Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Precursors

mesothelioma precursorsWhile it’s true that not everyone who is exposed to asbestos gets sick, what’s also true is that not everyone who is sickened by asbestos exposure gets mesothelioma…at least not immediately. But many asbestos related health issues are mesothelioma precursors.

The results of years of asbestos exposure manifest in a variety of different ways. For some individuals, little warning is given before the mesothelioma diagnosis becomes a reality. For others, the ailments we describe below may be what appears first.

Some may not lead to cancer. Others may. But all clearly indicate the dangers of exposure to asbestos and asbestos-containing materials and are potential mesothelioma precursors.

Pleural Plaques

The Centers for Disease Control note that some 50 percent of all individuals who are/were regularly exposed to asbestos develop scarring on their lungs. In medical terms, the scars are referred to as pleural plaques. Pleural plaques usually don’t present any specific symptoms and many who suffer from them are totally unaware that the scars are present.

Often, they’re discovered during x-rays for something totally unrelated or may be found during the scans that many asbestos-exposed individuals receive annually.

Pleural plaques do not indicate the presence of cancer but they certainly prove that asbestos exposure can affect one’s health. Usually, when doctors spot these plaques, they will order further testing just to be sure that no cancer cells are present.

Pleural Effusion

Pleural effusion is the build-up of fluid that occurs between the visceral and parietal layers of the pleura, which is the lining of the lungs. Effusion can cause much physical discomfort and can make it quite difficult to breathe.

To relieve this problem, a doctor may choose to drain the area but without a surgical procedure known as pleurodesis, the fluid may return. The doctor will also want to test the fluid for the presence of cancer cells.

Asbestosis

Asbestosis is very common among individuals who have been exposed to asbestos on a regular basis. Similar to mesothelioma, it often takes a few decades for the symptoms of asbestosis to appear. These symptoms are similar to those of asbestos-caused cancer and include:

1. Shortness of breath (mostly while active but, in the later stages, even while resting)
2. Chest pain
3. Low tolerance for physical activity
4. Cough that produces phlegm
5. Clubbing of the fingers (in severe cases)

 

Many individuals mistaken the early symptoms of asbestosis for another more common ailment, such as a cold, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Symptoms of this disease, however, tend to develop over a long period of time and don’t “go away”, as would be the case with cold symptoms.

Asbestosis isn’t necessarily an indication that the victim will eventually develop mesothelioma, but that possibility is indeed present. However, the asbestosis patients who are most likely to eventually be diagnosed with asbestos cancer are those who smoke and continue to do so, despite their diagnosis. Smokers are encouraged to stop smoking IMMEDIATELY upon diagnosis or if they suspect they have asbestosis.

Asbestos-exposed individuals who believe they may have any of these asbestos-related diseases need to schedule an immediate check-up with their doctor or specialist. Those already diagnosed with any of the above ailments should maintain a regular schedule of medical examinations, x-rays, and pulmonary function tests so as to keep an eye out for the presence of mesothelioma in the future.

Interferon Alpha – Mesothelioma Maintenance Treatment

interferon alphaMesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, the thin tissue that covers the lungs, heart, and other internal organs. Nearly all cases of this fatal disease are caused by exposure to asbestos. Often, the cancer takes decades to appear and, when it does, it has already reached Stage 3 or 4, making it especially difficult to treat.

Therefore, most victims of mesothelioma face a grim prognosis. Most typically survive 12 to 18 months from the time of diagnosis. Treatments, both conventional and experimental, may extend the life of mesothelioma patients, but there is no cure at this time.

Common Treatment Options

The following are the most common treatment options for pleural mesothelioma, cancer of the lining of the lung:

• Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) – The most aggressive type of mesothelioma surgery, EPP involves the removal of the lung along with its coverings and the associated coverings of the heart and diaphragm. It is followed by chemotherapy and radiation. It is reserved only for the healthiest of patients and involves much risk and a very long recovery period.

• Pleurectomy/decortication – This is surgery to remove the lining of the lung and, hence, the cancer cells found in the lining. In this type of procedure, the lung itself is preserved. Pleurectomy is usually followed by chemotherapy. This surgery is an option for patients whose limited heart and lung function prevent them from undergoing EPP.

