Primary Peritoneal is a rare form of mesothelioma that accounts for approximately 20% of all mesothelioma cases. Primary Peritoneal affects the tissue lining the abdomen which is called the peritoneum hence the name of this form of the cancer. The peritoneum protects the contents of the abdomen and is therefore very important.

Currently, only one cause of is known and this is exposure to asbestos dust and fibres. Only a couple of months of exposure to asbestos without sufficient protection can lead to peritoneal mesothelioma thirty to fifty years later. Those suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma are mostly elderly men who worked amongst asbestos decades ago when workers were not protected from asbestos dust. Many of these men are currently lodging multi-million dollar lawsuits against the companies who exposed them to asbestos. Asbestos fibres can get into the peritoneum in two different ways. The most common way they reach the peritoneum is by them getting trapped in the trachea (windpipe) and bronchi (inside the lungs) by mucus and end up being swallowed. From here they can pass through the intestine wall into the peritoneum. The second way in which asbestos fibres can reach the peritoneum is by them lodging inside the lungs. They then move into the lymphatic system and get transported to the peritoneum. Constant exposure to asbestos leads to a great number of fibres being built up in the peritoneum.

The symptoms are generally only felt when the cancer has developed greatly. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, abdominal pains and loss of appetite. As the cancer matures, the symptoms will become more pronounced and severe.

There are several treatments for primary peritoneal although all of them have a poor success rate. The likelihood of a patient surviving depends on how early and aggressively the cancer is treated. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery are the most commonly used methods of treatment. Research into the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma is being conducted in research stations in the United States and by many pharmaceutical companies.

(PRWEB) January 23, 2012

The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, “When it comes to a rare form of cancer called mesothelioma, we offer unequaled services, and these services are vital. As an example, for each mesothelioma victim or family member who calls us, we do research and produce a customized report that details the best mesothelioma cancer treatment options, including the names of specific physicians, and their contacts, in your local area, your state, your region, and the nation. No other group or organization in the nation offers anything close to this.” In 2012 approximately 2500 US citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. Of this group about one thoird will be US Navy Veterans, typically because they worked an asbestos rich environment, such as a ships engine room. The group also says, “Because of the enormity of the negligence typically involved with exposure to asbestos, we also offer the names, and specific contacts of the best mesothelioma lawyers in the United States. If you are dealing with mesothelioma, and you are concerned about getting a mesothelioma attorney, in reality there are probably a dozen or less most successful mesothelioma attorneys in the US, of which we think about four or five are the absolute best, especially when it comes to compensation, and verdicts. We will tell you who they are, and again, no other group offers anything close to this.” For more information about the Mesothelioma Victims Center unparalleled free service mesothelioma victims or their family members can call the group anytime at 866-714-6466, or they can contact the group via their web site at http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, “It is vital victims of mesothelioma, or their families understand that in order to get the best compensation, or verdict for a mesothelioma lawsuit, you cannot find anything like our service on the Internet, nor can you just open up a phone book, and look for the best mesothelioma attorneys in the nation, in states like Florida, New York, California, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Georgia, Idaho, Maine, West Virginia, Arizona, Minnesota, Alabama, Texas, or any other state, or city. Simply call us at 866-714-6466, and we will tell you who the best mesothelioma attorneys, or mesothelioma trial lawyers are, and we will give you their specific contacts.” http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

Aside from US Navy Veterans, other high risk groups for mesothelioma cancer include shipyard, power plant, or oil refinery workers, plumbers, electricians, county, or city municipal water district workers, miners, demolition construction contractors, railroad workers, or auto brake technicians. The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, “We are becoming increasingly worried about retired electricians, plumbers and especially city or county water works employees, and mesothelioma. If these individuals were working in the 1950′s, 1960′s, or 1970′s, they were probably exposed to enormous levels of asbestos on their job sites. City or county water works employees could have been exposed to asbestos pipes up until the early 1990′s.” http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

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New York City, N.Y. (PRWEB) December 07, 2011

Responding to new U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) findings that thousands of patients are hospitalized each year due to problems arising from just four common medications, the mass tort and personal injury litigation law firm Weitz & Luxenberg PC today announced it stands ready to help patients obtain justice following serious harm from taking any unsafe pharmaceutical.

