Justinian Lane has an insightful post about an issue often ignored in the national health care debate--that health care fraud costs us three times more than the national costs associated with medical malpractice. This caused me to do a bit of my own research, where I found The Department Of Health And Human Services And Department Of Justice Health Care Fraud And Abuse Conrtol Report For The Fiscal Year 2008 (I think the title of this report needs to be a bit longer...) Some mind blowing stats of the Report...

During FY 2008, the Federal Government won or negotiated approximately $1 billion in judgments and settlements2, and it attained additional administrative impositions in health care fraud cases and proceedings. The Medicare Trust Fund received transfers of approximately $1.94 billion during this period as a result of these efforts, as well as those of preceding years, in addition to over $344 million in Federal Medicaid money similarly transferred separately to the Treasury as a result of these efforts. The HCFAC account has returned over $13.1 billion to the Medicare Trust Fund since the inception of the Program in 1997.

Closer to home, an Ohio physician alone was responsible for a fraudulent billing scheme totalling $1.8 million:

An Ohio physician was sentenced to 37 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to engage in a scheme to defraud Medicare and other health care benefit programs by performing medically unnecessary nuclear stress tests that involved injecting nuclear medicine into patients. During the conspiracy, the physician received at least $1.8 million in reimbursement for the medically unnecessary tests. As part of his guilty plea, the physician agreed to give up his medical license, to forfeit more than $1.8 million, and to be permanently excluded from participation in all federal health care programs.

These staggering figures include only the shysters who got caught. If we're talking billions of dollars recovered, it probably represents the tip of the iceberg as to the amount of actual fraud being perpetrated on U.S. taxpayers.

Yet, despite this rampant, continuing fraud, all some politicians want to talk about is limiting patients' right to sue even in cases of legitimate malpractice. Fraud apparently trumps fairness in this goofy debate...

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Frequently I have railed on the Chamber Of Commerce, corporate America, and professional groups who have cried and moaned for years for legal or tort "reforms" making it harder for injured and ripped off individuals to sue. These groups all have one thing in common: they want to chop down your right to sue, but wish to retain THEIR right to sue you or another business without any limits or strings attached. In other words, they're a bunch of hypocrites.

Well, Joanne Doroshow at The Center For Justice And Democracy nailed this issue in a recent post. It's my thoughts exactly (only better articulated). Enjoy the gentle breeze of the truth entering the room as you read it.

A healthy and peaceful Thanksgiving to all...

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If you've been injured in a collision or for any other reason (a slip and fall in a store, for example), your medical provider may just tell you: "there's no need to bill your health insurance company." This provider may insist on having you sign a paper stating that you must pay their bills out of your settlement if you settle your case in the future.

If you live in Ohio and have health insurance, this practice may be illegal. Ohio law says that:

every provider or health care facility that contracts with a health insuring corporation to provide health care services to the health insuring corporation's enrollees or subscribers shall seek compensation for covered services solely from the health insuring corporation and not, under any circumstances, from the enrollees or subscribers, except for approved copayments and deductibles.

What this means is that, if you have health insurance, your medical provider must bill your health insurance company if that provider is a member of your health insurance network or plan. The reasoning is simple: if medical providers agree to be listed as members of a health insurance plan, they must abide by the rules of the health plan. In exchange for being sent or accepting patients, providers agree to be paid what is "reasonable and customary" for their billed services.

So why would a medical provider seek to skirt the agreement and Ohio law on this issue? Example: if your bill for your accident related injuries is $2000, the "reasonable and customary" payment might be $1,300. By trying to get you to bypass submitting the bill to your health insurance company, the provider is attempting to be paid dollar for dollar for his or her bill--$2,000 in the example above.

If you come across this practice, you need to report it to your health insurance company immediately. Many times I have had to write a polite letter to providers reminding them of their obligation under Ohio law to bill health insurance.

And here's why it's beneficial in almost all instances to submit your accident or collision related bills to your health insurance company.

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Recently I wrote about how insurance companies often engage in shady surveillance tactics. A recent story shows what lengths they'll stoop to, and the stupid arguments they'll make to deny disability insurance benefits.

The claimant, Rocky Whitten, broke his neck. Three of his doctors determined that he was permanently disabled. Despite this, The Hartford hired a private investigator to follow and videotape him. The surveillance did not catch him digging ditches or playing football. The videotape captured him...eating chips and salsa in a restaurant. From this "damaging" video, The Hartford had its own doctor conclude that because Whitten could use his hands to eat chips, he was capable of sedentary employment, and denied his entitlement to disability benefits he paid for under the policy.

