Mesothelioma Mining on Hold in Canada

Canada has, for a long time, been one of the leading producers of asbestos which has now come under extreme scrutiny. For the first time in over 100 years, one of the world's top producers of mesothelioma-causing asbestos has stopped production at its two remaining asbestos mines because of money and logistical problems.

Canada Under the Microscope

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. In the United States alone, more than 2,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. So it should therefore come as no surprise that Canada is now facing some harsh criticism.

Health officials around the world have been highly critical, if not denunciatory, of Canada's asbestos industry and its exportation policies because of the clear link between asbestos and various asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma. Because mesothelioma is an extremely rare and aggressive form of cancer, more attention is being paid to this issue. The disease attacks the protective tissue that encases both the lungs and lining of the abdomen, and because symptoms don't appear until decades after asbestos exposure, by the time a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it may be terminal.

Today, despite protective measures, mesothelioma is on the rise worldwide, especially in third-world countries where asbestos is still used as a cheap additive to building materials. To make matters worse, many of these countries are top importers of Canadian asbestos.

Once a dominant force in the world for the production of asbestos, Canada was revered for the production of asbestos-related materials for fireproofing and insulating components. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Canada produced 85% of the world's asbestos in the 1900's - 1.69 million metric tons at its peak in 1973. In 2010, the country produced about 100,000 metric tons - just 5% of the world supply. How many thousands of cases of mesothelioma were caused by the Canadian asbestos industry has never been reported. Now that production has stopped, the Canadian Press says the future of the country's last two mines remains unclear.

Asbestos Mining To Be Continued?

One of the two mines remaining would need a team of international investors and a bank loan guarantee of $58 million from the government of Quebec in order to start digging in a new section. If things work out in their favor, it is estimated that the mine could continue to produce asbestos for another 25 to 50 years. The Canadian Mining Journal reports that investors hope to resume production of this mine in the spring of 2012.

The other mine doesn't seem to be faring quite as well and has been having 'operational problems'- though these problems aren't necessarily due to human opposition. In fact, the problems are due to a massive rock slide that cut off access to the mine's economically viable chrysotile. It is unclear when work will resume at this location.

In the meantime, many mesothelioma activists are furious over the entire situation, arguing that asbestos safety standards in poorer countries are not high enough, which, if Canadian production of asbestos continues, may put thousands more people at risk for mesothelioma in the next ten to twenty years.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Myra D. Foreman writes for Surviving Mesothelioma. This is the only website where this important book is available for free. The book is written by Paul Kraus who was diagnosed with mesothelioma more than a decade ago and is still enjoying life today!

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Mesothelioma and the Importance of Good Nutrition

Everyone knows and acknowledges that the key component to maintaining a healthy lifestyle is to incorporate good nutrition into your diet, particularly if you have mesothelioma cancer or some other health-compromising disease. Individuals who have mesothelioma can greatly benefit from consuming a nutritionally rich diet, which will undoubtedly fluctuate as they go through their treatment protocol and will require a great variety of nourishing and wholesome foods.

Consuming a health conscious diet that consists of all the necessary nutrients the human body needs can be an overwhelming challenge in general. However, people who suffer from mesothelioma and other types of cancer may find it even more difficult to adhere to a healthy diet plan. Eating a well balanced diet is especially important for people with mesothelioma even though they struggle with nausea and appetite loss since nutritional foods help sustain energy, boost the immune system and ward off free radicals that may trigger cancer. Additionally, proper nutrition is vital to diminishing the detrimental side effects that some mesothelioma treatments can incur.

Mesothelioma victims cope with various nutritional requirements since cancer treatments may produce side effects that are relative to nutrition. For instance, a patient who receives chemotherapy or radiation therapy can experience difficulty eating on a regular basis since these types of treatments are recognized as producers of intense nausea. Also, post-surgery patients are generally weak and therefore have a hard time eating proper foods. Other cancer treatment side effects that could sabotage an ideal nutrition plan are overall pain, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, difficulty swallowing, anorexia, bulimia, anxiety, depression and mouth sores.

It is crucial to maintain a nutritional diet before, during and after cancer treatments since undernourishment can cause weakness, exhaustion and leave a patient vulnerable to infection. Frequent dietary issues many cancer patients face are not consuming enough calories and protein, which are critical to promote healing, stave off infection and maintain energy levels. A well-balanced and healthy diet can result in a better outcome for the patient.