• Chemotherapy/Radiation – Patients who are not candidates for any type of surgery may benefit from chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor. These treatments are often used for “palliative” purposes as well, helping to lessen some of the very uncomfortable symptoms of the disease.

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are also used to treat peritoneal (abdominal) mesothelioma, and pericardial (heart) mesothelioma.

Maintenance Therapy

During the late years of the 20th century, researchers and oncologists spent time and dollars researching the effects of Interferon Alpha on malignant mesothelioma tumors. Often, the Interferon was combined with cisplatin in the clinical trials made available to those with pleural mesothelioma. (Cisplatin is a common platinum-based chemo drug still used in the treatment of the disease, but now often combined with Alimta©, the only drug specifically approved by the FDA for the treatment of the disease.)

Author DeeDee Moore notes in her book, Dealing with Mesothelioma Cancer, that these interferon trials did indeed extend the lives of some meso patients.

“Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have yielded variable results,” she explained. “Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experiencing a greater than 50% reduction in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.”

More recently, however, Interferon Alpha has taken on the role of a maintenance drug. At a conference for the Society of Thoracic Surgeons in 2006, Dr. Robert Cameron – a leading expert on the treatment of mesothelioma – presented proof that Interferon Alpha as “maintenance therapy” showed promise. Cameron noted that the median survival of patients receiving interferon alpha after undergoing pleurectomy with decortication followed by surgery was 37 months. Therefore, Cameron and his colleagues at UCLA concluded that interferon alpha, as a maintenance therapy, does indeed have a survival benefit.

Continuing Research

Malignant mesothelioma remains one of the most frustrating forms of cancer for researchers and for oncologists who face victims of the disease each day. It is highly recognized that none of the current treatments will provide a cure for the disease but it is the hope of researchers that continued research and more clinical trials will be integral in the discovery of drugs or therapies that will prolong the lives of sufferers of asbestos-caused cancer. Only time will tell.

 

Asbestos and First Responders

Asbestos and First RespondersNo one who was alive at the time will ever forget the tragedies that occurred on September 11, 2001. It was a day that showed the true face of terrorism and one that affected not only the people of the United States but also others around the world.

There were obvious casualties that day. Nearly 3,000 died as a result of the falling of the World Trade Center towers and the acts of violence at the Pentagon and in the fields of central Pennsylvania. But as the weeks, months, and years went by, other less-obvious casualties occurred.

Many of the first responders who were on call that day, particularly in Manhattan, later developed a variety of respiratory diseases and died. One of those diseases was mesothelioma.

Where was the Asbestos?

Any time a building collapses, particularly an older building, the potential for asbestos exposure is present. When the so-called Twin Towers fell, millions and millions of tons of debris rained down on Manhattan; everything from paper to steel was part of the mix. Included also in the debris were toxic materials, not the least of which was asbestos.

Only part of the World Trade Center contained asbestos. When construction began on the towers, there was already some controversy brewing in regards to asbestos use and the danger of exposure to the mineral. Because of that, only about half of the North Tower was constructed using asbestos materials. The South Tower contained no asbestos.

Still, when they fell, asbestos materials were everywhere and first responders – including firefighters, police, and EMTs – were regularly wading through it to find survivors and, later, the bodies of those who perished.

Other scenarios in other parts of the country have been similar. An old building burns or collapses and asbestos is strewn all around the area. It could be months (or even longer) before the debris is disposed of, and anyone involved in rescue, recovery, or clean-up might be exposed.

First Responders and Mesothelioma

EMTs and others in similar jobs know they are at risk every time they’re out on a call. They can be shot or otherwise attacked. Perhaps they might be exposed to a dangerous, contagious disease. But few first responders probably think about asbestos when heading out to a building collapse or similar tragedy.

When the World Trade Centers fell, the amount of asbestos left behind was so great that first responders were being diagnosed with mesothelioma just a few years later. Remember, this is a disease that usually takes decades to surface, even with daily exposure for a number of years.

As the years went by more and more EMTs, police, and firefighters noticed severe breathing problems and many were eventually diagnosed with asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma cancer.

The dangers aren’t limited to the events of 9/11, however. This exposure could happen at any time. That’s why it’s always necessary for first responders to wear protective gear when heading to a disaster that could expose them to asbestos fibers, which can be inhaled and penetrate the area around the lungs, causing eventual tumors to form.

