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
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Asbestos Asbestos Attorney Mesothelioma here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
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We've taken the time to check out each and every featured Mesothelioma website to make sure they are quality sites, with quality information.
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section, you'll find an article related to Mesothelioma.
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basis.
Additional
Mesothelioma links
Alaska Asbestos Attorney Mesothelioma
Asbestos Abatement
Asbestos Attorney Maryland Mesothelioma
Asbestos Based Disease
Asbestos Ceiling Tile
Asbestos Fund Medical National Worker
Asbestos Luxembourg Mesothelioma New Weitz York
Asbestos Removal In New Jersey
Asbestos Report Survey
Asbestos Vinyl Tile
Asbestosis Definition
Asbestosis Insufficiency Vertebrovascular
Center Law Mesothelioma
Charlotte County Mesothelioma Attorney
Epa Asbestos
Failure To Diagnose Mesothelioma Case
Lawyer Camarillo Asbestos
Lawyer Camarillo Mesothelioma
Lawyer Mesothelioma Pleural Washington
Mesothelioma Attorney
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Mesothelioma Compensation
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Mesothelioma Statistics Online
Minnesota Mesothelioma Attorney
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New York Mesothelioma Lawyer
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Port Charlotte Mesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma -
Emerging Mesothelioma Treatments
Mesothelioma - Photodynamic
Therapy - Part 2
Photodynamic therapy is a new
approach to treating Mesothelioma cancer and is based on using light to kill the
cancer cells. In photodynamic therapy, a drug is first administered
intravenously that targets and renders the cancerous cells more sensitive in a
number of days.
The drug is easily eliminated by normal cells, ensuring that they will not be
harmed when light therapy is given. After the cells have been given the proper
time of exposure to the drug, a special frequency of light laser beams are
directed towards the Mesothelioma cancer with the intent to eradicate it from
the body without having to use more invasive methods.
Although there are occasional cases of eye sensitivity and nausea and/or
vomiting, the main side effect of photodynamic therapy is skin sensitivity after
the procedure is completed.
More information on photodynamic therapy can be found on new Web site,
Mesothelioma Help ( http://www.mesohelp.net/
) The Web site contains several informative articles, including a primer on
emerging treatments for Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of
cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a
protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who
develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
What is the mesothelium? The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects
most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells:
One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The
mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers,
allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and
contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures. The mesothelium
has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is
the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity.
The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the
chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial
tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica
vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive
organs in women.
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 7a
How is Mesothelioma treated?
Treatment for Mesothelioma
depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the
patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery,
radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
Surgery is a common treatment for Mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of
the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer
of the pleura (pleural Mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation
called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the
lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.
Radiation therapy, also called radiotherapy, involves the use of high-energy
rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy affects the
cancer cells only in the treated area. The radiation may come from a machine
(external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through
thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal
radiation therapy).
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
-
The asbestos attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, PC, ... home / asbestos diseases / mesothelioma / types / symptoms / diagnosis and treatment ... |
Frequently asked questions about Mesothelioma and other Asbestos related diseases. ... Asbestos & Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma Lawyers. Ask an Asbestos Attorney ... |
Mesothelioma Attorneys with more than three decades of experience. Mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer lawyers with offices in Pittsburgh, PA serving all of ... |
Contact the mesothelioma lawyers and asbestos attorneys at SimmonsCooper law ... Attorneys. Charitable Causes. Our Work. Legal Practice Overview. Mesothelioma ... |
The asbestos attorneys at the Law Offices of Peter G. Angelos, PC, have over 20 years experience in representing asbestos injury victims and mesothelioma cancer ... |
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