|
|
| |
|
Mesothelioma Reference Center
Our feature article Malignant Mesothelioma of the pleura: current surgical pathology by © Robert C. Byrd Center For Rural Health, will give you a better understanding of the treatments available for anyone suffering from Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. It affects the linings of the cavities around the lungs, stomach, and heart. It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, but the cancer usually does not appear until 10 to 40 years after a person first inhales asbestos.
We are committed to helping those afflicted with Mesothelioma of their legal rights against the companies who are responsible for those injuries.
|
|
|
|
What is Mesothelioma ?
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs (pleura), or around the abdominal organs (peritoneum).
What can someone with mesothelioma do ?
- Seek out the best and most up-to-date mesothelioma information
- Seek out the best mesothelioma medical care.
- Stay in close contact with your doctor.
- Consider whether or not you want to bring a lawsuit because of this asbestos - related injury.
Remember that resources are available to you through community and medical support groups, mesothelioma asbestos victims' organizations, your place of worship, as well as your family and friends.
Do you want more information about mesothelioma ?
Please explore our website or Contact Mesothelioma to request additional information.
Types of mesothelioma :
Pleural Mesothelioma
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
The Facts:
• Through 2003, more than 700,000 people have filed claims against more than 6,000 companies. Asbestos companies knew of the dangers for many years before ever warning the public of those risks.
• About 4,000 people die from Mesothelioma every year, the rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
• It is estimated that 27.5 million Americans were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1979.
• There are currently about 3000 new cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed per year, mostly in men over the age of 40.
• It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of Mesothelioma before 2020.
• Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
• During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States. Many asbestos-containing products remain in buildings, ships, industrial facilities and other environments where the fibers can become airborne.
• You must file an asbestos-related lawsuit within 1 year of when you knew of or should have reasonably known of your medical diagnosis and disability.
• The executor of the estate of a person who has died from an asbestos-related disease may be eligible to file a claim. Legal action must be taken within 1 year from the date of death.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a very rare type of cancer a rare form of carcinoma of the mesothelium lining lungs or abdomen or heart; usually associated with exposure to asbestos dust. When it develops, mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos.
There are two types:
Pleural Mesothelioma is a Cancer of the pleura, which is the membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a cancer of the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen.
Mesothelioma, like other cancers, will not normally develop for many years after first exposure to asbestos. However, some people have developed mesothelioma merely from being around a worker's contaminated clothing.
The Facts:
• Through 2003, more than 700,000 people have filed claims against more than 6,000 companies. Asbestos companies knew of the dangers for many years before ever warning the public of those risks.
• About 4,000 people die from Mesothelioma every year, the rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
• It is estimated that 27.5 million Americans were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1979.
• There are currently about 3000 new cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed per year, mostly in men over the age of 40.
• It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of Mesothelioma before 2020.
• Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
• During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States. Many asbestos-containing products remain in buildings, ships, industrial facilities and other environments where the fibers can become airborne.
• You must file an asbestos-related lawsuit within 1 year of when you knew of or should have reasonably known of your medical diagnosis and disability.
• The executor of the estate of a person who has died from an asbestos-related disease may be eligible to file a claim. Legal action must be taken within 1 year from the date of death.
What is Peritoneal Mesothelioma ?
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is found in the abdomen in a thin membrane called the peritoneum.
Symptoms include abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, and weakness. The only known cause to this disease is exposure to asbestos.
Due to the latency effect of this cancer, this exposure is likely to have taken place 20 or more years ago.
This type of mesothelioma is the less common and is found in less than 30% of all mesothelioma cases.
The Facts:
• Through 2003, more than 700,000 people have filed claims against more than 6,000 companies. Asbestos companies knew of the dangers for many years before ever warning the public of those risks.
• About 4,000 people die from Mesothelioma every year, the rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
• It is estimated that 27.5 million Americans were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1979.
• There are currently about 3000 new cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed per year, mostly in men over the age of 40.
• It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of Mesothelioma before 2020.
• Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
• During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the United States. Many asbestos-containing products remain in buildings, ships, industrial facilities and other environments where the fibers can become airborne.
• You must file an asbestos-related lawsuit within 1 year of when you knew of or should have reasonably known of your medical diagnosis and disability.
• The executor of the estate of a person who has died from an asbestos-related disease may be eligible to file a claim. Legal action must be taken within 1 year from the date of death.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options
There are three treatments for all patients with malignant mesothelioma.
