Author: Nick Johnson
Building a Strong Mesothelioma Case
Combination Medicine Therapy Radiation for Mesothelioma Cancer
Pemetrexed, which is marketed under the trade name of ALIMTA, is a chemotherapy drug that is FDA approved for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. French researchers reported in the European Lung Cancer Conference of the 2nd that the first phase of clinical trials suggest that Pemetrexed also tolerated quite well by using high doses combined with concurrent radiation therapy to improve the effectiveness of the treatment of lung cancer.
The first experiment was conducted using Pemetrexed in conjunction with cisplatin chemotherapy and radiotherapy in nine patients with stage III non-small-cell lung cancer. A tenth of patients excluded because of disease progression. Seven of the nine remaining patients who completed all four cycles of chemotherapy, and eight of them completed the radiation therapy.
One patient receiving the highest dose of pemetrexed grade 4 experienced septic shock, dose-limit show toxicity. But overall, pemetrexed tolerated well enough to increase the likelihood of killing cancer cells.
Reference :
First trial of pemetrexed with radiation and Chemo in lung cancer shows promising results - physorg
European Society for Medical Oncology
California Mesothelioma Lawyer - Attorney San Francisco, California
Levin Simes Kaiser & Gornick LLP is a nationally recognized leader in representing mesothelioma victims. From our offices in San Francisco California, our firm's mesothelioma lawyers and attorneys have collected over $400 million in settlements and verdicts for mesothelioma victims and their families.
We are different from other firms who represent mesothelioma victims because two of our founders, Bill Levin and Jeff Kaiser, previously represented some of the largest corporations in America as partners at a national law firm. They are experts at corporate defense law and therefore know how best to counter that defense while working for you. At the same time, Laurel Simes was protecting the rights of workers and their families in her own plaintiff's practice. When they joined forces, Bill, Laurel, and Jeff combined over 40 years of litigation experience and extensive knowledge in both defending and prosecuting mesothelioma and other serious personal injury cases. This unique background gives us the upper hand in your fight against the asbestos industry.
Our San Francisco, California, mesothelioma lawyers and attorneys file nearly all of our cases in California, because it is among the best jurisdictions in the United States, if not the best, for ensuring that mesothelioma victims receive fair compensation. Because of the serious nature of mesothelioma, California law provides for an expedited trial setting, which allows many cases to resolve within six to eight months of filing. This enables Levin Simes Kaiser & Gornick LLP, to get compensation for our clients when they need it most.
If you currently live in California, or if you were exposed to asbestos in California, we recommend that you first consider filing suit in this very favorable jurisdiction. Our California mesothelioma lawyers have extensive resources and we give each of our mesothelioma cases individual attention. In addition to one of our partners, an experienced associate lawyer and paralegal are assigned to every case. This team works with our investigators to make sure that all responsible parties are identified and our clients receive full compensation.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and would like to find out what a mesothelioma lawyer could do to help you, please contact the San Francisco, California, mesothelioma lawyers of Levin
Simes Kaiser & Gornick LLP
Call 1-877-LSKG-LAW (1 -877-575-4529) for a free, confidential consultation or fill out our contact sheet and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
source : http://www.calmesotheliomalawyer.com
Mesothelioma Attorney in San Diego
What Do You Need To Know Before Finding A Mesothelioma Attorney in San Diego?
To begin, the attorney must specialize in Mesothelioma cases and that has handled a large number of similar cases. You would also want the attorney to have enough staff to handle the legal process. Thirdly, you want a lawyer that will explain to you step by step the process and exactly what is details, as far as price, time and dedication.
What Is The Full Process?
Fees
The attorney must go through and explain all fees upfront. They should explain if your case should be handled as an individual case or as part of a class action. The attorney must explain if they work on a contingency fee and how much that percentage is. They must also tell you about any other fees entailed.
Steps
1. Diagnosis
The doctor will ask you, where and when you were exposed to asbestoses. The answer to this question is also critical to the Mesothelioma Attorneys San Diego for investigating the claim. The doctor's diagnosis and treatment plan is also key in determining compensation sufficient to cover the cost of that treatment.
Investigation
The law firm will need to have specialized investigators research the potential sources of the asbestos exposure. The investigators will also research the exposure sites and products, the manufacturers, the distributors and sellers of the asbestoses materials and products responsible for the exposure to asbestos.
2. The Filing Of The Law Suit
The attorney will then be in a position to file a suit and a claim for damages against the parties responsible for the client's exposure to asbestoses.
3.Client's Deposition
Soon after the filing of the law suit the attorney will ask to provide testimony concerning the merits of the case including patient's medical condition and circumstances of exposure.
4. Trial / Settlement?
The case will either go to trial or a settlement will be agreed to.
5. Appeals
Should either the client or the defendant not accept the judgment they have the right to appeal. The law firm the patient chooses should include the appeals process as part of the agreement.
Source : www.mesotheliomaattorneyssandiego.com
Mesothelioma Statistics & Facts
In an effort to help patients understand mesothelioma, Asbestos.com offers a complimentary packet that contains treatment options and other helpful resources tailored to your specific diagnosis. The packet also covers the nation's top mesothelioma doctors and cancer centers, as well as financial assistance options to help cover medical costs. To receive your packet in the mail, please enter your information below.