A potentially toxic scene should never be entered until masks or respirators are in place, and any supervisors who insist it is safe to proceed without such are putting lives at risk with their negligent behavior.

If you know a first responder – EMT, police officer, firefighter – who is battling mesothelioma because of on-the-job exposure, consider doing some research on the reason for the asbestos exposure and don’t hesitate to investigate legal options that may result in compensation for these injuries and suffering.

On-the-Job Asbestos Exposure a Real Concern for Insulators

Ininsulation workers at worksulator

Noun
1. Electricity
a) A material of such low conductivity that the flow of current through it is negligible.
b) Insulating material, often glass or porcelain, in a unit form designed so as to support a charged conductor and electrically isolate it.

  1. A person or thing that insulates.

The definition of an insulator is fairly straightforward, whether you’re talking about the actual insulating material or the person that is responsible for installing those materials. Insulators – in both contexts – have been around for centuries, but the insulation we most closely relate to in the 20th and 21st centuries became essential around the time of the Industrial Revolution, when newfangled machinery needed to be insulated for reasons of temperature stabilization.

Of course, those same issues remain a concern today and it’s that need to protect workers and others from dangerous conditions that keeps our insulation contractors in business, performing tasks such as wrapping machinery of various types, pipes, or wires, or perhaps placing insulation in walls, floors, or ceilings.

Being an Insulation Worker

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 52,000 employed insulation workers in the U.S. in 2012.1 The BLS notes that these insulators spend a lot of time standing, bending, and kneeling, often in confined spaces.

This work doesn’t come without risk. “Small particles from insulation materials, especially when sprayed, can irritate the eyes, skin, and lungs,” the bureau adds in its description of what insulation workers do.

While today’s spray insulation can certainly cause respiratory problems, insulation products of old often were much more dangerous because they contained asbestos, a toxic mineral that could also cause respiratory problems – very serious ones that may include mesothelioma cancer.

How Insulation Workers Are Exposed

Prior to the mid-1970s, many insulation products contained asbestos. The mineral was used in these products because it is a good conductor of heat and its use could prevent burns, fires, and other catastrophes. Hence, it was used to wrap pipes in places like steel mills, refineries, and other industrial facilities, if often was found wound around electrical fires, and was even used in materials such as attic insulation for homes.

Some materials that might have been in an insulator’s cache of asbestos-containing products include:

• Boiler coverings
• Pipe coverings
• Pipe block
• Cement
• Felt
• Coating
• Seals and tape
• Zonolite© insulation
• And many others!

Companies that may have manufactured some of these products include (but are not limited to):

• Armstrong
• Atlas
• Carey
• Celotex
• Keasbey & Mattison
• Keene
• National Gypsum
• Fibreboard Corp
• W.R. Grace

Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, and Lung Cancer

insulation workers during the middle to later years of the 20th century were likely exposed to many of the materials mentioned above, manufactured by many of the companies listed here, including those who knew there products were toxic but did nothing to solve the dilemma. While there were reasonable substitutes for asbestos available for use, companies opted to continue using the toxic material because it was inexpensive and readily available.

The result has been generations of insulation workers who have developed lung-related problems, including asbestosis, mesothelioma, and various types of lung cancer. Today’s insulators are still at risk, especially when working on older properties – residential, commercial, and industrial.

Many of these manufacturers have been successfully sued in a court of law in regards to their negligence while others have declared bankruptcy and then set up asbestos trusts, offering compensation to those harmed. For more information, consult an experienced asbestos attorney if you or a family member has been sickened while working as an insulator.

Asbestos Health Risks a Genuine Concern for Painters

Painters Asbestos Exposure During RenovationWe’ve all done some painting in our lifetimes. Maybe it was that first apartment of yours – the one with the lime green walls. Or perhaps you’ve tackled larger projects, like the exterior of your home. Some DIYers love to paint, others hate it. Still, there are many individuals that make their living as painters, coming to the rescue of those of us who simply dislike the task.

Since the post-war housing boom of the 1950s, U.S. painters have been kept quite busy when it comes to residential jobs. Some painters also specialize in commercial applications, employed by businesses small and large to paint everything from walls to water towers.

In many ways, painting can be quite a dangerous job, involving working at great heights, working in poorly insulated areas, and – not least of all – working around asbestos-containing materials.

