Mesothelioma Basics

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.
What is the mesothelium? The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart.
What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma? Over 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. See statistics for more details.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma? Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in the majority of cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. Click here to learn more about asbestos
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma? Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. An increased risk of developing mesothelioma was originally found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other trades people. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
There is evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma? Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

Directories

Directories of Alternative Practitioners on the Internet

Disclaimer - Please Read. Inclusion in this directory does not constitute endorsement by Cancer Monthly, LLC. All physicians who appear in this section do so based on their own expression of interest in the fields of cancer and alternative medicine. Cancer Monthly, LLC, has not verified the competence, professional credentials, business practices or validity of the expressed interests of these physicians. Cancer Monthly, LLC makes no recommendation of any physician on this list and makes no suggestion that any such physician will cure or prevent any disease. Those consulting a physician on this list should approach the consultation exactly as they would with any other unknown physician.

Alternative Medicine is God's Medicine Physician Reference
http://altmedangel.com/1.html

Annie Appleseed Project - Cancer Clinics Worldwide
http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/gerclinstor.html
Cancer Cure Foundation List of Clinics in the United States
http://www.cancure.org/directory_clinics.htm
Cancer Cure Foundation List of Clinics Outside of the U.S.
http://www.cancure.org/directory_clinics_outside%20US.htm
Life Extension Directory of Innovative Doctors and Health Practitioners
http://www.lef.org/doctors/directoryofdoctors02.html
Savvy Patients Doctors List
http://www.savvypatients.com/links.htm

Examples of Alternative Practitioners (United States)

California
The Gerson Institute
1572 Second Avenue
San Diego , CA 92101
Phone 619-685-5353
Phone 888-4-GERSON
http://www.gerson.org/default.asp
Florida
Ray C. Wunderlich, Jr., M.D., Ph.D.
8821 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N.
St. Petersburg , FL 33702
Phone 727-822-3612
Fax 727-578-1370
Georgia
William E. Richardson, M.D.
3280 Howell Mill Road, East Wing, Suite 205
Atlanta, Georgia 30327
Phone 404-350-9607
http://www.acpm.net/
Illinois
Keith I. Block, M.D.
Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care
1800 Sherman Avenue, Suite 515
Evanston, Illinois 60201
Phone 847-492-3040
Fax 847-492-3045
http://www.blockmd.com/
Nevada
W. Douglas Brodie, MD
6110 Plumas Suite B
Reno , NV 89509
Phone 775-829-1009
Fax 775-829-9330
http://www.drbrodie.com/
James W. Forsythe M.D., H.M.D.
521 Hammill Lane
Reno , Nevada 89511
Phone 775-827-0707
Fax 775-827-1006
E-Mail: info@drforsythe.com
http://www.centurywellness.com/cw/index.html
New York
Nicholas Gonzalez, MD
36 A East 36th St.
New York, NY 10016
Phone 212-213-3337
Fax 212-213-3414
http://www.dr-gonzalez.com/
The Schachter Center
Two Executive Boulevard, Suite 202
Suffern, New York 10901
Phone 845-368-4700
http://www.mbschachter.com/
North Carolina
Dr. John Pittman
The Carolina Center
4505 Fair Meadow Lane, Suite 111
Raleigh, NC 27607
Phone 919-571-4391
Fax 919-571-8968
http://www.carolinacenter.com/main.html
Tennessee
Dr. Charles C. Adams
Alternative Medicine & Chelation
2600 Executive Park Drive, NW
Cleveland, TN 37311
Phone 423-473-7080
Fax 423-473-7780
http://drprevent.com/index.htm
Washington D.C.
National Integrated Health Associates
5225 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 401
Washington, DC 20015
Phone 202-237-7000
Fax 202-237-0017
http://www.nihadc.com/health-programs/cancer-support.html

Examples of Alternative Practitioners
(Outside United States )

Australia
The Gawler Foundation
55 Rayner Court
Yarra Junction
Phone 03-5967-1730
Fax 03-5967-1715
Email: info@gawler.org
http://www.gawler.org/html/s01_home/home.asp
Nutritional Healing
Blake Graham, BSc (Nutrition), AACNEM
Wembley, Perth , Western Australia
Phone: 08-9381 4112
http://www.nutritional-healing.com.au/content/home.php
Austria
Dr. Thomas Kroiss
Kroiss-Krebs-Zentrum
Vienna, Austria
Phone 43-1-982 57 67
Fax 43-1-982 69 92
http://www.kroisscancercenter.com/
Canada
Abram Hoffer, M.D.
2727 Quadra, Suite 3
Victoria , British Columbia , Canada V8 4E5
Phone 250-386-8756
http://www.islandnet.com/~hoffer
Denmark
Humlegaarden
Ny Strandvej 11
DK-3050 Humlebaek
Phone +45 4913 2465
Fax +45 4913 4498
http://www.humlegaarden.com/uk/index.html
Germany
Hudeland Klinik
Loeffelstelzer Str. 1-3
D-97980 Bad Mergentheim (Germany)
Phone 49-7931/536291
Fax 49-7931 8185
http://www.hufeland.com/english/index.html
St. George Hospital
Rosenheimer Str. 6
8 83043 Bad Aibling
Phone +49 (0) 8061/398-0
Fax +49 (0) 8061/398-454
E-Mail: info@klinik-st-georg.de
http://www.klinik-st-georg.de/englisch/Frameset.html
Spain
Las Mariposas Clinic - Spain
Centro Comercial Fuente Lucena, 4 C.N. 340, km 228
29620 Torremolinos, Malaga, Spain
Phone (+34) 952 057171
Fax (+34) 952 050277
http://www.mariposasclinic.com/
Switzerland
Dr. Brander
Centre for Clinical Holistic Medicine
CH-6440 Brunnen am Vierwaldstättersee
Phone +41 41 825 49 49
Fax +41 41 825 48 00
info@aeskulap.com
http://www.aeskulap-klinik.ch/english/index.php
United Kingdom
Bristol Cancer Help Centre
Grove House
Cornwallis Grove
Bristol BS8 4PG
Phone 0117 980 9500
Fax 0117 923 9184
http://www.bristolcancerhelp.org/
The Dove Clinic for Integrated Medicine
Dr Julian Kenyon M.D., M.B.Ch.B.
London Clinic, 19, Wimpole Street
London , W1G 8GE
Phone 020 7580 8886
Fax: 020 7580 8884
http://www.doveclinic.com/site/default.htm

Malignant Mesothelioma

Paul Kraus is not the only long-term survivor of malignant mesothelioma. There are others. We have heard about them and spoken to some over the years. What is fascinating is that many of these malignant mesothelioma survivors have something in common - they have all taken steps to improve or enhance their immune system. Some used alternative or complimentary therapies (with guidance from licensed clinicians) while others participated in clinical trials of immune therapy.
This raises the question - does the immune system play a role in controlling malignant mesothelioma? Paul Kraus' experience and those of other long-term malignant mesothelioma survivors suggests that such a role may be possible. In other sections of this website we present case histories of malignant mesothelioma survivors who were diagnosed with either pleural mesothelioma or peritoneal mesothelioma. In some of the pleural mesothelioma case histories, doctors discuss the role that the patient's immune system may have played in their extremely long survival.
In 1986, an article appeared in a medical journal that discussed this very issue of malignant mesothelioma and immunity.(1)  This research focused on the immune responses of 118 healthy people compared to 20 patients with malignant mesothelioma and 375 long-term asbestos workers who were cancer-free.  The researchers wanted to know if there were any measurable differences in the immune responses of the mesothelioma patients.  Their findings demonstrated a relationship between the immune system and malignant mesothelioma.  For example:

·       The number of total T (T11+) and T-helper (T4+) cells were normal in asbestos workers with cancer, but were significantly reduced in patients with mesothelioma.  T cells orchestrate, regulate and coordinate the overall immune response.

·       Most patients with mesothelioma had a profound deficiency in Natural Killer cell (NK) activity which is suggestive of the role the immune system plays in the control of malignant mesothelioma.  NK cells are a type of lethal lymphocyte that target tumor cells and protect against a wide variety of infectious microbes.