?Defective drugs cause physical injury, but also financial injury if the patient is uninsured, becomes debilitated and loses his or her job or, worse, dies,? said Weitz & Luxenberg co-founder Perry Weitz, Esq. ?No one should have to suffer such consequences from being an unsuspecting victim of unsafe medicines.?

The CDC findings, published in the Nov. 24 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine and spotlighted by a Nov. 28 USA Today article, determined that two diabetes drugs and two blood-thinning agents are responsible for roughly two-thirds of all drug-related emergency hospitalizations.

The four drugs ? warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven), insulin, aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix) ? were found by CDC researchers to have been a factor in thousands of drug-related adverse events among the elderly from 2007 to 2009, according to the publications.

The CDC investigators calculated that adults 80 and older accounted for almost 50 percent of those hospitalizations, according to the publications.

Weitz said that patients seriously harmed by these or any other pharmaceuticals should immediately contact Weitz & Luxenberg to discuss available options for pursuing a legal case against the makers.

?A patient badly injured by a harmful medication is entitled to make a claim in court,? said Weitz. ?The surviving family members of a patient who dies from taking a harmful medication is likewise entitled to make a claim in court.?

Weitz added that, in lawsuits against the makers of harmful drugs, ?there are potentially millions of dollars available in compensation to successful plaintiffs. These sums can be used to pay for hospitalizations and treatments not covered by insurance, to make up for wages lost, to compensate even for pain and suffering in certain circumstances.?

About Weitz & Luxenberg:

Founded in 1986 by attorneys Perry Weitz and Arthur Luxenberg, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., today ranks among the nation?s leading law firms. Weitz & Luxenberg?s numerous litigation areas include: mesothelioma, defective medicine and devices, environmental pollutants, accidents, personal injury, and medical malpractice. Victims of accidents are invited to rely on Weitz & Luxenberg?s more than 20 years of handling such cases ? begin by contacting the firm?s Client Relations department at 1-800-476-6070 or at clientrelations@weitzlux.com and ask for a free legal consultation. More information: http://www.weitzlux.com

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New York, NY (PRWEB) November 21, 2011

When asbestos is improperly handled and removed in violation of federal regulations ? as alleged in the recent prosecution of a Monroe County contractor ? it can put others at risk of contracting deadly, asbestos-related illnesses, New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck said today.

As reported in the Penfield Post, the Rochester-area contractor pled guilty earlier this month in a New York federal district court to a violation of the Clean Air Act and the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. The case is U.S.A. v. Horan. (W.D.N.Y., 11-CR-6171 L).

According to the contractor?s plea agreement, he was charged with knowingly failing to take legally required safety measures when working on a project that involved the removal of boiler pipe that had been wrapped in a material containing friable asbestos.

Asbestos is a known carcinogen that has been linked to several respiratory diseases, including asbestosis and mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs that claims the lives of approximately 3,000 Americans each year.

In particular, the contractor?s plea agreement states that he failed to wet the material when cutting and disjoining the pipe, to carefully lower it to the ground and leave it undisturbed and to ensure that a person trained in asbestos removal procedures was present at the work site.

?Asbestos is extremely hazardous to workers who handle it and to others who happen to be in the area when it gets into the air and is inhaled into the lungs,? said Belluck, whose New York City personal injury law firm, Belluck & Fox, LLP, represents mesothelioma victims throughout New York and the country in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.

?Because of this hazard, regulations specifically require that a person with special training be present whenever this toxic material is removed, and that special techniques are used,? he said. ?When individuals or companies fail to live up to those standards, they must be held accountable ? whether it?s through our criminal justice system, the civil lawsuit process ? or both.?

Belluck?s law firm provides a website, http://www.mesotheliomahelp.net, for those who want to learn more about asbestos, mesothelioma and related legal issues. The site features a state-by-state listing of asbestos removal companies.

?Whether you are dealing with the removal of asbestos, or you believe that you or a loved one is suffering an illness related to asbestos exposure, this site can be helpful,? Belluck said. ?It?s also highly important to follow up on information the site provides and to contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has skill and experience in handling the unique issues that arise in these cases.?

About Belluck & Fox

Belluck & Fox, LLP, is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won over $ 400 million in compensation for clients and their families.

Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine?s ?Best Lawyers in the New York Area? and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $ 12 million.

Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine?s ?Best Lawyers in the New York Area? and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal?s Largest Verdict of the Year. He recently secured verdicts of $ 32 million and more than $ 19 million on behalf of individuals who had contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

In September, Belluck & Fox, LLP, won a coveted spot on a list of America’s best law firms, which was published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine. The listing showcased 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas.

For more information, contact the firm at (877) 637-6843 or through the online contact form.

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New York, NY (PRWEB) November 21, 2011

Recent action from the Obama administration and the FDA to address increasing drug shortages could mean relief for some mesothelioma patients who rely on medications for treatment of their disease, New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph W. Belluck said today.

?People suffering from deadly asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma must have access to the medications they need to fight this terrible disease,? said Belluck, one of the country?s leading legal advocates for mesothelioma victims.

?I am encouraged that the government is focused on working with pharmaceutical companies to make sure mesothelioma patients can get the best available treatments,? Belluck said, responding to a recent ?letter to industry? drafted by the commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Noting that annual drug shortages have tripled between 2005 and 2010, the FDA urged drug manufacturers to voluntarily provide quicker notice of impending shortages and to generally improve communication with the government agency in order to address supply issues early. The FDA announced plans to double the number of staffers working on the issue of drug shortages.

Belluck, a partner in the New York City mesothelioma law firm of Belluck & Fox, said critical drugs used to treat asbestos-related mesothelioma have been in short supply, including cisplatin, paclitaxel and doxorubicin.

?It is my hope that the government and manufacturers can work together to prevent a potentially lethal shortage of mesothelioma drugs,? Belluck said.

?During my years of working closely with mesothelioma victims, I have witnessed the unfathomable stress and pain that they must confront as they struggle with this terrible illness ? the pain, the fear, the concern for their families and loved ones. The last thing mesothelioma patients should have to worry about is the availability of cancer-fighting medications.?

Belluck emphasized that mesothelioma victims also need skilled, aggressive and experienced legal representation to ensure that they receive the compensation they deserve from the companies that exposed them to cancer-causing asbestos in the first place. Competent legal counsel can provide mesothelioma patients with the means to access the medical care necessary for the treatment of their disease, he said.

Because mesothelioma is an aggressive disease, Belluck said it is important for people who are experiencing symptoms to seek medical advice as soon as possible. They should also obtain legal counsel to ensure that they can recover all of the benefits they are entitled to in an asbestos exposure lawsuit.

About Belluck & Fox

Belluck & Fox, LLP, is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won over $ 400 million in compensation for clients and their families.

Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine?s ?Best Lawyers in the New York Area? and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $ 12 million.

Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine?s ?Best Lawyers in the New York Area? and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal?s Largest Verdict of the Year. He recently secured verdicts of $ 32 million and more than $ 19 million on behalf of individuals who had contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

In September, Belluck & Fox, LLP, won a coveted spot on a list of America’s best law firms, which was published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine. The listing showcased 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas.

For more information, contact the firm at (877) 637-6843 or through the online contact form.

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New York, NY (PRWEB) December 03, 2011

As November?s National Lung Cancer Awareness Month comes to an end, the need for more research into lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases continues, New York mesothelioma lawyer Joseph W. Belluck said.

Although 157,300 people are afflicted each year with lung cancer, according to the Lung Cancer Alliance, and an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 die of the related cancer of mesothelioma, research for these diseases is not as well funded as for other cancers, Belluck pointed out.

According to a recent Scripps Newspaper report, the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer will operate with $ 200 million this year in research funding, while LUNGevity, the nation?s largest private lung cancer foundation, will give out only $ 2 million for research.

?Unfortunately, too many people associate lung cancer only with smoking, and that may impact funding, but there are many other causes of the disease ? one of which is asbestos,? said Belluck, a partner of the New York personal injury law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP, who focuses his practice on handling lung cancer and mesothelioma claims related to asbestos exposure.

?That?s why Lung Cancer Awareness Month is important. It raises awareness of the many causes of lung cancer, and, hopefully, that generates more funding for research into treatment options and possible cures,? he said. ?However, when the month ends, the battle goes on.

?We need to continue to promote awareness and encourage funding for research that can ultimately help to improve the survival rate for lung cancer and mesothelioma victims.?