Not suprisingly, Hartford reversed its position when ABC News broke the story and exposed Hartford's sleazy tactics and downright stupid legal position.

This story shows what efforts insurance companies will go to when it comes time to pay benefits under disability insurance policies, even in cases where claimants are legitimately and seriously injured. Companies like The Hartford figure that they have nothing to lose by using desparation surveillance tactics.

Although the article didn't say exactly when The Hartford decided to secretly video its own insured, typically insurance companies use surveillance after they take the deposition of their own insured. They will ask insureds at their deposition detailed questions as to what they can no longer do, and then hire the investigator to follow insureds in an attempt to "catch" them doing activites inconsistent with their deposition testimony.

So, if you have an injury or disability claim, the most likely time you will be followed or videoed is about two to four weeks after your deposition is taken. Just so you know....

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Final argument is what every trial attorney lives for. It's the equivalent of being on the mound with a 3-2 count in the 9th inning, or launching the final shot at the buzzer. It's the weaving together of a patchwork of evidence that hopefully makes sense to the jury at the apex of the summit of the trial.

We all look for the necessary binding or fastening materials to tie everything together. A quote, a parable, a metaphor or analogy--these are the binders we use. These are our stock in trade, and every good attorney scavenges for the right one to bring home to the jury. I collect two things. One is fishing lures and equipment, since I am a certified fishaholic. The other thing I collect is quotes, phrases, and other words of wisdom. I have a weathered notebook that I've kept in my desk for years. Every time I read a quote or phrase or story that is appealing, I copy it into my trusty journal for use in a legal brief or at trial.

A great source of inspiration for me is music lyrics. In my mind, there is no greater lyricist than Neil Young. For example, in a personal injury case involving injury to or loss of a child, "I Am A Child" offers this insightful thought:

I am a child.
I last awhile.
You can't conceive of the pleasure in my smile.

Message: you're only a child for so long. No child should have to suffer the loss of innocence or have it broken or shortened due to the carelessness of others.

I've also had cases where my clients were younger and not earning a ton of money at the time they were injured. Perhaps they were just young and immature and just getting by or not realizing their full potential. In those cases, the defense often argues, sometimes very subtly, that the serious injury to that person was no big deal since they weren't exactly setting the world on fire when they were injured. This argument has always been offensive to me, since so many of us are late bloomers, and it doesn't mean we won't someday "figure it out" and reach our potential. Neil's "Comes A Time" beautifully speaks to this issue:

Come's a time, when you're drifting.
Come's a time when you settle down.
Come's a life, feelings lifting.
Pick that baby right up off the ground.
This old world keeps spinning round.
It's a wonder tall trees ain't layin down.
There comes a time.

I think those lyrics put the idea of growing up and realizing potential into proper perspective. So here's a small tribute to my man Neil and a tip of my cap as an inspiration to me and to helping my clients. "Long may you run," Neil (another great song by him), and Happy Birthday (born Nov 12, 1945). Long may we all run as we figure out this thing called life.

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Mesothelioma Doctor Explains Symptons, Diagnosis & Treatment


Treatment for Peritoneal Mesotheliona


Mesothelioma Research


Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure


Living with Peritoneal Mesothelioma


Mesothelioma Attorney Oakland/ Asbestos Lung Cancer


Asbestos Dieases Compensation Mesothelioma Lung Cancer


Lung Cancer Overview


Asbestos Exposure Causes Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma




Lung Lobectomy


Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Advice


Mesothelioma Attorneys San Diego- Asbestos Lung Cancer

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Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Mesothelioma Types

There are five known types of mesothelioma. The four listed below are malignant cancers, and benign mesothelioma is a non-cancerous condition.

Pleural Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, with around 70 percent of cases being pleural in origin.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Comprising approximately 25 percent of mesothelioma cases, this form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneal membrane.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. Approximately 5 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial.

Testicular Mesothelioma: Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles and is the rarest form of the cancer.

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Abdominal mesothelioma, also known as peritoneal mesothelioma, is one form of a rare asbestos-linked cancer, mesothelioma. The abdominal mesothelioma, as the name suggests, is a cancer of the tissues in the abdominal cavity. Abdominal mesothelioma generally affects men ages 50-70, although women make up about one-fifth of all abdominal mesothelioma cases.

Abdominal pains, abdominal weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling are all abdominal mesothelioma symptoms. Patients exhibiting these symptoms are usually scheduled for further examinations to search for other abdominal mesothelioma signs. If an X-ray or CT scan indicates signs that the patient indeed may have abdominal mesothelioma, a biopsy is conducted, allowing the physician to determine the malignancy level. Any abdominal mesothelioma treatment will be determined by the physician and patient, taking into account the stage of the abdominal mesothelioma, the location and sizes of any tumors, and the age and health of the patient. Abdominal mesothelioma has a very high mortality rate, and in many cases, diagnosis occurs when the abdominal mesothelioma has already progressed too far. In such cases, all actions focus on making the abdominal mesothelioma as comfortable as possible, often removing portions of the tumor to relieve pressure.

