Mesothelioma News

March 22, 2011

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Mesothelioma lawsuits increased due to the consequences of asbestos cancer, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. These lawsuits are formed to put a stop to asbestos usage, since it is fatal to human health. The asbestos lawyers have been working for years with companies after the results of 2000 – 3000 deaths a year from asbestos exposure.
Those who are affected by asbestos exposure can suffer from mesothelioma in the future and die of this cancer. Even though it is not an immediate death, this cancer is dangerous and debilitating. It can take years to diagnose in the human body. A recent lawsuit brought together families who suffer from asbestos exposure and are still fighting its devastating effects, hoping to make a difference. They are hoping for an asbestos settlement so they can receive the compensation they deserve. The father of a family member was a worker at a construction company. The company used asbestos in their building materials, affecting the quality of life for their workers even after they retired. The fibers of asbestos were inhaled into the lungs of the victim. They are needle-like, and about 150 times thinner than a human hair. Short enough that 10,000 fibers lined up would only reach the length of an inch. They can float for days in the air and not settle on anything. When breathed into the lungs, however, they can dangerously lodge in the tiny air sacs at the end of our respiratory system. After going to the hospital and being diagnosed with mesothelioma the family had no choice but to fight for damages.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for this cancer yet. Asbestos lawyers are trying to win lawsuits associated with banning the usage of asbestos in manufacturing. Surprisingly, not all the companies have stopped using asbestos containing materials to the detriment of its workers.

(March 22,2011)

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Asbestosis is a non-cancerous scarring of the lungs which usually occurs in a work related setting. The discovery last year of asbestos within the walls of several old schools was expected to cause scheduling problems for the building’s demolition. Regardless of the cost, asbestos must be abated before any demolition can take place. asbestos is a toxic mineral that was commonly used in construction throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Its use was banned in the United States in the late 1980’s, when it was proven that asbestos causes life-threatening diseases, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective lining of the body’s major organs and cavities. Disturbing the mineral brings about the release of toxic fibers that become airborne and are inhaled by demolition workers and people in the neighboring community.
The majority of asbestos victims died between 1980 and 2000. During this time, the overall population of Charleston, West Virginia’s capital and largest city, fell by over 140,000 to 1.8 million. Asbestos victims accounted for 594 of those, less than half of whom were mesothelioma patients (asbestosis is far more common). Although far more asbestos victims contract this disease rather than malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis is actually quite treatable (although incurable) when diagnosed in its early stages. Mesothelioma on the other hand is invariably fatal. Such patients can expect to live 12 to 18 months once they have received a mesothelioma diagnosis. This is one of the main reasons to take this threat so seriously.
The modern American asbestos industry was started just before the U.S. Civil War in New York City by Henry W. Johns. The descendant of that company, Johns-Manville, was one of the corporations involved in the conspiracy to withhold information from the public regarding the hazards of asbestos. Although it was not until the 1930s that the connection between asbestos and respiratory health was fully understood. In the meantime, Asbestos Containing Materials were installed in wallboard, floor and ceiling tiles, insulation, mastic and other building adhesives, asbestos concrete pipes, fire brick, and in HVAC and electrical systems. While most of this asbestos was in a solid or non-friable state, these materials were prone to crumbling as they aged and deteriorated, releasing asbestos fibers into the building’s air supply. As a result, many people in non- construction related fields were routinely exposed to the dangerous substance without ever being aware.
The man who created asbestos ultimately died of asbestos poisoning himself forty years after the same product had made him a fortune.

3/21/11,

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“Arizona meosthelioma lawyer” Since the 1950’s, Arizona has had a large and thriving asbestos industry concentrated around the Tucson area. This has left the state with a large population of people affected by devastating asbestos-related diseases who are seeking meosthelioma attorneys Arizona to help them with mounting medical bills.

