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Asbestos and
Mesothelioma
Asbestos
is an extremely dangerous and
potentially deadly substance
that once was widely used in a
range of items, from ceiling and
wall tiles to insulation and
auto brakes. In the past, most
people outside of the industry
were completely unaware of the
dangers relating to asbestos.
However, over recent years the
dangers and deadly effects of
asbestos have become all too
apparent, with more and more
cases of the most deadly of
these effects - mesothelioma -
coming to light every day.
Mesothilioma is a malignant
cancer begins in the
cavities of the lungs, the
heart, or the abdomen. This
cancer is the direct result of
exposure to disturbed asbestos,
where the fibers have become
airborne. These airborne
asbestos fibers are
easily ingested or breathed in
by those in the vicinity that
are not wearing adequate
protection. Once the asbestos
fibers have lodged themselves
within various parts of the
body, they cannot be destroyed
by the cells of the immune
system, which are known as
macrophages. Instead, the
asbestos fibers lead to scar
tissue within the body, and this
is what can lead to mesothilioma
and other asbestos related
injuries.
People that have
contracted mesotheloma through
asbestos exposure do not realize
that anything is wrong for
years. The typical latency
period for this cancer is around
twenty to forty years, which
means that those affected may
not find out for three or four
decades following the exposure.
Further delays can be
experienced because of the
symptoms of mesotyelioma, which
are very non-specific in nature
- this means that they could
easily be attributed to other
more common ailments. This often
leads to a delay in diagnosis,
causing further delays when it
comes to treatment of any sort.
There is currently no known cure
for mesothelioma, although
clinical trials and tests are
continually being conducted.
Over the past few years, many
breakthroughs have been made in
short term treatments and
diagnostic procedures, which
gives fresh hope to sufferers of
this cancer. However, until a
cure has been found, many people
will continue to lose their
lives due to the
irresponsibility of various
companies and manufacturers in
decades gone by. Understandably,
sufferers and their families
want to see some form of
compensation for the pain,
suffering, and misery caused by
asbestos and mesothilioma.
Although no amount of money can
make up for the damage done by
unprotected asbestos exposure,
it can help to pay for medical
costs, and can also provide the
sufferer's family with a more
financially secure future. It is
important for anyone that is
diagnosed with mesotheloma to
seek legal assistance from an
experienced mesothelioma lawyer
without delay. Although legal
action may not be something that
you wish to think about after
being dealt a bombshell such as
this, any delay could make a
difference between claiming
millions of dollars for your
suffering, expenses, and your
family's future, or getting
nothing at all. Your lawyer will
need to know the extent of
damage and the stage of your
cancer, so it is advisable to
provide a medical report from
your doctor to enable your
lawyer to put together a solid
mesothelioma lawsuit and get as
much compensation as possible
for you and your loved ones.
Protect Against
Mesothelioma by Avoiding
Asbestos
Mesothelioma is
a rare cancer that attacks the
body's mesothelial cells around
the organs. The mesothelium
provides a protective membranous
lining for the internal organs
and allows moving organs (i.e.
the heart and the lungs) to
glide easily against adjacent
structures. The names of the
three regions of mesothelial
cells that provide protective
coating are 1) pleura, the sac
which surrounds the lungs; 2)
peritoneum, the lining which
protects the abdominal cavity;
and 3) pericardium, the sac
which surrounds the heart. Three
different types of mesothilioma
cancer attack these three
different regions.
Pleural
mesothelioma: A type of lung
cancer which attacks the pleura
surrounding the lungs, this is
the most common type of
mesothelioma, affecting
approximately two-thirds of all
mesothelioma patients. Symptoms
include horseness, fever, blood
in sputum, swollen arms and
face, coughing, loss of weight,
difficulty breathing, chest
pain, weak muscles, and reduced
tactile sensitivity.
Peritoneal
mesothelioma: A cancer of the
abdomen which attacks the
peritoneum lining the abdominal
cavity. This affects
approximately one-third of all
mesotheloma patients. Symptoms
include abdominal bloating,
impaired bowl function, fever,
swollen feet, and nausea.
Pericardial
mesothelioma: This form of
mesotyelioma which attacks the
pericardium surrounding the
heart is extremely rare.
Symptoms include chest pain,
dyspnea, cough, and
palpitations.
Mesothelioma has
been linked to asbestos
exposure. Asbestos is a type of
building material that is used in
thermal insulation products and
ceiling tiles. In the United
States, asbestos usage peaked
during the 1950s - 1970s. During
the late 1960s, concerns over
the health consequences of
asbestos exposure began to
arise, thereby decreasing the
amount of asbestos manufactured
in next two decades. By the
1980s, a new industry of
asbestos abatement began to
flourish. But according to the
United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), as many
as 733,000 schools and public
buildings still contain
asbestos. Small asbestos fibers
that enter the air do not
evaporate. These can remain
suspended in the air for a long
time. When
breathed into the body, these
fibers are
toxic. There are three types of
asbestos exposure. Occupational
asbestos exposure: People
working in factories that manufacture asbestos are likely
to have a high exposure to
asbestos and are most at risk of
developing asbestosis or
mesothelioma. Para occupational
asbestos exposure: Family
members of workers exposed to
asbestos in the workplace are
susceptible to exposure from
asbestos dust brought home by
the worker on his clothes or
skin. Neighborhood asbestos
exposure: Those who live in the
vicinity of an asbestos
manufacturing plant are also at
risk. Mesothelioma is still a
relatively rare form of cancer.
There are an estimated 2,000 -
3,000 new cases per year in the
United States. Approximately
7-13 per one million male
patients with a history of
asbestos exposure contract
mesothelioma. Diagnosis usually
occurs about 20-40 years after initial
exposure to asbestos.
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