Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma. Pleural (pleura is the thin lining or coverings of lungs) mesothelioma generally occurs to individuals exposed to high level of asbestos. Exposure to high level of asbestos for 10 or more years is generally required for pleural mesothelioma to develop. Pleural mesothelioma may occur, like other forms of mesothelioma, even decades (sometimes as late as 30 years after last exposure to asbestos) after last exposure to asbestos.

Pleural mesothelioma may start as simple pleural disease such as calcification of pleura or thickening of pleural lining and it is not uncommon to diagnose them as pleural calcification, pleural thickening or pleural plaques. As these pleural diseases are not fatal disease, they may be ignored and later on these pleural diseases may lead to development of pleural mesothelioma. Pleural diseases may not be fatal but they impair normal functioning of lungs and should be addressed appropriately. If a patient with pleural disease gives a history of asbestos exposure even only for a brief period the diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma should be considered.

Pleural disease such as pleural plaques can be starting point of pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive form of cancer that occurs only due to exposure to asbestos and no other causative factor has been proven. Although pleura are the origin of pleural mesothelioma, it can spread to chest wall and other areas such as abdomen very fast.

Mesothelioma generally cause death within a year of diagnosis, but early detection by recognizing asbestos exposure can lead to early diagnosis and better survival. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can lead to longer survival than untreated and late diagnosis patients of mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure linked to other cancers besides lung, mesothelioma

Although most commonly associated with an increased risk of lung cancer or mesothelioma, evidence has linked asbestos exposure several other forms of cancer, including stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer, pharyngeal cancer and colorectal cancer.

A 2006 study by the Institute of Medicine found that exposure to asbestos could cause individuals to develop cancer of the larynx, the structure that houses the vocal chords. The American Cancer Society estimates that about 9,500 new cases of laryngeal cancer and about 3,700 deaths attributable to the disease occur each year, including some involving exposure to asbestos.

Researchers have also uncovered evidence linking asbestos and cancer affecting other parts of the body. A 2005 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology (PDF) found that patients who were exposed to asbestos were more likely to develop colorectal cancer than those who had not been exposed. Other studies published by the National Academies Press have uncovered evidence linking asbestos exposure to stomach cancer, esophageal cancer and pharyngeal cancer.

While lung cancer and mesothelioma have had a devastating effect on thousands of asbestos exposure victims, the research of the Institute of Medicine and other groups plays an important role in bringing attention to the plight of those affected by other cancers linked to exposure to asbestos.

British asbestos victims face hurdles to receiving compensation

According to a report published by BBC News, hundreds—and possibly thousands—of British mesothelioma victims are being denied compensation for their injuries because they are unable to identify their former employers’ insurance carrier at the time they were exposed to asbestos.

Because of the long latency period after exposure, asbestos workers may take up to 50 years before they show the first signs of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease. As a result, changes of address or executives at a former employer, lost records and other factors can make it difficult to determine who is responsible for settling a victim’s asbestos claim. While the British government can provide some compensation, it is much less than what would be paid by corporate insurers.

Statistics published in Britain by the Employers Code of Practice (PDF) show that only 45% of asbestos inquiries filed during 2009 were successful at gaining compensation for asbestos victims. Although the British government announced new plans to give victims greater access to rightful compensation for their injuries—including forcing employers to retain insurance records for 60 years and setting up a fund of last resort to meet untraceable insurance claims—the number of successful claims has fallen by 4% since 1999.

While the manners in which British and American law handle mesothelioma and asbestos claims differ in significant ways, the problem of determining liability in these cases is one that is shared by victims on both sides of the Atlantic. Just as the American government needs to join other industrial nations in banning asbestos, the British government should take the necessary steps to ensure that its citizens receive fair compensation if they have been injured by exposure to asbestos.

Congress passes bill recognizing National Mesothelioma Awareness Day

In November 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution (H. Res. 771 [PDF]) declaring September 26th as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The House resolution is the counterpart to the Senate’s National Mesothelioma Awareness Day resolution (S. Res. 288 [PDF]), which was passed in 2009.

The House resolution calls on the President to “issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States, Federal departments and agencies, States, localities, organizations, and media to annually observe a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Introduced into the House by Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the newly-passed resolution was inspired by the story of Congressman Bruce Vento, a friend of Rep. McCollum’s. Rep. Vento died of mesothelioma in 2009 only nine months after he was diagnosed with the disease.

