Go to Top
   Mesothelioma Help Center
Helping Mesothelioma - Asbestos Families for 25 Years!
Call Toll Free: 800.291.0963


Mesothelioma Dictionary

 
   
Home | Mesothelioma Lawyer | Just Diagnosed? | Have a Question? |About Us | Contact Us

Mesothelioma Help Center - Mesothelioma Dictionary

Mesothelioma Dictionary

Mesothelioma Dictionary of Legal & Medical Terms
We Help Patients Find Legal Representation
Mesothelioma Help Center

 
A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z 

D

Dacarbazine
An anticancer drug that combines with in cancer cells to prevent them from multiplying.
Damages
Money awarded for an injury or loss due to an illegal act or mistake of another. (See also Award, Recovery)
Date Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB)
A board committee, composed of community representatives and clinical research experts, they review data while a trial is in progress to ensure that participants are not exposed to any sort of risk. A DSMB may stop a trial if there are safety concerns or if the trial objectives have been achieved.
Debulk
An operation that decreases swelling by removing part of a tumor or dead tissue.
Deciduoid Mesothelioma
A rare case of mesothelioma. Deciduoid mesothelioma was first described in young females and in the peritoneum, which led to the suggestion that deciduoid mesothelioma was a distinct subtype with specific clinical and pathologic features. Later reports, however, have shown that this type of mesothelioma may also occur in elderly people and in the pleura. Cases reported in the literature so far are limited, and the disease is not well defined.
Decortication
An operation that removes some of outside layer of an organ such as the brain, kidney or lung.
Deductible
Initial cost of a covered expense that must be paid by the insured person before the insurance pays its part of the expense.
Defendant
A person charged with committing a crime or mistake. If you have filed an asbestos or mesothelioma lawsuit, the asbestos companies that you are suing for damages are called defendants.
Dehydratio
A physical condition caused by the loss of water from the body.
Deliberate
A process in which a jury discusses the case in private, and decides by a vote, who wins the case. The Plaintiff or the Defendant.
Delirium
State of mind that can be caused by fear, confusion and imbalanced chemicals in the brain. The person can have hallucinations, illusions, violent actions, and disorientation.
Dementia
A condition that is a gradual loss of brain function, this can include memory loss, thinking, confusion, speech, and changes in personality.
Demyelization
The loss or breakdown of nerve fiber insulation that is used by nerves to send signals to the brain; this can cause your body to have a hard time communicating with it.
Deoxyribonucleotide
The building block of your DNA.
Deposition
An out of court testimony that has a witness under oath and is written down by a court reporter for later use in court.
Dermal
Means dealing with the skin. For example, dermal absorption means passing through the skin.
Dermatitis
A skin rash commonly caused by irritation.
Desensitization
A way to reduce a person’s allergic reaction to something, by giving them a small amount, and then slowly increasing the amount.
Desmoplastic
Process of making tissue within a tumor.
Detection
The process of finding a disease. Early detection means that the disease is found at an early stage, before it has a chance to grown large or spread to other parts of the body. Note: many forms of mesothelioma cancer can reach an advanced stage without causing symptoms. Mammography can help to find breast cancer early, and the PSA blood test is useful in finding prostate cancer.
Determining Efficacy
Determining how much the amount of medicine is needed to control an illness or disease.
DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone, a weak androgenic steroid produced by the adrenal cortex.
Diagnosis
Identifying a disease by its signs or symptoms, which can be found using imaging procedures and laboratory findings. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the better the chance for long-term survival.
Diagnosis (Mesothelioma)
Symptoms of a rare lung cancer from being exposed to asbestos, that can include chest pain, constantly coughing, coughing up blood, weight loss, and fatigue.
Diagnostic
Use of skilled and scientific methods to find the cause and nature of a disease.
Diaphragm
The muscle that separates the chest from the middle of the body, and is used for breathing.
Differentiation
The normal process which cells mature so they can carry out the jobs they were meant to do. Cancer cells are poorly differentiated.
Differential Diagnosis
Determining which two or more diseases with similar symptoms is the one a patient is suffering from, based on test findings and analysis of the clinical data.
Diffuse
To spread out so as to cover a larger space or surface. To scatter.
Diffuse Mesothelioma
The spreading of mesothelioma cancer to other parts of the body.
Disbursement Check
The way money from a settlement or a judgment goes to the plaintiff.
Disease
Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs).
Discovery
The pre-trial in a lawsuit which each group can request documents and other evidence from other parties.
Dissection
Operation that divides, separates, or remove tissues.
Disseminate
To spread; a disseminated infection is one that spread throughout the body.
Distal Painful Neuropathy
A type of nerve disease common in people with HIV, symptoms are burning or tingling sensations in the feet and hands.
Docetaxel (Taxotere)
Anticancer drug, that is a type of chemotherapy agent.
Dose
The amount of substance which a person is exposed over a time period. Dose the amount of exposure. The greater the dose, the greater the effect. An “exposure dose” is how much of a substance is found in the environment. An “absorbed dose” is the amount of a substance that got into the body through the eyes, skin, stomach, intestines, or lungs.
Dose-Response Relationship
The relationship between the amount of exposure (dose) and the changes in body function or health (response).
Double-Blind
A type of study which neither the subject or the investigator knows what treatment the subject is receiving doubling time: The time it takes for a cell to divide and double itself. Cancers vary in doubling time from 8 to 600 days, averaging 100 to 120 days. This is why a cancer may be present for many years before it can be felt.
Doxorubicin
Trade name Adriamycin or hydroxyldaunorubicin is a DNA-interacting drug used in chemotherapy. It is an anthracycline antibiotic and closely related to daunomycin, and also intercalates DNA. It is used in the treatment of a wide range of cancers.
DNA
Abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA holds genetic information on cell growth, division, and function. (DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID) The genetic information determines the type of behavior, structure, and function of the cell.
Drain
A tube or wick for removing fluid from a cavity or wound.
DRE
Digital rectal exam, the doctor inserts a gloved finger into the rectum to feel for anything not normal.
Drug Resistance
Bacteria and other cancer cells that resist the effects of chemotherapy drugs used to treat mesothelioma cancer.
Due Diligence
A term used for a patient that have studied the many options available to them, after a diagnosis is made by using second opinions or literature, in order to made a decision on how to be treated for the condition.
Durable Power of Attorney
Document that authorizes another to act as another’s attorney, if they are incapacitated due to an illness. They can use the patients funds to pay bills, setup patient care, and make health care decisions for the patient.
Dysphagia
Trouble swallowing or eating.
Dysplasia
Abnormal development or growth of cells and tissues; precancerous tissue or cell changes. The change in the size, shape and organization of cells or tissues.
Dyspnea
Difficult, painful breathing or shortness of breath. An early symptom of mesothelioma is fluid in the membrane of the lungs, this causes painful breathing or shortness of breath.
Dysreulation
Stopping a normal process.
DYSTONIA
No muscle tone.
Dysuria
Difficult or painful to urination.

