The incidence of malignant mesothelioma, a neoplastic process affecting the pleura, and to a lesser extent the peritoneum, is increasing. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers years before the development of the malignancy. Since asbestos exposure generally occurs on the job site, obtaining a thorough occupational history is critical. The elapsed time between first exposure to asbestos and the development of an asbestos-induced disease is called latency. The minimum latency for mesothelioma is 10 years; however, a latency of 30 to 40 years is more usual (Finnish Institute. Scan J Work Environ Health 1997; 23:311). Latency and longevity are key factors in the mesothelioma epidemic of 2000.

Current surgical management of malignant pleural mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and very aggressive malignancy with an increasing incidence. Single-modality therapy has failed to improve median survival. Current surgical therapies include palliative and cytoreductive procedures. The rarity of the disease, the lack of randomized surgical studies, and the lack of a universally accepted and validated staging system make it difficult to reach consensus and establish stage-specific protocols. However, with strict criteria, subsets of patients can be identified who can benefit from aggressive cytoreductive surgical approaches, such as extrapleural pneumonectomy, and adjuvant chemoradiation protocols. Our experience with this type of protocol in carefully selected patients has resulted in increased median survival. The lack of cure in any of the published protocols demonstrates the need for new therapies and approaches for this disease.

Patients with a cancer of the lining of the lung, known as malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), lived longer than previously reported(1), when treated with Eli Lilly and Company's Alimta(®) (pemetrexed) in combination with cisplatin, according to updated data presented at the 11th annual Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC).

Mature data presented at WCLC represent an update from trial results from the largest randomized, Phase III mesothelioma trial ever reported involving 448 patients published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) in July 2003(2). This data showed median survival of patients treated with Alimta plus cisplatin was almost thirteen (12.8) months after diagnosis and 42 percent (3.8 months) longer than patients who received cisplatin alone (p = 0.003).

There are many variations when it comes to the type of slate available on your pool table. The best way to distinguish between these variations is to refer to the BCA Rule Book’s requirement for tournament play. The BCA specifically states that the slate on a tournament table should be “1 thick, 3 piece slate, with a wooden frame attached directly to the slate”. With this being such an important part of your table, you should be very wary of manufacturers who are willing to make sacrifices. Good source for pool tables in Michigan.

The investment industry is rife with sleazeballs. If you've been taken advantage of by financial advisors or salesmen, contact a lawyer. There are securities attorneys that represent investors.

Asbestos Company Litigation

It has been clearly established that many of the corporations which manufactured asbestos insulation in the 1940's, 50's, 60's and early 70's knew it was hazardous but kept this information secret, choosing profits over safety.

Mesothelioma patients can recover compensation from companies who manufactured various asbestos-containing products. The legal basis of these suits is the asbestos companies' failure to warn consumers and workers about the hazards of asbestos. It has been proven that some of these companies have known about the hazards of asbestos as far back as the 1920's. This has been established through internal company documents, through testimony of company employees, and through medical literature which they had access to.

Over the following 40+ years the industry made billions of dollars manufacturing asbestos insulation for almost every building, industrial site, home, school, ship, car, plane, pipe, etc. in America.

Contrary to popular belief, it is still legal to sell products that contain asbestos.

Many construction workers and industrial tradesmen prior to the mid-1970's were exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos, which they inhaled, as asbestos insulation was being cut, sawed, mixed or sprayed. These workers were never warned about the dangers of asbestos and considered it harmless. They were never given masks or ventilation, nor were dust counts ever taken.

Action Plan for Patients

About Mesotheloma

Asbestos Exposure in the Military information can be found here. During and in the years following World War II, the use of asbestos on U.S. ships increased dramatically as asbestos manufacturers help write specifications for their products. Hundreds of thousands of Navy personnel and civilian shipyard workers were exposed to asbestos products in the course of their military service or in their work as “yard birds”, and would, decades later, suffer malignant diseases as a result.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma: There are three forms of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lung; peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity; pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining around the heart.

Burn survivors should check out the Burn Recovery Center, which was created to help people learn about the major milestones on the road to recovery and providing assistance with resources that will speed the recovery along.

Cattleyard Equipment such as the Easy Clean Bunk Cleaner is one reason agriculture is so much more productive today than in times past. Anybody who feeds cattle faces the problem of cleaning out the bunks. They get clogged with old feed or with snow or water. To keep your stock healthy you need to clean the bunks. Cleaning the bunks is one of the most time consuming and unpleasant parts of operating a yard.

This bunk cleaner saves time and manpower.

Who knows better how to design a firetruck than a firefighter? That’s why Unruh Fire made a conscious decision to ensure that a firefighter is involved with the building of every truck and brush rig.

The new and improved Mesothelioma Aid is up and running. An excellent reference for anyone interested in finding out about this form of cancer.

Exciting news in the mesothelioma world. There is a blood test for mesothelioma that has been developed.

Warren Zevon has malignant mesothelioma. He was diagnosed almost two years ago, so he's really beat the odds by surviving this long. Sad that he is dying fairly young. He doesn't really know how he got mesothelioma, although it is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Steve McQueen, the actor, died of mesothelioma back in 1980.

Interesting device for managing lawn clippings. Good for commercial landscapers.

Hot, hot, hot weather throughout the summer. One type of summer snack is granita. It's flavored frozen ice, but not too cold. The ice should melt in your mouth. Ideal granita is a slush.

Apparently some people put milk in their bowls of ice cream. It makes the ice cream feel colder in the mouth due to increased heat transfer.

Billiards table occupy two niches in the ecology of the home: they're both furniture and games. The high quality tables can be furniture, anyway. The cheap vinyl tables don't work as furniture. You don't really want them around when you're house is being photographed for Architectural Digest.

Hard wood billiard tables with quality construction such as those made by Proline Billiards can be good enough pieces of furniture to proudly stand in any room. These tables are more expensive than the vinyl ones, but worth the investment.

Peritoneal mesothelioma 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.

More reason to ban asbestos products!

When investors get in squabbles with their brokers because the brokers do something wrong, they almost always go through a process called arbitration. The brokerage aggreement that people sign when they open an account stipulates that any suits must go through an arbitration forum.

If they've lost a lot of money, investors should hire a lawyer to guide them through the securities arbitration process. Christopher Bebel is a former SEC official turned securities lawyer who represents investors in arbitration. This can be a good resource for people in lawsuits against brokers.

I found a good site on asbestos cancer treatment. I'll tell you, mesothelioma is a nasty disease.