In announcing the bill’s passage, Rep. McCollum recalled the story of her friend and hoped that the resolution would help to spread awareness of the terrible costs of mesothelioma and asbestos:“In 2000, my friend and predecessor Congressman Bruce Vento was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Despite decades of warnings about the dangers of asbestos, too many Americans are still unaware of the devastating nature of this disease.”The passage of the House and Senate resolutions represents an important step in highlighting the debilitating effect that these diseases have had on American workers and their families. Hissey Kientz, LLP would like to join in commending Rep. McCollum and the countless others who have worked to spread awareness of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseasesIntroduced into the House by Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the newly-passed resolution was inspired by the story of Congressman Bruce Vento, a friend of Rep. McCollum’s. Rep. Vento died of mesothelioma in 2009 only nine months after he was diagnosed with the disease.

In announcing the bill’s passage, Rep. McCollum recalled the story of her friend and hoped that the resolution would help to spread awareness of the terrible costs of mesothelioma and asbestos:

In 2000, my friend and predecessor Congressman Bruce Vento was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Despite decades of warnings about the dangers of asbestos, too many Americans are still unaware of the devastating nature of this disease.

The passage of the House and Senate resolutions represents an important step in highlighting the debilitating effect that these diseases have had on American workers and their families. Hissey Kientz, LLP would like to join in commending Rep. McCollum and the countless others who have worked to spread awareness of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseases.

Free Mesothelioma Information Packet

The law firm of Hissey Kientz, LLP is pleased to offer a free mesothelioma information packet to prospective clients and other individuals seeking information about the hazards of asbestos exposure.

The free packet contains information about the latest treatments for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, resources for asbestos victims and their loved ones, information on how to obtain legal assistance from an attorney and instructions on how to receive free asbestos testing to determine if you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos.

Hissey Kientz, LLP is distributing this packet at no cost in order to raise awareness about the hazards of asbestos exposure and the harmful effects it may have on the lives of those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos cancers.

To receive your free mesothelioma information packet, please visit Mesothelioma Lawyers Hotline. After providing us with a small amount of information, a free packet will be shipped directly to your home.

Knicks basketball game postponed over 'asbestos scare'

Officials at Madison Square Garden were forced to postpone a scheduled matchup between the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic over concerns that asbestos materials had been accidentally released into the arena. The Garden remained closed for several days to allow health inspectors to test for possible asbestos contamination before being reopened later that week.

According to a report in the New York Times, debris from the building fell into the arena during overnight cleaning of “asbestos-related materials.” After air monitors revealed elevated levels or airborne fibers, the building was temporarily closed to allow health inspectors to determine whether the debris contained asbestos particles.

Subsequent inspections by New York’s Department of Environmental Protection and independent air monitors revealed that no asbestos fibers had been released into the building. After they were given clearance by environmental experts, Garden officials announced that the arena would re-open, allowing all other events in the building to proceed as scheduled.

While it is fortunate that Madison Square Garden’s asbestos scare did not create a health hazard in the building, the incident highlights the ongoing health risk posed by the presence of asbestos-containing materials in some older structures. Like many buildings constructed during the 1960s, Madison Square Garden was built with asbestos-containing insulation that was designed to act as a fire-retardant.

Most builders discontinued the use of these materials after the link between asbestos and cancers such as mesothelioma was widely publicized in the 1970s. However, asbestos materials can still be found in already existing structures, putting construction workers, school teachers and other individuals who work in older buildings at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.

Mesothelioma deaths among women on the rise, studies find

Health officials in the United Kingdom have found that the number of mesothelioma deaths among women in that country has risen sharply in recent years. According to statistics from Cancer Research UK, deaths from mesothelioma among women have risen by 57% in recent years, giving mesothelioma the most sharply increasing death rate of any cancer among women.

Experts in the UK are unsure of why deaths caused by mesothelioma have risen so sharply among women. In an interview with the Daily Mirror, surgeon John Edwards states:

We don’t know why the incidence in women is rising. We need further research to determine the risk of low level exposure to asbestos.... The fact that the ratio has changed suggests that the pattern of exposure has changed.

Unlike most mesothelioma cases among men—who are often exposed to asbestos in the workplace—Edwards says that many of these female mesothelioma victims did not work in industries usually associated with asbestos exposure, such as construction or industrial jobs.

Some experts believe that the rise in mesothelioma cases among British women may be due to the increased use of asbestos tiles and ceiling panels in schools built during the 1960s and 1970s. Edwards states that some clinicians believe that many of these mesothelioma cases involving women were the result of low level exposure to asbestos, such as that which would occur from exposure to the asbestos-containing materials used to build older schools.

