On Tuesday of this week Australian fighter for mesothelioma justice, Bernie Banton, died peacefully in his sleep with his family at his bedside.

Banton had been diagnosed in August with peritoneal mesothelioma, a secondary abdominal cancer that experts say leaves victims with an average of 153 days to live.

The public face of the six-year fight for the fund to compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases caused by products made by former James Hardie subsidiaries, Banton had worked for six years, from 1968 to 1974, at what proved to be one of James Hardie's worst-affected plants, at Camellia in Sydney's western suburbs.

Of the 137 of his workmates at that time, only a few are thought to be alive today.

Bernie Banton dies

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:36 AM | Permalink

Not really news - but what we all knew is now official.

Malignant mesothelioma is one of the deadliest cancers known to modern medical science. This aggressive disease, almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, kills more than 2,500 Americans each year. But the rapidly evolving crisis of mesothelioma is not unique to the United States. In countries such as the U.K. and Australia, where asbestos use continued well into the 1980s, the disease is leaving an equally tragic footprint.

One authority predicts that the number of mesothelioma deaths in the U.K. will eventually exceed the U.S., reaching 65,000 between 2002 and 2050.

Statistics by Country for Mesothelioma

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:49 AM | Permalink

This prefatory note by Steve Dunn introducing Mesothelioma sufferer Stephen Jay Gould's, The Median Isn't the Message says all that needs to be said about this important piece of writing. I urge you to read the article by following the link.

Stephen Jay Gould was an influential evolutionary biologist who taught at Harvard University. He was the author of at least ten popular books on evolution, and science, including, among others, The Flamingo's Smile, The Mismeasure of Man, Wonderful Life, and Full House.

As far as I'm concerned, Gould's The Median Isn't the Message is the wisest, most humane thing ever written about cancer and statistics. It is the antidote both to those who say that, "the statistics don't matter," and to those who have the unfortunate habit of pronouncing death sentences on patients who face a difficult prognosis. Anyone who researches the medical literature will confront the statistics for their disease. Anyone who reads this will be armed with reason and with hope.

The Median Isn't the Message

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:07 AM | Permalink

In a letter to the editor of The Timberjay, a Minnesota Newspaper, five State Representatives accuse mining company Cleveland-Cliffs of attempting to mislead the public about an independent, scientific study on the health of current and former workers at Northshore Mining.

The authors of the letter argue that the study is not independent at all and would be funded totally by Cleveland-Cliffs - hardly impartial.

Cleveland Cliffs is attempting to mislead the public

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:37 AM | Permalink

In 2006, drug manufacturers, Eli Lilley, launched the Luminous Award in recognition of journalists who bring to light progress in cancer prevention and treatment using clear and inspiring reporting. Winners are selected by an independent panel of judges from around the world.

In the 2007 Awards, a Highly Commended certificate went to Japanese journalist Hidetoshi Oshima from the publication Mainichi Shimbun, in recognition of his article Drilling Down on Asbestos Issues, which included personal accounts from people who had lost family members to mesothelioma after working in a factory. The article highlighted the seriousness of asbestos exposure.

Drilling Down on Asbestos Issues

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:31 AM | Permalink

Noting a steadfast dedication and contribution to researching mesothelioma, an asbestos-linked cancer, the Meso Foundation recently bestowed a Pioneer Award to Fujirebio Diagnostics. The company, whose MESOMARK® test was introduced earlier this year, was presented with the award at the Meso Foundation’s annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma. MESOMARK is the world’s first and only in-vitro test for monitoring mesothelioma.

MESOMARK® Test Recognized for Monitoring Patients with Asbestos-linked Cancer

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:26 AM | Permalink

From Christchurch, New Zealand, comes the news that construction workers who removed deadly asbestos from a 1920s building earlier this month had no idea what they were handling and did not wear protective gear.

Workers began demolishing the 1920s former waterworks building at 170 Fitzgerald Avenue on Monday and began removing the asbestos on Tuesday. It wasn't until Wednesday that the site was shut down by the Department of Labor, and asbestos specialists were called to decontaminate the site.

