Mesothelioma, a rare kind of cancer associated with asbestos inhalation and asbestos exposure, is one of the diseases that still baffles even the best of medical experts. This usually attacks the lining of the chest and lung, the abdomen or the area surrounding the heart. There are still no definite cure for cancer, including mesothelioma.

But a group of doctors, led by Dr. David Sugarbaker, is saying that radical surgery might be the answer to mesothelioma cancer.

An example of radical surgery is Extrapleural Pneumonectomy. This is a procedure that involves the removal of the lung, the diaphragm, the lining of the heart, and the lining of the chest wall. The design of the surgery is simple: remove body parts before the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes and surrounding tissue. The concept is to stop the spread of the cancer. And the downside in the procedure, aside from losing other bodily functions because of the loss of a body part, could be possible reoccurrence of cancer and  that some patients may not be fit enough to endure the surgery as this will demand extensive hospital stay and frequent check-ups.

This medical proposition, however, is not unchallenged. Dr. Robert Cameron of the UCLA Mesothelioma Comprehensive Research Program argues that physicians’ ultimate goal is to save the lungs instead of removing them.

Patients have the right to choose which treatment they feel is more suitable for them. The important thing is that all considerations are taken into account, all risks and possible consequences must be disclosed, and that the family of the patient is consulted as well.

Read more about mesothelioma and product-risks at LegalView.

Numerous events across the country marked the celebration of Rare Disease Day held on Feb. 29.

The National Organization for Rare Diseases, or NORD, organized various events in several states and countries across the world to raise awareness about rare diseases.

More than 60 countries, including European Union countries, Canada, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, China and Taiwan joined with various organizations, advocates and institutions to raise awareness about rare diseases including mesothelioma and other rare cancers, and those affected all over the world.

In the United States, activities were held in Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, and  Washington, DC.

GOVERNMENT. Politicians pledged their support by lending a hand at fund raising events and organizing expert speakers to talk about rare diseases.

ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS. Several universities and medical institutions also held seminars about different rare diseases. Doctors and researchers discussed the latest research projects and documentaries showed how rare diseases affected patients. Some seminars provided RD bracelets and face painting for children.

ORGANIZATIONS AND FOUNDATIONS. Private organizations organized activities for patients of these rare diseases and their families. Free blood sugar testing was even conducted in one event. Also, there were fun runs and marathons held to raise funds for research on rare diseases.

PRIVATE CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES. In Alaska, an advocate tied a Rare Disease Day Banner on her sled dog for the Alaskan Yukon Quest 300 Mile Race. Some students also made cookies and sold them to help raise funds for rare disease research. Some coffee shops joined in the celebration by giving discounts to those who were wearing the zebra print, the official Rare Disease Awareness colors. Others printed on their flyers the Rare Disease Day logo to contribute in raising awareness. Cocktail parties were also organized as an avenue to help raise funds.

Many more activities were held. To highlight the event, NORD spearheaded the “Virtual Hill Day” for patients and patient advocates across the U.S. to promote awareness and make their voices heard on Capitol Hill. This is an activity, virtually facilitated (online), that aimed to collect as many letters from as many people all over the country. The letters will be presented to President Obama, Members of Congress, and others, so that the call for assistance and proper legislation concerning rare diseases can be heard. Participants were given rare disease badges in Facebook that they can share with their friends.

From just 200 partners in 2009, the number almost tripled this year with around 600 partners committing to take part in Rare Disease Day.

The support that these advocates gave is simply overwhelming. But one day is just to jump start yet more activities year-round. The fight is a continuing war; a war that each human being in this planet must be aware of. Any person can be a victim: a friend, a relative, a family, a child, or even yourself. This fight is not just for the patients. It’s for everyone.

LegalView is one in solidarity with the world. Mesothelioma is one of the 7,000 rare diseases known. Information about this disease is available at LegalView.

Feb. 29 is Rare Disease Day for Parkinson’s Disease, mesothelioma, other kinds of cancers, along with approximately 7,000 other disorders.

Rolling into its fourth year of celebration in the U.S., the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) will again spearhead the day of advocacy which has for its purpose the promotion of awareness of rare diseases as a global concern. This will be celebrated simultaneously across the country with its European counterparts.

NORD estimates that around 30 million Americans are diagnosed with rare diseases. The ultimate goal is keep that number from rising and to decrease the number of patients by disseminating information about these diseases.

Mesothelioma, for example, is caused by asbestos inhilation. This information is now common knowledge, but information on what other products or contaminants can cause this illness is not that common. Also, given that the survival period is a short 18 months from diagnosis, patients will have to both the illness and time. In this case, knowledge becomes power – either for prevention, or for cure.

Year round, NORD conducts activities to increase awareness and advocacy. NORD is not just an advocate of prevention. It also supports proper treatments of these rare diseases. This advocacy is serious such that NORD and associated organizations are trying to help researches get funding. Since 2009, almost 200 organizations have joined to be partners. Even government officials have responded by issuing proclamations in connection with this advocacy. The media and local press also contributed to widen this effort by giving coverage of the activities and events relating to rare diseases.

On Feb. 29, activities, initiatives, and events will be held all over the U.S. with NORD, and other organizations and institutions supervising these events.

LegalView supports the Rare Disease Day. Additional information about NORD events in your area can be found at LegalView.com.