Abdominal mesothelioma patients may be able to recover part or all of the costs of treating abdominal mesothelioma, due to its strong links to asbestos exposure.

Symptoms and diagnosis

The symptoms of mesothelioma are not unique or remarkable in any way, which can cause it to be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss, coughing, possibly coughing up blood, fatigue, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, or there may be no symptoms at all. Cases of mesothelioma can go undetected or be misdiagnosed. For those who may be at risk, it is imperative to share one’s case history and work experience with one’s physician.

The physician usually starts with an x-ray, CAT Scan or MRI of the chest and abdomen. Even if peritoneal mesothelioma is the chief concern, the doctor needs to rule out that the origin isn’t higher up. Plural mesothelioma is more common and will spread into the abdominal cavity if given the time to do so. If the results of these tests warrant, the doctor will look inside the abdomen with a peritoneoscope. The test with the peritoneoscope is done in the hospital with a local anesthetic. The scope is inserted through an opening made in the abdomen, and the mesothelium tissue is examined. If the tissue cells appear abnormal, a sample of the tissue will be collected for viewing under a microscope for malignancy.

Treatment

Many treatments are available and practiced for abdominal mesothelioma. The usual treatments of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are at the top of the list. Most mesothelioma treatment plans include a combination of methods. Utilizing multiple treatment methods is termed the multimodality approach.

The actions taken with surgery depend on the disposition of the disease. A surgeon may remove part of the mesothelium lining in the abdomen, he or she may remove part of the diaphragm. In severe cases, a doctor might need to remove all or portions of organs.

Radiation treatment or chemotherapy are frequently coupled with surgery. Radiation treatment uses high-energy x-rays to burn cancer cells and reduce tumors. With chemotherapy, the patient is injected with chemicals to kill the cancer cells.

Other types of treatment are Intraoperative photodynamic therapy, which is a new form of treatment. A chemical is injected into the patient several days before surgery. The chemical makes cancer cells more sensitive to light. During surgery, a special light is shone into the abdominal cavity to destroy cancer cells.

Life expectancy

Studies in the United States show that men are more at risk of developing peritoneal mesothelioma, probably because more men work in the construction field. Women, however, have been found to be more vulnerable to the spreading of the disease once it is contracted. Because the disease is so aggressive, survival rates are poor. The chances of recovery depend on the size and range of the cancer and the stage of its development when treatment commences. This is why early detection is so crucial.

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A diagnosis of mesothelioma is always difficult, whether it is pleural mesothelioma or another variety. Because this is such an aggressive and stubborn form of cancer, patients and their families may have a difficult time addressing the issue of treatment, but because options for mesothelioma patients are steadily increasing, the discussion of treatment is quite important, even if all hope seems lost.

Each mesothelioma case is considered individually and there is no right or wrong treatment for the disease. What's best for you or your loved one will depend on a number of factors. Diagnostic tools such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and biopsies will be used to determine these factors and these tests will assist the doctor and/or oncologist in determining the best treatment for the patient in question.

What are the Options?

Cancer treatment usually focuses upon destroying malignant cells and preserving healthy ones. This can be accomplished in a number of ways. At present, mesothelioma patients are faced with three major options for treatment of their disease - surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. What course of treatment is recommended will largely depend on these issues:

• The type of mesothelioma and location of the tumor
• The size of the tumor(s)
• The degree to which the cancer has spread or metastasized
• The stage of the cancer - beginning, advanced, etc.
• The age of the patient
• The overall physical health of the patient

Setting up any type of treatment may involve seeing a variety of doctors, including an oncologist (cancer specialist), pulmonologist (lung specialist), or radiologist. Patience is sometimes necessary, but doctors will no doubt set up treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis.

SURGERY

Surgery is commonly used in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed. Depending on how far the cancer has spread, a lung also may be removed (pneumonectomy). The following are some of the most commonly used surgical treatments of mesothelioma:

Pleurodesis

Pleurodesis is a treatment administered through a thoracoscopy or existing chest tube. Pleurodesis creates inflammation effectively eliminating the pleural space. The elimination of this space then inhibits the accumulation of a pleural effusion. Generally used when the pleural effusion is symptomatic. Talc is used most commonly and effectively for this procedure, thus it is often referred to as "talcing" or as a patient having been "talced."

