Mesothelioma Symposium 2009 - Raja Flores, MD - Pleural Mesothelioma
Dr. Flores presentation at the International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.
Source: Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (video channel)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Mesothelioma Attorney Sausalito
Choosing a Sausalito Mesothelioma Attorney to handle your case obviously requires serious consideration before a decision on the right attorney or law firm is made. The natural inclination will be to go to a good known attorney rather than a total stranger. But if that lawyer is not specifically equipped to handle mesothelioma lawsuit, in spite of the best of intentions it's likely to be mishandled and the case may be lost. It's better to get friendly advice from known lawyers to acertain who will be the experienced mesothelioma attorney to handle your case.
Sausalito Attorneys
Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason
2330 Marinship Way, Suite 140
Sausalito, CA 94965
Toll Free: (800) 440-4262
Phone: (415) 332-4262
Fax: (415) 331-5387
Mesothelioma Attorney California
Sacramento Attorneys
Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff, LLP
401 Watt Avenue
Sacramento, California 95864
Toll Free: (888) 285-3333
Phone: (916) 448-9800
Fax: (916) 669-4499
Website:
Kershaw, Cutter & Ratinoff, LLP
San Diego Attorneys
Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP
110 Laurel St.
San Diego, California
Phone: (619) 238-1811
Fax: (619) 544-9232
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
5333 Mission Center Road, Suite 380
San Diego, California 92108
Phone: (619) 677-1431
Fax: (619) 220-0667
Website:
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
San Francisco Attorneys
Kaiser Gornick LLP
100 First Street, 25th Floor
San Francisco, California 94105
Toll Free: (800) 824-8234
Phone: (415)857-7400
Fax: (415) 857-7499
Website:
Kaiser Gornick LLP
Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC
455 Market Street, Suite #1150
San Francisco, California 94105
Phone: (415) 536-3986
Fax: (415) 537-4120
The Evans Law Firm
3053 Filmore Street, Suite 236
San Francisco, California 94123
Phone: (888) 503-8267
Phone: (415) 441-8669
Fax: (888) 891-4906
Website:
The Evans Law Firm
Sausalito Attorneys
Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason
2330 Marinship Way, Suite 140
Sausalito, California 94965
Toll Free: (800) 440-4262
Phone: (415) 332-4262
Fax: (415) 331-5387
Oakland Attorneys
Kazan, McClain, Lyons, Greenwood & Harley
Jack London Market
55 Harrison St., Suite 400
Oakland, California 94607
Toll Free: (877) 995-6372
Phone: (877) 995-6372
Fax: (510) 835-4913
Novato Attorneys
Brayton Purcell LLP
222 Rush Landing
PO Box 6169
Novato, California 94948–6169
Phone: (415) 898–1555
Fax: (415) 898–1247
Website:
Brayton Purcell LLP
Los Angeles Attorneys
Weitz & Luxenberg P.C.
1880 Century Park East, Suite 700
Los Angeles, California 90067
Phone: (310)-247-0921
Fax: (310) 786-9927
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
801 S. Grand Avenue, 11th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90017
Phone: (213) 784-2801
Fax: (213) 623-7755
Office Encino
15910 Ventura Blvd., 18th Floor
Encino, Los Angeles 91436
Phone: (818) 781-1420
Fax: (213) 623-7755
Website:
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
Gardena Attorneys
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
1411 W. 190th St. Suite 225
Gardena, California 90248
Phone: (310) 320-4440
Fax: (562) 436-6157
Cerritos Attorneys
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
12800 Center Court Dr., Suite 500
Cerritos, California 90703
Phone: (562) 606-0348
Fax: (562) 436-6157
Website:
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
Ontario Attorneys
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
3536 Concours, Suite 210
Ontario, California 91764
Phone: (909) 581-9476
Fax: (909) 944-1722
Website:
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
Ventura Attorneys
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
877 S. Victoria Ave., Suite 205
Ventura, California 93003
Phone: (805) 290-4882
Fax: (805) 642-9627
Website:
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
Santa Ana Attorneys
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
2030 East 4th Street, Suite 129B
Santa Ana, California 92705
Phone: (714) 602-4986
Fax: (562) 436-6157
Website:
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
Long Beach Attorneys
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
200 Oceangate Blvd., Suite 815
Long Beach, California 90802
Phone: (562) 606-0348
Fax: (562) 436-6157
Website:
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker Inc.
