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New Orleans Asbestos Blog

How can victims identify mesothelioma?

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm posted in mesothelioma on Friday, February 14, 2020.

Mesothelioma is a serious issue that affects thousands of people in Louisiana and elsewhere in the United States. As is the case with many cancers and cancer-like ailments, it is difficult to diagnose mesothelioma without professional medical help, and it is also easier to treat it when it is caught early.

  • What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

This disease, affecting the lining of the lungs or other thoracic organs, has been connected to chronic exposure to asbestos in the air. This rigid material can release crystalline fibers into the air when it is broken or disintegrated. These fibers can be inhaled and cause problems.

  • What are the early symptoms of mesothelioma?

Supreme Court ruling draws a line around asbestos lawsuits

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm posted in asbestos on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.

We are lucky that asbestos does not show up as much as it used to in industrial applications, insulation and other places. But it is still around, and the effects linger for people who spent a chunk of their careers dealing with the substance. Now, Baton Rouge has limited descendants' abilities to claim benefits.

The Louisiana Supreme Court recently ruled that a previous settlement regarding a health problem related to asbestos precluded a later attempt to secure a survival action after the plaintiff passed away. The initial settlement occurred in 1985 after the plaintiff sought damages following a dozen years of work that involved the occupational exposure to asbestos.

New technology makes lung cancer surgery more effective

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm posted in lung cancer on Wednesday, February 5, 2020.

Lung cancer is a serious problem in Louisiana. The Bayou State leads the nation in new cases of the disease, which may be connected to the level of pollutants in the environment from chemical factories and other facilities in the Mississippi River Valley.

People in the state are hoping that improvements in environmental quality will help reduce new cases of lung cancer. In the meantime, many people are still suffering due to the actions or inactions of companies that operate near their homes and communities.

State government sues company over health risks of talcum powder

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm posted in talcum powder on Monday, February 3, 2020.

The jury may still be out on whether or not talcum powder causes health problems on its own. The absorbent substance has long been marketed as an option for feminine hygiene or baby care. But one problem with talcum powder that cannot be overstated is possible contamination by asbestos.

A state government is becoming one of the first to sue the producers and distributors of talcum powder and other substances that may have also contained asbestos. Many scientists and lawyers have argued that asbestos can become unsafe when it breaks down into fibrous particles, which can be inhaled and cause problems in the respiratory tract.

Asbestos exposure isn't limited to the workplace

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm on Saturday, February 1, 2020.

If you are like most people, you think of construction workers, industrial workers and maybe firefighters when asked about asbestos exposure. You would never think that your home could be a source of this toxic material, but it could be.

Louisiana has many beautiful old homes, and you may want to purchase one if you haven't already. You may love the structure but want to do some remodeling and renovating to bring it up to code and perhaps install some more modern conveniences.

Small group of mesothelioma patients show promise in therapy

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm posted in mesothelioma on Thursday, January 16, 2020.

Asbestos used to be widely employed in construction, shipbuilding and the manufacturing of goods like appliances and vehicles. It was once prized without reservation for its ability to withstand flame and insulate rooms. But long-term exposure has been studied and may be very hazardous to the people who worked with it.

One of the best known potential ill effects of exposure to asbestos dust is mesothelioma, a specific type of cancer that affects the lining of thoracic organs and traced specifically to the substance. The two best known forms are pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the stomach or digestive tract.

Asbestos poses health risks but has still not been banned

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm posted in asbestos on Wednesday, January 15, 2020.

There are few substances that have caused more damage to health and public trust in the United States than asbestos. Louisiana has taken the brunt of asbestos' effects, with shipyard workers and industrial insulators often developing mesothelioma or other grave illnesses after prolonged exposure to the dust that the brittle solid creates.

Legal experts believe that claims for financial damages regarding asbestos exposure have amounted to the largest and most expensive series of civil lawsuits in U.S. history. Although the claims may have peaked because there are fewer industrial users of asbestos, the substance has still not been banned in the nation.

Cancer Alley may not be regulated well enough

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm posted in lung cancer on Monday, January 6, 2020.

No matter what one's political views are about the government, its job is to protect its citizens. Most people in Louisiana can agree with that because, in some ways, residents of the Bayou State need extra protection when it comes to matters of public health.

But a recent report suggests that government regulations are failing people who live in one of the most dangerous areas of the country when it comes to lung cancer. Some of the final bends of the Mississippi River are home to chemical refineries that have given the region the unfortunate nickname "Cancer Alley."

Would a newly approved treatment for MPM help you?

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm on Friday, January 3, 2020.

If your doctor recently diagnosed you with malignant pleural mesothelioma, one of the first things your doctor may have done is to determine whether you are a candidate for surgery. If you do not fall into the 10% to 20% of certain individuals diagnosed with MPM, then surgery is not an option.

Sadly, under these circumstances, your doctor probably told you that the prognosis not good. Ordinarily, you would receive palliative care, but in May 2019, the Food and Drug Administration approved a new treatment for MPM that could extend your life.

Government agency may have downplayed talcum powder risks

On behalf of Pourciau Law Firm posted in talcum powder on Monday, December 30, 2019.

It's been a long journey for people who used talcum powder as a hygiene aid. After decades of targeted marketing, the substance spent years in American homes before something appeared not quite right. Many users developed rare types of cancer or suffered other health problems.

Now, it seems most talcum powder on the market was contaminated with asbestos, which is believed to be dangerous to human health. Lawsuits to take the main distributor of talcum powder to task have had mixed results so far. Some plaintiffs have won multimillion-dollar lawsuits to help with medical care and to penalize the manufacturer for fraudulent practices.