In the discussion section of the report, the researchers stated:

“These findings led us to speculate that biological phenomena generally categorized as chronic immunosuppression associated with the presence of asbestos fibers in the exposed workers may have caused the eventual breakdown of the host’s surveillance system and the onset of neoplasm [malignant mesothelioma].” 

In other words, the researchers are suggesting that malignant mesothelioma may result from immune suppression.  If this is true it would provide the biological basis for the role that the immune system and immune boosting approaches may play in the management of malignant mesothelioma. 
Endnotes
(1) Lew, F., et al., High Frequency of Immune Dysfunctions in Asbestos Workers and in Patients with Malignant Mesothelioma, Journal of Clinical Immunology; 1986, 6:3, 225-232.

Mesothelioma Doctors List

This is a list of doctors who reportedly treat mesothelioma patients. Their appearance on this website is not a recommendation. You should treat these doctors as you would any unknown physician and ask many questions about their experience with other mesothelioma patients.

Arizona
Linda Garland, M.D.
Arizona Cancer Center - Hematology/Oncology
Tucson, Arizona
Tel. 520-694-CURE (2873)

Dr. Garland is an oncologist and the Director of the Arizona Cancer Center Clinical Lung Program where one of her specialties includes Mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

Helen J. Ross, M.D.
Mayo Clinic, Hematology/Oncology
Scottsdale, Arizona
Tel. 1-800-446-2279

Dr. Ross is a Thoracic Oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. For more information, click here.

California
Robert B. Cameron, M.D.
UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, California
Tel. 310-794-7333

Dr. Cameron is the Director of Thoracic Oncology at UCLA Medical Center. He is board-certified in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery. His research interests include lung cancer, esophageal cancer and mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

David Jablons, M.D.
UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center
San Francisco, California
Tel. 1-800-888-8664 or 415-885-7777

Dr. Jablons is the Professor and Chief of the Section of General Thoracic Surgery at UCSF. He is Board Certified in General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery. For more information, click here.

Theirry Jahan, M.D.
UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center
San Francisco, California
Tel. 415-567-5581


Dr. Jahan is an associate clinical professor of medicine at UCSF. He specializes in the treatment of lung cancer, mesothelioma, sarcomas and endocrine tumors and the use of multiple treatments. For more information, click here.

Connecticut
Graeme L. Hammond, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery
New Haven, Connecticut
Tel. 203-785-2704


Dr. Hammond is a professor with the Department of Surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. He is board-certified in surgery and thoracic surgery. For more information, click here.

Florida
Lary A. Robinson, M.D.
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute at The University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tel. 813-745-8412


Dr. Robinson is the Director of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. For more information, click here.

Massachusetts
Raphael Bueno, M.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Division of Thoracic Surgery
Boston, Massachusetts
Tel. 617-732-6824


Dr. Bueno is the Associate Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery for Brigham and Women's Hospital. He is board certified in Surgery, Surgical Critical Care and Thoracic Surgery. His clinical interests include tracheal surgery, lung cancer and mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

David J. Sugarbaker, M.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital, Division of Thoracic Surgery
Boston, Massachusetts
Tel. 617-732-6824


Dr. Sugarbaker is Chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Malignant pleural mesothelioma has been a central focus of Dr. Sugarbaker's clinical and laboratory research. For more information, click here.

Scott J. Swanson, M.D.
Brigham and Women's Hospital/Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts
Tel. 617-732-6824


Dr. Swanson is board certified in Surgery and Thoracic Oncology and Thoracic Surgery. For more information, click here.

