Mesothelioma Lawyers San Diego
Mesothelioma Lawyers San Diego
understand how to choose a lawyer for this disease, you should first understand the basics of the disease. In the simplest sense, mesothelioma is a cancer of the protective layers of the body cavities, known as the mesothelium.
These tissues have different names depending on the organs they protect. You have probably heard of the peritoneum–this is the covering around the stomach and intestines. Other organs and cavities have their own membranes as well.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of these tissues. They often do not just affect the tissues–they affect the organs they surround and can spread elsewhere. This cancer is most often contracted by exposure to asbestos, a highly dangerous mineral often found in floors, ceilings, and some products.
Employers and landlords are supposed to protect you from asbestos, but often this does not happen. If you have mesothelioma you have probably been exposed to asbestos. If so, you should contact mesotheloma attorneys in your area to see if you have a case against the party responsible for your exposure.
You can check with other doctors who deal specifically deal with mesothelioma if your doctor is more of a general oncologist. These doctors may have worked more closely with mesothelioma lawyers in your area of southern California. You can also call local hospitals, various cancer support groups–area law schools are also excellent for references. Also check your union or professional group if you were exposed on the job.
Mesothelioma-Dare to Forgive Others
Mesothelioma-Dare to Forgive Others
Authors: Andrie Wongso
Beginning in August 2011 there is interesting news from Iran. A beautiful woman who poured the acid damage to her face and her eyes blind to forgive the offender.The woman is Ameneh Bahrami, Iranian-born in 1978, which doused Majid Movahedi in 2004 because of rejected courtship. Movahedi was arrested while waiting for qisas punishment, ie punishment principled retaliation in kind, a kind of punishment "lives life to pay". In the case Bahrami, he may ask the court to blind the eyes of actors as they experienced.The court ruled the law qisas conducted on July 31, 2011 and broadcast live by television. A few seconds before the acid is splashed in the eye Movahedi, a doctor who would pour liquid Bahrami was asked, "What would you do now?"Movahedi was crying uncontrollably as she knelt. Fear of blindness and eye shadow incomparable pain that made her beg for forgiveness. Everyone was tense watch. A signal from the process Bahrami qisas punishment would be carried out. However, Bahrami was saying the words beyond expectations. "I forgive him, I forgive him," said Bahrami. Then the eyes of the perpetrator had survived.What a noble attitude Bahrami, he courageously forgiving those who have blinded him throughout his life. "The best thing is to forgive when we are in a position of power," Bahrami said explaining his decision. But there Bahrami mother saying that we ought to refer to. He said, "Forgiveness is going to calm Bahrami and our family."Friends of the Extraordinary,As I discussed in a live talk show on network Radio Sonora on Monday morning, to review the story "Do not Save the Potato Rot ', forgiveness is not easy. But forgiveness can calm us. Conversely, revenge is not necessarily eliminate hatred. Scientifically any excuse or forgive the other person has a positive value. The results showed that those who harbored grudges and nurture hatred, his life was not calm. Medically they have a high pulse (unhealthy), high blood pressure, and muscles tighten. If allowed to continue they could be having a heart attack. IThe study showed that "forgive others" not only good for mental health, but also good for our physical health. Therefore, before Idul Fitri, which will fall a few days away, let's open the door of forgiveness. It would not hurt to forgive others, we even have the benefit of no measure.
Authors: Andrie Wongso
Beginning in August 2011 there is interesting news from Iran. A beautiful woman who poured the acid damage to her face and her eyes blind to forgive the offender.The woman is Ameneh Bahrami, Iranian-born in 1978, which doused Majid Movahedi in 2004 because of rejected courtship. Movahedi was arrested while waiting for qisas punishment, ie punishment principled retaliation in kind, a kind of punishment "lives life to pay". In the case Bahrami, he may ask the court to blind the eyes of actors as they experienced.The court ruled the law qisas conducted on July 31, 2011 and broadcast live by television. A few seconds before the acid is splashed in the eye Movahedi, a doctor who would pour liquid Bahrami was asked, "What would you do now?"Movahedi was crying uncontrollably as she knelt. Fear of blindness and eye shadow incomparable pain that made her beg for forgiveness. Everyone was tense watch. A signal from the process Bahrami qisas punishment would be carried out. However, Bahrami was saying the words beyond expectations. "I forgive him, I forgive him," said Bahrami. Then the eyes of the perpetrator had survived.What a noble attitude Bahrami, he courageously forgiving those who have blinded him throughout his life. "The best thing is to forgive when we are in a position of power," Bahrami said explaining his decision. But there Bahrami mother saying that we ought to refer to. He said, "Forgiveness is going to calm Bahrami and our family."Friends of the Extraordinary,As I discussed in a live talk show on network Radio Sonora on Monday morning, to review the story "Do not Save the Potato Rot ', forgiveness is not easy. But forgiveness can calm us. Conversely, revenge is not necessarily eliminate hatred. Scientifically any excuse or forgive the other person has a positive value. The results showed that those who harbored grudges and nurture hatred, his life was not calm. Medically they have a high pulse (unhealthy), high blood pressure, and muscles tighten. If allowed to continue they could be having a heart attack. IThe study showed that "forgive others" not only good for mental health, but also good for our physical health. Therefore, before Idul Fitri, which will fall a few days away, let's open the door of forgiveness. It would not hurt to forgive others, we even have the benefit of no measure.