- surgery (taking out the cancer)
- radiation therapy (using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells)
- chemotherapy (using drugs to fight the cancer)
Surgery is a common treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, a lung also may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external radiation therapy) or from putting materials that produce radiation (radioisotopes) through thin plastic tubes in the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).
If fluid has collected in the chest or abdomen, the doctor may drain the fluid out of the body by putting a needle into the chest or abdomen and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. If fluid is removed from the chest, this is called thoracentesis. If fluid is removed from the abdomen, this is called paracentesis. The doctor may also put drugs through a tube into the chest to prevent more fluid from accumulating.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be taken by pill, or it may be put into the body by a needle in the vein or muscle. Chemotherapy is called a systemic treatment because the drug enters the bloodstream, travels through the body, and can kill cancer cells throughout the body. In mesothelioma, chemotherapy may be put directly into the chest (intrapleural chemotherapy).
Intraoperative photodynamic therapy is a new type of treatment that uses special drugs and light to kill cancer cells during surgery. A drug that makes cancer cells more sensitive to light is injected into a vein several days before surgery. During surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, a special light is used to shine on the pleura. This treatment is being studied for early stages of mesothelioma in the chest.
Treatment by stage
Treatment depends on where the cancer is, how far it has spread, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment may be considered because of its effectiveness in patients in past studies, or participation in a clinical trial may be considered. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired. For these reasons, clinical trials are designed to find better ways to treat cancer patients and are based on the most up-to-date information. Clinical trials are ongoing in many parts of the country for many patients with malignant mesothelioma.
Drugs / Medications
ALIMTA [ (pemetrexed) is now available on expanded access basis. ALIMTA will be available on an expanded access use for people with malignant pleural mesothelioma, a cancer usually associated with exposure to asbestos. As of July 9, 2002 the Food and Drug Administration agreed to place ALIMTA in an expanded access program, which gives patients access to an agent that isn't yet commercially available, although the sponsor is actively pursuing marketing approval. Eli Lilly is pursuing approval of ALIMTA in combination with cisplatin for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a disease that causes tumors to grow in the linings of the lung, or pleura. Patients live an average of six to nine months following diagnosis. The company said results of a Phase III trial showed that patients treated with ALIMTA and cisplatin combined lived longer and had less pain and shortness of breath, than patients treated with cisplatin alone. In the trial, the most common side effect from cisplatin and ALIMTA was a decrease in infection- fighting white blood cells. Under the expanded access program, ALIMTA will be given free of charge to patients who meet medical eligibility requirements.
L-NDDP (aroplatin). Intrapleural administration is intended to exceed the usefulness of other platinum drugs like Cisplatin that are limited by toxicity and drug resistance.
Endostatin. Has been shown to inhibit a tumor's ability to grow blood vessels without destroying normal healthy cells. Works with angiostatin. Lovastatin. A cholesterol drug shown to potentially inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Intrapleural interferon gamma. The anti-cancer drug, Interferon Gamma is directly administered into the affected area.
Photodynamic therapy. Light energy is used to destroy cancer cells. Immunotherapy. Focuses on strengthening the immune system to assist the body in fighting the disease.
Gene Therapy. Focuses on pinpointing and correcting the genetic defect that first allowed the tumor to develop.
Cancer Treatment and Research Centers in the US
Cancer Centers are designated by the National Cancer Institute. They do basic laboratory research; translate research findings into clinical practice;conduct clinical studies and trials; research cancer prevention and control; offer information about cancer to patients, the public, and health care professionals; and provide community service related to cancer control.
Alabama:
University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center
Basic Health Sciences Building
1824 Sixth Ave. South
Birmingham, AL 35294-3300
205-934-5077
Arizona:
University of Arizona Cancer Center
1501 N. Campbell Ave.
Tucson, AX 85724
602-626-7925
California:
Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of California at Los Angeles
10833 Le Conte Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1781
800-825-2631
310-825-5268
USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Southern California
1441 Eastlake Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90033-0800
213-764-0816
City of Hope National Medical Center
Beckman Research Institute
1500 East Duarte Road
Duarte, CA 91010
818-359-8111
818-301-8164
Clinical Cancer Center
University of California at Irvine Cancer Center
101 The City Drive
Orange, CA 92668
714-456-6310
Clinical Cancer Center
University of California at San Diego Cancer Center
200 W. Arbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92130
619-543-3325
Clinical Cancer Center
Colorado:
University of Colorado Cancer Center
4200 East 9th Ave.
Denver, CO 80262
303/270-3007
Clinical Cancer Center
Connecticut:
Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center
Yale University School of Medicine
333 Cedar Street
New Haven, CT 06520-8028
203-785-4095
Washington, DC:
Lombardi Cancer Research Center
Georgetown University Medical Center
3800 Resevoir Road NW
Washington, DC 20007
202/687-2110
Florida:
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Miami Medical School
1475 Northwest 12th Ave.
Miami, FL 33136
305-548-4918
Illinois:
University of Chicago Cancer Research Center
5841 S. Maryland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
312-908-5250
Clinical Cancer Center
Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center
Northwestern University
303 E. Chicago Ave.
Olson Pavilion, Rm 8250
Chicago, IL 60611
312-908-5250
Clinical Cancer Center
Maryland:
The Johns Hopkins Oncology Center
600 N. Wolfe Street
Baltimore, MD 21287-8943
410-955-8822
Massachusetts:
Dane-Farber Cancer Institute
33 Binney Street
Boston, MD 02115
617-632-2233
Michigan:
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
102 Observatory
Ann ARbor, MI 48109-0724
313-936-1831
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
110 E. Warren Ave.
Detroit, MD 48201
313-833-1146
Minnesota:
Mayo Cancer Center
Mayo Foundation
200 Fist Street, SW
Roghester, MN 55905
507-284-3753
Clinical Cancer Center
New Hampshire:
Norris Cotton Cancer Center
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
One Medical Center Drive
Lebanon, NH 03756
603-650-4141
New York:
Albert Einstein College of Medicine Cancer Research Center
Chanin Building
1300 Morris Park Ave.
Bronx, NY 10461
718-430-2302
Clinical Cancer Center
Roswell Park Cancer
Elm and Carlton Streets
Buffalo, NY 14263
800-767-9355
213-845-5770
Columbia Presbyterian Comprehensive Cancer Center
College of Physicians and Surgeons
701 W. 168th STreet
New York, NY 10032
212-305-6921
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Ave.
New York, NY 10021
800-525-2225
212-639-6561
Kaplan Cancer Center
New York University Medical Center
550 First Ave.
New York, NY 10016
212-263-5349
Clinical Cancer Center
University of Rochester Cancer Center
601 Elmwood Ave.
Rochester, NY 14642
716-275-6292
Clinical Cancer Center
North Carolina:
UNC Libeberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of North Carolina
School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
919-684-5613
Comprehensive Cancer Center of Wake Forest University at Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Medical Center Boulevard
Winston-Salem, NC 27157
Ohio:
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital
300 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210
800-638-6996
614-293-4878
Case Western Reserve University Cancer Research Center
11100 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44106
Clinical Cancer Center
Pennsylvania:
Fox Chase Cancer Center
7701 Burholme Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19111
215-728-2781
University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-662-6334
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center
200 Meyran Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2592
800-537-4063
412-692-4670
Jefferson Cancer Center
Thomas Jefferson University
233 South 10th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
215-503-4645
Clinical Cancer Center
Tennessee:
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
332 North Lauderdale
Memphis, TN 38105
901-495-3301
Clinical Cancer Center
Vanderbilt Cancer Center
Vanderbilt University
649 Medical Research Building
Nashville, TN 37232
Texas:
The University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcolmbe Boulevard
Houston, TX 77030
713-792-7500
Utah:
Huntsman Cancer Institute
University of Utah Health
Science Center
Building 533
Salt Lake City, UT 84112
801-581-4048
801-581-4330
Clinical Cancer Center
Vermont:
Vermont Regional Cancer Center
University of Vermont
1 S. Prospect Street
Burlington, VT 05401
802-656-4414
Virginia:
Cancer Center
University of Virginia
Health Sciences Center
Charlottesville, VA 22908
804-924-2562
Clinical Cancer Center
Massey Cancer Center
Medical College of Virginia
1200 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23298
804-828-0450
Clinical Cancer Center
Washington:
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
1124 Columbia Street
Seattle, WA 98104
206-667-5000
206-667-4302
Wisconsin:
University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center
600 Highland Ave.
Madison, WI 53792
608/263-8610
|
|
|
|
|