Asbestos is a mineral that was once widely used in the U.S. in construction, shipyards, the military, automobiles and insulation. It has been recognized as a carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency and International Agency for Research.

Although both are caused by asbestos, mesothelioma and lung cancer are completely different diseases, with different origin sites, tumor structure and treatability, Belluck pointed out.

Additionally, while lung cancer can be traced to many different agents, asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, he said.

?Unfortunately, both forms of cancer can be very aggressive and fatal,? he said.

Belluck urged people to seek medical treatment promptly if they believe they have signs of lung cancer or mesothelioma. He also stressed that symptoms usually do not appear for 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

?It?s also important for victims of asbestos-related diseases and their families to know that they have legal rights and can pursue a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the company or agency that exposed them to this toxic substance,? Belluck said.

He advised victims of asbestos-related lung cancer and mesothelioma to seek out an asbestos exposure lawyer who has experience handling asbestos claims.

?While monetary awards cannot undo the harm caused by asbestos exposure, it can help to secure funds that will ease the financial burdens victims and their families face,? he said.

About Belluck & Fox, LLP

Belluck & Fox, LLP, is a nationally recognized law firm that represents individuals with asbestos and mesothelioma claims, as well as victims of crime, motorcycle crashes, lead paint and other serious injuries. The firm provides personalized and professional representation and has won over $ 400 million in compensation for clients and their families.

Partner Joseph W. Belluck is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine?s ?Best Lawyers in the New York Area? and in Super Lawyers. Mr. Belluck has won numerous cases involving injuries from asbestos, defective medical products, tobacco and lead paint, including a recent asbestos case that settled for more than $ 12 million.

Partner Jordan Fox is a well-known asbestos and mesothelioma attorney who has been named to the Best Lawyers in America, New York Magazine?s ?Best Lawyers in the New York Area? and to Super Lawyers. On two separate occasions his verdicts were featured as the National Law Journal?s Largest Verdict of the Year. He recently secured verdicts of $ 32 million and more than $ 19 million on behalf of individuals who had contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.

In September, Belluck & Fox, LLP, won a coveted spot on a list of America’s best law firms, which was published jointly by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers magazine. The listing showcased 8,782 different law firms ranked in one or more of 81 major practice areas.

For more information, contact the firm at (877) 637-6843 or through the online contact form.

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New York, NY (PRWEB) November 29, 2011

New York mesothelioma lawyer Joseph W. Belluck voiced his agreement with an article recently published in the International Journal of Environment and Health that called for a total global ban on asbestos.

According to the article, only 52 of the 194 nations in the world prohibit the import, export, and use of asbestos. Asbestos exposure has been linked to mesothelioma?a cancer of the lining of the lungs, chest, or abdomen?and other related diseases.

Due to its heat- and fire-resistant properties, the material was popular in the construction, shipbuilding, and automobile industries. Asbestos still can be found in many buildings and homes in floor tiles, ceilings, insulation, and piping.

?As an advocate for mesothelioma victims, I?ve seen the effect that asbestos exposure can have on both the victims and their families,? say Belluck. ?The overwhelming impact that mesothelioma has on victims and families can be stopped only when there is a complete ban on asbestos.?

The authors of the journal article point out that there are safer alternatives to asbestos, making the production and use of asbestos hard to understand. The authors note that at least 125 million workers worldwide are exposed to asbestos today, with 20 to 40 percent of adult men reporting past occupations that might have exposed them to asbestos.

Symptoms of mesothelioma can appear 10 to 60 years after exposure. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 2,700 people in the United States die each year from mesothelioma.

About Belluck & Fox, LLP

The mesothelioma law firm of Belluck & Fox, LLP represents victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease, as well as individuals with claims related to medical malpractice, motorcycle crashes, lead paint, and other serious injuries. Their attorneys have won almost $ 350 million in compensation for clients and their families.

Partner Joseph W. Belluck received an AV Peer Review Rating? from Martindale-Hubbell

Rochester, New York (PRWEB) January 10, 2012

eHealth Global Technologies, Inc. (eHGT) and OptumInsight will deploy an innovative medical image exchange service for HEALTHeLINK, a Regional Health Information Organization serving eight counties of western New York, including Buffalo and Niagara Falls. This partnership will enable faster diagnosis and treatment, improved outcomes, reduced radiation exposure and health care cost reductions.

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