Mesothelioma
Stages
Patients
in Stage I of the Disease have a significantly better prognosis than those
with more advanced stage. However, due to the relative rarity of
this disease, exact survival information based upon stage is limited.
A proposed staging system based upon thoracic surgery principals and
clinical data is shown below.
STAGE
I :(LOCALIZED) Disease is confined within the capsule of the
parietal pleura(ipsilateral pleura, lung, pericardium, and the diaphragm.
STAGE
II:(ADVANCED) All of Stage I with the addition of intrathoracic(N1
or N2)lymph nodes.
STAGE
III:(ADVANCED) Local extension of the disease into the following:
chest wall or mediastinum, heart or through the diaphragm, peritoneum: (
with or without extrathoracic or contralateral (N3)lymph node involvement.
STAGE
IV: (ADVANCED )Distant metastatic disease process.
Localized
Malignant Mesothelioma--see Stage I
Advanced
Malignant Mesothelioma--see Stages II, II,& IV
Mesothelioma-
Treatment Options:
Standard
treatment for all but localized mesothelioma is generally NOT
curative. Although some patients will experience long-term
with aggressive treatment approaches, it remains unclear if overall
survival can be significantly altered by the different treatment
methods or by combinations of methods. Extrapleural pneumonectomy
in selected patient with very early stage disease may improve
recurrence-free survival, but its impact on overall survival is
unknown. Pleurectomy and Decortication can provide
palliative relief from symptomatic effusions, discomfort caused
by tumor burden and pain caused by invasive tumors. The
use of radiation therapy in pleural mesothelioma has been shown
to alleviate pain in the majority of patients treated. Unfortunately,
the duration of symptom control is short-lived. Single
agent and combimed chemotherapy have reported higher response
rates in STAGE II patients, however the toxicity reported is also
higher and there is no evidence that combination treatments result
in longer survival or longer control of the symptoms.
How
Did I get Mesothelioma & Silica ?
Anyone
who has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, has probably already
been told that they must have been to asbestos. Many products
in years past had extremely high concentrations of asbestos including
insulation( pipe, boiler,block & Cement), textiles, fireproofing,
spackling, patching compounds, gaskets, packings, asbestos-cement
pipe, sheet material, ceiling tiles, wallboard, siding, roofing
brakes and clutches.
Asbestos
diseases follow a "dose-response" relationship curve,
meaning the more asbestos fibers one inhales(doses) AND the higher
number of exposures, then the higher the risk of an asbestos related
disease. NOTE: neither, either or both MAY lead to one becomes
sick from that exposure depends in part as to ones susceptibility
to asbestos.The shortest latency period (from the date of first
exposure) for asbestosis is roughly 5-10 years, although often
it takes 30-40 years or more from the first exposure before the
disease is diagnosed. There is no maximum latency period, since
asbestos fibers remain in the lungs for life.
Crystalline
silica may be of several distinct types.Quartz, a form of silica
and the most common mineral on earth, is contained in many types
of rocks and is the major component of sand. Concrete
and masonry products contain silica and rock and rock containing
silica.When workers inhale crystalline silica (dust), the lung
tissue reacts by developing fibrotic nodules and scarring around
the trapped silica particles
Mesothelioma
& Silicosis Lawsuit Information and Legal Help:
If you or a loved
one has recently been diagnosed with Mesothelioma along with silicosis,
call our office for a Free Confidential Consultation concerning
the very important legal and medical issues. Both disease processes
must be addressed and legal issues of both cases analyzed to make
sure that the strongest case is presented to a judge and/or a
jury.
Due
to the SERIOUS NATURE of these diseases it is extremely important
to move very quickly to investigate the work history, obtain names
of co-workers, try and identify the types and brands of asbestos
products in ones past, and document the different locations that
the exposed worker came into contact with asbestos and silica
dust. While we understand it very difficult to remember each
and every place one worked or the types or brands of asbestos
or silica products one is exposed to, we have found that
once a worker goes through notebooks of asbestos and silica documents,
catalogs and advertisements from the 1940's through the 1970's,
the proper identification of the products is greatly improved.
PROPER
BACKGROUND HISTORY AND INVESTIGATION TAKES TIME, therefore,
the sooner one begins the better. It is especially the case when
we are dealing with a client whose life has been turned completely
upside down due to these diseases, the medical treatments and
the knowledge of the finality of the disease.
***
Immediately upon being hired by an injured worker or their family,
an complete interview, work history, product ID, and medical background
is done. Then with most Mesothelioma patients, suit
MUST BE FILED IMMEDIATELY in order to obtain sworn evidence of
the exposure, work history and product ID. the clients condition,
physical pains, anguish, and evidence are documented in a sworn
deposition. Often times these depositions take place at the
clients house, hospital or some another convenient and comfortable
location for the client. In other cases, due to the advanced stage
of this disease, a deposition of the injured worker may be impossible,
and other ways of obtaining the necessary information and proof
has to be pursued. Silicosis on the other
hand does not have as a rapid onset as mesothelioma, and
the lawyer has additional time to depose the client and obtain
proper product identification (PID). When the client however has
bothe silicosis and mesothelioma, then the time table must be
moved up and all efforts made to preserve his or her testimony.
If
you have any questions, please call for a Free Confidential Consultation
- Toll Free 1-800-883-9858