Although the number of female mesothelioma victims is lower than it is among males, these new statistics illustrate the dangers asbestos poses to women—even those who have never worked in the asbestos industry. In addition to teachers who may be victims of direct asbestos exposure, many women have suffered secondhand asbestos exposure from asbestos fibers that were carried home on the skin or clothing of husbands or fathers who worked in asbestos-related jobs.

Study may pave the way for new asbestos cancer treatments

An Italian study recently published in the journal Particle and Fibre Technology (PDF) has uncovered new evidence as to how asbestos exposure leads to the formation of mesothelioma tumors and other asbestos cancers. Researchers used two state-of-the-art imaging techniques—synchrotron soft X-ray imaging and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)—to examine the elemental structure of the “asbestos bodies” that form when asbestos fibers are ingested or inhaled.

Some experts believe that these asbestos bodies are formed by an individual’s body as a protective shell around asbestos fibers to shield vulnerable tissues from their toxic effect. Researchers found that the cells that were nearby these asbestos fibers contained high concentrations of iron and magnesium.

The authors of the study theorized that the iron-rich proteins found in high concentrations around asbestos fibers could increase damage to DNA and lead to the growth of cancerous cells. The presence of magnesium, they believe, could trigger the formation of the protective shell that forms around asbestos fibers.

While this study is the first of its kind to examine asbestos bodies with such powerful instruments, it may very well herald an important breakthrough in the study of mesothelioma and asbestos cancers. The scientists who authored the study are hopeful that their finding on how the body reacts to asbestos will pave the way for new and better treatments for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Study shows new mesothelioma vaccine is safe, effective

Scientists in The Netherlands have developed a new mesothelioma vaccine that research has shown is safe for use in humans. The new vaccine may eventually prove to be a vital tool in extending the lifespan of patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma—and possibly even curing the disease.

According to a February 2010 study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine by the American Thoracic Society, the new vaccine relies on immunotherapy techniques, which utilize a patient’s immune system to fight cancer cells. Scientists in the study cultured immune cells from 10 patients who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma and exposed them to chemicals produced by their own tumor. The treated immune cells were then injected back into the patients’ bodies in a three-dose regimen.

Researchers found that seven of the 10 patients showed signs of cytotoxicity or tumor regression—clear evidence of the vaccines potential for treating mesothelioma symptoms. Just as important, none of the patients showed signs of autoimmune disease or other serious side effects, a sign that the vaccine may be safe for wider use among mesothelioma patients.

Dr. Joachim Aerts—the lead author of the study—wrote that researchers are optimistic about the potential of the vaccine for extending the lives mesothelioma patients and for the broader treatment potential of the new therapy:

We hope that by further development of our method it will be possible to increase survival in patients with mesothelioma and eventually vaccinate persons who have been in contact with asbestos to prevent them from getting asbestos related diseases.

The average patient survives for only 12 months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Even with chemotherapy, patients only survive for an average of three additional months. Although this new vaccine still has a long way to go before achieving its full treatment potential, scientific confirmation of its safety and effectiveness at treating mesothelioma is an important step in the race for a cure to this deadly disease.

Taconite Mining: Is There Still Risk of Exposure to Asbestos?

Minnesota is well known for their iron ore, especially in the Northeastern Iron Range region of the state.  The iron industry had taken a drastic downturn in the last two years but is now back in full demand, one of the quickest turnarounds in such a market.

Iron workers who had been laid off for the last couple of years are now working full time, with ample opportunity to work even more.  The iron produced from the mines in Minnesota is competitively priced, and the demand for steel is high, so the industry is expected to stay robust for a while into the future.

In all the news about how wonderful this economic boom is, however, there is no mention of the fact that many iron workers have fallen ill to a rare disease called mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lining of the lung, heart or abdomen that is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos.

The death rate due to mesothelioma is much higher among miners and residents in the northeastern region of Minnesota, which prompted several research studies in the past.  The first was conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health, but the scope and funds were limited so conclusive results were never really discovered.  More workers were dying of mesothelioma, so a further, more extensive study began led by the University of Minnesota Cancer Center and the Mayo Clinic to research the causes of the increased numbers of asbestos related diseases among the taconite miner population.  This $4.9 million study began in 2007, and researchers hope to release results from that by the end of this year.

In the meantime, it seems if they are going to begin mining again at full capacity, protective measures should be taken by employers and workers, as well as family members.  A common way second-hand exposure occurs to family members is when workers carry home asbestos fibers on their clothes, shoes or in their hair.

Workers at the mines should have a safe way to launder clothes and shower before leaving the job site.  They should also be provided with information about the risks of exposure to asbestos and given protective gear and respirators to prevent any inhalation or ingestion of microscopic toxic fibers.