Where’s the Asbestos?

Those not involved in the painting industry but be surprised to learn that many paints once contained asbestos. In addition, a wealth of compounds, protective coatings, and other items regularly used by painters also once contained asbestos. As a matter of fact, these items – manufactured as early as the 1930s up until the mid-1970s – often contained quite sizeable amounts of the toxic mineral.

Some of the companies that manufactured these asbestos-containing supplies included:
• National Gypsum
• Eagle-Picher
• GAF
• Celotex
• United States Gypsum

Other items used by painters or encountered by painters while on-the-job also included tape (such as Raymark’s “Allbestos” tape) and wallboard products such as those made by Johns-Manville or National Gypsum.

For painters who regularly worked on exteriors of homes or other buildings, exposure to shingles, siding, and roofing meant the likelihood of inhaling asbestos. Even today, one can identify thousands upon thousands of U.S. homes that still feature asbestos siding or shingles, making the job of removing them quite dangerous. These asbestos products may have been manufactured by the companies noted above as well as:
• Carey
• Ruberoid
• Keasbey & Mattison
• And many others!

Avoiding Asbestos

Painters have always been responsible for more than just putting a coat of color on a wall or other surface. These tradesmen must do a plethora of preparation when charged with a particular painting job. That means doing things like scraping, patching, filling, caulking, sanding, and anything else necessary to produce a suitable finished product. It is often during these tasks that painters were (or will be) exposed to dangerous asbestos dust. Whenever asbestos-containing materials are compromised, inhalation becomes a very real problem.

That means painters should ALWAYS wear protective gear when working in an environment that may include asbestos-containing products. This also means that painters should carefully assess each project before beginning, especially if the job involves working in an older home or commercial location where asbestos products are likely to still be present. Furthermore, the painter who’s working with asbestos materials should ALWAYS change clothes and (if possible) shower before heading home. It isn’t unusual for asbestos dust to gather on clothes and on the body, meaning unnecessary secondary exposure could occur with poor habits.

Mesothelioma and Painters

Many painters of decades past have learned of the dangers of asbestos exposure years and years after practicing their trade. Some have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other related diseases, such as asbestosis. If you believe that you or a loved one was exposed to dangerous asbestos while on-the-job and you or your family member is suffering from an asbestos-related disease, contact an attorney today to learn of your legal rights for compensation.

Asbestosis Nothing to Cough About

Asbestosis Nothing to Cough AboutIn the world of asbestos exposure, there are those that emerge unscathed, there are others who wind up with mesothelioma cancer, and then there are some who walk away with a lung disease known as asbestosis.

The latter, while not a form of cancer, can be just as debilitating as mesothelioma though it carries a better prognosis and victims can often live with the disease for years.

That’s not to say, however, that those stricken with asbestosis won’t have a tough road ahead of them.

What Causes Asbestosis?

Just like mesothelioma, asbestosis is caused by exposure to and inhalation of asbestos fibers. The disease is commonly linked with the amphibole form of the mineral, which boasts thin, straight fibers rather than the curly ones associated with the more toxic serpentine variety.

Inhalation of these sharp fibers scars the lungs, causing thickening and hardening of lung tissue and making breathing difficult.

Symptoms of Asbestosis

Like mesothelioma, it can take some time for asbestosis to develop and for it to be diagnosed. Patients will often undergo a large amount of testing before a determination is made. However, every case is different and some people with asbestosis will suffer few symptoms while others are plagued with debilitating ones.

According to the American Lung Assocation, the most prevalent symptoms of asbestosis are:

• Shortness of breath
• Tightness in the chest
• A productive and persistent cough (one that produces mucus)
• Chest pain
• Loss of appetite
• A crackling, dry sound in the lungs, most evident when inhaling

When a patient who was exposed to asbestos appears with these symptoms, doctors will most likely determine a diagnosis through lung function tests, x-rays or other imaging tests, and perhaps a biopsy (to rule out mesothelioma).

Dealing with Asbestosis

There is no cure for asbestosis but it is treatable. Some patients will be able to lead very normal lives with treatment while others may find that their disease continues to progress and becomes more difficult to control.
Those with asbestosis will want to take whatever steps are necessary for loosening the music in their lungs so that can be expelled.