350 East San Antonio Drive
Long Beach, California 90807
Toll Free: (800) 333-0000
Fax: (562) 490-9855
Glendale Attorneys
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
330 N. Brand Blvd., Suite 310
Glendale, California 91203
Phone: (213) 784-2801
Fax: (213) 623-7755
Website:
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
Mesothelioma Attorney San Diego
Choosing a San Diego Mesothelioma Attorney to handle your case obviously requires serious consideration before a decision on the right attorney or law firm is made. The natural inclination will be to go to a good known lawyer rather than a total stranger. But if that lawyer is not specifically equipped to handle mesothelioma lawsuit, in spite of the best of intentions it's likely to be mishandled and the case may be lost. It's better to get friendly advice from known lawyers to acertain who will be the experienced asbestos attorney to handle your case.
San Diego Attorneys
Casey Gerry Schenk Francavilla Blatt & Penfield LLP
110 Laurel St.
San Diego, California
Phone: (619) 238-1811
Fax: (619) 544-9232
Rose Klein & Marias LLP.
5333 Mission Center Road, Suite 380
San Diego, California 92108
Phone: (619) 677-1431
Fax: (619) 220-0667
Friday, July 1, 2011
Multidisciplinary treatment of pleural mesothelioma
Multidisciplinary treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma
Abstract
The incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is increasing worldwide, and is predicted to peak in the next 10–20 years. Difficulties in MPM diagnosis and staging, especially of early disease, have thwarted the development of a universally accepted therapeutic approach. Single modality therapies (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy) have generally failed to.......more on The Oncologist>>
Introduction
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive tumor, usually associated with a poor prognosis. The incidence of MPM is increasing throughout most of the world, and it is expected to rise in the next 10–20 years as a result of widespread exposure to asbestos in the past decades. The management of patients with MPM is controversial. Difficulties in diagnosing and staging, especially in early disease, have thwarted the development of a generally accepted stage-related approach. MPM is a heterogeneous disease often associated with different clinical courses; a number of prognostic factors have been described, and two major prognostic scoring systems have been.....more on The Oncologist>>
Staging
Correct clinical staging is mandatory in the approach to treat MPM. Early staging systems have reflected mainly the experiences of individual institutions on their respective patient populations; considerable discrepancies among the various systems have resulted in nonuniformity of reporting. At present, the recommended classification for clinical use is the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG) staging system, which is based mainly on surgical and pathological variables, and may not be completely applicable to cross-sectional imaging; moreover, the lymphatic drainage of the pleura is quite complex and is not fully reflected in the IMIG system, in which....more on The Oncologist>>
Chemotherapy
Most patients with MPM are potential candidates for chemotherapy at some point in their treatment. For many years a nihilistic attitude has existed about medical treatment of MPM. Most chemotherapy studies have used either single agents or combination regimens in the setting of small phase II trials; the rates of objective tumor regression have been generally <20%, with no significant impact on median survival. In a meta-analysis of early trials published between 1965 and 2001, cisplatin was found to be the most active single drug. Combination chemotherapy has been associated with higher response rates, but not with....more on The Oncologist>>
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Basic Terms
Let's first go back to basic terms associated with mesothelioma. Basically, every cancer, starts from the tumor mass in our bodies.A tumor is caused by body tissues that grow to form an abnormal mass. There are two basic types of tumors.
- Benign type is a non-cancerous type of tumor.
- Malignant is a cancerous type of tumor.