Asbestos specialist John Walder said, "I feel sorry for the guys that did the work because in another 20 years they could be in trouble."

And don't we know it.

Men handled deadly fibres without knowing it

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:19 AM | Permalink

On November 8th, Vera Kane Stamper filed a suit in Kanawha Circuit Court on behalf of the estate of Robert Lynn Connelley Sr. The basis of the suit is that Connelley was not informed of the danger of asbestos, neither was he told to wear safety clothing or use safety equipment. This negligence resulted in Connelley developing malignant mesothelioma, from which he ultimately died.

The effects of the illness caused Connelley to incur medical expenses as well as resulting in him suffering from great pain, immense suffering, embarrassment, inconvenience and loss of quality and enjoyment of his life, the suit says.

Man's estate sues 65 companies in asbestos suit

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:09 AM | Permalink

The James Hardie company has agreed a settlement of terminally ill asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton’s claim for damages - the terms of the settlement will be released later today.

His lawyer, Jack Rush QC, told the tribunal the top management of James Hardie knew of the dangers of asbestos dust and told senior staff to ignore publicity about it. He went on to say, "the respiratory protections were negligible, the warnings ... in general were nil."

James Hardie settles Bernie Banton cancer claim

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 04:09 AM | Permalink

With his wife and two children at his bedside, Bernie Banton has today put forward his claim for further compensation from a James Hardie subsidiary.

Mr Banton's oncologist, Professor Stephen Clarke, told the court that his patient's condition has deteriorated significantly over the past few weeks. He said Bernie Banton is confined to bed and has days to one week to live. Professor Clarke said Mr Banton had expressed the desire last week to be at the hospital, but at the same time had made a pact with his wife that he would die at home.

A former colleague of Mr Banton's also told the court today of the conditions at the James Hardie factory. Barry Shepherd told the court he was never warned about the potential dangers of asbestos and described how dust three to four inches thick covered the workplace.

Banton is still receiving treatment to combat infection, plus chemotherapy. It is believed that the fight is what keeps him going.

Banton seeks compensation from hospital bed

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:04 AM | Permalink

I've been following this case closely this week, as subscribers to this blog will know. The news today is that Bernie Banton has been granted leave to pursue extra "punishment" damages for James Hardie's 2001 corporate restructure as part of his compensation claim for the lethal mesothelioma he contracted in August.

The NSW Court of Appeal said yesterday that Mr Banton,could be entitled to additional payment if the Dust Diseases Tribunal decided it strongly disapproved of the way James Hardie set up an underfunded compensation trust in February 2001.

When a $1.5 billion shortfall in the 2001 trust was exposed in 2003, James Hardie said it would not pay those claimants who missed out. Bernie Banton was at the forefront of the fight to get this overturned and, as a result, a new trust was set up in February of this year.

As reported yesterday, Amaca, the James Hardie subsidiary opposed Mr Banton's claim for further damages, saying that it had already been punished in the form of Mr Banton's first payout in respect of his asbestosis. Mr Banton's argument is that he now has mesothelioma, a different disease.

Additionally, it has been revealed that Mr Banton will be allowed to fight his case for exemplary damages from his hospital bed and the Dust Diseases Tribunal will convene at Mr Banton's bedside at Concord on Wednesday. The judge, Justice David Hodgson, felt that, given the gravity of Mr Banton's illness, it was inappropriate to grant leave for appeal.

Fresh go at Hardie granted

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 07:46 AM | Permalink

Following on from my post yesterday about Australian asbestos victim Bernie Banton, today I read that James Hardie Industries chief executive Louis Gries says Bernie's battle is not with the company but with the asbestos injuries compensation fund (AICF) and insurer Allianz Australia.

Mr Gries went on to say "I'm not sure if everybody is aware that we don't manage the fund." He went on to say, "I have met Bernie once. Obviously it doesn't make me feel good when someone is that ill."

For the full story click the link below

James Hardie chief questioned on Bernie Banton

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:59 AM | Permalink

On Wednesday, 28th November, there is to be a press conference in Washington to discuss the presence of asbestos in everyday products. Apparently, products containing asbestos include: Children’s Toys, Appliances, Hardware & Household Goods and Home & Garden Items.

Location:

National Press Club
529 14th St. NW, 13th Floor
Murrow Room
Washington, DC 20045

Date and Time:

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
10:00 AM EST - 11:00 AM EST

For further information

Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)
Douglas Larkin
Office: 703-250-3590 x1245
Mobile: 202-391-1546

doug@AsbestosDiseaseAwareness.org

ADAO

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:56 AM | Permalink

Asbestos campaigner Bernie Banton is gravely ill in a Sydney hospital, with his family fearful he will not survive to see the outcome of a new compensation claim against James Hardie.

The Hardie Group manufactured asbestos products (cement, piping, insulation and brake linings) for over 70 years in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia. Over half the claims made to the NSW Dust Diseases Tribunal in 2002 were against the Hardie Group. There are accusations that the company did not provide sufficient funds for settling claims from victims of asbestos related diseases. A major problem for the group were the sheer number of products they made that contained asbestos.

Bernie Banton is known throughout Australia as the face of the campaign against James Hardie. Already having received settlement from a fund set up for asbestosis sufferers, Mr Banton now has a claim lodged for his mesothelioma. The James Hardie subsidiary. Amaca, against who the claim is lodged are fighting it.

Mr Banton's lawyer is reported as saying, "What we're saying is you've got to ignore the previous compensation, this is a new disease," and that, of course, is where the trouble lies; Bernie is the first person to ever come back and make a second claim once he's been compensated the first time.

Sadly, it seems likely that Bernie will not live long enough to see the outcome of this claim.

In the shadow of the corporate veil: James Hardie and asbestos compensation
Bernie Banton seriously ill, says wife

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:47 AM | Permalink

Following on from yesterday's story about the Devon woman who developed mesothelioma after hugging her father as a child, comes news that she has launched her own website to support other sufferers.

Her website, Mesothelioma and Me, provides information and advice for sufferers and their families

Debbie Brewer's father, Philip Northmore, died of asbestos-related lung cancer last year aged 68. He worked as an asbestos lagger at Devonport dockyard when Debbie was a child.

Mesothelioma and Me

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:49 AM | Permalink

In Devon, England, a woman who developed asbestos-related cancer from hugging her father as a child has won her claim for damages.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD), which owned Devonport Dockyard when Debbie Brewer's father worked there in the 1960s, settled with a six-figure sum.

Ms Brewer received her diagnosis of Mesothelioma a year ago and was given a life expectancy of six to nine months. She says the money will help to secure peace of mind about her family's future.

Read the full story at the BBC website by clicking the link.

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:44 AM | Permalink

In complete contrast to my last entry comes this report from The United Firefighters Union in Australia, which says at least five forms of cancer are much more common among firefighters than the general population.

The union's national president, Mick Farrell, says cancer is far more insidious in burning buildings because of all the toxic chemicals and the toxic smoke. Of course, these toxic chemicals will include asbestos. Mr Farrell says the union is following the lead of the US and Canada, where new laws guarantee that firefighters who develop certain forms of cancer automatically receive paid medical care.

John Bashford,president of a doctor's group called the Private Cancer Physicians of Australia says that he supports the firefighters' push for automatic treatment for one of the diseases on their list. Guess which one.

It is, of course, good old Meso. The Good Doctor is quoted as saying:

"There is certainly some evidence of a link to mesothelioma, and I think they ought to be covered appropriately for that. Mesothelioma is a rare tumor in any one other than those exposed to asbestos, so its presence almost certainly means that they've been exposed in their occupation."

Read the report in full at Firefighters link health problems to line of work

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 01:10 AM | Permalink

Given the recent fires in Southern California, the recently published UK report about the dangers of asbestos in large scale fires is very timely.

The report, which can be viewed in full on the UK's Health Protection Agency website, comments that a number of factors may help to reduce exposure of the general public to asbestos following a fire involving materials containing asbestos. For instance:

Not all the materials containing asbestos in a building may be involved in a fire
Fibers may become trapped in larger pieces of material stopping them from being released into the environment
Asbestos fibers which can be breathed in only make-up a part of the total released
Some fibers may disintegrate due to the high temperatures in the fire
The weather, such as wind and rain, will affect local air concentrations
The duration of exposure to asbestos during a fire will usually be short.

