Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog

President Barack Obama recently issued an executive order calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to look into why many critical medications are in short supply, The New York Times is reporting.

The newspaper says that medicines used to treat life-threatening illnesses, including cancer and bacterial infections, are in short supply in the country and the executive order calls on the government agency as well as drug manufacturers to prevent shortages that have gradually worsened.

The Mesothelioma Center suggests that the order could, in turn, help mesothelioma patients who require these medications to fend off pain and suffering while dealing with a diagnosis of mesothelioma in New England. Like any other form of cancer, chemotherapy and other treatments are available to help fight the illness.

Boston mesothelioma lawyers as well as most other Americans hope that there are no critical shortages of medicines for people who are in dire need of them. This includes people who have been exposed to asbestos and now are saddled with the despair of having mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, but still affects thousands of people each year. It is caused by exposure to asbestos that may have happened decades ago while working in an old factory, mill, construction site or just from living or spending time in an old building. Asbestos was used for decades in the United States for insulation, to cover piping, in boiler rooms and in other commonly used products like brake pads and ceiling tiles.

For people who are suffering from this form of cancer -- which is fatal in 100 percent of cases, usually within 12 months after diagnosis -- a shortage of drugs is crippling news. The New York Times reports that the executive order broadens reporting of potential shortages of specific prescriptions, speeds up the review of applications to begin or alter drugs and provides more information to law enforcement authorities about price gouging or collusion.

Most consider the move political, with Obama showing the country he is committed to helping the public despite partisan disagreements in Congress. But regardless of the reason, our mesothelioma lawyers hope this goes a long way to helping mesothelioma patients.

The Mesothelioma Center believes that the order could bring down the price of Alimta, a common chemotherapy drug used for cancer patients and could alleviate the shortage of Cisplatin, a standard treatment used by oncologists on mesothelioma patients.

The New York Times also reports that the President hopes to stockpile some cancer-treating medicines to ensure such a shortage doesn't occur in the future. Most shortages are chemotherapy drugs, medications used for surgery patients and antibiotics for infections.

No one wants there to be a shortage of medicine when they need it, but let's also hope that officials don't rush untested drugs into the marketplace that could do more harm than good. After people are hit with the news that they have mesothelioma, they should have the best and most effective medicine available to fight and live comfortably. And they should seek legal help.

Continue reading "Obama's Executive Order Calls For Drug Shortage Research; Could Help Mesothelioma Patients in Massachusetts" »

Both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma in Boston and worldwide has been linked to asbestos, research shows.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, making up two-thirds of cases, according to the Mesothelioma Center. Pleura are the membranes that surround the lungs and chest.

While this form of cancer surrounds the lungs, it is not lung cancer. It is caused by exposure to asbestos and the microscopic flakes easily attach to the pleura, forming this deadly cancer.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common, but equally deadly. The peritoneum is the lining of the abdomen. Asbestos, once ingested, can coat the lining of the abdomen and not only cause excessive fluid build-up, but cause tumors that can inhibit major organs.

Boston mesothelioma lawyers are well aware of the effects of both of these forms of cancer. Many clients have met with us after having been exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with mesothelioma. Their family members endure the pain of knowing their time is limited. And it's typically the companies where these people worked so hard for decades that ignored the risks of asbestos that led to the exposure.

Recent studies out of Italy have linked both forms of mesothelioma to asbestos exposure. Italy has one of the highest rates of mesothelioma in the world, according to Surviving Mesothelioma's website.

Italian researchers used data from 1995 to 2002 to discover that mesothelioma was most common in the industries typically associated with asbestos, such as cement, shipyards, oil refineries and petrochemical industries.

Another study looked at asbestos exposure specifically in connection with peritoneal mesothelioma. All peritoneal mesothelioma cases from 2000 and 2007 were examined and there were 110 cases. In 2000 and 2001, there were 515 pleural mesothelioma cases.

The research found that both victims of pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma had similar levels of exposure to asbestos in the cases studied. Researchers found that 60 percent of victims were exposed in their jobs, while about 7 percent were exposed in their environment or through their family. In pleural mesothelioma victims, twice as many were exposed both at home and on the job.

The study shows that some of risk factors for asbestos exposure can be controlled. For instance, if you live in an old building that may be putting you at risk for asbestos exposure in Boston, you can either move or get your landlord to fix the problem. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has standards about asbestos that must be followed.

Sadly, if you worked for years in an industry that used asbestos regularly, either in construction or roadwork, working with cement, on oil rigs or working with boiler rooms, car parts such as brake pads or piping, there is little you can do now to avoid asbestos exposure from decades ago. However, the smart move would be to get checked for possible mesothelioma.

While there are no known cures, researchers are putting time and effort into studying this form of cancer and there are new, radical treatment options that may be helpful. As with any form of cancer, catching it early is always the best move. See a doctor who specializes in asbestos-related illnesses and get checked out today.

Continue reading "Pleural, Peritoneal Mesothelioma Linked to Asbestos in Massachusetts" »

In the United States, it is estimated that roughly 3,000 patients will be diagnosed with mesothelioma this year -- a representation of about 3 percent of all cancers.

Medical science continues its search for treatment options, but currently the cancer is classified as terminal as it has no known cure. Diagnosis is not usually given until roughly 30 to 40 years after initial exposure. This delayed diagnosis can make it difficult for a victim to link the cancer to the asbestos exposure that probably caused it decades earlier.

There are a number of stories regarding mesothelioma that provide a sense of inspiration and hope. But a Boston mesothelioma attorney should be contacted immediately if you or a loved one is diagnosed with this terrible disease as advances in treatment still only allow an estimated survival time of about one year. The news can be devastating to family member and with the help from an experienced attorney, you can fight to secure your family's financial well-being.

Depending on the type of mesothelioma that a doctor diagnoses, treatment may be an option. There are four different types of malignant mesothelioma.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart. This lining is referred to as the pericardium. This type of mesothelioma accounts for about 5 percent of all new cases. Symptoms pertaining to this diagnosis include heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, night sweats and difficulty breathing.

Testicular Mesothelioma: This is the rarest form of mesothelioma. It develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles. Symptoms of this form of mesothelioma include painful and painless testicular lumps.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This diagnosis makes up approximately 20 percent of mesothelioma cases. This cancer develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the peritoneal membrane. Symptoms of this form include weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, selling and bowel obstruction.

Pleural Mesothelioma: This form of the cancer develops in the lining of the lung, also known as the pleura. This is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma as it makes up about 75 percent of all new cases. Some of the symptoms can include shortness of breath, lumps under the skin, chest pain and persistent cough.

Continue reading "Mesothelioma Proves to be a Devastating Diagnosis Regardless of Form " »