The terms tumor and cancer are sometimes used synonymously which can be misleading. A tumor does not necessarily mean a cancer. The term tumor simply refers to a mass. It is helpful to keep these distinctions clear when we are discussing a possible cancer diagnosis. The term cancer refers to a new growth which will invade surrounding tissues, metastasize (spread to other organs) and may lead to the patient's death if untreated. The word cancer in Latine means crab. Like a cancer, a crab grabs onto something and will not let go.
Benign Mesothelioma is a tumor usually localized in the mesothelial layer around the lungs, heart, stomach or elsewhere in the abdomen and grows larger. However, it is not cancerous and rarely spreads to nearby tissues or other body areas. Benign mesothelioma symptoms are often similar to those of other types of mesothelioma. Treatment for benign mesothelioma tumor is usually surgery. The tumor responds very well to treatment. However, if left untreated, it can lead to a serious disease.
Malignant mesothelioma is a general term that means the mesothelioma is a cancerous type. All forms of cancer are malignant.
Based on cancerous cell types, mesothelioma is mainly classified into epithelioid, sacromatoid and mixed/biphasic.
- Epithelioid mesothelioma type is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer cells and accounts for about 50-70 percent of all people diagnosed with mesothelioma. It has the most positive prognosis (chance of recovery) among all other types, because it may grow slower and is more likely to respond to treatment. This form of mesothelioma targets the thin membrane surrounding the body's internal organs and surfaces.
- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma type is more aggressive and affects the body's secondary tissues - muscles, bones, fats and cartilage. It is found in about 7-20 percent of all mesothelioma cases and has a worse prognosis. It generally does not respond well to therapy.
- Mixed / biphasic mesothelioma type accounts for approximately 25-30 percent of all diagnosed mesothelioma cases and contains both sarcomatoid and epithelioid types. This mesothelioma type has an intermediate prognosis.
Mesothelioma Classification By Body Parts
Another classification of mesothelioma cancer is based on the areas /parts of the body affected by the disease . There are four main types of mesothelioma.Pleural mesothelioma
This type of mesothelioma cancer is the most common since it affects the pleural region of the chest cavity. Pleural Mesothelioma cancer makes up nearly 75 percent of all Mesothelioma diagnosed cases. This disease usually strikes the pleural cavity located between the thin membranes surrounding the lungs, causes pressure on it and trouble breathing as fluid builds in the chest cavity and the pleural lining thickens. That diminishes the lungs' air capacity and normal contraction and expansion functions.
Peritoneal mesothelioma
Another, second most common type of mesothelioma cancer is the peritoneal mesothelioma cancer, accounts around 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases. This disease affects the peritoneum lining of the abdominal cavity, gastrointestinal tract, bowel, liver and spleen, causing a build up of fluid in the abdominal cavity as cancerous cells spread. The lining surrounding vital organs in the abdominal area cannot function normaly and patients who suffers from peritoneal Mesothelioma cancer can experience symptoms of pain or swelling in the abdomen, anemia, breathing difficulty, blood clotting, or restriction of properly bodily functions like digestion and bowel movements.
Pericardial mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest type of the three main mesothelioma cancers and affects the pericardium, the protective sac that covers the heart and the major arteries and veins. The pericardium normaly provides constant lubrication so that the heart can function properly. Pericardial mesothelioma is more rare than pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma forms, but it is in the same time more dangerous. Often this type of mesothelioma cancer is discovered too late for treatment, and even when detected early only few treatment methods exist. Symptoms include coughing, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and chest pains .
Testicular mesothelioma
Testicular mesothelioma cancer, has been reported in less than 100 cases. Unfortunately, this means that there are no common symptoms reported across these cases. Discovering lumps on the testicles and the swelling of the scrotum often lead to a testicular mesothelioma diagnosis.