Disclaimer: Mesothelioma Help Center’s Dictionary of Legal & Medical Terms is not designed to provide medical advice or professional services and is intended to be for educational use only. The information provided through Mesothelioma Help Center is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem you should consult your doctor. If you need legal help you should consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer.

We help with you file Mesothelioma and Asbestos-related claims in each state

Call us toll free at 800.291.0963 or use quick contact form located at the right of this page and we will contact you within 24 hours.

 
Mesothelioma Attorney
Contact Form

Free Mesothelioma Case Evaluation
Do You Have a Case?

Call us Toll Free at 800.291.0963 and talk to a live Mesothelioma case counselor.
We will walk you the process of getting connected with a Mesothelioma Lawyer.

Tell us About Your Case:

 
First Name: *
Last Name: *
Address: *
City: *
State: *
Zip Code: *
Phone: *
Email:
Date of Birth:
Date of Diagnosis:
Have you been diagnosed with Mesothelioma? *
Do you have a relative Diagnosed with Mesothelioma? *
Do you have a Pathology Report? *
Married: *
Number of Children:
Are you working with an Attorney? *
What state(s) were you exposed?
Case Description: *


By filling out this free consultation form you NOT forming an attorney client relationship. You can only retain an attorney by entering into a fee agreement and that by submitting this form you not entering into a fee agreement. This form is just a request for legal advice. Any information that you will receive in response to the above question is general information and you will NOT be charged for the response to this e-mail question.
 
 
Mesothelioma Symptoms

The most common Mesothelioma symptoms are the following:

Recent onset of shortness of breath (31%)
Recent increase in shortness of breath (30%)
Chest pain (43%)
 
Read More
     
 
     
   

Copyright © 2004-2024. WWW.MESOTHELIOMAHELPCENTER.ORG. All Rights Reserved.

Mesothelioma Lawyer