Mesothelioma Treatment
If there’s one thing we know about mesothelioma treatment, it’s this: we’re still being challenged to arrive at efficacy.
Despite years of research since the disease was first identified, it’s still difficult to identify the best approach to treating the disease, says David Rice, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon and nationally known mesothelioma expert who practices at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.
The very rareness of the cancer—only about 3,000 people a year are diagnosed in the United States—makes it difficult to run the kind of research studies needed to compare treatments and determine the ideal therapy at each stage of the disease. “There isn’t a lot of evidence-based science in this disease,” Dr. Rice admits. So when his patients ask him what the best treatment is for the disease, he tells them what we tell you in this section, adding that “we don’t have a reliable cure for this disease.”
Thus, a major goal of treatment is to reduce pain and suffering and prolong a patient’s life as long as possible while providing them with the highest quality of life possible.
Choosing the right mesothelioma doctor is an important first step in planning for treatment.
There are a number of mesothelioma experts, like Dr. Rice, practicing in specialized clinics throughout the country. Each of these cancer specialists has an acute knowledge of the behavior and pathology of malignant mesothelioma and its treatment. It is likely that if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you will be referred by your personal physician to a larger scale comprehensive cancer center.
The most important consideration in mesothelioma treatment is the cancer stage and type, said Dr. Rice. Treatment decisions also depend on whether the cancer is localized to the chest or has spread to the chest wall, diaphragm, or lymph nodes, your age and overall health, and the center where you’re being treated. Learn more about finding a doctor here.
Conventional treatments for mesothelioma involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
As with most solid tumors, doctors turn to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy to manage mesothelioma. When exploring the various treatment options available with your doctor it is important to be informed about the risk and benefits of each one before making a final decision.
Surgery
Only about 1 in 5 patients with metastatic pleural mesothelioma undergo surgery. There are two main surgeries: pleurectomy/decortication, in which the surgeon tries to remove as much of the tumor from around the lung as possible, and the more radical extrapleural pneumonectomy, in which the lung itself is removed.
There is a lot of debate as to which is “best,” said Dr. Rice, although studies find that most long-term survivors have had surgery. He personally believes that pneumonectomy is best for tumor control if followed with radiation. Studies find it prevents tumor recurrence in the chest in 80 to 85 percent of patients who have the surgery.
However, Dr. Rice noted, it is a long, intensive operation with a 55 percent complication rate and a 3 percent risk of death, higher in some institutions. “So you only want to perform that surgery if the patient has a reasonably good prognosis,” said Dr. Rice. Translation: it doesn’t appear that the cancer has spread outside the chest.
Patients best suited for pneumonectomy are younger, with the epithelial form of the disease, no obvious lymph gland involvement, and are otherwise healthy enough to withstand the rigor of the procedure. Dr. Rice actually waits until he has the patient’s chest open in the operating room and biopsies the lymph nodes before deciding which procedure to perform.
Pleurectomy/decortication has a higher failure rate, with the tumor recurring in the chest cavity 50 to 80 percent of the time. However, that rate may change with improved radiotherapy techniques, Dr. Rice said. The reason for the high recurrence is that it’s impossible to completely remove the tumor without removing the lung.
However, he noted, there is no difference in survival rates between the two surgeries. Part of the reason is that the cancer has often spread to other parts of the body by the time it is diagnosed even if it appears to be confined to the chest.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, also known as systemic therapy, uses oral or infusion-based medications to kill cancer cells throughout your body. Chemotherapy is used both before and after surgery, as well as in people who can’t handle surgery. It is also used in the palliative setting to reduce pain and improve quality of life.
The most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma are cisplatin combined with pemetrexed (Alimta) or raltitrexed (Tomudex). Other combinations include gemcitabine, carboplatin or oxaliplatin.