Pleurectomy

Surgery to remove part of the chest (pleura) or abdomen lining (peritoneum) and some of the tissue surrounding it. This procedure is performed for a variety of disorders including pleural effusion, malignant pleural mesothelioma, and trauma.

Pleurectomy/decortication

Surgery to remove part of the chest (pleura) or abdomen lining (peritoneum) and as much for the tumor mass as possible. This procedure may be performed to reduce pain caused by the tumor mass or to prevent the recurrence of pleural effusion. For peritoneal mesothelioma, surgery is generally aimed at relieving symptoms, such as recurrent ascites or bowel obstruction. As with pleural mesothelioma, complete surgical removal of the entire tumor is unlikely.

Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill mesothelioma cancer cells and to shrink tumors. There are two types of radiation therapy.

External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body that beams x-rays to the location of the mesothelioma. There are newer ways to deliver radiotherapy that minimize contact with other tissue. Intensity-modulated radation therapy (IMRT) is a type of three-dimensional therapy. A computer-driven machine delivers radiation as it moves around the patient. The machine shapes the beams, aims them from several angles, and adjusts the strength of the beams. IMRT is available at many hospitals and cancer treatment centers.

Brachytherapy, also called internal radiation therapy, involves putting chemicals that produce radiation directly into the site of the mesothelioma cancer. This is done by inserting a thin plastic tube into the chest or abdomen. However, it is not often used for mesothelioma treatment.

Mesotheliomas are not discrete solid tumors, but are usually spread out over a large area. Because of this, it is very difficult to deliver high-enough doses of radiation to kill the tumor without damaging surrounding organs. As a result, it is unclear whether radiation therapy is a successful method of treating mesothelioma. It has, however, been effective in killing remaining tumor cells after surgery has been performed.

Radiation therapy is also used as a palliative therapy to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and internal bleeding.

Radiation therapy has several side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. Some of the side effects depend on where the mesothelioma is located. Although side effects are sometimes temporary, you should let your doctor know, since they often can be controlled. There are very effective medications to control nausea and vomiting.

Chemotherapy

Like radiation, chemotherapy provides no cure for mesothelioma but can go a long way in providing relief from the horrendous symptoms of the disease. As researchers continue to test different combinations of chemotherapy drugs, patients continue to benefit from their findings, and someday, chemo may go a lot further in prolonging the life of a mesothelioma victim.

Chemotherapy is given in pill form or injected. In the case of mesothelioma patients, the drugs are given intrapleurally (into the chest cavity) or intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Doctors usually combine two drugs for the best result. Currently, the preferred combination is Alimta© (pemetrexed) and Cisplatin, but other drugs are used in tandem if deemed preferable for a specific patient. In some cases, patients can only tolerate a single drug so only one is used for treatment.

Other drugs are given to the patient to combat the unpleasant side effects of chemo, such as medication to relieve nausea and vomiting or vitamins to replace essential ones lost during chemotherapy.

Some patients decide that the side effects of chemotherapy are too severe and opt not to receive this treatment.

Mesomark Blood Test

In January 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the MESOMARK assay to help monitor response to treatment in epithelial and bi-phasic malignant mesothelioma patients. A specific protein, or biomarker, called Soluble Mesothelin-Related Peptide (SMRP), may be released into the blood by mesothelioma cancer cells. By measuring the amount of SMRP in a blood sample, doctors may be able to better monitor a patient's progress. Based on the limited amount of data currently available, use of this test may be beneficial, but effectiveness has not been determined at this time. The MESOMARK blood test has NOT yet been approved for the early diagnosis of mesothelioma.

This test has been approved as a Humanitarian Use Device (HUD), meaning that physicians must follow certain procedures to qualify their patients for testing. Once the physician is certified, informational brochures will be sent to be distributed to each applicable patient.

Those wishing to take part in

MESOMARK testing will be asked to provide one or more samples of blood. The blood samples will then be sent to a national reference laboratory for testing. In conjunction with other clinical and laboratory data obtained by your doctor, decisions regarding your treatment and care may be simplified. You may discontinue testing at any time.

The costs associated with the MESOMARK blood test may not be covered under health insurance, therefore, you may be required to pay all or part of the costs out of pocket. It is recommended that you check with your insurance carrier to determine whether coverage is available under your policy.

Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy

A new type of treatment that uses special drugs and light to kill cancer cells during surgery. A drug that makes cancer cells more sensitive to light is injected into a vein several days before surgery. During surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible, a special light is used to shine on the pleura. This treatment is being studied for early stages of mesothelioma in the chest.