Here are a few nutritional suggestions for fighting mesothelioma and staying healthy while enduring cancer treatment protocol.

- Keep your body thoroughly hydrated to expel harmful toxins that accompany certain cancer treatments

- Discuss an optimal diet plan with your dietician that is personalized to specifically meet your needs

- Consider a low-carb diet while integrating high amounts of healthy protein-rich foods which help restore impaired tissues due to surgery or other various mesothelioma therapies as well as boost the immune system

- If you are experiencing difficulty swallowing or nausea, consume softer types of foods or vitamin-rich liquids. Create healthy fruit smoothies or consume ready-made liquid diet supplements if solid foods are intolerable to you

- Incorporate healthy fats into your diet to maintain energy levels and avert depression

- Avoid extreme weight loss by eating high-calorie foods, which include real cheeses, milk and butter if you are experiencing a loss of appetite

- Consult with your doctor or medical practitioner to be sure you are getting an ample supply of the essential nutrients your body requires

Sarah Livingston researches and writes on various health topics such as lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Proper nutrition is crucial during the mesothelioma cancer treatment. Visit Sarah at WhenWasAsbestosBanned.net to learn more about the facts and dangers of asbestos.

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Recognizing the Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that affects people who have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once mined and utilized in great quantities across the United States and worldwide. Commercial and industrial asbestos use peaked in the U.S. in the middle of the 20th century, but it had already become apparent that the mineral was causing serious health problems. The U.S. government began regulating asbestos in the 1970s based on its link to mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, respiratory disorders and other serious health problems. Unfortunately, the widespread regulation of asbestos came too late for many people who had already been exposed.
Asbestos fibers are easily inhaled and ingested. Once they are introduced into the body, they may become embedded in the mesothelium, the lining of the organs and body cavities. They may become lodged in the pleura (lining of the lungs), peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) or pericardium (lining of the heart). The body cannot easily expel asbestos fibers that have become embedded in these areas, and they may remain there for many years, causing irritation, inflammation and the eventual development of cancerous cells. This form of cancer is called mesothelioma.
As with any form of cancer and most medical conditions, an early diagnosis is crucial if a patient is to have the best chance at survival. Unfortunately the symptoms can be difficult to recognize because of their similarity to symptoms of common medical conditions and mesothelioma's long latency period. Chronic cough, chest pain, abdominal pain and other similar ailments may be shrugged off as symptoms of minor illnesses. They may be quite mild at first. A patient may not even consider mesothelioma as a potential issue because so much time has elapsed since asbestos exposure occurred. According to one study, it took patients as long as 39 months from the initial presentation of symptoms to receive appropriate treatment.
The majority of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. The most common symptoms of this condition include shortness of breath, chest pain, chronic cough, limited or reduced chest expansion, fatigue and weight loss. A patient may also experience chest pain or painful breathing, fever or night sweats and may cough up blood.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdominal organs and cavity, include abdominal pain and swelling, changes in bowel habits or function, weight loss, fatigue, lumps under the skin of the abdomen, anemia, nausea, night sweats and fever.
Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare. This form of cancer affects the lining of the heart. Some reported symptoms include irregular heartbeat, chest pain, chronic cough, difficulty breathing, heart murmur, fatigue, night sweats and fever. Additional symptoms may be reported as more patients are diagnosed and data is collected.
It may take approximately 20 to 50 years from exposure to asbestos minerals for a patient to experience symptoms of mesothelioma and seek medical treatment. These symptoms may vary somewhat depending on the type of mesothelioma as well as the patient's age, overall health and preexisting medical conditions, if any. If you notice these symptoms and have a history of asbestos exposure, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible - even if you feel that you are not seriously ill. A chronic cough or shortness of breath may be signs that cancerous cells have developed in your lung tissue or the lining of your chest or lungs. Tell your doctor what symptoms you are experiencing and inform him or her of your history with asbestos. Even if you did not work directly with or around the mineral, you may have experienced secondary exposure from a family member. Full disclosure will help your doctor determine what tests need to be run and whether to refer you to a specialist to confirm the diagnosis.
More than 2,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year; this number is expected to peak in 2020. According to estimates by the National Institute of Health, approximately 11 million people were exposed to asbestos from 1940 to 1978. People exposed in the 60s, 70s and possibly even the 50s may only now be experiencing the symptoms of mesothelioma. Reports and diagnoses may still be made for years into the future. Though asbestos was regulated in the 1970s, people were still exposed in buildings, vessels, shipyards and other places where asbestos was present. Older buildings and products may still contain asbestos, meaning people today may still be at risk of exposure.
Representing clients across the U.S. who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses, Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik, LLP is committed to seeking justice and maximum financial compensation regardless of the size and resources of the opponent. The firm is headquartered in the Empire State Building in New York City and has multiple office locations across the country. The attorneys have more than 150 years of collective experience and have recovered more than $3 billion in verdicts and settlements since 2000 alone. Contact NBRS for a free, confidential consultation at http://www.mesolawyers.net/.