An old, vacant building where the Naval and Marine Corps reserve building used to stand is a concern to the State Fairgrounds says the Pueblo Telegraph, in Pueblo, Colorado. An assessment showed that airborne asbestos is present around the building. Fearing the serious health effects of asbestos, including causing the deadly lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious illnesses, community members sought help from politicians for the demolition of the old building.

Their hope, however, was blocked by a slim vote of 33-32 against the allocation of almost a half-million dollars to knock down structure. State Fair General Manager, Chris Wiseman, told the Pueblo Telegraph that he has been waiting for 10 years for local politicians to address the health threats presented by the asbestos-laden structure, fearing that anyone who comes in close contact with it could potentially inhale toxic asbestos dust.

LegalView sincerely hopes that Mr. Wiseman will not wait for another 10 years more. Prevention has always been, and will remain, better than a cure. Read more about mesothelioma and asbestos-related sicknesses at LegalView.

An elderly couple from North Carolina is going after 73 companies. Sidney William Mauney and his wife claims in a recently filed lawsuit that these companies were aware and should have informed that asbestos is hazardous to their health. Mauney was exposed to asbestos-containing products during his employment as an insulator from 1956 until 1993.

The case alleges that these companies are liable for negligence, breach of implied or expressed warranty, misrepresentation, and post-sale duty to warn consumers of the effects of asbestos contained in their products. Other claims for contaminated building, intentional tort, and strict liability against the companies are sought for in the case.

This means that the companies should have informed consumers that their products contained asbestos either disclosed in the packages or at least communicated at point of sale. Imagine the amount of asbestos accumulation that could occur in the body after nearly four decades of exposure to asbestos in the work place.

The courts must now decide whether these companies are responsible for the asbestos in their products that William Mauney used for 37 years.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen and is a main cause of mesothelioma. Learn more about mesothelioma asbestos cancer at LegalView.com.

If you or a loved one suffers from mesothelioma, you may have heard your physician talk about what mesothelioma is and what causes it. The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. However, it’s not just exposure that may give you mesothelioma- it’s the stirring up and working with asbestos. Why does asbestos cause mesothelioma?

When asbestos is stirred up, the fibers can be inhaled and become lodged in the lining of the lungs. This lodging causes inflammation of the lining of the lungs and other pleural tissues. Breathing in asbestos fibers not only can cause mesothelioma which is a deadly lung cancer, but it can also cause asbestosis (scar tissue formation in the lungs). It has also been found that ingesting asbestos fibers can cause peritoneal mesothelioma which is when the lining of the abdomen becomes inflamed.

Mesothelioma is so deadly that many who are diagnosed with it have had it for over thirty years, without experiencing any symptoms. When patients do experience symptoms, it is often times too late as the diagnosis can be stage III or greater, leaving a life-expectancy of only six months to a year.

LegalView is committed to providing you and your family information about various mesothelioma treatment options to help you make the right decision about which option is best for you. One of them is radiation therapy.

During radiation therapy, high-energy x-rays are used to kill cancer cells. This type of treatment is the oldest form of mesothelioma treatment available, but it has become increasingly sophisticated as the years have passed, allowing for more targeted therapy and better results.

Side effects of radiation therapy include fatigue and mild skin irritation that resembles a sun burn, but often times, these side effects are temporary. Also, radiation therapy can make the side effects of chemotherapy worse. Chest radiation therapy may cause lung damage and lead to difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Abdominal radiation therapy may cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. If you experience any of these symptoms, speak with your physician as they can help to control them.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, your physician may have spoken to you about various mesothelioma treatments. One of the traditional treatments available is surgery.

Depending on the stage of the cancer, surgery can be done to remove the cancer. However, many times surgery is not appropriate and patients may only receive minimum relief of symptoms.

Surgery is usually done for one of two reasons: palliative (to relieve pain) or to cure the cancer. Palliative surgery is usually performed on patients who may not be able to withstand a more extensive surgery or for those whose tumor has already spread beyond the lining of the lung. Curative surgery is performed when the patient is in good health and the tumor is thought to be localized and can easily be removed.

If you suffer from mesothelioma, the deadly lung cancer, you are probably aware of some of the treatment options available. One of them is chemotherapy.

Mesothelioma chemotherapy uses drugs to treat the disease. The drugs can be swallowed in pill form or can be injected into muscles or veins. This form of treatment can also be given intrapleurally (through the chest cavity) or intraperitoneally (through the abdomen).

Depending on the stage of your mesothelioma, your doctor may prescribe chemotherapy as the primary treatment or as an adjuvant (addition) to surgery. Additionally, combinations of drugs may be prescribed to increase their effectiveness.

It is the responsibility of manufacturers, sellers, and distributors of products to make sure they deliver products free of defects that can harm individuals or groups of people and to make good on that responsibility if their products are defective. This is known as product liability.

The key to product liability law is that a harmed person only needs to prove the failure of the product and to make the seller, distributor or manufacturer liable for any possible damages. For example, manufacturers of asbestos knew for years about its harmful effects but did not inform the general public. These manufacturers had a responsibility to the public and they did not honor that promise. As a consequence, many people have sued asbestos manufacturers.

If you feel you have been harmed by a defective product, fill out the form on the right for a FREE legal consultation from one of our experienced personal injury attorneys.