What does asbestos have to do with mesothelioma?
The only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States is previous
exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos manufacturers knew about the hazards of
asbestos seventy years ago - but they kept this knowledge to themselves. The
first warnings given to workers exposed to asbestos were in the mid-1960s, and
they were terribly inadequate. Even today, workers are not always told they are
working around asbestos and are at risk for asbestos disease.
What can someone with mesothelioma do?
- Seek out the best and most up-to-date information.
- Seek out the best medical care.
- Early screening for mesothelioma diagnosis.
- Stay in close contact with your doctor.
- Consider whether or not you want to bring a lawsuit because of this
asbestos-related injury.
- Remember that resources are available to you through community and
medical support groups, asbestos victims' organizations, your place of
worship, as well as your family and friends.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years,
mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of
mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs
more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease
can appear in either men or women at any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of
asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all
cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any
known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of
strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven.
Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement,
brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If
tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing
process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health
problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk
of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other
cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the
combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's
risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
Who is at increased risk for developing mesothelioma?
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use
greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of
American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks
associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of
developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work
in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the
heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the U.S.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable
levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos wear
personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to
asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief
exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who
are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases.
There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos
workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other
asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos
dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the
chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are
usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the
workplace.
People considering clinical trials may be interested in the NCI booklet
Taking Part in Clinical Trials: What Cancer Patients Need To Know. This booklet
describes how research studies are carried out and explains their possible
benefits and risks. The booklet is available by calling the CIS, or from the NCI
Publications Locator Web site at
http://cancer.gov/publications on the Internet.
Mesothelioma Lawsuit is the best way to find information about
Mesothelioma resources.
This web page takes the legwork out of finding great
Mesothelioma resources. We have compiled great links to
Mesothelioma
information and pages dedicated to
Mesothelioma here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great
information about
Mesothelioma.
We've taken the time to check out each and every featured
Mesothelioma website to make sure they are quality sites, with quality information.
You will find some incredible resources
for
Mesothelioma on our site
.
In our "Featured Mesothelioma Article" section, you'll find an article related to
Mesothelioma.
We will be providing you with updated and new featured articles on a regular
basis.
Additional
Mesothelioma links
1 Attorney Information.com Mesothelioma Mesothelioma
Against Asbestos Lawsuit Ppg
Arkansas Mesothelioma Attorney
Asbestos Attorney Litigation New York
Asbestos Consultant Consultancy
Asbestos Disease Attorney - Internet Error
Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma
Asbestos Lawyer Big Bear
Asbestos Lawyer Mirage Rancho
Asbestos Lawyer San Diego
Asbestos Mesothelioma Legal
Asbestos Mesothelioma Michigan
Asbestos Pipe Transite
Asbestos Poisoning
Asbestos Removal Services
Asbestos Vinyl Tile
Asbestos Vs Cancer
Asbestosis Disease
Attorney Agoura Hills Mesothelioma
Attorney Collier County Mesothelioma
Control Of Asbestos At Work Regulation
Desmoplastic Malignant Mesothelioma
Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Lawsuit Maryland Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Information
Mesothelioma Lawyer Baltimore
Michigan Mesothelioma Attorney
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorney
Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosed
Wisconsin Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma -
Ohio Attorney General Tries to Stop Anti-Asbestos Litigation Legislation - Part
2
The law would be the first in the
country to require people to prove exposure to asbestos and provide medical
evidence of an asbestos-related illness before continuing with their lawsuits.
The referendum drive is backed by a group of lawyers specializing in asbestos
litigation.
At issue are thousands of cases now pending in Ohio courts filed by people
exposed to the white flaky substance that was widely used in building material
during the 1950s and 1960s and can cause cancer.
The group would have to collect 193,740 signatures - 6 percent of the vote in
the last election for governor - by Sept. 2 to place the referendum on the Nov.
2 ballot.
The last time a referendum was on an Ohio ballot was in 1997, when voters
soundly rejected a law making changes to the workers' compensation system.
Peritoneal mesothelioma
Many of the organs in the abdomen
are enveloped by a thin membrane of mesothelial cells, known as the peritoneum.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a tumor of this membrane. Its only known cause in the
U.S. is previous exposure to asbestos, but it can be many years after exposure
before the disease appears. Peritoneal mesotheliomas account for about one-fifth
of all mesotheliomas.
Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be either benign or
malignant. This discussion is only about malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is sometimes diagnosed by coincidence, before any symptoms have
appeared. For example, the tumor is sometimes seen on a routine abdominal x-ray
for a check-up or before surgery.
When the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include
abdominal pains, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal
swelling. Fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space, a condition known as
ascites. Over time the wasting symptoms can become more and more severe.
The growing tumor can exert increasing pressure on the organs in the abdomen,
leading to bowel obstruction and distention. If the tumor presses upward, it can
impair breathing capacity. If the tumor pushes against areas with many nerve
fibers, and the bowel distends, the amount of pain can increase.
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
"There's no such thing as a free
asbestos screening," Worksafe! Newsletter (October 1998, p.6) Mesothelioma
Treatment Options - Patient Medical Research & Pain Management
Keep up an open dialogue with
your doctor It is natural to want to understand as much as possible about a
disease and its treatments, particularly when the disease is as rare as
malignant mesothelioma. The Internet has opened up a wealth of information on
mesothelioma, however, it is still important to keep in mind that your doctor is
your FIRST and (hopefully) BEST resource for understanding and dealing with this
disease.
This does not mean that you shouldn't explore resources and treatments on your
own; a good doctor wants informed patients who are interested in discussing
every available option. Only a trained physician, however, can help you
understand each treatment and evaluate how it fits in with your particular
circumstances, including the stage of your disease.
There are valuable research and support resources available via the Internet
which can assist you in your efforts to gain medical knowlege as you begin your
interaction with your doctor. To begin, there is an online resource that tutors
on how to use the Internet to research a lung cancer diagnosis. This tutorial
also cautions you as a researcher to be mindful of the limitations of
Internet-based research and to learn how to evaluate the information that you do
find. Another useful tool to assist in being an informed patient is The Cancer
Patient's Workbook: Everything You Need to Stay Organized and Informed, (DK
Books, 2001). This workbook hopes to help the patient better understand their
situation so they may deal with and fight their disease from an informed
position. This interactive guide helps patients cope and also explains how to
receive the best treatment possible.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
-
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused ... from mesothelioma. 9 Notable people who have lived for some time with mesothelioma. 10 Legal ... |
Fact sheet on mesothelioma from the National Cancer Institute. |
Mesothelioma Comprehensive overview covers malignant mesothelioma, including peritoneal and pleural ... Peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the ... |
Receive a FREE comprehensive information packet at your door in 24 hours. ... Blood Test May Allow for Early Detection of Mesothelioma ... |
Comprehensive information site on mesothelioma diagnosis, treatment, coping, asbestos disease and financial assistance. ... Mesothelioma Alerts Conventional ... |
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