The report concluded that the risk of asbestos related diseases being caused by exposure to asbestos in these sort of situations is small.

Asbestos Exposures From Large Scale Fires, UK

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 12:31 PM | Permalink

The thought of chemotherapy probably strikes fear into the heart of most of us. As with everything in life, however, the more you understand something, the easier it is to deal with. Therefore, when discussing your chemotherapy treatment, you should be prepared to ask the following:

About the Treatment Itself

How many treatments will I be given?
What drug or combination of drugs will I receive?
How will the drug/drugs be administered, i.e., pill, intravenous, etc.?
Where will I go for my treatment, i.e., doctor's office, hospital, etc.?
How long will each treatment last?

And About the Side Effects

What side effects are associated with the drug/drugs I will be given?
Which of these side effects are likely to occur?
What can I do to relieve these side effects?
Are there certain side effects I should report immediately?
How can I contact a health professional after hours if I need to call?

One important thing you should remember is that it is unwise to take any dietary supplementation without speaking to your medical team. There's nothing wrong with trying to help yourself get better, but not enough is known scientifically about how some supplements may interact with the chemicals used in chemotherapy. It is important too that you don't take anything that claims to boost your immune system - that is exactly the opposite to what the chemo is intended to do!

Cancer Research UK

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 11:37 AM | Permalink

In the simplest sense, chemotherapy is the administration of cancer-killing chemicals to the cancer sufferer. The problem is, as with radiation, healthy cells get damaged too. Deciding whether or not to have chemotherapy is a matter of weighing up the advantages and disadvantages - once again, this is where expert practitioners are essential in helping you come to a decision.

The type of chemicals administered will be dependent upon the type of cancer cells you have in your body - something we talked about at the beginning of last week. As mesothelioma can involve several different types of cells, it is likely that you will receive a combination of different chemicals, as appropriate. Different types of chemicals are administered in different ways, although usually administered directly into the blood stream via an injection into a vein (IV), you may also find that you take the chemicals by mouth (PO), have them injected under the skin (SC), or injected into a muscle (IM).

Listed below are some of the groups of drugs you might come across during your treatment journey:

Alkylating agents

These are the oldest and most commonly used group of chemotherapy drugs. They work by directly damaging DNA and preventing cancer cells from reproducing. This group of drugs tend to be used for slow growing cancers and they kill cancer cells at any stage of the cell cycle. This means that they kill mature cells just as well as they kill developing or new cells.

Examples: carboplatin, cisplatin and oxaliplatin.

Antimetabolites
This group of drugs interrupt DNA and RNA growth. They are only effective at a specific phase of a cell's life.

Examples: capecitabine, gemcitabine.and pemetrexed (Alimta).

Anthracyclines
This group of drugs are antibiotics that interfere with enzymes necessary for the DNA to copy itself. They are effective at any stage of the cell-cycle, and are used to treat a variety of cancers.

Examples: bleomycin, doxorubicin and mitomycin-C.

Plant Alkaloids

Plant alkaloids are derived from certain types of plants found in nature, and inhibit or prevent cell division or inhibit enzymes from making proteins necessary for cell reproduction. Most plant alkaloids are only effective at certain stages of the cell-cycle but can cause damage in all phases.

Examples:

the taxanes, docetaxel and paclitaxel,

the vinca alkaloids, vinblastine, vincristine and vinorelbine

All of the above have been used in the treatment of Mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Chemotherapy

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:21 AM | Permalink

When we talk about radiation therapy, we are referring to the use of high-dose radiation with the objective of reducing or destroying malignant tumors.

There are a number of sources of radiation that may be used: high-energy x-rays; neutrons; photons; and cobalt being the most common. Not only are there choices of radiation source, there are also choices of delivery and radiation can be delivered internally or externally.

Internal radiation delivers the therapy via sealed plastic tubes, needles, wires, or catheters that are placed in or very close to the targeted tumor. External radiation is delivered as a beam of radiation emitted by a machine.

