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
Advice Asbestosis
Asbestos
Asbestos Abatement Contractor
Asbestos Attorney Houston
Asbestos Attorney Indian Well
Asbestos Attorney Mirage Rancho
Asbestos Attorney Palm Desert
Asbestos Australia In Litigation
Asbestos Cement Siding
Asbestos Claim Mesothelioma
Asbestos Danger
Asbestos Disease Mesothelioma
Asbestos Flooring Removal
Asbestos Lawyer Palm Twentynine
Asbestos Lung Mesothelioma
Asbestos Mesothelioma Resource.com
Asbestos Project Management
Asbestosis Picture
Austin Attorney Mesothelioma
Cause Mesothelioma Radio
Cause Of Mesothelioma
County Hendry Lawyer Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Attorney Baltimore
Mesothelioma Law Firm
Mesothelioma Lawyer Dallas
Mesothelioma Lawyer Tx
Mesothelioma Statistics Online
Mesothelioma Update
Michigan Mesothelioma Lawyer
Peritoneal mesothelioma
At this time there are
treatments, but no known cure, for peritoneal mesothelioma. The prognosis
depends on various factors, including the size and stage of the tumor, its
extent, the cell type, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment.
However, the options for relief and treatment of people with peritoneal
mesothelioma have improved, especially for those whose cancer is diagnosed early
and treated vigorously. Many people receive a combination of therapies,
sometimes known as multimodal therapy.
Specific types of treatment include:
- chemotherapy and other
drug-based therapies radiation therapy and surgery.
- There are also clinical
trials and various experimental treatments like gene therapy and
immunotherapy, and antiangiogenesis drugs.
For more information about
peritoneal mesothelioma and treatments, please explore this web site or visit:
- National Cancer Institute
- University of Pennsylvania/OncoLink
- American Cancer Society
- Medicine Online
Mesothelioma -
Asbestos Court Bid By Dying Woman - Part 1
A DYING woman is set to take her
case to court for exposure to asbestos during her school days.
Law firm Slater and Gordon is handling the case for the woman, who now lives in
Melbourne. Solicitor Andrew Higgins, who specializes in asbestos cases, says the
woman is an example of how innocently people can be exposed to the deadly
substance. Last month Slater and Gordon advertised in Tasmanian newspapers for
anyone who had been at Devonport High between 1964 and 1968. "We are looking for
people who can assist with our inquiries about that time," Mr. Higgins said.
He said the claim was the woman was exposed to asbestos as a student, which had
led to her contracting Mesothelioma as an adult. "The insidious thing about
asbestos is you can be working in mines or mills or just be a school student,
and you can get an asbestos-related disease," he said. "This is an example of
how innocently people can be exposed because there is no safe level of
exposure." The law firm's investigations centre on the time an assembly hall at
Devonport High was destroyed by fire and subsequent rebuilding.
The case is expected to be before the courts in Tasmania soon because of the
woman's limited life expectancy. Mr. Higgins said there was always a precedent
value in such cases but individuals had to be able to prove their claims. "Just
because there is one case doesn't mean others will follow," he said.
The law firm has been involved in a number of cases in Tasmania, both in Hobart
and the North-West, including people exposed in heavy industry in the area.
Diagnosis for
Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer: Screening
Explore MEDLINE
Published by the National Library of Medicine, MEDLINE is a comprehensive index
of medical citations and abstracts dating back to 1966. In the past, this
database was available only to students, doctors or by subscription. However,
there are now several Internet resources which offer free MEDLINE access,
including PubMed and MedlinePlus. Use of both services is free, although you
must initially fill out a member registration form.
An additional benefit of these services is access to full-text versions of many
of the articles. PubMed publishes a list of MEDLINE journals with links to
publisher web sites at:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/fulltext.html. Access to these articles
may require user registration or a small fee, but recent issues are often
available free of charge.
These publications and abstracts are not written for the layperson, so make sure
you discuss any literature you read with your doctor before making any decisions
about them.
Although MEDLINE is the most comprehensive database of medical literatere, the
National Cancer Institute also has a free database of cancer-specific abstracts
and literature.
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 ... |
Today's News Related To
Mesothelioma
|
