Saturday, July 19, 2008

ASBESTOS PRODUCTS


Manufactures used asbestos because it is cheap, abundant, extremely versatile, chemically inert, and highly impervious to heat. Asbestos is broken down into its composition fibers once it is retrieved from the earth and then added to products to give them strength, durability, and heat resistance. Asbestos is an ideal additive for many products because it has what is referred to as tensile strength; that is, it is flexible but strong without adding a significant amount of weight. Asbestos is also one of the few minerals that can be woven. It was often woven into insulators that were too brittle to be used alone. Today, asbestos is tightly regulated and only used in a few products in an extremely controlled manner. During its peak, however, asbestos was used in some very common products including:


Adhesives

Brake Pads

Cement

Chalkboards

Duct Installation

Electrical Cloth

Electrical Ducts

Felt

Fireproofing Materials

Floor Title

Gaskets

Heating Ducts

Installation

Ironing Board Covers

Paint

Paper

Pipe Covering

Plaster

Putty

Rope

Tape

Wires

Yarn


In its natural, solid form, asbestos is relatively harmless. When cut, crushed, drilled or disturbed in any other way, asbestos fibers become airborne and are extremely toxic. The sharp, microscopic fibers are inhaled through the lungs and eventually pass on to the edges of the lung where they are absorbed into the pleura, the vital membrane that surrounds, protects, and lubricates the lungs. The jagged fibers cause lesions and scarring in the lungs in the form of a non-cancerous, but often fatal disease called asbestosis. If asbestos fibers move into the pleural mesothelium surrounding the lungs, irritation from the fibers can result in the onset of malignant mesothelioma. The cancer eventually metastasizes, spreading to distant organs through the bloodstream.


Friday, July 18, 2008

ASBESTOS


Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral first used by the Greeks and Romans in clothes and building materials. The extreme popularity of asbestos was due to its versatility and relatively inexpensive manufacturing costs. Asbestos is composed of long, thin fibers that naturally occur in the form of a compressed, solid mass. There are six different types of asbestos, which are sorted into two separate categories. The first category, amphibole, includes types of asbestos characterized by long straight fibers. Five of the six types of asbestos fall under this category: amosite, crocidolite, actinolite, anthophyllite, tremolite. Serpentine, the second category, includes chrysotile, a type of asbestos characterized by curly fiber structure. Only three types of asbestos are found in the United States: chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite.


Asbestosis


Asbestosis, also known as diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, is an extremely debilitating and potentially fatal disease caused by asbestos exposure. Unlike mesothelioma, asbestosis usually develops when a person is exposed to high levels of asbestos over a prolonged period of time. When asbestos is inhaled into the lungs, the fibers eventually culminate in the alveoli, which are the tiny sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the lungs and bloodstream. Fibrous scar tissue begins to build up in the lungs, eventually becoming so severe that the lungs cannot supply the body with sufficient oxygen. Although asbestosis is not a cancer, it can be just as deadly as mesothelioma. The excess scar tissue may lead to heart failure or severe respiratory problems and even death.


Asbestosis is difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are not unique to the disease. In fact, asbestosis symptoms are often associated with very common health problems like obesity and emphysema. The most common symptoms of asbestosis are chest pain, shortness of breath, dry cough, and coughing spasms. Asbestosis subsequently weakens the body’s immune system, making the sufferer more susceptible to contracting

secondary diseases such as pneumonia.


There is no known cure for asbestosis. As the disease progresses, the network of scar tissue continues to accumulate in the lungs and become more complex, which makes early detection essential to effective treatment of the disease. Physicians treating a patient with asbestos focus primarily on preventative measures and relief of immediate symptoms. Patients are advised to immediately eliminate exposure to asbestos, quit smoking, and avoid large crowds where they could contract secondary diseases. The coughing and shortness of breath are often treated with supplemental oxygen, humidifiers, or breathing therapies.

For more information about asbestosis, mesothelioma and your legal rights, please don’t

hesitate to contact a qualified asbestos attorney today.


Sunday, July 6, 2008

CELL TYPES OF MESOTHELIOMA


A patient’s doctor or medical records may refer to the “cell type” of the malignant mesothelioma. This refers to the type of tissue where the cancer first developed. For example, “epithelial” malignant mesothelioma refers to cancerous cells that develop in the “epithelium,” which is the membrane lining of the lung, heart, or abdomen. In contrast, “sarcomatous” malignant mesothelioma arises in connective tissue. “Biphasic” refers to malignant mesothelioma that arises in two different cell types. Other cell types of malignant mesothelioma are lymphohistiocytoid and desmoplastic.


PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA


Pericardial mesothelioma is also known as mesothelioma of the pericardium or cancer of the sac that holds the heart.

Your doctor may diagnose this cancer using a thoracoscope to perform a thoracoscopy, which might also involve opening up the chest cavity to remove the tumor.

Patients who develop excessive fluid around the heart, called an effusion, may have a sample of the fluid taken to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma. Fluid might also be drained to relieve symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. The procedure for drawing out this fluid is called “pericardiocentesis.”


Symptoms


Symptoms can include chest pain and shortness of breath.

The tumor and/or fluid that accumulates between the heart and the sac can compress the heart, causing such symptoms.


PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA

Peritoneal mesothelioma, like pleural mesothelioma, is also caused by exposure to asbestos in most cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma, however, differs in that it originates in the abdomen instead of the chest. Accounting for about 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases, this form of disease affects the peritoneum—the mesothelium that surrounds the organs of the abdomen.


There are a number of theories on how asbestos fibers make their way deep into the abdomen to cause malignant mesothelioma to develop. Some suggest that asbestos fibers, broken into smaller, sharper fibers within the lungs, eventually enter the blood stream and become lodged in the peritoneum. Another theory is that asbestos is inadvertently ingested when people consume foods and beverages contaminated by the small fibers from clothing, hair, and general exposure from asbestos hanging in the air. Likely, the answer is that many different means of ingestion are responsible, but it is known that asbestos is the only proven cause of peritoneal mesothelioma.


Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma


Less is reported about peritoneal mesothelioma in terms of exactly what goes on in the body as this form of the disease progresses. But it similar to the pleural form in that peritoneal mesothelioma has a very long latency period (between 25 and 40 years), and is usually discovered late in its progression. Patients will typically experience fluid build-up in the abdomen and accompanying swelling and discomfort. Severe pain can often be a

sign of tumor growth.


Additional symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

Stomach Pain.

Nausea.

Weight Loss.

Vomiting.

Swollen Feet.

Impaired Bowel Function.


If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms - especially if there is a known history of asbestos exposure - it is important to see a physician as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is one of the most important factors in battling mesothelioma.


PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma, comprising roughly three-quarters of all mesothelioma cases. It is much more common than peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma affects the pleura, a sheet-like, double-layered lining attached to the inside of the chest wall and the outside of the lungs. The space between the two layers is lubricated with a fluid that circulates within the lining. This allows smooth movement of the lungs and other organs in the chest during breathing and general movement.


When microscopic asbestos fibers enter the lungs through inhalation, some can eventually become embedded in the pleural mesothelium. In some people, the asbestos fibers severely irritate the mesothelial tissue. Eventually, cancerous tumors and nodules develop in the chest near or on the pleura. Over time, the layers of the pleura, which are typically very thin, can begin to thicken. Pleural effusion, or the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs, almost always develops in those with pleural mesothelioma. Pain and discomfort are typically associated with pleural effusion. Severe pain may be a sign that malignant tumors have spread into the chest wall, lungs, and surrounding areas.


Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma


Symptoms of all forms of mesothelioma typically do not develop until the disease has reached relatively advanced stages. The most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are lower-back aches, back and side-chest pain, and difficulty breathing (dyspnea).

Other symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath.

• Trouble swallowing.

• Cough.

• Hoarseness.

• Fever.

• Sweating.

• Fatigue.

• Weight loss.

• Swelling of the face and arms.


Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases, making diagnosis of this rare disease that much more difficult. If you or a loved one is experiencing any of the above symptoms - especially if there is a known history of asbestos exposure - it is important to see a physician as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is one of the most important factors in battling mesothelioma.


Tuesday, July 1, 2008

SYMPTOMS AND TYPES OF MESOTHELIOMA

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms associated with this disease closely resemble more common chest and lung diseases.
Symptoms may include:

• Persistent Coughing.
• Coughing Blood.
• Shortness of Breath.
• Chest and Abdomen Pain.
• Fatigue.
• Weight Loss.
• Nausea.
• Headaches.

Mesothelioma severely weakens the immune system, making those afflicted with the disease more vulnerable to secondary diseases like pneumonia and the flu. There are numerous tests available to help medical professionals diagnose mesothelioma; however, such diagnosis is still a difficult and long process.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the lining around the lungs (the “pleura”), abdomen (the “peritoneum”), or heart (the “pericardium”). Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In contrast, lung cancer refers to a malignancy of the lung itself.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are following types of Mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

Pericardial Mesothelioma.

Cell Types of Mesothelioma.

WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA ?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. This is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Mesothelioma develops in the lining around the lungs (the “pleura”), abdomen (the “peritoneum”), or heart (the “pericardium”).
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

When asbestos particles are inhaled or swallowed, they bypass the body’s natural defense systems, lodging themselves in the lungs and abdomen. The sharp, microscopic asbestos fibers eventually make their way to the outer edge of the chest and abdominal cavities and into a membrane called the mesothelium. The mesothelium, a double-layered protective membrane, surrounds all the organs of the human body and is vital to their proper function. The mesothelium keeps the organs in place while simultaneously lubricating them, allowing them to flex and move with breathing and other movement. Asbestos fibers cause lesions and scarring on the mesothelium, ultimately leading to the formation of tumors. The damaged cells secrete large amounts of a clear fluid that presses on the lungs and other organs, causing severe discomfort. In addition to these fluid secretions, aggressive tumor growth in later stages can lead to the rapid spread of cancer throughout the chest and abdomen, as well as cardiac or respiratory failure. Mesothelioma progresses extremely slowly. The cancer may take anywhere from 25 to 50 years to show symptoms. Often, when a victim is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the disease has already reached an advanced stage and permanent damage has already occurred. Although this cancer can appear in men and women at any age, it occurs more often in men and risk increases with age. Mesothelioma is still somewhat a rare cancer, rates have increased over the last 20 years.

What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects internal organs. The mesothelium allows moving organs to glide easily against adjacent structures. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs). The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs and the tunica serosa uteri covers the female internal reproductive organs.