Early detection of Mesothelioma is very important
All types of mesothelioma are hard to detect during their early stages of the disease, so the earlier that mesothelioma is detected, the more treatment options are available. Early detection can provide quicker treatment and disease management, as well as the greatest chance at a better quality of life. All types of mesothelioma cancers are very difficult to diagnose, in a large part because they mimic the normal symptoms of other more common diseases. Surgery is typically performed to remove the cancerous mass. Patients may also undergo radiation and chemotherapy to reduce or eliminate the remaining cancer mass, although in many cases the mesothelioma is deeply entrenched in the tissue and cannot be completely removed.
There are some other forms of mesothelioma, which are very rare, such as Papillary mesothelioma. Deciduoid mesothelioma, cystic mesothelioma, etc.
We will present them in the next few articles.
If you have mesothelioma cancer or another asbestos disease, and if you are considering starting a mesothelioma lawsuit then you need attorney. Before making this decision, you may want to contact several attorneys or law firms to gather some comparative information. You can find mesothelioma attorneys by state in our attorneys directory or you can read some of profiles of experienced and proven mesothelioma attorneys.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
What is mesothelioma
While mesothelioma is most common in the lungs (~90%), it's important to differentiate between lung cancer and mesothelioma. They are two very different types of cancer and require different types of treatment.
Pleural mesothelioma is the only known pleural cancer and is caused by asbestos exposure in nearly all cases. Of patients with pleural malignant mesothelioma, about 77% have been exposed to asbestos in the past. Early diagnosis is difficult because the results from fluid analysis of the tumor effusion are not usually diagnostic.
Wide range of occupations, notably railway engineering, shipbuilding and asbestos product manufacture, are associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma.
When someone is exposed to asbestos particles in the air, that will increases the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma. Most of patients who develop malignant mesothelioma in the past work on jobs where they inhaled asbestos, or were exposed to asbestos fibers and dust in other ways. Also has been suggested that washing clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos dust or fibers increases their risk for developing malignant mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer (1.37 million deaths worldwide), there seems to be no association between malignant mesothelioma and uses of tobacco, but smoking increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers. Some patients who were exposed to asbestos have collected damages for asbestos-related disease (including mesothelioma). Asbestos workers have up to a 10% lifetime risk of developing the disorder, with an average latency of 30 yr. Mesothelioma can spread locally, but also can metastasize to the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes, pericardium, peritoneum, diaphragm, kidneys, adrenals, liver and, infrequently to the tunica vaginalis of the testis.
Mesothelioma is more common in males than in females, probably because many cases have been caused by exposure to asbestos at work. It occurs most between the ages of 60 and 79 years (average age at diagnosis is 62 years of age )
Annually it's diagnosed on approximately 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in the US** comprising around .3 percent of all cancer diagnoses , most of whom die within 2 years of the diagnosis (summary by Bott et al., 2011). Unfortunately, long-term survival is uncommon.
The most common body location for the development of mesothelioma is the pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it can also arise in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), and the pericardium (heart sac), or the tunica vaginalis (a sac that surrounds the testis).
Mesothelioma exists in four stages. Depending on the stage of the disease, there are various treatments available to help patients or at the very least relieve pain and improve their comfort and quality of life.
Tumor predisposition syndrome may contribute to the development of malignant mesothelioma upon asbestos exposure and is caused by germline mutation in the BAP1 gene on chromosome 3p21.
Class action lawsuits or compensation via asbestos funds is an important issue in law practices regarding malignant mesothelioma. Finding the right mesothelioma attorney and filing a lawsuit is a serious thing for you and your family, and that will increase your chances of winning a settlement in a court of law.
*Mesothelium is a protective membrane, made up of two thin layers that forms the lining of several body cavities: peritoneum (abdominal cavity including the mesentery), the pleura (thoracic cavity), and pericardium (the sac that surrounds the heart). Also, mesothelial tissue surrounds the male internal reproductive organs and covers the internal reproductive organs of women. Mesothelium that covers the body walls is called the parietal mesothelium, while the layer that covers the internal organs is called visceral mesothelium. When cancer develops in the mesothelium it's between these layers. Mesothelioma is very difficult to diagnose in its early stages, because of the narrow space in the mesothelium.
**In the UK around 2,400 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.
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