That might include something as simple as pounding on the chest or back to loosen the mucus or sitting/laying in a position that helps drain the mucus. Other options include medications that thin the mucus.

When the disease progresses, victims may decide they need oxygen to help them breathe. Severe cases may be candidates for lung transplants.

Furthermore, anyone with asbestosis who smokes cigarettes should cease smoking immediately. Smoking aggravates the disease. Worse, however, is the fact that a smoker with asbestosis has a much higher chance of developing mesothelioma than an asbestosis victim who does not smoke.

Preventing Asbestosis

For workers of today, preventing asbestosis is much simpler. Individuals who might encounter asbestos on-the-job should always wear protective gear. Furthermore, compared to asbestos use of old, there is little asbestos used in the U.S. in the 21st century, so exposure is much less likely.

However, those working in old factories or homes, or with older automobiles should always be on the lookout for the material.

If you regularly worked with asbestos in the years before about 1980, you may be a prime candidate for the disease or you may have already been diagnosed with it. Tens of thousands of individuals were unknowingly exposed to the toxic mineral during their work lives and are now suffering from this and other related diseases.

If this describes you, remember that you may have some legal recourse in regards to this negligent exposure. For more information, consult an experienced attorney about potential compensation for your suffering.

Asbestos Trust – What You Need To Know

Asbestos TrustIf you’re currently involved in asbestos-related litigation or if you’ve been doing some investigation into the possibilities of filing an asbestos-related lawsuit, you’ve probably come across some information about asbestos trusts.

Perhaps you’re a little confused as to what these trusts are and who might benefit from them. Below we’ve offered a bit of introductory information about these trusts in hopes that you’ll be able to better understand how they work.

What’s an Asbestos Trust?

Throughout the years, many companies that were responsible for asbestos injuries and were subsequently bombarded with lawsuits filed for bankruptcy and then bankruptcy reorganization, which – when successful – protects them from lawsuits but allows them to stay in business. These companies can be large – like Johns-Manville, W. R. Grace, and Pittsburgh Corning – or much smaller.

The U.S. Bankruptcy code then allows for the creation of so-called “asbestos trusts”, funds into which these companies must deposit monies in amounts large enough to handle current and future asbestos claims. Courts must approve the amount that is to be set aside, based on former claims as well as the potential for further litigation against the company. Economists and legal experts are brought in to help with the determination. The first numbers submitted don’t always meet with the court’s approval so sometimes it takes years and years for the trust to finally be established.

Who Operates the Asbestos Trust?

Once an asbestos trust fund is put into place, it is removed from the hands of the particular company responsible for depositing the funds. The company does not review claims made against the trust nor do they decide who gets the money and who doesn’t.

Instead, the trust is operated by a “trustee”, an appointed person or persons who make the decisions for the trust. However, the trustee(s) must follow certain pre-designated procedures to make these determinations so that all decisions are made in a fair and equitable manner.

What is Needed to File a Claim?

To file an asbestos trust claim, you’ll need much of the same information as you’d need to file any other litigation.

• Confirmation of diagnosis – You’ll need to show that you’ve been to a doctor or doctors and that you are definitively suffering from an asbestos-related disease. Most likely, there will be forms to be filed by these physicians or statements to be signed. The physicians will also need to determine to what extent asbestos exposure contributed to your disease.

• Proof of exposure – Plaintiffs filing for compensation from a trust fund will need to establish proof of who was responsible for their exposure. Items such as witness statements and employment records may be needed as well as other similar documentation. It may take some time to assemble this needed documentation.

Can You File a Trust Claim and a Lawsuit?

Rules about asbestos trust claims and the legal process vary from state to state, but mesothelioma victims should know that filing for funds from a trust could affect the outcome of a lawsuit and the amount of compensation received overall.

Only an experienced asbestos attorney can guide you towards the path that will provide you with the most positive outcome for you and your family members.

Millwrights Note Health Problems Due to On-the-Job Asbestos Exposure

Millwrights Note Health Problems Due to On-the-Job Asbestos ExposureThe duties of a millwright probably include those tasks that many people take for granted. For example, when one has the opportunity to observe a shiny new factory, a refinery, a steel plant, or something similar, it’s usually in a state of completion and ready to run. However, it’s the nation’s millwrights that are largely responsible for putting together those operations.