W.R. Grace & Company, the corporation that was responsible for the tragedies of Libby, Montana also had its tendrils in Arizona. In Phoenix the company operated Solomon’s Mines, Inc., a vermiculite packing plant. Vermiculite, while non-toxic, was frequently contaminated with deadly asbestos from the W.R. Grace Corporation mines in Libby. Residents in the area are at risk for exposure to asbestos fibers, and should have appropriate testing done to check for asbestos cancer. If one is found they should contact a meosthelioma attorney Arizona for aid.

Between the years of 1979 and 1999, over 500 Arizonans died from asbestos-related diseases. Nearly 60% of who were victims of malignant mesothelioma.

Laws specific to meosthelioma lawsuit Arizona, asbestos diseases and asbestos cancer in the state of Arizona are covered under Title 36, Article 2, 36-134, which simply says: “The department shall develop and implement by rule standards and procedures to make asbestosis and mesothelioma diseases reportable to the department.” In short, these reports are made at the local level, and filter upwards from there.

The statute of limitations for personal injury law in Arizona is two years. Arizona has no specific statutes about asbestosis; however, a discovery rule states that the two-year statute of limitations begins when the problem (in this case the mesothelioma) either was discovered or should have been discovered. The discovery rule is especially important in cases involving mesothelioma because symptoms of the disease may not appear for as many as 15 years after the exposure to asbestos, especially if the exposure was at a low level: That is why it is extremely important that a person diagnosed with mesothelioma contact a meosthelioma lawyer Arizona as soon as possible after their diagnosis.

In the 1980s there was a big push of lawsuits brought by meosthelioma lawyers Arizona against a number of the mines in Arizona. For example, Tucson-based copper producer Asarco, which operated a number of copper mines in Arizona as well as in other states, has been involved in lawsuits going back to 1983. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in 2005 and is still working on settlements from those old meosthelioma settlements Arizona. People who filed previous asbestos-related cases against Asarco or any of its subsidiaries were forced to re-file with an Asbestos-Related Proof of Claim Form if the lawsuit included any of the debtors in the case.

3/21/11

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The land between Mobile and Pascagoula, Alabama, has been dubbed the “[asbestos] screening hub of the universe”. That’s because the Mobile area is home to numerous “screening companies”–small businesses that run ads such as “Do You Have MILLION-DOLLAR Lungs?” Unfortunately, many diagnoses from these mass “screenings” by unqualified, untrained personnel no longer hold up in court in most mesothelioma lawsuits Alabama.

The pervasiveness of such companies is part of the distinctive narrative of mesothelioma lawyers Alabama. These stories are intricately linked to the history of the asbestos industry.

A plethora of the manufacturing jobs where asbestos exposure was ordinary could be found in Alabama. It is home to eight power generation plants, six steel and iron mills, four oil refineries and two marine construction and repair sites. A major pulp and paper mill, had plants within the state. One of the most significant industrial customers for asbestos however was the Cement Asbestos Company.

Asbestos, when used as an additive to cement, created a substance that was at resistant to temperatures at both end of the spectrum, flexible, and extremely durable. For that reason, it was widely used in a litany of community water distribution systems throughout the state. This leaves a buried time bomb as several hundred miles of asbestos pipe are still carrying water to residences and educational facilities in over eighty communities. While water system operators assure the public that the pipes have never leaked, most of these pipes have never been tested, and the few that have were last check in 1994. Shockingly, in Ragland – the city where the pipes were produced – people have used said asbestos pipes to erect fences on their land. This has lead to an increase in the activity of mesothelioma attorneys Alabama.

While many people in Alabama have been exposed to asbestos, Alabama courts have not made it easy for those who contract an asbestos disease (or any other kind of occupational illness) such as asbestosis or mesothelioma to seek relief from an Alabama mesothelioma lawfirm.

Today, between 25 and 30 percent of all Americans will get some form of cancer during their lifetimes. There are numerous reasons for this, including modern lifestyle and the toxins that have been put into the environment – of which asbestos is a principal example. Luckily, the number of clinics and hospitals that specialize in oncology has increased in response to the growing population of patients.

The diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related cancers and other diseases is gradually becoming a sub-specialty in the field of medicine due to its prevalence. Even so, there is currently no medical degree that is specific to asbestos-related practices. Most doctors focusing on asbestos disease today are trained in fields such as oncology, thoracic surgery, respiratory or occupational medicine, or a related field.

The people of Alabama have reason to be concerned about the rare asbestos cancer mesothelioma; the state is filled with shipyards, factories and construction sites that have been the source of asbestos exposure for a large number of the state’s citizens. And while the legal climate in Alabama looks favorably on affording “wrongful death” damages to the loved ones of those who have died because of mesothelioma, the state does not make adequate legal reparations for those people who are currently suffering from this asbestos-related disease and wish to file a mesothelioma lawsuit in Alabama . A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision further denies the rights of those in Alabama to bring suit using an Alabama mesothelioma lawyer.

As you may be aware, all states have a statute of limitations – a period of time within which they must file a mesothelioma lawsuit Alabama or contact a mesothelioma law firm in Alabama. If a claim is not filed, the victim forfeits the right to sue. Today, because of what is called the discovery rule, that statute of limitations may begin when an asbestos victim is diagnosed.

Alabama residents who believe that they have been exposed to asbestos are urged to get checked for signs of asbestos exposure and contact a mesothelioma attorneys in Alabama as soon as possible after a diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. A settlement won by mesothelioma lawyers Alabama can help pay for the high medical costs associated with battling asbestos-related cancers.

3/21/11

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Alaska is home to a number of natural asbestos deposits. Asbestos is associated with volcanism and areas in which earthquakes are common; therefore this correlation should be unsurprising due to the state’s seismic activity. Alaska is also home to many industries, both directly and indirectly connected to asbestos, creating a growing field of mesothelioma lawyers Alaska.

Alaska has a number of industrialized sites where asbestos has been a problem. The state is home to a number of power plants and the facilities of four oil companies. Other industries include pulp mills, marine repair facilities and, interestingly, seafood processing plants. According to an EPA news release from 2001, a manager at Great Pacific Seafoods, Inc., pleaded guilty for violating Clean Air Act safety regulations when removing asbestos at an Anchorage facility prior to its sale to the Alaska DOT. The company was fined half a million dollars, and the manager faced a one year prison sentence and a $100,000 fine. Exposure to asbestos has been linked to mesothelioma, a terminal cancer.

Industrial buildings are not the only structure affected by asbestos. Public school buildings in Alaska have had to deal with asbestos problems over the past several years as well.

The State of Alaska imposes a two-year statute of limitations on all personal injury claims, including toxic torts (toxic exposure) such as mesothelioma lawsuits Alaska, premises and products liability, workers’ compensation and wrongful death lawsuits. This is upheld and modified by certain statutes: Alaska Statute 23.30.105(a) requires that a claim for disability compensation must be filed after victims develop the disabling condition and within two years of learning of the nature of their condition and its relation to the employment. However, the statutes do make an exception for latent injuries. For latent injuries, the two-year statute of limitations begins when victims discover the disabling condition, as long as it can be shown that the victims did not realize and would not have had the education, intelligence or experience to realize any earlier the nature of their condition and its relation to their employment. In practice, this means that in Alaska the two-year statute of limitations for bringing a mesothelioma lawsuit Alaska due to asbestos exposure begins when the individual discovers the malignant mesothelioma.

The Supreme Court of the State of Alaska confirmed this decision in its 2001 review of the court case Collins v. Arctic Builders, Inc., et. al. The plaintiff in that case was exposed to asbestos in 1963 but did not know of his condition until 1990. He filed for workers’ compensation in 1991, but due to administrative confusion regarding his status as a civilian employee working on a federal property, he had to file again in 1993 with the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board (AWCB). The AWCB reviewed his claim in 1996 and determined that they did not have to pay because the two-year statute of limitations had run out. The Supreme Court of the State of Alaska found that because he filed initially in 1991, he was within the statute of limitations. The court ruled that he had until 1992, two years after he discovered the rare asbestos cancer mesothelioma, to make his claim with a mesothelioma law firm Alaska.