Gene Therapy

involves using genetic material to specifically target cancer cells and make them more vulnerable to chemotherapy treatment.

"

The main type of gene therapy being developed for use in mesothelioma patients is called "suicide gene therapy," because it forces cancer cells to produce substances that cause their death.

When undergoing this type of gene therapy, the patient is treated with a non-infectious virus that has been altered with genetic material that makes them produce a particular protein.

Following this procedure, the patient is then treated with a chemotherapeutic medication that is specially formulated to be toxic only to cancer cells. This type of therapy has produced some promising results for mesothelioma patients, but it is still only available through clinical trials.

Immunotherapy is a type of treatment in which the patient's own immune system is 'tricked' into killing cancer cells. A healthy, normally-functioning immune system does not kill cancer cells, because even though these are diseased cells, the immune system is unable to recognize them as being harmful.

There are two main types of immunotherapy: active and passive. In active immunotherapy, mesothelioma cancer cells are removed from a patient and then treated in a laboratory to turn them into a vaccine. Following this laboratory treatment, the patient is injected with the vaccine and if the treatment is successful, the patient's immune system recognizes the vaccine as a harmful substance, thus recognizing the cancer as being harmful as well.

Passive immunotherapy is somewhat different in that it does not attempt to activate the patient's immune system. Instead, it uses substances such as cytokines (molecules that direct and regulate the immune system) and other agents to help boost the patient's immune response to their cancer.

The resources at Asbestos.com are here to serve and benefit those affected by asbestos exposure. One of the site's main goals is to provide help and assistance to those coping with asbestos-related disease, and this includes informative materials that can be mailed directly to you.

To learn even more about the range of treatment options available to mesothelioma patients, please fill out the form on the right to receive a comprehensive information packet. You can also call 800-615-2270 with any questions or concerns - our well-informed staff is ready and eager to offer assistance on a wide range of relating issues.

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A number of mesothelioma survivors have posted their stories on the Internet and have spoken to patients and their families with the hope of providing a brighter outlook for their future. These same survivors have also presented their cases to doctors and researchers.

The most outspoken of these individuals is Paul Kraus, an Australian mesothelioma survivor. Kraus was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in 1997, a form of the disease that is tougher to treat than the more common pleural variety. Kraus worked in a factory 35 years earlier where he was exposed him to blue (crocidolite) asbestos.

Upon his diagnosis, Kraus decided he would do everything possible to fight the cancer. He altered his diet (he's now a vegetarian), added many vitamins and supplements to his daily routine, began "juicing," and tried a treatment known as ozone therapy. Kraus explains, "They took blood out of a vein, used an ozone machine to add ozone (a molecule composed of three oxygen atoms) to the blood and reintroduced it into my body through a drip. The rationale for that was that cancer does not like an oxygenated environment."

The research in putting the protocol together took a lot of time, but in the long-run, Kraus believes the combination of all these treatments stabilized his mesothelioma. Today, tests show he still has the disease and his body is a bit weaker than it was, but he has no pain and his doctors tell him he could continue living for many more years.

Kraus stresses the fact that he is not the only mesothelioma survivor. He has cited the case of a man diagnosed 14 years ago at age 58 (no name given) who had a chest wall resection after diagnosis and has had no symptoms or recurrence since. His doctors believe there was "moderate host inflammatory response" and that spontaneous regression may be an immune-mediated phenomenon" - in other words, his immune system played a role in his survival. (Pilling, J.E., et al., Prolonged Survival Due to Spontaneous Regression and Surgical Excision of Malignant Mesothelioma, Ann Thorac Surg, 2007; 83: 314-5.)

Another survivor, Rhio O'Connor - who recently published a book about his fight with mesothelioma - has lived with the disease for seven years. He opted against surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Instead, with the help of several medical physicians, he developed a regimen that included 100 supplements per day, changed his diet drastically, and now practices what he calls "mind-body medicine" (such as non-stress techniques like meditation). In his book, he recommends a variety of alternatives to traditional medicines and treatments.

Although the majority of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are told their survival rate is less than one year from the time of diagnosis, cases of patients living past their predicted survival date are continuing to surface. With each survivor story that comes to light, current mesothelioma sufferers are gaining a little more hope about their future.

Why Do Some Mesothelioma Patients Survive Longer?

There have been a number of patients that have survived far beyond the usual one year survival period and a handful that have even been cured, with no trace of the aggressive cancer several years after treatment (though recurrence is always possible). This has stumped many medical professionals as they experience difficulty in explaining why some mesothelioma patients survive and others do not.

