Alimta is the first and only chemotherapy drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for malignant pleural Mesothelioma. In clinical trials, Alimta (also known as pemextred for injection) was used with another anti-cancer drug called cisplatin and was shown to relieve some symptoms and improve overall quality of life for Mesothelioma victims. It works by blocking specific enzymes that may be aiding tumor growth. Alimta is injected into a vein about every 3 weeks. Patients on this treatment are required to take folic acid and B12 vitamins to lower the chance of side effects that include upset stomach, drop in white blood cells, drop in red blood cells, drop in platelet count, tiredness, mouth sores, loss of appetite, and rash.             Though Alimta is not a cure for Mesothelioma, it did help increase the average life expectancy in clinical trials from 9 months to 1 year.

Major disasters, such as the Minneapolis Bridge collapse in 2007, have brought to light a serious problem concerning construction – asbestos.

Recent studies indicate that at least 80 percent of structures built before 1978 contain asbestos. The high cost of asbestos removal has prevented these buildings from being repaired.

Exposure to asbestos has been directly linked with major illnesses, significantly, mesothelioma, which is a non-curable, rare form of cancer.

It can take years for symptoms of asbestos exposure to develop. Therefore, many people exposed to asbestos may not be aware that they are at risk for developing a serious illness until it is too late.

Last year, firefighters in Washington may have been unknowingly exposed to asbestos while training inside old homes. In this instance, the investigation alleges that officials were aware that the homes posed hazards, but firefighters were sent inside anyway.

Firefighters and first-responders are not the only ones at risk for asbestos exposure. Construction workers are at risk during demolitions and renovations. Even children and municipal workers are at risk of exposure inside buildings constructed prior to 1978.

If you or a loved one has suffered a serious or fatal illness, such as mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos, please contact our mesothelioma attorneys of Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP at 1-888-MESO-FIRM. An experienced mesothelioma attorney will be able to evaluate if you are eligible to seek compensation.

Findings that were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicate that techniques involving endoscopy can successfully detect lung cancer, such as mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma, although rare, is one of the three types of lung cancer. It is directly associated with exposure to asbestos. The two most common types of lung cancer are small cell and non-small cell.

Lung cancer is highly deadly, partially due to the fact that it is rarely discovered until it has already spread. Early detection of the disease may help increase patient survival rates. The new endoscopy procedures may aid early detection efforts, therefore helping patients survive longer.

The use of endoscopy to detect lung cancer includes inserting an edoscope, which is a flexible tube with a camera mounted to the end.

Small instruments can be passed through the tube to collect needed biopsy samples. In order to remove suspicious tissue, ultrasound probes can be passed through the tube as well.

In many cases, mesothelioma and other forms of lung cancer and disease are caused by exposure to asbestos.

If you or a loved one have suffered serious illness or death from mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos, contact the mesothelioma attorneys of Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP at 1-888-MESO-FIRM. An experienced mesothelioma attorney will be able to evaluate if you are eligible to seek compensation.