Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog

Boston mesothelioma lawyers are constantly on the lookout for information regarding new treatments for those diagnosed with mesothelioma in New England.

As of yet, there is sadly no cure for this cancer, which usually kills within a year of diagnosis.

However, scientists appear to be pressing on in studying this deadly disease from every angle. That has resulted in the most recent findings, which indicate that there may be a genetic mutation that could contribute to a person’s susceptibility to mesothelioma, a cancer that kills roughly 3,000 people each year.

Now, a few things that are important to put into context. The first is that exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma, which is otherwise a rare cancer that attacks the lining of vital organs. The asbestos exposure often occurs many years prior to an actual diagnosis, so the disease often remains latent for decades.

Secondly, it’s important to note that even if it’s true that a gene could increase a person’s susceptibility to sickness, it does not release some of these companies who perpetuated the asbestos exposure from liability.

That said, what the National Institutes of Health have discovered is that even though a large number of people have been exposed to asbestos (mainly before the 1970s) not everyone who was exposed gets sick. It is believed that about 11 million people were exposed to asbestos in the U.S. in the years between 1940 and 1978.

With symptoms remaining latent for 25 to 50 years, mesothelioma cases are expected to peak around 2020.

What researchers found in focusing on families that had high rates of mesothelioma or other cancers also had an eye mutation. That mutation was inside a gene called BAP1. A number of other patients who had no family history of cancer also had this same eye mutation.

Those with this mutation were also more likely than those without it to develop other types of cancers, including ovarian, breast, pancreatic or renal. This is the gene that acts to suppress the activity of tumors. So it would make sense that if someone has a mutation of this gene, they would be at higher risk to develop cancer.

Of course, like all mutations, some are genetic, but then some are apparently random. Exposure to certain carcinogens (like asbestos) can either create a mutation or increase a person’s risk that the mutation will multiply, or in other words, turn cancerous.

So to break that down, just because a person has the mutation doesn’t mean they will necessarily develop cancer. And just because a person doesn’t have the mutation doesn’t mean they are completely immune to a mutation.

The idea with this study is that if people are aware that they have this genetic mutation, they should take extra caution to avoid exposure to known carcinogens, namely asbestos, cigarettes and UV light.
Continue reading

Boston mesothelioma attorneys have been closely following the developments regarding asbestos trust funds and government attempts to increase transparency and reduce fraud.

Those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Boston have probably heard of these trusts. If not, it’s time to educate yourself.

Back in the late 1970s, Congress recognized the extreme dangers associated with asbestos exposure, which lead to a myriad of lung diseases, including the rare and deadly mesothelioma cancer, which attacks the lining of internal organs. Legislators realized that even after the dangers of asbestos exposure became widely known, many companies continued to use this fibrous, organic compound in everything from insulation to car parts. Even though inhalation of the fibers was known to make people seriously ill, they continued to use it because it was cheaper. Greed, plain and simple.

Often, we think of Boston mesothelioma patients as construction workers or rail workers or those who have been in some other type of building-related industry.

However, our Boston mesothelioma lawyers know that because asbestos exposure – the main cause of mesothelioma – most often occurs through airborne exposure, almost anyone is vulnerable. This was proven once again in an asbestos exposure complaint filed by police officers in Washington D.C.

Individuals who are members of the Capitol Police union have filed a complaint against the department, saying administrators didn’t protect them from on-duty asbestos exposure.

Our Boston mesothelioma attorneys know that anytime we take on a case, there’s the real and tragic possibility that our client may not survive the proceedings.

Generally, that is the harsh reality of a Boston mesothelioma diagnosis – once it’s identified, patients only have a few months to maybe a year or so left. And the fact is, litigation takes time. That leaves devastated survivors to carry on with the case and our Boston mesothelioma attorneys are dedicated to battling their case every step of the way.

What we find morally reprehensible, however, are the tactics often used by defendants in these cases – the companies who sought to cover up their continued use of asbestos products, even after they became aware of the immense danger. They covered it up because asbestos was cheaper and because they didn’t want to be sued.

Our Boston mesothelioma attorneys are reticent to raise the hopes of individuals suffering from this devastatingly swift diseaseas it has been notoriously unresponsive to treatment.

On the other hand, when there is potentially encouraging news for Boston mesothelioma patients, we want them to be aware of it. And it’s in that spirit that we wanted to share with you the latest news out of Australia: The possibility of increased survival rates through a certain kind of radiation treatment.

Here’s what we’ve been able to cull from the various news reports regarding this latest treatment:

Doctors and researchers in Melbourne conducted a small study, involving some 45 patients between the ages of 45 and 74.

Those patients were given a high dose of radiation treatment, called hemithoracic radiation. This involves “intensity modulated radiotherapy,” (IMRT) and something known as 3D conformal radiation. These are highly technical procedures, but the first works by allowing doctors to deliver a high radiation dose to a certain target – say, a tumor in the lungs – without damaging the tissue around it. The 3D conformal radiation is similar, but it works by allowing the radiation to match the shape of the tumor and target the cancerous cells. That means that higher doses of radiation can be delivered specifically to the tumor, reducing the risk of harm to the good tissue.

The results weren’t groundbreaking, but they were encouraging.

Of those 45 patients, about 80 percent were already in the advanced stages of mesothelioma. Two had previously had either surgery or chemotherapy.

The study found that the median survival rate was 12.4 months from the time treatment began. That may not sound like much at all, but that’s compared to patients who survived 7.9 months using other, more conventional forms of treatment.

This is significant because it was previously believed that mesothelioma, unlike other forms of cancer, was totally unresponsive to radiation treatments unless the levels were so high as to be fatally toxic.

Researchers here though have said there were no fatal or life-threatening side effects from the treatment itself.

Mesothelioma has historically been extremely difficult to diagnose and to treat. Usually, by the time someone is given a diagnosis, they have less than a year to live. In almost all cases, mesothelioma is caused by swallowing or inhaling dust from asbestos. That dust becomes embedded in the lining of the lungs, stomach and other vital organs, though problems aren’t usually detected until many years or decades after the initial exposure.

The research should not end here – this should only be considered the beginning. This is a relatively small study, compared to the estimated 3,000 Americans who are diagnosed with the disease every year. But it’s one step in the right direction.

Of course, it doesn’t release those responsible for asbestos exposure from liability, so it’s important if you are diagnosed to contact an experienced Boston mesothelioma attorney.
Continue reading