Nebraska
Dr. Brian Loggie
Creighton University School of Medicine
Omaha, Nebraska
Tel. 402-280-3273


Dr. Loggie is a Professor of Surgery, Chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology, and Director of the Cancer Biology Program at Creighton University School of Medicine. His special interest include: Peritoneal carcinomatosis and malignant ascites, and peritoneal mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

New York
Manjit Bains, M.D., F.A.C.S
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York
Tel. 212-639-7450


Dr. Bains is board certified in Surgery and Thoracic Surgery and has clinical expertise in mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

Lee M. Krug, M.D.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York
Tel. 212-639-8420


Dr. Krug is a medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of thoracic cancers. He is board-certified in internal medicine and medical oncology. His research is focused primarily on small cell lung cancer and mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

Valerie Rusch, M.D., F.A.C.S
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
New York, New York
Phone: 212-639-5873


Dr. Rusch is a surgeon who treats patients with cancers of the lung, esophagus, mediastinum, and chest wall, including those with mesothelioma. She is board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery. For more information, click here.

Harvey I. Pass, M.D.
New York University Medical Center
New York, New York
Tel. 212-731-5414


Dr. Harvey Pass is the Director of the New York University Medical Center Division of Thoracic Surgery and is Chief of Thoracic Oncology. He is one of the world's leading authorities on mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

Robert N. Taub, M.D.
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia
New York, New York
Tel. 212-659-6815


Dr. Taub is Board Certified in Hematology, Allergy and Immunology, Internal Medicine and Oncology. Dr. Taub is involved in developing combined chemotherapeutic and surgical techniques to combat mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

North Carolina
David H. Harpole, Jr., M.D.
Duke University Health System
Durham, North Carolina
Tel. 919-668-8413


Dr. Harpole is Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs and a member of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery in the Department of Surgery of the Duke University Health System. His clinical interests include thoracic oncology, and mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

Pennsylvania
Daniel Sterman, M.D.
University of Pennsylvania Medical Center
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4283
Tel. 215-614-0984


Dr. Sterman is Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Professor of Medicine in Surgery, Director of Interventional Pulmonology, and Clinical Director, Thoracic Oncology Gene Therapy Program at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. He is involved in various studies involving mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

Texas
W. Roy Smythe, M.D.
Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center
Temple, Texas
Tel. 254-724-2595


Dr. Smythe is involved in the surgical diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma patients at the Texas A&M University Health Sciences Center. For more information, click here.

Washington, D.C.
Paul H. Sugarbaker, M.D.
Washington Cancer Institute
Washington DC
Tel. 202-877-3627


Dr. Sugarbaker is the Director of the Program in Peritoneal Surface Malignancy at the Washington Cancer Institute. His clinical interests include mesothelioma. For more information, click here.

Washington State
Eric Vallieres, M.D.
Swedish Medical Center
Seattle, Washington
Tel. 206-215-6800


Dr. Vallieres is a thoracic surgeon with the Swedish Medical Center. He is board-certified in general surgery and thoracic surgery. His areas of interest and expertise include mesothelioma and pleural diseases. For more information, click here

Mesothelioma Lawyers

Mesothelioma Lawyers - Important Information for Patients

Deciding to pursue legal recourse and selecting an attorney to represent you in a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit are important decisions that should be made carefully. The facts of your situation and the law firm you select have a dramatic impact in the outcome of your case.

The Facts of Your Situation

The Facts of Your Situation

Some mesothelioma patients know they worked around asbestos, but many do not know how they were exposed or how often. In fact, many people are not sure if they were ever near this carcinogen. Unfortunately, there have been thousands of products that contained asbestos - cigarette filters, hair dryers, brakes, basement and roof materials, pipes, boilers, insulation, and many other products found throughout the home and at work. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma it is more than likely that you were exposed to asbestos multiple times in your life and that this happened decades before your diagnosis.

In general, the value of your case depends on how many asbestos containing products you were exposed to, the number of identifiable defendants that still exist (many have declared bankruptcy), your age and earning capacity. And the speed of your case can depend on a number of variables including the state where you worked and lived when you were exposed to asbestos.

The Law Firm You Choose

The Law Firm You Choose

When you have been given the news about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:

1. Statutes of Limitations - There are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.
   
2. Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.
   
3. Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available for this disease.

But, picking a lawyer is serious business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma/asbestos cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?

Also, make sure you understand the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.

Finally, for something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive, thoughtful and compassionate.