As we said yesterday, radiation is likely to be delivered as just one facet of a multi-modal treatment regime. It is very good at relieving pain and shortness of breath but, just as with surgery, does not come without side effects. These are caused mainly because the radiation kills or damages healthy tissue as well as the targeted tumor. Side effects can include: fatigue, difficulty swallowing, skin irritation, stiffness and aching, hair loss, and digestive problems.

Because radiation therapy is so powerful, your treatment will be carefully planned, even going so far as to set up dummy treatments to confirm that the planned radiation will hit the exact location on your body that is required. The dummy process usually takes about an hour. You may also undergo a CT scan as part of the planning process.

When everything is set up as required, the targets are marked on your body as pin-prick sized tattoos and you might find this a little uncomfortable. These tattoos act as a permanent marker of irradiated sites on your body.

This dummy procedure takes far longer than the treatment itself, which generally lasts only five to ten minutes, although this will, of course, depend upon the complexity of your treatment.

Tomorrow we'll take a look at chemotherapy.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 05:42 AM | Permalink

Since the beginning of 2006, the best regarded treatments for mesothelioma always include surgery of some form. BUT surgery alone is not considered sufficiently effective and is always combined with other forms of treatment. Resorting to more than one type of treatment is known as a multimodality approach. A combination of surgery with either chemotherapy, radiation, or both, is now the preferred approach, basically because it has shown the best progress of any of the approaches when used singly.

Today, even chemotherapy is not used in isolation but is usually administered as an adjunct to two or more complementary agents. Frequently, each of the therapies are directed towards achieving targets - for instance, one therapy may be designed to shrink the tumor, while another is designed to reduce pain.

Surgery, while almost always an aspect of treatment, comes with serious and life-threatening side effects, yet the advantages far outweigh the risks. Even so, you should ensure that you receive treatment at a center of excellence for mesothelioma treatment.

You will hear a number of medical terms when your surgery is being discussed and you should always ask for clarification of anything that you don't understand. However, to help you on your way, the following are some of the most commonly used surgical treatments of mesothelioma:

Pleurodesis

This is a treatment administered through a tube inserted through the chest wall. The procedure itself sets up an inflammation that eliminates the pleural space. This means that fluid cannot accumulate and embarrass the function of the lungs.

Pleurectomy
Surgery to remove part of the chest or abdomen lining and some of the tissue surrounding it.

Pleurectomy/decortication

Surgery as for pleurectomy plus the removal of as much tumor mass as possible. This tends to be used as a way of relieving pain caused by the tumor.

Pneumonectomy

Surgery to remove a lung.

Extra pleural pneumonectomy (or EPP)

Extensive surgery to remove the pleura, diaphragm, pericardium, and entire lung involved with the tumor.

Read more here Treatment For Mesothelioma

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:38 AM | Permalink

There many factors that dictate the treatment regime a sufferer of mesothelioma will be given. These factors include:

The stage of the cancer
How far the cancer has spread
The situation of the cancer in the body
What type of cancer cells are concerned
The age of the patient
The patient's wishes

That last, italicized, item is important. Never forget, it's your body and your illness - you are entitled to do with it what you will. Listen to advice, sift it, and do what is right for you.

More tomorrow...

MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT OPTIONS

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:58 AM | Permalink

When doctors talk about staging, they are referring to how advanced a disease is, that is, how far it has spread. They find out how far mesothelioma has spread by using various imaging techniques, such as CT scans, MRI scans, and standard x-rays.

The International Mesothelioma Interest Group have developed a staging system that is very similar to the TNM staging system used for most cancers. TNM is an acronym that stands for:

Tumor - where is it, how big is it, has it spread to adjacent organs
Nodes - are the lymph nodes involved
Metastasis - has the cancer spread to distant organs

Information about each of these categories is combined and then expressed as a mesothelioma group staging, this staging expresses the progress of the disease. The stages are expressed by roman numerals I to IV - the higher the number, the more advanced the disease.

However, spread of the cancer is not the only factor that determines outcome. Life factors also have an enormous part to play:

Being too sick to function on a daily basis, poor pain management, great difficulty in breathing, and badly affected blood chemistry all add to the burden of the disease. A person with all of these negative factors to contend with is highly likely to die within six months, whereas a person with none of these extra factors has a 40% chance of living for two years.

