Posts Tagged ‘Lung cancer’

Football Legend Merlin Olsen Succumbs To Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

Hall of Fame football player, broadcaster and actor Merlin Olsen has died at age 69 of mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of lung cancer.

Olsen was a member of the “Fearsome Foursome” of the Los Angeles Rams, and was selected to 14 consecutive Pro Bowls, a tie with Bruce Matthews for the longest streak in league history. In 1992, Olsen was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

As his football career ended, Olsen became an actor, with appearances on shows like “Little House on the Prairie” and “Father Murphy” as well as acting as a spokesman for FTD Group Inc.’s flower commercials. Furthermore, he was an avid college football commentator – Olsen was the voice of college football’s Rose Bowl from 1980 until 1988.

Olsen began chemotherapy after his initial diagnosis in 2009. Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos that attacks the lining of the lungs, heart or abdomen. Although rare, mesothelioma patients often have a grim prognosis.

Mesothelioma can take upwards of 30 to 40 years to manifest, which makes it difficult to ascertain when the initial exposure occur. The World Health Organization has identified asbestos as a dangerous carcinogen, in which there are no safe levels of exposure. Ban Asbestos and other organizations are currently seeking a worldwide ban of the asbestos in all capacities, however it is a popular construction material in developing countries. In the United States, it can still be found in products in quantities of less than 1 percent.

Olsen claims he was exposed to asbestos as young as 10 or 11 years old in a mesothelioma lawsuit he filed in 2010. He also stated he may have been exposed while working in the construction industry while in high school and college. Many lawsuits have been filed against companies that did not warn individuals of the risks of exposure as far back as 50 years ago, including Olsen’s lawsuit.

Due to the hazardous nature of the fibrous substance, a licensed contractor is required by law in the United States to remove asbestos. The often time-consuming process is necessary to prevent civilians from exposure. Because asbestos was a common construction fiber, many older buildings may be contaminated, unbeknownst to its occupants.

Olsen’s fame has brought the threat of mesothelioma into the media spotlight, as many individuals may be unknowingly exposed. Contact your local health department if you suspect asbestos contamination, but do not try to remove material.

Scientists Conduct Clincial Trials of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment

Researchers recently published the results of a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology detailing a potentially new treatment for patients of abdominal mesothelioma that will likely improve the condition for patients.

The study found that when patients suffering from abdominal mesothelioma were given a combination of two drugs, Alimta (pemetrexed) and Gemzar (gemcitabine), their condition improved. The following are the results of the study:

* Response rate among patients was 15 percent.

* The control rate of the disease for patients while on the medication was 50 percent.

* The median time to disease progression was 10.4 months.

* The median survival time was 26.8 months.

* The mesothelioma study involved 20 patients suffering from the condition.

In addition to the two drugs, the patients received dexamethasone, folic acid and vitamin B12. The study was conducted by researchers involved in a multi-center U.S. trial. Researchers expect to continue studying the drugs?ffects on abdominal mesothelioma patients to determine if the treatment can be improved.

What is Abdominal Mesothelioma?

Abdominal mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of mesothelioma cancer. Commonly described as peritoneal mesothelioma, the cancer affects the abdominal lining, which is also known as the peritoneum. Within the abdominal cavity is the serous membrane, which is also known as the parietal peritoneum, and this membrane continues on to the visceral peritoneum that lines the organs. With abdominal mesothelioma, the visceral and parietal peritoneum linings are affected with the development of cancerous cells.

Most often, abdominal cancer occurs when an individual first develops pleural mesothelioma, which is when the lining of the lung develops cancerous cells after inhalation of asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma can then spread to the peritoneal cavity and cause peritoneal mesothelioma, which accounts for less than one-third of all mesothelioma diagnoses.

How is Peritoneal Mesothelioma Contracted?

Abdominal, or peritoneal, mesothelioma is caused through the inhalation of asbestos fibers or asbestos dust. Asbestos is a material that is derived from vermiculite, a mineral that was mined heavily in the United States and around the world in the 20th century. Asbestos was most commonly used as an insulation within the construction industry because it was flame resistant and was developed at inexpensive prices.

An array of mild to severe mesothelioma symptoms exist, including:

* shortness of breath.

* inability to breath.

* fatigue.

* wheezing or severe cough.

However, many of these symptoms are generalized to overall cases of mesothelioma. Specific symptoms exist for those diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. These symptoms are as follows:

* weight loss.

* abdominal swelling, which can be caused by ascites or the buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

* bowel obstruction.

* fever.

* anemia.

* blood clotting.

* trouble swallowing.

* swelling of neck and face.