Research seems to show one common thread – the immune system. Studies of those who have either survived or been cured of the disease reveal that most of these patients participated in some sort of therapy that enhanced their immune system. Some treatments included clinical trials in immunology while others involved alternative therapies dealing with the immune system.

A report released more than 20 years ago theorized that "the presence of asbestos fibers in exposed workers may have caused the eventual breakdown of the host's surveillance system and the onset of neoplasm [malignant mesothelioma]."

With this philosophy in mind, some researchers believe treatments that improve the immune system can stabilize and even cure the disease. Currently, this is the most prevalent theory in explaining why some patients continue to live a healthy life while mesothelioma is in remission and why others have apparently defeated the disease.

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Majority of mesothelioma (cancerous tumor affecting mesothelial cells of organs) cases come under the classification ‘pleural mesothelioma’. This is a cancer that originates in the pleura, the delicate membrane covering the lungs. Out of these, seventy five percent are diffuse malignant pleural mesethelioma. The balance is localized or benign.

Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma is, in most cases, caused by unprotected exposure to asbestos. The symptoms include shortness of breath and/or chest pain, loss of weight, cough, fatigue, swelling on the face, neck and arms, reduced appetite, and coughing up blood. There would be collection of fluid in the thoracic cavity. It may take from twenty to forty years or more after contact with asbestos for the symptoms to emerge. Because of the time lag, diagnosing is often difficult. Moreover, many doctors are not familiar with the disease.

Diagnostic procedure consists mostly of imaging with Computed Tomography (CT scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Position Emission Tomography (PET), and laboratory tests and analysis. Thoractomy, which means making an incision through the chest wall to look into the pleura (the membrane lining the lungs and the thoracic cavity) and pleural biopsy provide conclusive evidence.

Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma tumor is very aggressive and spreads fast. There are several methods to gauge the stage of the cancer. The most common is known as TNM. T is for the size of the tumor, N for the number of lymph nodules involved, and M for metastasis (spread of the cancer). There are basically four different stages. Correct grading helps the doctors to decide on the course of treatment. If the affliction is detected at an early stage, the chances of longer survival are better.

But generally the prognosis (response to treatment) is not good in diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma cases. Surgery during Stage I may help. If detected during the later phases of the cancer the survival rate is four months to twelve months. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy do not seem to improve the survival rate. The reality is that currently there is no effective curative treatment. Research is on to find new management methods and more effectual medicines.

Pleural Mesothelioma provides detailed information on Malignant Diffuse Pleural Mesothelioma, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Survival Rate, Mesothelioma Pleural Brachytherapy and more. Pleural Mesothelioma is affiliated with Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawyers.

Pleural mesothelioma has been diagnosed in 52 patients in three hospitals on Merseyside between 1955 and 1970, 60% being diagnosed from operation specimens and the rest from postmortem tissues. Necropsies eventually held on nearly half the operation cases confirmed the diagnosis, giving a necropsy rate of 70% for the series. The morbid anatomy conformed to earlier descriptions except that widespread metastases were much commoner than has usually been described.

Histological findings agreed with previous accounts of the tumour, except that, in our hands, special acid mucopolysaccharide staining was less reliable than Southgate's mucicarmine, which was of value in differential diagnosis. Association with asbestos was confirmed from industrial histories in 80% of cases, the commonest industries involved being shipbuilding and repairing in men and sackware repairing in women. Lungs of industrial mesothelioma cases showed basal asbestosis in 17% and excessive asbestos bodies in almost all the rest. Quantitative comparison of asbestos bodies in lung smears from mesothelioma cases compared with lung smears from other Merseyside adults showed much higher counts in the mesothelioma cases.

The interval from first exposure to asbestos until appearance of mesothelioma ranged between 13 and 63 years, with a mean of 42 years. We think the incidence of mesothelioma will continue to rise with the increased use of asbestos until about 40 years after adequate protective measures have been taken.

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The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation, formerly MARF) is a non-profit organization that funds mesothelioma research, provides services to patients, educates the public, and advocates in Washington, DC for governmental funding for mesothelioma research. The organization's mission is to eradicate mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, as a life-ending disease,

Its donors include lawyers, companies that have manufactured asbestos and victims, along with their family and friends.

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) was formed in late 1999 to restore hope and end the misery for mesothelioma patients and their families. Our mission is to eradicate mesothelioma as a life-ending disease through research, education and awareness. We are accomplishing this by collaborating with doctors, scientists, asbestos trial lawyers and manufacturers, labor unions, drug companies, the Government, and mesothelioma patients and family members themselves. These parties may be divided on various issues, but one thing is certain: patients diagnosed with this terrible tumor will not have a realistic hope for a cure until we commit the research money necessary to find a cure.