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Smoke Signals And Mesothelioma Symptoms

Despite a three year period allowed for entering a claim for mesothelioma compensation, delay can often occur until a confirmed diagnosis then reveals the disease has spread to an advanced stage. There are a number of reasons for not recognising the appearance of the first signs of mesothelioma or asbestosis symptoms.

Most often there is a long gestation period of up to 50 years from the initial period of exposure and a connection is not readily made, even though the victim may recall the circumstances of working with or surrounded by asbestos material at their place of work.

Lack of asbestos awareness to the deadly health risks was not only prevalent at the workplace during the peak years of asbestos use in UK industry but 'secondary exposure' could occur to wives and close family at home when washing their husband, brother or uncle's work clothes containing the fibre dust.

Another common reason for failure to correctly identify shortness of breath, a chronic cough or chest pain as likely first signs of mesotheliomaor anasbestosis-related condition is because they are strikingly similar to a number of other common types of respiratory disease, such as influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.

Crucially, the difference between mesothelioma and lung cancer can also be confused at first as exposure to asbestos can cause both conditions, even though the two occur in different tissues of the body. While lung cancer is a disease which affects just the lung tissue, mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen, and is only caused by the breathing in of airborne, asbestos dust fibres.

Despite mesothelioma cancer being responsible for less than 1 per cent of all cancers diagnosed in the UK, prevalence of the disease has increased almost four-fold since the 1980s, when the first and most lethal types of asbestos had only just begun to be banned.

Another significant reason for a delay in seeking asbestos advice is often due to attributing the onset of breathing difficulties and bouts of coughing to a lifelong smoking habit. Cigarette/ tobacco smoking was particularly prevalent in the heavy industries of shipbuilding, railway engineering, auto assembly and manufacturing throughout much of the twentieth century, alongside the widespread use of asbestos.

An added complication is the effect smoking and asbestos exposure can have upon the risk of lung cancer mortality for asbestos workers. In 2011, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a report, which provided figures for the period, 1971 to 2005, the year that white asbestos chrysotile was finally banned from use, despite importation being stopped six years earlier.

The HSE report revealed that " of the 1,878 lung cancer deaths among the 98,912 UK workers surveyed who were exposed to asbestos, just 2 per cent of lung cancer deaths occurred to those individuals who had never smoked".

Further figures show that of those employees who worked with asbestos and who also smoked, an estimated 3 per cent of lung cancer deaths were attributable to asbestos only, 66 per cent to smoking only, and 28 per cent to the interaction of asbestos and smoking.

A separate study of smoking and exposure to chrysotile ( white) asbestos also found that there was a three and a half times risk at least of lung cancer from smoking in those working with high asbestos exposure to asbestos cement, insulation, friction or textile products in contrast to those working with low asbestos exposure.

Generally, survival rates of around five years for lung cancer patients are higher at 15 and 75 percent, while mesothelioma patients are considerably lower at 10 per cent with only a 4 to 18 months prognosis.

Asbestosis Victim Advice

Offering clear information, advice and FAQ's on mesothelioma and asbestos related illnesses.

Visit http://www.asbestosvictimadvice.com/ for more information and advice.

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Winning Mesothelioma Compensation With An Asbestosis Lawyer

Success for mesothelioma victims and their families in obtaining justice and their rightful entitlement to mesothelioma compensation can often be a long process requiring many different factors to be carefully considered when determining exact cause and liability as a consequence of asbestos exposure and the contracting of an asbestosis disease.