This means that it is vital to manage those aspects that can be managed - pain and shortness of breath, for instance.

This takes us neatly on to treatment and we'll start to look at that aspect of the disease tomorrow.

The International Mesothelioma Interest Group

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 08:52 AM | Permalink

As a health professional, I am always very wary about giving lists of symptoms. Human nature being what it is, we can all convince ourselves that the symptoms listed are exactly those from which we are suffering. The result? Panic, unnecessary worry, and very busy doctors.

So, please be aware that the symptoms that follow can also be indicative of other, much less serious, illnesses.

The disease often makes its presence felt by a build up of fluid in the area being affected. This is known as an effusion, which can also be caused by an infection. If this build up of fluid is in the abdomen, it is known as ascites.

Fluid build up in the chest cavity will lead to shortness of breath and chest pain, which may be right or left sided. In fact, 90% of pleural mesothelioma patients present with these symptoms.

Fluid build up in the abdomen will lead to a swollen abdomen and, possibly, pain. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma take longer to show themselves than those of pleural mesothelioma.

These signs and symptoms mimic those of many other diseases. If you experience any of the symptoms in the following list and have a history of contact with asbestos it is vital that:

You visit a doctor immediately
You tell that doctor you have been in contact with asbestos

Remember that the latent phase of mesothelioma, that is the length of time it takes for symptoms to develop, is between 20 to 40 years so you must mention any asbestos contact, no matter how long ago it may have been.

The signs and symptoms of pleural mesothelioma

shortness of breath
chest pain
back pain
difficulty swallowing
fever
nausea
weight loss
persistent cough

The signs and symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma

abdominal swelling
abdominal pain
weight loss
nausea
swelling of the feet

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:28 AM | Permalink

You are well aware, I'm sure, that the body is composed of cells. Each cell is different in form and function - that is, our cells come in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the job they are designed to do. Just as our healthy cells differ in shape and size, so do cancer cells. Doctors group mesothelioma according to how the cells look under the microscope.

There are three types of mesothelioma cell:

Epitheloid
Sarcomatoid or fibrous
Mixed type (also called Biphasic type)

The most common type of mesothelioma is Epitheloid, which accounts for between 50% and 70% of cases.

This is followed by mixed cell mesothelioma, which shows both types of cell and which accounts for up to 35% of cases and, finally, we have Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, accounting for 7% to 20% of cases.

Scientists actually subdivide these cell types even further - into:

Clear cell
Small cell
Acinar cell
Tubopapillary cell

This is probably far too much detail for the general reader but, of course, if you suffer from mesothelioma, this detail is important. Having said that, in my experience, the sufferer of a chronic and incurable disease often knows more about their particular disease variation than anybody else, including their doctors!

My reason for naming all the variations is simply to illustrate how difficult a disease mesothelioma can be to diagnose.

More tomorrow....

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:54 AM | Permalink

Every day this blog looks at issues dealing with mesothelioma, its about time, isn't it, that we looked at what Mesothelioma actually is.

Okay, first things first: Mesothelioma is cancer. The disease gets its name from the cells that this particular cancer attacks - the mesothelial cells. These cells form a lining that covers the outer surface of most of our internal body organs. This lining is sometimes referred to as the mesothelium.

The only cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos dust, although there is a debate about whether a virus, SV40, can also cause the disease. We'll look at the arguments surrounding SV40 later on in this series of explanatory articles.

Logically, the cancer can occur anywhere in the mesothelium but the most common sites for it to occur are in the chest cavity, including the area around the heart, and in the abdomen.

The tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs is made from mesothelial cells. Yesterday, we learned that this lining is called the pleura, so it makes sense that cancer in this lining is called Pleural Mesothelioma.

Of course, the chest cavity contains more than just the lungs, it contains the heart too. The mesothelium that covers the heart is know as the pericardium, or the pericardial lining. This lining performs the same function for the heart as the pleura performs for the lungs - it allows the heart to move freely within the chest. So the pleura allows for free movement of the lungs as you breathe in and out and the pericardium allows for free movement of the heart as it expands and contracts with each beat.