To have jobs provided in a tough economy is always something to be celebrated, but if those jobs are going to steal the lives of workers decades down the road due to lack of training or protection when the statistics overwhelmingly show there is a high risk, safety measures should be taken.    In light of the already heightened number of deaths due to mesothelioma among taconite workers, the employer should act responsibly and protect workers even if the exact cause has not been clearly established.

We have seen our clients suffer through the symptoms of mesothelioma, the side effects of treatment, and losing a loved one- and it is heartbreaking.    Because this disease is so avoidable, we implore all at risk to do whatever necessary to stay safe and protected.  For more information about mesothelioma among taconite workers, read our article:  Taconite Mining and Higher Rates of Mesothelioma in Northeastern Minnesota

Clinical Trail Investigates Use of Palliative Care with Mesothelioma Patients

Janet L. Abrahm, M.D.  is co-investigator with David Sugerbaker on a study exploring the impact of bi-weekly palliative care assessment with patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma.    This investigation is part of a larger study led by Dr. Alice Kornblith,  a senior research assistant at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  The study’s aim is to enroll 400 mesothelioma patients, compile information and identify the specific factors that make the biggest improvement in the quality of life over a period of 9 months.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive and often painful cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.  Primary cause of mesothelioma is prior exposure to asbestos.  Tumors then form in the pleura, the thin sac lining the lung, causing painful symptoms which heavily decrease a patient’s quality of life.  Not only do the tumors cause pain but so do the side effects of standard treatments for mesothelioma (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.)

As there is no cure for mesothelioma, treatment regimens focus on extending survival times and enhancing quality of life.  Palliative care focuses on managing symptoms of the disease as well as from treatments in order to minimize pain.    Efforts are coordinated with all members of the treatment team to come up with the best approach to relieve suffering, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea, and difficulty sleeping.

Palliative care is provided by a team that may include alternative medicine practitioners (such as acupuncturists), massage therapists, chaplains or other faith leaders, pharmacists, nutritionists, hospice providers, and palliative nurse specialists.   The hospital or your doctor should be able to tell you what is available in your area and what is best recommended for your particular situation.

The international study by Kornblith will be having patients fill out questionnaires that evaluate factors such as levels of pain, descriptions of ongoing symptoms, level of physical functioning, and psycho-social and emotional concerns.  The hope is that this information will help guide the primary health care team to know which treatment methods are the most effective at improving quality of life for patients who are suffering from mesothelioma.

To find out more about the study or if you are eligible to participate, contact Alice Kornblith at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Dana 1210, Boston, MA 02215 617-632-3000.

Study Finds 20%-25% of Mesothelioma Cases Go Undiagnosed

An international group of researchers has just released the results of a 15-year study of global mesothelioma rates.  The findings suggest that this rare form of cancer (caused specifically by exposure to asbestos) strikes many more people than anyone had previously anticipated.  In fact, research has shown that between 1 in 4 and 1 in 5 cases go unreported.

The study was sponsored by The National Institute of Health, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The results were released in an article written in 2010 that was accepted for publication in Environmental Health Perspectives and posted in its entirety online in January of 2011.  Researchers Eun-Kee Park et al. surveyed 89 countries worldwide, collecting data from a fifteen year period between 1994 and 2008.

World Health Organization data from the 56 countries in which mesothelioma rates were recorded showed that the disease killed 174,300 people.  Researchers then dug deeper for corroborating data.  Because mesothelioma has an incubation period of up to forty years, they went back prior to 1970 and found the total amount of asbestos use in those 56 countries during that time frame.  Official data, taking into account for political destabilization and storage of mass quantities of the carcinogen, shows that over 65 million tons of asbestos were used up until 1970.

Comparing those two numbers the researchers found a mathematical equation that defined the linear relation of asbestos use to cases of mesothelioma.  They used that formula to calculate disease rates in the 33 countries in which no mesothelioma data exists.  The result was shocking.  It was estimated that 38,900 previously unknown cases of mesothelioma (roughly ¼ of the reported cases) went undocumented.  The total sample size of this study accounts for 82% of the world’s population.

Heavily industrialized nations lead the pack for use of asbestos and mesothelioma deaths.  During the time frame in question, the five countries that consumed more asbestos than any other were (in order of tonnage) the United States, UK, Italy, Germany, and France.  Those five countries suffered almost 112,000 cases of mesothelioma in total—over 64% of the world’s documented cases.

Researchers warn that after 1970, the date when they stopped collecting data, asbestos use almost doubled to 124 million tons.  That means that countries which used asbestos after 1970 or are still actively using it are expected to see their mesothelioma rates climb even higher as the latency period for new cases reaches its end period.