There is, invariably, a considerable amount of background work which needs to be carried out by a highly experienced and specialist asbestosis lawyer and when a final resolution is arrived at in a long running mesothelioma claim case, it is often as a result of more than one appeal and a previous judgement being overturned.

Asbestosis lawyers will attempt to recover financial damages urgently needed to provide the patient, spouse or close family with the urgent and vital support at a critical time. Financial redress can include the cost of often large medical bills - possibly including specialist equipment and care, travel expenses relating to medical treatments, expenses not covered by health insurance, group or family support, and other types of fees and funeral expenses.

In a majority of cases a confirmed diagnosis is made when the mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage and there may be less than 12 months left to live. The judicial process will then have to be continued by a spouse or member of family working with their asbestosis lawyer.

The long period that elapses of between 15 to 50 years from the initial exposure - most often in industrial workplaces and factories but also in public sector buildings such as schools and hospitals - and the emergence of asbestosis symptoms may often cause a considerable challenge in tracing original employers, and/or their insurers.

Insurers have previously contested their liability over the issue of asbestos awareness and whether the risk to the claimant eventually contracting mesothelioma could be reasonably foreseen by the employer at the time of the original exposure, and at the level which would likely cause the employee to be exposed to a future health risk.

Consequently, a defence could be mounted upon the expected reasonable steps having been actually carried out to prevent foreseeable injury. However, it has been recorded many times that little to no information, face masks or other protection equipment/clothing were provided to men and women working around asbestos during the peak use years from the 1940s to the 1970s and 80s.

While in certain cases of single exposure, it only requires to be shown that the presence of asbestos materially increased the risk to the claimant of contracting mesothelioma, in other instances a defendant may shift the focus of their defence to a light mesothelioma exposure risk claim. This type of case would require proof that where an exposure to asbestos had shown to have caused an effect, whether any 'breach of the duty of care' by the employer had taken place.

Here, the ability of an asbestosis lawyer to win an asbestosis claim may rely more on showing that there was a breach of duty in each individual case of asbestos exposure.

While there will be an attempt to settle the case on behalf of a client without going to trial, scrupulous preparation will of course, still be required, including the drafting of pre-trial briefs, notifying hearing witnesses and assembling a considerable case file of support documentation. Not only will the victim's medical history be essential but a full employment history, detailing employment duration and asbestos exposure frequency will be crucial to determine which employer is likely to be liable.

Asbestosis Victim Advice

Offering clear information, advice and FAQ's on mesothelioma and asbestos related illnesses.

Visit http://www.asbestosvictimadvice.com/ for more information and advice.

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Chemotherapy Helps Mesothelioma Survival?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Each year, more than 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed within the United States, many of which end up being terminal.

While there is no one-size-fits-all cure for mesothelioma, researchers and doctors have been working on different treatments to help make this rare form of cancer more manageable. Currently, treatment for mesothelioma generally depends on the location, stage, general health and age of the mesothelioma patient. From that point, patients may receive one or more of a combination of treatments that involve surgery, radiation and/or chemotherapy.

Does Chemotherapy Treatment Work?

Chemotherapy is considered a palliative treatment modality which means that it can help reduce the symptoms of mesothelioma and perhaps the size of the tumors, but it is not curative. Within the last decade, chemotherapy containing cisplatin-antifolate combinations has been shown to improve responses and prolong survival in mesothelioma patients. Based on the successes shown in clinical trials, a trio of research scientists in The Netherlands launched their own population-based study to "assess the impact of this development on clinical practice and survival at a population-based level."

The study focused on 4,731 Dutch patients diagnosed with mesothelioma between 1995 and 2006. For the periods 1995-1998 and 2005-2006, the use of chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma jumped from 8% to 36%. At the same time, median survival for chemotherapy-treated patients increased from 10.1 months in earlier years to 13.1 months in more recent years. The researchers summarized their findings by stating that increased chemotherapy use at the national level did improve survival rates of mesothelioma patients, but they also cautioned that there may still be alternative explanations as to why this is the case.

