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
Asbestos Law Related Suit here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great information about
Asbestos Law Related Suit.
We've taken the time to check out each and every featured Mesothelioma website to make sure they are quality sites, with quality information.
Here you will find
some of the best resources on Asbestos Law Related Suit ever compiled
and some incredible resources
for Mesothelioma.
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
Advice Asbestos Removal
Alaska Mesothelioma Attorney
Asbestos Abatement Funding
Asbestos Ceiling
Asbestos Ceiling In
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Asbestos Chicago Exposure Lawyer
Asbestos Claim Legal Mesothelioma
Asbestos Concrete Pipe Corrosivity
Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma
Asbestos In Law Michigan Suit
Asbestos Journal Law Queens
Asbestos Lawyer New York - Internet Error
Asbestos Mesothelioma Papillary - Internet Error
Asbestos Removal In New Jersey
Asbestos Siding House
Asbestos Siding Removal
Asbestos Siding Repair
Attorney Austin Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Cancer Cell Lung Mesothelioma Small
Idaho Mesothelioma Attorney
Law Firm Asbestos Woodland Hills 91302
Lee County Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Asbestos Attorney Lawyer
Mesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma Cancer
New York Mesothelioma Lawyer
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer - Internet Error
South Carolina Mesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma:
Questions and Answers
What are the Risk Factors for
Mesothelioma? - Part 3
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.
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
Explore the American Cancer
Society's Cancer Resource Center
This community-based organization
claims its mission is "eliminating cancer as a major health problem...through
research, education, advocacy, and service." As a non-governmental organization,
the American Cancer Society is the largest source of private funds earmarked for
cancer research. The ACS website is a very good place for you to investigate
ongoing research and treatment options, as well as find extensive links to help
further direct your medical research.
The American Cancer Society provides a useful fact sheet that describes the
asbestos - mesothelioma link. If you suspect that you might have mesothelioma,
there are several methods which can help to detect the presence of this disease.
While you may find some answers on this particular site, the ACS advises you to
remember that as you cope with cancer and cancer treatment, you need to have
honest, open discussions with your doctor. You should feel free to ask any
question that's on your mind, no matter how small it might seem.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
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Click Here for a Guide to Asbestos Attorneys Asbestos related illnesses, most commonly mesothelioma cancer, are ... Related topics: Asbestos Law suits, ... |
... an Ohio law which states that all plaintiffs in asbestos-related suits must ... When Linda Ackison filed the suit in May of 2004, the law was not yet in place. ... |
Information on asbestos-related disease and litigation from a Texas law firm. ... file suit? First steps to filing suit. What to expect from your asbestos case ... |
Many mesothelioma asbestos victims came in contact with these consumer and ... related lawsuits as cited by The National Law Journal for 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, ... |
Does Nadrich Law have an asbestos attorney who can assist me with my claim settlement needs? ... What types of asbestos-related suits can you handle? ... |
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