It is not simply those suffering from work-related exposure to asbestos who are encouraged to get in touch with a mesothelioma lawyer Alaska for help with a mesothelioma lawsuit Alaska. Individuals who have lived, attended school, or worked near an Alaskan Superfund site may also endure the effects of having been exposed to toxins such as asbestos.

Alaska Superfund sites known to have asbestos contamination include Arctic Surplus Salvage Yard, U.S. Army Fort Richardson, located five miles north of Anchorage, and U.S. Army Fort Wainwright, located near Fairbanks. Alaska residents who have lived near a Superfund site are advised to get the appropriate medical checks to test for signs of asbestos exposure and contact a mesothelioma attorney Alaska as soon as possible after a diagnosis.

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If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, getting help from a Illinois mesothelioma attorney is the quickest and easiest way to pursue a monetary settlement against a company or product that exposed you to asbestos. It is difficult to properly document your own work and medical history, sign all of the necessary paperwork, and file a mesothelioma claim with the proper authorities without the help of an experienced attorney. A mesothelioma lawyer can make sure that all information is gathered and filed appropriately so you can receive the compensation you may deserve.

Sokolove Law has 30+ years of experience litigating mesothelioma cases, including many that involve residents of Illinois. The benefit of using a national mesothelioma law firm like Sokolove Law is to litigate in other states in order to maximize your settlement, unlike local firms that may be limited in their ability to make connections to other lawyers or companies located outside the state.

Illinois Mesothelioma Settlements

Sokolove Law has helped Illinois residents get more than $235 million in settlements. Residents from towns such as Effingham have received more than $2 million in settlement funds, while Chicago residents have combined to receive more than $62 million in settlements.

Many Navy veterans stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base and other maritime industry buildings throughout the state were exposed to asbestos throughout much of the 20^th Century.

In total, there have been more than 50 confirmed asbestos exposure sites throughout the state, including A.E. Staley in Decatur, Amoco Chemical in Joliet, B&O Railroad and Campbell’s Soup Plant in Chicago, and Chrysler Corporation in Belvedere.

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in Illinois

Illinoisans diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer such as mesothelioma have access to a number of cancer centers throughout the state. Among the more notable centers are Carle Cancer Center, Decatur Memorial Hospital Cancer Institute, The Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago Hospitals Cancer Center.

Mesothelioma Cases in Illinois

Sokolove Law has handled mesothelioma cases in Illinois’ major cities such as Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Springfield, Peoria, Elgin, Waukegan, and Cicero. Regardless of where you live in Illinois – Champaign, Tinley Park, Belleville, or other cities and towns – Sokolove Law may be able to help if you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer.

(March 18, 2011)

Disease from Asbestos – Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals that are fiber-like in appearance. The fibers are separable, long, and thin, and can be seen with a microscope, but despite those qualities, the material also has high tensile strength and is impervious to fire, water, and corrosion. For these reasons, it’s been used for many years for a wide variety of uses, including building materials, insulation, on ships, in cars, and other common products.

When asbestos fibers are disturbed, they can become airborne, and because of their small size, may be breathed into the lungs, or otherwise be ingested. Physicians and other health care professionals have seen a spectrum of diseases from asbestos exposure.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to asbestos increases your risk of developing lung disease. The greater the amount of exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance that you will develop an asbestos disease. Diseases caused by asbestos include:

• Lung Cancer
• Pleural Disease
• Asbestosis
• Mesothelioma

The following sections describe in detail the diseases from asbestos.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer (approximately 2000 cases diagnosed every year in the US) that is a disease from asbestos. Mesothelioma affects the lining or membrane that surrounds most of the organs in the human body, including the lungs, chest, abdomen, and heart. Scientists have determined that almost all cases of mesothelioma occur following asbestos exposure. The symptoms and the disease itself may not be present for 50 years following asbestos exposure. Few people who contract a disease from asbestos live for more than five years after the diagnosis. Even people who have not been directly exposed to asbestos may be at risk of developing a disease from asbestos if they live, or are in frequent contact, with someone who worked with asbestos. Asbestos fibers can be inadvertently transferred to other people through contact of clothes, hair, etc.