Alimta and Cisplatin

Cisplatin is a platinum-based chemotherapy drug marketed as Platinol and used to treat a number of different cancers, including mesothelioma, some carcinomas such as small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer, lymphomas and germ cell tumors. Inside cancer cells, cisplatin and other platinum-based drugs trigger cell death, killing the cancerous cells. In the United States, the platinum-based drug, cisplatin, is usually combined with another drug, Alimta, for treating mesothelioma. Alimta is an antifolate drug, which works by blocking the activity of folic acid inside cells interfering with cellular metabolism.

The FDA approved the Alimta plus cisplatin combination after a clinical trial demonstrated that the two drugs were more effective than one drug. In the July 2003 edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology the published results reported a median survival time of 12.1 months for mesothelioma patients who received Alimta and cisplatin versus 9.3 months for the mesothelioma patients who just received cisplatin. The researchers also found that the addition of folic acid and vitamin B12 helped to reduce the toxicity of the drugs without adversely affecting survival time.

It is the hope that as research continues there will also continue to be better alternatives (and hopefully a cure) for those who suffer from mesothelioma.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.

Myra D. Foreman writes for Surviving Mesothelioma. This is the only website where this important book is available for free. The book is written by Paul Kraus who was diagnosed with mesothelioma more than a decade ago and is still enjoying life today

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Conventional Treatments for Mesothelioma

Despite continuing research and studies related to mesothelioma, this cancer is still difficult to treat. This rare but aggressive disease attacks approximately 2,500 people in United States every year. The conventional treatments for mesothelioma are comprised of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Surgery

Surgery may be used in both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma patients. Surgeons usually prefer to provide a surgical procedure when the cancer is localized and debulking of the tumor is practical. Today, many mesothelioma specialists use heated chemotherapy in conjunction with surgery. During the actual procedure heated chemotherapy can be introduced into the surgical cavity to bathe any macro or micro metastasis that the surgeon was unable to excise. In this way, the cytotoxic effects of chemo can be imparted directly to the tissues where it is most needed.

There are different types of surgeries including lung sparring surgery and extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). In lung sparring surgery, surgeons remove the diseased membrane lining the lung and any visible mesothelioma tumors, but spare the lung. Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is a more radical surgical procedure that involves removal of the diseased lung, part of the pericardium, (membrane covering the heart), part of the diaphragm (muscle between the lungs and the abdomen), and part of the parietal pleura (membrane lining the chest). EPP is an invasive and complex operation.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, also referred to as systemic therapy, includes oral and intravenous cytotoxic (cell-killing) medications to kill the cancerous cells. These drugs kill both cancerous as well as healthy cells. Some of the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs to treat mesothelioma are cisplatin and pemetrexed. In fact cisplatin and pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) in combination is the only FDA approved chemotherapy for mesothelioma.

Radiation

Radiation may be an important part of mesothelioma treatment and it can be delivered through various methods. But if the cancer strikes near lungs and heart, it can be challenging for doctors to provide just the right dose for the intensive therapy required to reduce the tumor without creating associated morbidities. There is a newer option, IMRT or intensity-modulated radiotherapy that can target cancer cells more accurately and avoid the healthy cells. When performed by experienced clinicians, one may expect better results with fewer side-effects.

In addition to these modalities, there are many clinical trials today that focus on newer approaches to mesothelioma. These include various biological response modifiers such as anti-angiogenesis. Decades ago, Dr. Judah Folkman discovered that tumors need an expanding network of blood vessels in order to continue growing.

The blood vessels brought oxygen and nutrients to the cancer cells and without the blood vessels the tumor would be starved of what it needed to continue growing. Folkman hypothesized that cutting off the tumor's ability to create new blood supplies (angiogenesis) would be an effective and perhaps less toxic approach to cancer treatment.

Over the last decade, universities and biotech companies have been hard at work identifying, synthesizing and administering anti-angiogenesis drugs - drugs designed to stop the angiogenesis of new blood vessels. There has been some limited success in a number of cancers including mesothelioma. Anti-angiogenesis drugs used in mesothelioma include: bevacizumab, tyrosine-kinase inhibitors and other agents. Today, researchers are still attempting to make this modality effective in mesothelioma but have admitted that the clinical use of angiogenesis inhibitors has been more challenging than anticipated.

Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article

This article syndicated on behalf of and with the express permission of Surviving Mesothelioma. All Rights Reserved 2012.

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