Mesothelioma Rates
Currently there is no cure for mesothelioma. However, early detection tests and new medications and therapies have begun to lengthen the life expectancy of today's mesothelioma patients. Nonetheless, the disease remains a very aggressive form of cancer and survival rates depend on age, overall health of the patient, and the type of mesothelioma the patient is battling. In general, the average length of survival reported throughout the last five years has been 10 to 11 months after diagnosis.Mesothelioma Facts
- Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
- Most mesothelioma patients were occupationally exposed to asbestos. A small percentage of patients received secondary exposure from a family member who worked with asbestos and brought the fibers home on clothing, skin and hair. Others were environmentally exposed to natural asbestos deposits or resided near an asbestos mine or processing facility.
- Because mesothelioma symptoms do not arise until later stages of development, the majority of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed in a late stage of cancer development.
- Early detection of the cancer can greatly improve a patient's prognosis since more treatment options are available in the early stages of development.
- Many mesothelioma patients are veterans due to the widespread exposure experienced while serving in the Navy or other armed forces.
Mesothelioma Numbers
- Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new cases are reported each year in the U.S.
- Three times more men than women develop the disease.
- Approximately 80 percent of diagnosed cases can be directly linked to a job where asbestos was present.
- Mesothelioma typically has a latency period of 20 to 50 years.
- The average age of a mesothelioma patient has historically been about 65 years old.
- The five-year relative survival rate for mesothelioma patients is about 10 percent. The one-year survival rate stands at about 40 percent.
Exposure Facts
- Not everyone who is exposed to asbestos will develop an asbestos-related disease. However, long-term exposure does indeed increase an individual's possibility.
- Individuals who do not directly work with asbestos can develop mesothelioma through secondary exposure.
- Short-term exposure to large amounts of asbestos can also cause mesothelioma, such as in the case of emergency workers at the World Trade Center attacks.
Facts about Risk
- Those who worked in industries that made widespread use of asbestos are at high risk for developing mesothelioma. Such occupations include shipyard workers, insulators, construction workers, welders, plumbers, electricians, steamfitters, pipefitters, boilermakers, railroad workers, chemical plant workers, power plant workers, miners and auto mechanics.
- People who smoke and have been exposed to asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma than individuals who do not smoke. In addition, patients with asbestosis who smoke are at a much higher risk for developing mesothelioma.
- Individuals who live with people who work with asbestos are also at high risk for developing mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Lawyers - Important Information for Patients
Deciding to pursue legal recourse and selecting an attorney to represent you in a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit are important decisions that should be made carefully. The facts of your situation and the law firm you select have a dramatic impact in the outcome of your case.
The Facts of Your Situation
Some mesothelioma patients know they worked around asbestos, but many do not know how they were exposed or how often. In fact, many people are not sure if they were ever near this carcinogen. Unfortunately, there have been thousands of products that contained asbestos - cigarette filters, hair dryers, brakes, basement and roof materials, pipes, boilers, insulation, and many other products found throughout the home and at work. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma it is more than likely that you were exposed to asbestos multiple times in your life and that this happened decades before your diagnosis.
In general, the value of your case depends on how many asbestos containing products you were exposed to, the number of identifiable defendants that still exist (many have declared bankruptcy), your age and earning capacity. And the speed of your case can depend on a number of variables including the state where you worked and lived when you were exposed to asbestos.
The Law Firm You Choose
When you have been given the news about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:
- Statutes of Limitations - There are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.
- Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.
- Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available for this disease.
But, picking a lawyer is serious business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma / asbestos cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?
Also, make sure you understand the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.
Finally, for something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive, thoughtful and compassionate.
Source : surviving mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting disorders, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, difficulty swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.
Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:
- Chest pain
- Pleura effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
- Shortness of breat
- Fatigue or anemia
- Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
- Blood in the sputum (fluid), cough (hemoptysis)
Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at the final stage. Symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain
- Ascites, or the abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
- Mass in abdomen
- Problems with intestinal function
- Weight loss
- blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
- Low blood sugar levels
- Pleural effusion
- Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the pulmonary artery
- Severe ascites
Staging of mesothelioma information is based on recommendations by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. TNM classification of primary tumor, lymph node involvement, and distant metastases are made. Mesothelioma is staged He-IV (single-A for four) based on the TNM status.
Mesothelioma Information
Mesothelioma Diagnosis is difficult because most of the symptoms are similar to many other diseases. Pleural Mesothelioma symptoms found during the respiratory disease, including chest and back pain, difficulty swallowing, trouble breathing, persistent cough, fever, nausea and weight loss. Peritoneal Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, swollen legs, stomach and vomiting is irregular
Mesothelioma information According to research, people who are employed as factory workers, miners, insulation manufacturers, railroad workers, ship builders, gas mask factory and construction workers the highest incidence of <. These employees can file a lawsuit against the company if the company values profits over human life. Typically, companies do not implement prevention technologies is important and tends to ignore the ill effects of hazardous chemicals to employees. In this situation, the only way to get justice if diagnosed with mesothelioma is to file a lawsuit. A successful lawsuit could provide a means of financial security for families and also pay the costs of medical care.
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