In the early days, a millwright was a tradesman who worked on watermills and windmills, mostly with wood. It was from these duties that the millwright got his name. Millwrights of the Industrial Revolution often found themselves toiling in textile mills. As the 20th century rolled in, these craftsmen were charged with the tasks of working with steel and other metals/materials to install industrial machinery or to assemble that machinery from pre-fabricated parts. These machines might include escalators, conveyor systems, turbines, generators, and more.

You’ll find millwrights in a variety of industries, including:
• Steel mills
• Refineries
• Assembly plants
• Power stations
• Print shops
• Mining operations

Millwrights undergo a great deal of training for their trade and must be skilled in reading blueprints and schematics. These days, millwrights also take several courses in safety. Perhaps those courses would have come in handy during the years when asbestos was in use.

Millwrights and Asbestos Exposure

In the years before about 1975, many of the parts millwrights used in the assembly of heavy machinery were made of asbestos, coated with it, or contained asbestos materials. These included items such as gaskets, valves, and insulation. On the job, they may have also come in contact with other items containing asbestos, such as asbestos tiles or asbestos-containing plaster, cement, or drywall.

Millwrights often used tools that may have compromised the asbestos materials. Grinders, blow torches, welding rods – all of those tools most likely damaged or altered the asbestos materials in a way that caused toxic dust to permeate the air. But because it was necessary for the millwright’s work to be exacting, tight fit was essential as was fireproofing, and asbestos was hardly ever left the way it was found.

Furthermore, when millwrights were charged with the task of repair or removal of machinery containing asbestos, more exposure occurred. Anyone in the vicinity of such work may have inhaled dangerous dust when insulation was stripped from a boiler, for example, or coated materials had to be forcibly removed.

Why Weren’t Millwrights Protected?

As with other occupations exposed to asbestos on-the-job, millwrights were often “sold a bill of goods”, so to speak. For decades, workers were told that asbestos was safe, despite the fact that lawsuits from recent years have uncovered memos from company doctors noting disturbing health problems among those who were exposed to the toxic mineral on a regular basis.

As such, millwrights thought nothing of working in tight, poorly-ventilated spaces where asbestos was present. Often, they went home with the dust on their hair and clothes, exposing their families to asbestos as well.

Furthermore, even when more evidence became available about the dangers of asbestos, millwrights were not provided with respirators or any other sort of protective clothing while working. The result was a generation or two of millwrights who have already developed asbestosis or mesothelioma, or may still be likely to be diagnosed with some sort of asbestos-caused illness.

If you or a loved one was a millwright and are now suffering from mesothelioma, it’s time to learn more about legal rights for compensation. Many millwrights have already been compensated for their injuries. It’s your turn!

Despite Progress, Prognosis Still Grim for Mesothelioma Victims

Despite Progress, Prognosis is Still Grim for Mesothelioma VictimsMesothelioma victims – Ask any oncologist to list the most-difficult-to-treat cancers and there’s no doubt that mesothelioma will be on the top of most – if not all – of their lists. It’s a frustrating disease that has doctors wringing their hands and wishing they could do more.

So, what makes mesothelioma such a hard disease to treat and why is the possibility for a positive prognosis rare? Is there any chance that the mortality rate might change in the years ahead?

Mesothelioma Latency Period

The answer to the first part of the question has to do with the particulars of the disease and how it manifests itself. Literally, mesothelioma can “hide” in the body for decades – sometimes as long as 50 years – before it appears.

Though there have been some exceptions to this long latency period (particularly among 9-11 first responders who were exposed to excessive amounts of asbestos all at one time), those who’ve worked in professions that include steel workers, oil refinery employers, pipefitters, plumbers, electricians, welders, and insulators have often been surprised to learn of the presence of mesothelioma years and years after they’ve been exposed.

Misdiagnosis of Symptoms

Because of this lengthy latency period, when symptoms do arise, no one is thinking about asbestos and cancer. Consider the symptoms of mesothelioma, which include:

• Coughing
• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue

These symptoms can apply to dozens of common ailments, from heart problems to bronchitis. That means more time is often lost before a correct diagnosis is made and treatment is further delayed. Often, by now, the cancer has reached stage 3 or 4.