How Do We End The Apathy?

The resources to find a cure are available. Millions of dollars are spent every year on asbestos litigation and lobbying. Would not at least some of this money be better invested in finding a cure? There are intelligent and passionate doctors and scientists who believe that a cure can be found. The Federal Government budgets millions of dollars for cancer research; more of this can be invested in helping our Navy veterans win the battle against mesothelioma.

It is a question of will and funding. MARF unites all the interested parties with one goal: to find a cure and stop the pointless suffering. MARF's science advisors have faith that the tumor does have an Achilles' heel; it is only a matter of finding it.

To date, the foundation has funded over $5 million in clinical research and is the host of the annual International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer that is caused because of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos has been used for more than a 100 years in shipyards, building products and factories. People who have been exposed to asbestos constantly are the prime victims of mesothelioma. However, it can also affect people who do not work in those areas. Mesothelioma can take years to develop in the body and take time for diagnosis. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma then people who are responsible for your exposure to asbestos are liable to give you compensation for your disease. with the help of a good mesothelioma lawyer you can file a lawsuit against the company that is responsible for your disease and get the compensation.

The Delaware mesothelioma lawsuit

When you approach a mesothelioma lawyer with a case then the lawyer would look into your history and investigate the cause of exposure to asbestos. Once this is done then the lawyer would look into the history of the company to get any previous evidences of lawsuits filed against them. This can be of much help for your case. There are times that the companies that are involved in the asbestos case would try for an out-of-court settlement. However you should not agree to such settlements, as they are less than the amount that you deserve. It is always advised to take the help of a lawyer who can help you out with your mesothelioma lawsuit.

Mesothelioma cases can take anytime from 4 months to one year to get you the compensation. Usually mesothelioma cases are solved fast so that the victim can get the compensation that he or she deserves.

How can the Delaware mesothelioma lawyer help?

The mesothelioma lawyers in Delaware understand the seriousness of the case and work to determine the cause that is responsible for the disease. They would help you get compensation for your medical expenses, future treatments, loss of wages, loss of future earnings, loss of capability of earning, pain and suffering etc.

The mesothelioma lawyer would make you aware of your rights and would fight to protect them. Mesothelioma cases and generally difficult to prove and involve big names. It is hence important that you take the help of a lawyer who is experienced and knows how to deal with such cases. The lawyer whom you choose should have enough sources to fight your case. Finding the right lawyer for your mesothelioma case can make a lot of difference to your case.

By hiring a mesothelioma attorney in Delaware you will be able discover if you are entitled to any financial compensation from developing an asbestos disease. Your Delaware mesothelioma lawyer / attorney / law firm will advise upon the best course of action for possible lawsuit and litigation actions. We advise pursuing a legal course of action with your attorney in order to enforce your rights, punish the parties responsible for the asbestos poisoning and provide financial security.

The viability of your Delaware mesothelioma lawsuit will depend upon a range of a factors: where you lived, when you were exposed to asbestos, the location of the companies and the liability that can be proved. When obtaining legal representation of an Delaware mesothelioma attorney, lawyer or law firm, be prepared to provide as much information as possible. This will help your mesothelioma attorney and assist the discovery process.

If You Have Specific Delaware Mesothelioma Questions, Call Us (toll free) at 1-800-741-4768. Remember, Mesothelioma Claims in Delaware are subject to a Statute of Limitations. If Your Statute Runs, Your Claim is Forever Lost Regardless of Its Merit. Call Us to Learn How the Delaware Statute of Limitations Applies to Your Case.

Contact a Mesothelioma attorney if you are suffering from this deadly disease and you contracted it because of unsafe working environment. We have listed Mesothelioma attorneys in each state on this site to help you find suitable legal help.

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Sarcomatoid mesothelioma accounts for only about 10 to 15 percent of the mesothelioma cancer cells and it is the least common form of mesothelioma. Sarcomatoid cells are typically oval shaped, but more irregular. The nucleus of sarcomatoid cells is not as clearly visible under an electron microscope as the nuclei of epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells. Because the irregular oval shape is a common among cancer cells, sarcomatoid mesothelioma can be confused with sarcomatoid carcinoma and with sarcoma.

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the least common type of mesothelioma cancer cell and accounts for approximately 10 percent to 15 percent of malignant mesothelioma. These cells typically have more of an oval, irregular shape and the nucleus of each cell is not as visible with a microscope as the epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells. Because of the similarity of appearance, the sarcomatoid cancer cells can also easily be confused with the more typical sarcoma cancer cells. Learn more about sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is an uncommon type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. It is difficult to diagnose sarcomatoid mesothelioma and thus far it has been resistant in responding to any type of therapy. Mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Like all forms of malignant mesothelioma cancer, sarcomatoid mesothelioma is both aggressive and fatal.