If you can’t manage combination therapy, your doctor may start on just one drug. Sometimes, your doctor may infuse the medication directly into your chest cavity, a procedure called pleural chemotherapy, or, abdomen, called intraperitoneal chemotherapy. You may also get a second course of chemotherapy, called “second-line” chemotherapy, with pemetrexed or other drugs, raltitrexed plus oxaliplatin, or the triple drug combination of irinotecan, cisplatin and mitomycin.
Some centers are beginning to provide intraperitoneal chemotherapy before surgery, followed by chemotherapy shortly after surgery. You can learn more about this approach here. There is also work underway to personalize chemotherapy based on the genetic characteristics of your tumor.
Radiation
Radiation can be an important part of mesothelioma treatment. The problem is that because the cancer is near the heart and lungs, it’s challenging to provide the kind of high-dose, intensive therapy needed to shrink the tumor. However, a newer option, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), which can more accurately target cancer cells and avoid healthy tissue, may provide better results when performed by experienced clinicians.
Investigational therapies are being explored through clinical and surgical trials at many of the nation’s top cancer centers.
There are more than 50 studies on new therapies for mesothelioma in the U.S. that are looking for volunteers. Researchers are investigating new targeted drugs and chemotherapies, as well as new protocols for giving the medications; immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of the immune system to fight the disease; phototherapy, in which you are injected with a drug that bonds to cancer cells and is activated by high-intensity light; genetic therapies; and novel radiotherapy techniques like tomotherapy to treat the disease. Learn more about participating in a clinical trial here.
At some point, the management of the disease will shift from trying to cure the disease to trying to keep the patient as comfortable as possible for as long as possible.
This is the palliative care stage, when many people enter a hospice program. The primary goal at this stage is maximizing patient comfort. Medication to help with pain, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms that may be experienced is a mainstay. So is emotional and spiritual support for you and your family.
Alternative therapies for mesothelioma can be used to ease side effects of traditional cancer treatment.
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes such therapies as massage, acupuncture, and meditation. They can be a powerful part of your overall management plan, helping you better manage the stress and anxiety of the disease and conventional treatments.
Topics in this Section
Conventional Therapies
Conventional therapies for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Experimental Therapies
Several forms of mesothelioma treatment such gene therapy, immunotherapy, photodynamic therapy and multimodality therapy are still in their preliminary stages.
Alternative Treatments
These untraditional treatment approaches can complement conventional therapies and allow the patient to be more at peace and comfortable during this difficult time.
Treatment by Stage
This section lists typical treatment strategies based on the stage of the mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Doctors
Medical doctors who specialize in aggressively treating mesothelioma cancer state by state.
Mesothelioma Experts
Medical doctors with a longstanding expertise in treating malignant mesothelioma.
Clinical Trials
Information about current studies of promising new or experimental mesothelioma treatments.
Mesothelioma Clinics
Top Cancer Centers for mesothelioma treatment have been listed alphabetically by state for your convenience.
Ask Your Doctor
We have listed some questions that you might want to ask your doctor in this section.
Treatment Side Effects
While undergoing treatment for mesothelioma, you should be prepared for the following treatment side effects.
Caregiver Resources
Resources for family members and loved ones responsible for caring for mesothelioma patients.
Mesothelioma Research
Selected abstracts relating to malignant mesothelioma from PubMed, the National Library of Medicine's search service.
Mesothelioma Treatment Alerts
Articles regarding the most recent advances in mesothelioma treatment that are helping to improve longevity and quality of life in patients.
Sources:
Campbell NP, Kindler HL. Update on malignant pleural mesothelioma. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2011;32(1):102-110.
Sugarbaker, David, Zellos, Lambros S. Multimodality treatment of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. Seminars in Onology. 2002; 29 (1): 41-50.
Chua TC, Yan TD, Morris DL. Surgical biology for the clinician: peritoneal mesothelioma: current understanding and management. Can J Surg. 2009;52(1):59-64.
Dhalluin X, Scherpereel A. Treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma: current status and future directions. Monaldi Arch Chest Dis. 2010;73(2):79-85.
Friedberg JS. Photodynamic therapy as an innovative treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009;21(2):177-87.
Garland LL. Chemotherapy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma. Current treatment options in oncology. 2011. epub
Stevens LM, Lynm C, Glass RM. JAMA patient page. Palliative care. JAMA. 2006;296(11):1428.
Rice, David M.D. Telephone Interview. April 29, 2011.
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