Researchers have been working on tests that identify the biomarkers of mesothelioma in order to diagnose the disease earlier. For example, blood tests like the FDA-approved MESOMARK© assay scan an individual’s blood for soluble mesothelin-related peptide, a sure sign that the disease could be present or developing.

Determining a Prognosis

Once a diagnosis is made, doctors rely on these factors to determine a prognosis.

• Type of mesothelioma – pleural, pericardial, peritoneal, or testicular. This is determined by using imaging and biopsies
• The size of the tumor
• The location of the tumor and whether or not it can be treated surgically (is “resectable”)
• Which symptoms are present and the extent of those symptoms
• Whether the disease has spread to other areas of the body (metastases)
• The overall health of the individual – Many victims of the disease are older and already have a host of other medical problems with which they contend.

Survival Rates

Survival rates for cancers of all types are usually measured by something called the 5-year survival rate. This is based on the number of people who are still alive five years after their diagnosis. This number is very low for meso patients. The American Cancer Society put it at about 5% to 10%. It’s not a very encouraging statistic.

While those who are diagnosed at a younger age do tend to live longer, the numbers are still grim, especially because the disease – in many cases – could have been avoided if employers had been more diligent about protecting their workers from asbestos exposure. Researchers continue to work hard towards developing new treatments for the disease, but there are still miles to go before the road ahead looks brighter.

Auto Parts Containing Asbestos Put Mechanics At RIsk

Auto Parts Containing AsbestosAre you a car guy…or girl? Many Americans are gaga over their automobiles. Some collect them. Others make a habit of buying old ones and rebuilding or repairing them so that they’re good as new.

For some individuals, every weekend is spent working on those cars until everything is just right and they can show off that masterpiece to their family and friends.

Or maybe you make your living as an auto mechanic. There are tens of thousands of certified mechanics in the United States, standing ready to service some of the 235 million or so cars and trucks on America’s roadways.

It’s a profession that Americans couldn’t do without, and most people will tell you that it’s super helpful to have a mechanic you can trust to work on your car(s).

Working as a mechanic comes with some risks, though the job is certainly not as dangerous as being perhaps a firefighter, an electrician, or even a pipefitter, right? Not necessarily. Anyone who works on an old car or on a car that contains parts not recently manufactured in the U.S. might be putting themselves at risk for asbestos exposure because of auto parts containing asbestos.

Consider the inside of a car. Many of the elements found under the hood and elsewhere in a car’s mechanical system create friction in order to function properly. That means heat is generated.

So, for decades, manufacturers of these so-called friction parts used asbestos in their products so as to avoid the chance for fires to develop.

Car-related items that may have contained asbestos include:

• Hood liners
• Brake pads
• Brake linings
• Brake blocks
• Clutch facings
• Transmission parts
• Gaskets
• Heat seals
• Valve rings
• Packing materials

Just as with other asbestos items, if the asbestos in the above-mentioned parts is not disturbed, a problem is not likely. But because mechanics and DIYers generally perform tasks that involve moving and removing components, filing, drilling, etc., dust is generated and asbestos inhalation can become a problem, especially when a car manufactured prior to about 1975 is involved.

It is these older autos that represent the highest risk to the person doing the repairs.

Companies that manufactured asbestos-containing auto parts included:

• Raybestos
• Johns Manville
• Owens Corning
• Bendix
• Cooper Industries
• RPM International
• Dana Corporation
• And many others

In addition, the fact that mechanics often work in small, unventilated spaces such as garages, makes the possibility of inhalation of fibers even more likely. This was especially the case decades ago when agencies like OSHA were not involved in making sure working conditions were safe for mechanics and others in similar positions.

Today, mechanics and their employers should be taking precautions to make sure that asbestos inhalation does not occur. Simple steps can help avoid an eventual cancer diagnosis. For example, auto shops should contain a HEPA vacuum system with components that can trap asbestos dust before it escapes.

OSHA also demands the use of low pressure wet cleaning methods when cleaning brakes and clutches, etc. It keeps airborne dust from escaping. Mechanics should never use water hoses or squirt bottles to clean parts and should be aware that items such as generic shop vacs are not sufficient for collecting asbestos fibers.

If you know someone who’s developed asbestosis or mesothelioma from on-the-job exposure as an auto mechanic, it’s important to gather as much information as possible about the contamination and to see an attorney to learn what legal rights accompany this negligent exposure. It may not be too late!

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