Malignant mesothelioma cancer is divided into three main categories dependent on which part of the mesothelium it attacks: peritoneal mesothelioma (peritoneum/abdomen), pleural mesothelioma (lining of the lungs/chest cavity), and pericardial mesothelioma (lining of the heart).

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is one of the three main sub types of mesothelioma that are grouped according to how the cells look under a microscope. The other two are epithelioid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma. These types of mesothelioma cells can further divide into other types of cancerous cells called

• Clear cell
• Small cell
• Acinar cell
• Tubopapillary cell

Diagnosis of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is diagnosed by a histopathologist who examines a section of suspect tissue using a high powered microscope. A section of tissue is removed through a type of diagnostic surgery called a biopsy. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is sometimes confused with other sarcomas because it originates in the same areas of the body and has a similar cellular structure.

What is Sarcoma?

Sarcoma is a form of cancer that originates in the supportive tissues of the body such as the bone, cartilage, fat or muscle.

What is malignant mesothelioma and how many types are there?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects mesothelial tissue. Mesothelial tissue includes the pleura, which envelopes the lungs and lines the chest cavity, the peritoneum, which lines the abdomen, and the pericardium, which surrounds the heart. Malignant mesothelioma is an exceptionally rare disease that has thus far been linked exclusively with asbestos exposure - between 70% and 80% of persons diagnosed with mesothelioma can trace the condition to asbestos exposure.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma in Summation

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the most serious form of mesothelioma cancer, as it rarely responds to treatment. Fortunately, it is also the rarest type of mesothelioma, as it only strikes 10 to 20% of patients with mesothelioma. It appears as spindle-shaped pattern of cells that overlap one another, and generally arises from support tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, and fat. Death usually occurs within six months of diagnosis of sarcomatoid mesothelioma.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Legal Help

If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with sarcomatoid mesothelioma, you might be entitled to compensation. Please contact a considerate personal injury attorney who will thoroughly evaluate your case to recommend the most appropriate legal action. In certain cases, a personal injury lawsuit can help victims of asbestos exposure obtain compensation for their medical expenses, emotional suffering, lost income and reduction in lifestyle. You should also talk to a skilled attorney if your loved one has died due to an asbestos-related disease, such as sarcomatoid mesothelioma. A wrongful death lawyer might file a wrongful death lawsuit to hold those responsible for your suffering financially liable.

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Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known to man; the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months. It’s a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 United States citizens each and every year; hard working people who have labored for a lifetime to provide for their families, doing the work that keeps this country running and a great place to live.

They worked in factories, at shipyards, in mines, for the US military, as engineers, as pipefitters, as steel workers, as auto mechanics, and in so many other professions. They came home to their loved ones exhausted and covered in dirt and dust; tired, but content that they had a job and were providing for their family. Content that they were putting food on the table and a house over their loved one’s heads. Content that they were working to make a better life for their families in this generation and the next...

But what they didn’t know was that while they were working so hard, they were not only slowly killing themselves, but those that they were working so hard to help; their family, their loved ones.

Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is via exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos. It comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades; eating away at the lining of your lungs and developing into a deadly cancer. Dust that was inhaled in clouds of white powder, dust that was carried home on the clothes of the men who built this country, dust that was cleaned from the clothes by the wives and children who supported their sole provider at home, dust that was packed around the heating systems in houses and offices and schools, dust that carried a deadly price; and dust made a fortune in blood money for the companies that produced it.

Unfortunately, the effects of asbestos on the human body were known to be deadly for years by the companies who employed the ‘greatest generation’ and made hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars off of their backs. But instead of taking simple steps to alleviate the problem and save the lives of thousands of their workers, they choose to do nothing and continue to make a “healthy” profit with a “deadly” product. Many even went so far as to hide the truth from their workers and their families. And because the normal latency period for Mesothelioma (The time from exposure until the patient falls ill) is 20 to 30 years, many got away with this for years. We are only now beginning to see the full effects of the disease, and feel the terrible outcry of the people against those who put profits before human lives to a degree that is simply unfathomable.

A site created to provide you with up to date information on the deadly disease Mesothelioma. We strive to provide the most complete overview of the disease and all aspects of it. This includes general information on the disease, breaking news on the search for a cure and perspective legislation designed to limit you as well as all other news on the subject, links to other sites and online resources that can provide important and in-depth Mesothelioma and cancer related information, and a legal guide to help you with the complex legal issues involved with Mesothelioma.

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