Learning the symptoms and gathering information on survival treatments for Mesothelioma is vital when learning a diagnosis has been given. The survivor rates for all types of Meso, whether Peritoneal or Pleural.

Reading about mesothelioma survivors can provide inspiration and will be very educational to those effected. Treatments and symptoms can vary. Seeking out specialists in this condition is key and if there are situations where a lawsuit is possible, you can contact a Mesothelioma Lawyer. Many of these attorney will work without a fee during the phase of pre lawsuit. Fighting for the survival and rightful justice to the patient is what the attorneys in our network look to do.

Featured Article:

Surviving Mesothelioma
By Judith Brandy

Paul Kraus is a mesothelioma survivor and the author of Surviving Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant (cancerous) cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products.

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Characterized by a shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, this is often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). 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. Be aware, however, that these symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. Obtaining a diagnosis of mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other, less serious conditions.

In June 1997, Mr. Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma (a "terminal" cancer) and given only a few months to live. More than eight years later, he is alive with a good quality of life having rejected surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. He took an alternative approach to healing his cancer that encompassed mind, body, and spirit.

In his book about mesothelioma, Kraus sets out how he beat the odds. The introduction reflects Paul's inspiration and committment to life:

"In my eighth year after diagnosis I remain well. I have outlived my prognosis by at least seven years and the medical specialist I visited not long ago told me that 'you will be around for a lot longer yet.' My survival has been hard work. The underlying assumption with all that I have done, and continue to do, is a strong belief that our bodies are designed with amazing self-healing capacities."

Mr. Kraus has made himself available to other patients who would like to speak with him. The Surviving Mesothelioma website provides details about the book, how to speak directly with Mr. Kraus, facts and statistics about mesothelioma, conventional, alternative, biological and immuno-therapies, the latest medical news, directories of clinics that take a holistic approach to healing, and a patient forum where patients can share information and discuss issues of importance.

Get more information here: Understanding Mesothelioma

About the author: Judith Brandy is a writer, science fiction fan and cancer survivor who runs a SF website and a couple blogs on science fiction and dealing with cancer. Yes, it's an odd combination, but Judith's mission is to be both a haven against the storm of living with a serious illness and an educator on how-to take preventative, proactive steps. Her mission is to bring this information to the science fiction community.

Visit her sites here: Science Fiction Buzz and Understanding Mesothelioma

Amazon Books:

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Malignant Mesothelioma: A Revised and Updated Directory for the Internet Age - This book has been created for patients who have decided to make education and research an integral part of the treatment process. Although it also gives information useful to doctors, caregivers and other health professionals, it tells patients where and how to look for information covering virtually all topics related to malignant mesothelioma, from the essentials to the most advanced areas of research.

Mesothelioma - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet Reference

Mesothelioma - This book presents a state-of-the-art review of this condition, from laboratory to the bedside, from diagnostic procedures through treatment, and from imaging and early detection to medico-legal issues. For clinicians and scientists and members of the legal profession.

The Mesothelial Cell and Mesothelioma (Lung Biology in Health and Disease) - In the context of the overall biological effects of asbestos, details the epidemiology, immunocytochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology of the transformation of mesothelial cell in response to mineral fibers, as an aid to preventing, diagnosing, and managing mesothelial carcinogenesis or mesothelioma. Among the topics are the historical background to mesothelioma, the possibility of genetic disposition, the pathogenesis of serosal lesions after asbestos exposure, establishing and characterizing cell lines, and several diagnostic and therapeutic techniques.

Links:

www.mesotheliomareporter.org/2005/03/paul_kraus_insp.html