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
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section, you'll find an article related to Mesothelioma.
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basis.
Additional
Mesothelioma links
Arkansas Mesothelioma Lawyer
Asbestos Abatement And Removal Services
Asbestos And Lead Abatement
Asbestos Attorney Houston
Asbestos Attorney San Diego
Asbestos Attorney Tx
Asbestos By Caused Disease
Asbestos Colorado Lawyer
Asbestos Floor Removing Tile
Asbestos In Law Michigan Suit
Asbestos Lawyer Washington
Asbestosis Lawyer
Attorney Fort Lauderdale Mesothelioma
Charlotte County Mesothelioma Attorney
Collier County Mesothelioma Lawyer
Colorado Mesothelioma Pleural
Dallas Mesothelioma Law Firm
Failure To Diagnose Mesothelioma Injury
Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer
Illinois Mesothelioma Attorney
Kansas Mesothelioma Lawyer
Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma Lawyer Texas
Michigan Mesothelioma Attorney
Michigan Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Michigan Mesothelioma Lawyer
Michigan Peritoneal Mesothelioma
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Wisconsin Asbestos Consultant
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 1
Mesothelioma is a rare form of
cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the Mesothelioma, 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 Mesothelioma? The Mesothelioma 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 Mesothelioma 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 Mesothelioma 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
Who
needs to be examined?
Individuals who have been exposed
(or suspect they have been exposed) to asbestos dust on the job or at home via a
family contact should inform their physician of their exposure history and any
symptoms. A thorough physical examination, including a chest x-ray and lung
function tests, may be recommended. Interpretation of the chest x-ray may
require the help of a specialist who is experienced in reading x-rays for
asbestos-related diseases. Other tests also may be necessary.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not become apparent for many
decades after exposure. If any of the following symptoms develop, a physical
examination should be scheduled without delay:
Shortness of breath; A cough or a change in cough pattern; Blood in the sputum
(fluid) coughed up from the lungs; Pain in the chest or abdomen; Difficulty in
swallowing or prolonged hoarseness; and/or Significant weight loss. What are the
treatments for asbestos-related diseases?
The key to successful treatment of asbestos-related diseases lies in early
detection. The health problems caused by asbestosis are due mainly to lung
infections, like pneumonia, that attack weakened lungs. Early medical attention
and prompt, aggressive treatment offer the best chance of success in controlling
such infections. Depending on the situation, doctors may give a vaccine against
influenza or pneumococcal pneumonia as a protective measure.
Treatment of cancer is tailored to the individual patient and may include
surgery, anticancer drugs, radiation, or combinations of these therapies.
Information about cancer treatment is available from the National Cancer
Institute-supported Cancer Information Service, whose toll-free telephone number
is 1-800-4-CANCER.
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers - Part 4b
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.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
-
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Alltask offers asbestos removal, disposal, surveys and analysis services ... Some countries still use asbestos, and in Canada, mining of Chrysotile continues, ... |
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