Abdominal Mesothelioma Treatment

Abdominal mesothelioma treatments commonly consist of surgical procedures to remove the infected cancerous areas. Often, the main surgery involved with peritoneal mesothelioma is known as cytoreductive surgery. While many individuals will receive specific treatments based on their case, the surgery usually is coupled with a chemotherapy treatment — this treatment is often called the perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy and has been shown to slightly improve the median survival rate.

Obtaining Peritoneal Mesothelioma Legal Help

Individuals who have been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma or any similar form of mesothelioma cancer are advised to locate an experienced mesothelioma attorney. Individuals who have been exposed to mesothelioma should contact a medical professional immediately because of the dangers that exist to even limited exposure to asbestos. These individuals may be able to receive monetary compensation for the extremely costly medical bills associated with abdominal mesothelioma.

It is especially important for an individual to seek legal counsel for their mesothelioma lawsuit if they were an employee within the metal, mining, maritime, construction and welding industries.

New Drug Study for Abdominal Mesothelioma

Researchers recently published the results of a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology detailing a potentially new treatment for patients of abdominal mesothelioma that will likely improve the condition for patients.
The study found that when patients suffering from abdominal mesothelioma were given a combination of two drugs, Alimta (pemetrexed) and Gemzar (gemcitabine), their condition improved. The following are the results of the study:
* Response rate among patients was 15 percent.
* The control rate of the disease for patients while on the medication was 50 percent.
* The median time to disease progression was 10.4 months.
* The median survival time was 26.8 months.
* The mesothelioma study involved 20 patients suffering from the condition.
Each patient also received various vitamins including folic acid, vitamin B12 and dexamethasone. The study was conducted by researchers involved in a multi-center U.S. trial. Researchers expect to continue studying the drug’s effects on abdominal mesothelioma patients to determine if the treatment can be improved.
What is Abdominal Mesothelioma?
Abdominal mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of mesothelioma cancer. Commonly described as peritoneal mesothelioma, the cancer affects the abdominal lining, which is also known as the peritoneum. Within the abdominal cavity is the serous membrane, which is also known as the parietal peritoneum, and this membrane continues on to the visceral peritoneum that lines the organs. With abdominal mesothelioma, the visceral and parietal peritoneum linings are affected with the development of cancerous cells.
Most often, abdominal cancer occurs when an individual first develops pleural mesothelioma, which is when the lining of the lung develops cancerous cells after inhalation of asbestos. Pleural mesothelioma can then spread to the peritoneal cavity and cause peritoneal mesothelioma, which accounts for less than one-third of all mesothelioma diagnoses.
How is Peritoneal Mesothelioma Contracted?
Abdominal, or peritoneal, mesothelioma is caused through the inhalation of asbestos fibers or asbestos dust. Asbestos is a material that is derived from vermiculite, a mineral that was mined heavily in the United States and around the world in the 20th century. Asbestos was most commonly used as an insulation within the construction industry because it was flame resistant and was developed at inexpensive prices.
There are many common symptoms of mesothelioma, including:
* shortness of breath.
* inability to breath.
* fatigue.
* wheezing or severe cough.
However, many of these symptoms are generalized to overall cases of mesothelioma. Specific symptoms exist for those diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. These symptoms are as follows:
* weight loss.
* abdominal swelling, which can be caused by ascites or the buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity.
* bowel obstruction.
* fever.
* anemia.
* blood clotting.
* trouble swallowing.
* swelling of neck and face.
Abdominal Mesothelioma Treatment
Abdominal mesothelioma treatments commonly consist of surgical procedures to remove the infected cancerous areas. Often, the main surgery involved with peritoneal mesothelioma is known as cytoreductive surgery. This surgery is usually accompanied with perioperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy, and together the median survival rate for patients has been shown to increase slightly, although, treatment is dependent on a specific case-by-case basis.
Obtaining Peritoneal Mesothelioma Legal Help
Individuals who have been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma or any similar form of mesothelioma cancer are advised to locate an experienced mesothelioma attorney. Because mesothelioma is considered a highly preventable disease, individual victims who contract the illness were likely exposed to asbestos fibers or asbestos dust without knowledge of the danger of exposure levels. These individuals may be able to receive monetary compensation for the extremely costly medical bills associated with abdominal mesothelioma.
It is especially important for an individual to seek legal counsel for their mesothelioma lawsuit if they were an employee within the metal, mining, maritime, construction and welding industries.

Mesothelioma Is Not Lung Cancer

In this video, Dr. Case describes the differences between mesothelioma cancer and lung cancer. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos and is around the lung, while lung cancer is inside the lung. Shown with graphics.

Mesothelioma Symposium 2009 – Raja Flores, MD – Pleural Mesothelioma

More videos of symposium presentations are available at www.curemeso.org. Dr. Flores’ presentation at the International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation.