient's life span and or making the patient as comfortable as possible by alleviating the painful symptoms.

• Surgery - some tumors may be removed. In the early stages of this disease, surgery can provide improvement in the symptoms and slow the disease's progression. In cases where the surgery has gone beyond the chest, this treatment option is less effective. It may help advanced cases breathe easier and feel more comfortable.
• Chemotherapy - used to stop the cancer cells from growing and dividing. This treatment uses very toxic drug (s) to kill the tumor cells but will also kill off many healthy cells. The newer drugs have shown fewer side effects and if some drugs are combined they can have the ability to reduce the toxic side effects.
• Radiation - this treatment sends high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells in a localized area. It's also used to shrink the size of the tumors prior to surgery and to reduce the level of discomfort. Even though radiation can more accurately target the affected area, some damage to healthy cells does occur.

As with most cancers, early detection leads to more treatment options. If the mesothelioma is not caught until it's already in an advanced state, then the prognosis is not very good. The survival rate from the time of diagnosis is usually less than one year.
It's natural when faced with such a difficult prognosis to look at alternative therapies not only as a potential improvement in your condition but also to improve your quality of life.

Symptoms of mesothelioma(methothelioma)

Shortness of breath,cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural methothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal methothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity).
Other symptoms of peritoneal methothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:chest wall pain * pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung * shortness of breath * fatigue or anemia * wheezing, hoarseness, or cough * blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up In severe cases,
the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body. Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage.
Symptoms include: * abdominal pain * ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen * a mass in the abdomen * problems with bowel function * weight loss In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present: * blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis * disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs * jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin * low blood sugar level * pleural effusion * pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs * severe ascites A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs

Support for Caregiver of a Mesothelioma Patient

Anyone who has ever been close to someone diagnosed with mesothelioma and other incurable advanced stage cancers knows what impact this has on the life of not only the patient but also loved ones.  Primary support people are essential and make all the difference to someone  going through diagnosis, doctor and hospital visits, treatments, and facing death.
Mesothelioma is an especially hard diagnosis for everyone because there is not cure.  Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen or heart.  This creates a great deal of pain for the patient, especially when their is pleural build up which makes it difficult to breathe, eat and sleep.   In addition, patient and caregiver will know that time is limited, as the survival time for most patients is less than a year from time of diagnosis.
Being diagnosed with mesothelioma is quite devastating to all involved.  Often support people are making huge adjustments to their lives and devoting their time to caring for their loved ones.  This also often means taking on many new responsibilities that are not only time consuming but can be very emotionally challenging.  Caregivers are so busy taking care of other that they forget to take care of themselves, and need frequent reminders and permission.  Otherwise, the support person’s mental, emotional and physical health may begin to suffer, interfering with their ability to continue their level of care and sustain their own well being.
Most support people have resistance to sharing with people close to them, especially about some of the thoughts and emotions that can arise.  Support groups exist for caregivers as well as mesothelioma patients, and we highly recommend participation.
To find a cancer support group in your community, talk to your oncologist, a palliative nurse or to Hospice and ask for a referral.  You may not find a group specific to mesothelioma, as it rare, but lung cancer and terminal disease is not.  So look for support groups for non small cell lung cancer or terminal illness-t he feelings and experiences will be close enough to provide the support you need.
If you need financial or legal assistance, call our toll free number at 1-888-855-9052 for a free case evaluation.  Because we only represent mesothelioma clients, we truly understand what you are going through and will help in any way we can to make the situation easier.  For more information, read our latest article: The Support Person for Someone Diagnosed with Mesothelioma.