Once one understands these basic facts, it becomes obvious how disastrous any damage to these tissues can be. Imagine the effects on your body when the movement of your lungs or your heart is impeded!

Remember that mesothelioma gets its name from the mesothelium, that is the lining that covers our internal organs. In the abdomen, this lining is known as the peritoneum. Thus, mesothelioma in the abdomen is known as Peritoneal Mesothelioma

So, we have:

Pleural Mesothelioma, which affects the lungs and, less frequently, the heart
Peritoneal Mesothelioma, which affects the organs in the abdomen

Logically, the cancer can occur anywhere in the mesothelium but the most common sites are in the chest cavity and in the abdomen

So far so good, but the medics go even further in defining the different types of mesothelioma, which we'll look at tomorrow.

All About Malignant Mesothelioma

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:13 AM | Permalink

For a couple of months now I have concentrated solely on Mesothelioma, however, it is a recognized medical truth that asbestos causes several other diseases and I thought it was about time we started to look at these.

Not all asbestos related diseases are fatal but every one of them adversely affects health and quality of life of sufferers. The fact that all of these diseases are preventable and, more to the point, were preventable at the time of exposure never fails to make me angry. Each of these diseases, in fact, was not only preventable - they were predictable. Sadly, the only form of protection against these diseases is to avoid all exposure.

So, why is asbestos so lethal?

Essentially, the problem with asbestos arises because the fibers that make it up are sharp. You can't see they're sharp when you look at them with the naked eye but, if you looked at them under a microscope, you would see just how sharp they are. When the fibers are inhaled as asbestos dust, they pierce and damage the tissues.

Unfortunately, there is no known safe level of exposure. John Gummer, an English politician is recorded as saying that "one asbestos fiber can kill." Of course, one asbestos fiber won't kill everybody but, the more single asbestos fibers a person inhales, the more chance there is of damage being done. Effectively, its a numbers game and the only safe bet is zero - no asbestos fibers at all.

In general, asbestos cancers take between 20 to 40 years before they become evident, although pleural thickening can happen much more quickly. The pleura are the walls of the chest; pleural tissue is a thin and moist lining of the chest cavity that envelops each of the lungs. When this tissue thickens, the lungs are less able to contract and expand due to a loss of flexibility - hence the characteristic shortness of breath.

Now that the mechanics of these diseases has been explained, over the next few days we'll look at each of the diseases in a little more depth. I'll use everyday language and explain the medical terminology so that you have a clear understanding of what is going on.

Asbestos Related Diseases

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 07:29 AM | Permalink

Well, we started off this week by looking at secondary exposure to meso and, without any forward planning on my part, have finished the week looking at women and meso. This has been mainly due to the fact that the popular perception seems to be that women mainly acquire the disease by exposure to the dust brought home by their men, or by dust in the air - as in Libby, Montana.

That's why I was particularly interested to read an article in Chest, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians. You can see the full article by clicking the link below but it basically says that, because men historically worked in trades where exposure to asbestos was common, they are over-represented in the studies that have been carried out thus far.

When equal numbers of men and women who had been exposed to the same levels of asbestos dust were studied, the major difference discovered between the sexes was that women seem to be MORE susceptible to malignant peritoneal mesothelioma than men. Although the article does go on to say that this could be down to misdiagnoses, because both ovarian cancer and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma derive from the same tissue. Apparently, in the past, pathologists have had difficulty distinguishing the microscopic structure of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum from cancer of the ovary or the nearby tissues.

Women and Mesothelioma

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 06:25 AM | Permalink

Earlier in the week I said:

I find that as long ago as 1966 it was demonstrated that more than 50% of the cases of mesothelioma in women were as a result of household exposure to someone who worked directly with asbestos. I'll see if I can dig out details of the study for later on this week.

Well, I have searched and, as yet, I haven't been able to find this study. I'll keep on looking. However, I've found a whole raft of stuff about women and mesothelioma that has me crying tears of both anger and rage. Click on the link to read an article that I found particularly moving.

The long goodbye

Posted by Dianne Sandland at 09:15 AM | Permalink