About Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that afflicts individuals exposed to asbestos. In the United States, anywhere from 2,500 to 4,000 patients are diagnosed each year with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.
Unfortunately, New York is among the states with the highest numbers of deaths from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos was commonly used in many manufacturing and other facilities in theFinger Lakes region, including:
- Alcan (Oswego)
- BorgWarner (Ithaca)
- Foster Wheeler (Dansville)
- Garlock (Palmyra)
- IBM (Endicott, Owego)
- International Wire (Camden)
- Lockheed Martin (Owego)
- Nestle Foods (Fulton)
- Stauffer Chemical (Skaneateles)
If you or a loved one in the Finger Lakes region has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact the asbestos injury lawyers of Belluck & Fox, LLP, today. Our firm handles mesothelioma cases in every county in New York, including those in the Finger Lakes region. Our mesothelioma attorneys provide personalized and professional legal representation and can advise you of the legal options available for you and your family.
For more information, use our online contact form or call Belluck & Fox, LLP’s mesothelioma lawyers toll-free at 877-MESOTHELIOMA (637-6843).
Mesothelioma – A Preventable Disease
Scores of corporations that manufactured and profited from the sale of products containing asbestos knew of the health hazards as early as the 1920s, even though alternatives to asbestos were available. Putting profits ahead of workers’ health, many companies chose to ignore the deadly risks and repercussions associated with asbestos as they continued to use it for many purposes, including insulation for steam pipes, turbines, boilers, kilns, ovens, and other high-temperature products, as well as to fireproof roofing and flooring. They continued to sell and recklessly use the hazardous substance through the 1980s. Making matters worse, these manufacturers did not warn employees of the dangers of asbestos. The resulting tragedy is that many hardworking Americans have unnecessarily contracted mesothelioma.
What is Mesothelioma?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is comprised of a layer surrounding the organ and another that forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid between these layers that enables moving organs (such as lungs which expand and contract) to move smoothly against adjacent structures.
The National Cancer Institute defines mesothelioma as a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the sac lining the chest (known as the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum), the lining around the heart (the pericardium), or the lining around the testicles (tunica vaginalis). Pleural malignant mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, is the most common form of the deadly disease.
Cancerous cells can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs and may also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Inhalation of asbestos fibers is associated with mesothelioma.
What are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be delayed because early symptoms are generally non-specific. Pleural mesothelioma initially may resemble viral pneumonia. A person might also experience a persistent cough and chest pain. As the disease progresses, fluid accumulating in the chest cavity causes pain, difficulty in breathing and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, night sweats, weight loss, blood clotting, and anemia. Pain and swelling of the neck or face may indicate the cancer has metastasized beyond the mesothelium.
Peritoneal (abdominal) mesothelioma may include the symptoms noted above, as well as swelling or abdominal pain due to a fluid build-up.
How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Doctors use a variety of procedures to determine if a patient has mesothelioma, including imaging tests, visualization tests, biopsies and pulmonary function tests. Because diagnosing mesothelioma can be difficult, doctors may perform other tests to confirm if the disease is present. If a diagnosis of mesothelioma is confirmed, the doctor may request tests such as a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan to evaluate the stage or extent of the disease to determine an appropriate course of treatment.
How is Mesothelioma Treated?
Presently no cure for mesothelioma is known to exist. As the disease progresses, the cancerous cells harden in the lung area and spread, making breathing, sleeping and eating more difficult. It becomes increasingly more challenging for the patient to engage in normal activities.
Three traditional treatments are used for mesothelioma patients: (1) surgery to remove the cancerous masses from the body; (2) chemotherapy, which uses potent drugs to destroy the cancer; and (3) radiation therapy using high doses of X-rays to kill the cancer cells. Doctors will often combine two or more of these treatments to increase the likelihood of success.
Pemetrexed, also known under its brand name, Alimta, is a medication used to treat malignant pleural mesothelioma. Used in combination with other chemotherapy, Pemetrexed can help reduce tumors, prolong survival and reduce pain.
Finger Lakes Region Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Buffalo offers excellent mesothelioma treatment options in support of mesothelioma victims. In fact, Buffalo is home to one of the nation’s top mesothelioma treatment centers, the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The institute is America’s first cancer center and the only upstate New York facility to hold the National Cancer Center designation of “comprehensive cancer center.”
The region also benefits from the presence of the University of Rochester Cancer Center, named the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center, a division of the University of Rochester Medical Center. The Center’s association with the leading academic medical colleges in the area allows for collaboration between doctors and medical scientists, bringing treatments from the lab to the hospital in record time. Patients also have access to numerous ongoing clinical trials that test new cancer drugs and therapies.
Contact Our Asbestos Injury Lawyers Today
If you or a loved one in the Finger Lakes region of New York has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our asbestos injury attorneys at Belluck & Fox, LLP, can help. We handle mesothelioma cases throughout the state of New York. Use our online contact form or call Belluck & Fox, LLP’s mesothelioma lawyers toll-free at 877-MESOTHELIOMA (637-6843).