The mesothelium is the tissue that lines parts of the body cavity. Mesothelial cells also cover the outer surface of most internal organs and protect them by producing a lubricant that allows organs to move around. The mesothelium of the chest is the pleura, that of the abdomen is the peritoneum, and that of the area around the heart is the pericardium.

Mesothelioma is a cancer in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. The cancer cells can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs; they can also metastasize to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum, causing pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma respectively. Rarely, they begin in the pericardium. There are three main types of mesothelioma cancer:

* Epithelioid
* Sarcomatoid
* Mixed/biphasic

Epithelioid mesothelioma occurs in 50 to 70 percent of all cases—the highest rate of occurrence. Mixed/biphasic mesothelioma types occur in 20 to 30 percent of all cases; these are a mix of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cancers. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma occurs in only 7 to 20 percent of all cases and is believed to be the most aggressive type of mesothelioma. These three types of mesothelioma can occur in three different areas of the body:
Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for 75 percent of all cases. This disease develops when people breathe in asbestos fibers. The fibers travel to the ends of small air passages in the lungs and damage the pleura by causing inflammation and scarring. The pleura is the layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and helps to protect organs. With pleural mesothelioma, the tumor typically appears in only one lung; often the right one. Cells become abnormal and grow out of control. Over time, pleural mesothelioma can break through the pleura and spread into chest wall or into the abdomen.

As the asbestos cancer grows and spreads, fluid fills the chest and puts pressure on vital organs. Patients with pleural mesothelioma often report common symptoms such as pain in the lower back or chest, shortness of breath, coughing, and other symptoms.

Treatment for pleural mesothelioma may include surgery, which may be used to remove the cancerous growth or simply relieve the patient’s pain and discomfort. Doctors may also try radiation and chemotherapy applied directly to the chest cavity.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The peritoneum is the layer of tissue that lines the abdomen to protect organs. Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for only 10 to 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases, with tumors typically growing in the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops when people cough up and then swallow asbestos fibers, thereby causing damage to the peritoneum.

Similar to pleural mesothelioma, asbestos fibers damage the peritoneum by causing inflammation and scarring. Cells begin to grow abnormally and metastasize, or spread. Over time, peritoneal mesothelioma may break through the abdominal wall and invade organs like the lungs, heart, stomach, and liver. Peritoneal mesothelioma can even attach itself to blood vessels, the esophagus, or intestines, making it hard or even impossible to remove the cancer surgically.

As the cancer grows and spreads, fluid fills the abdomen and puts pressure on major organs. Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma often report symptoms such as abdominal pain, weight loss, and digestive disturbances.

Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma may include inserting a needle into the abdomen to drain fluid; this helps to relieve some of the pressure on internal organs and alleviate the patient’s discomfort.  Surgery may also help relieve symptoms or be used to remove the tumor from the abdominal wall.  In addition, doctors may apply chemotherapy treatments or radiation treatments directly to the abdomen in an attempt to destroy the cancerous cells.
Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the cells in the lining of the heart, also known as the pericardium.  It is quite rare, accounting for less than 1% of all documented cases.  Pericardial mesothelioma affects twice as many males as females and is most likely to impact those between the ages of 40 and 70.

The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include chest pain, fluid buildup around the heart, abnormal breathing, chronic coughing, and irregular heartbeat.  Currently, the primary treatment for this type of mesothelioma is surgical removal of the pericardium.  Though not typically curative, this treatment can help lessen the symptoms resulting from constriction around the heart.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, along with the World Health Organization and public health authorities around the world, continue to monitor the H1N1 flu virus globally.

This document has been developed to protect the health of Canadian travellers. This travel health notice is based on current available scientific information about the H1N1 influenza virus, and is subject to review and change as new information becomes available.