About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a rare but serious type of cancer that occurs in people who have been exposed to asbestos. In the United States, some 2,500 to 4,000 patients are diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases each year.

Unfortunately, New York is among the states with the highest numbers of deaths from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Erie County, in turn, has suffered the most deaths among upstate New York counties from asbestos-related illnesses since 1979. As the county seat of Erie County, Buffalo is at the very heart of this tragedy.

If you or a loved one in the Buffalo, New York, area has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact the asbestos injury lawyers of Belluck & Fox, LLP, today. Our Buffalo, NY, mesothelioma attorneys handle mesothelioma cases in every county in New York State, including Buffalo and the surrounding communities. We provide personalized and professional legal representation, and we 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 asbestos-containing products knew the health hazards as early as the 1920s. Those include companies in Buffalo and throughout New York State. During the same period, there were alternatives to asbestos available. Ignoring the deadly risks and repercussions associated with asbestos, corporations chose to sell and recklessly use the hazardous substance through the 1980s. These manufacturers did not advise workers of the dangers of asbestos, with the result that many Americans have tragically, and unnecessarily, contracted mesothelioma.

What is Mesothelioma?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body and is made up 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 the beating heart or the expanding and contracting lungs) 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 (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 affects the lungs and 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.

What are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?

Because early symptoms are generally non-specific and some patients do not even experience early symptoms, a mesothelioma diagnosis may be delayed. The early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may resemble viral pneumonia, and there may be a persistent cough and chest pain. As the disease progresses, the accumulation of fluid (pleural effusion) in the chest cavity causes pain and is accompanied by difficult breathing and shortness of breath. Other pleural mesothelioma symptoms may include fever, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, night sweats, weight loss, blood clotting problems and anemia. Pain, difficulty swallowing and swelling of the neck or face may indicate that the cancer has metastasized beyond the mesothelium.

Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms may include the above, as well as swelling or abdominal pain due to a fluid build-up.

How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

Diagnosis. Doctors use a variety of diagnostic procedures to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. These exams may include imaging tests, visualization tests, biopsies and pulmonary function tests. Because of the difficulties in diagnosing mesothelioma, doctors may perform other tests to confirm the presence of the disease. If the pathologist confirms a diagnosis of mesothelioma, 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.

What is the Treatment for Mesothelioma?

There is presently no known cure for mesothelioma. As the disease progresses, the cancerous cells harden the lung area and spread. As time passes, breathing, sleeping and eating become more difficult, and it becomes increasingly more challenging for the patient to engage in normal activities and enjoy life.

There are three traditional types of treatment for mesothelioma patients: surgery to remove the cancerous masses from the body; chemotherapy, which uses potent drugs to destroy the cancer; and, radiation therapy using high doses of x-rays to kill the cancer cells. Doctors will often use two or more of these treatment courses jointly to provide the maximum likelihood of success.

One medication used in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma is Pemetrexed, which is also known under its brand name, Alimta. Used in combination with other chemotherapy, it can help to reduce tumors, prolong survival and reduce pain.

Buffalo Mesothelioma Treatment Options

Buffalo, New York, offers excellent mesothelioma treatment options in support of mesothelioma victims. In fact, Buffalo is home to one of the nation’s top mesothelioma treatment center, 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 Buffalo, NY, area has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the asbestos injury attorneys of Belluck & Fox, LLP, can help. We handle mesothelioma cases from Buffalo and the surrounding New York communities. Use our online contact form or call Belluck & Fox, LLP’s mesothelioma lawyers toll-free at 877-MESOTHELIOMA (637-6843).