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.
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In our "Featured Mesothelioma Article"
section, you'll find an article related to Mesothelioma.
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basis.
Additional
Mesothelioma links
Advisory Asbestos Australia Disease Service
Armstrong Asbestos Ceiling Tile
Asbestos Abatement And Removal Services
Asbestos Abatement Company
Asbestos Attorney Graham Wallace
Asbestos Attorney Indian Well
Asbestos Attorney Maryland
Asbestos Claim Mesothelioma
Asbestos Disease Lawyer
Asbestos Insulation
Asbestos Lawsuit Mesothelioma Statistics
Asbestos Legislation Senate
Asbestos Removal Abatement
Asbestos Siding Removal
Asbestos Type
Asbestosis Claim
Asbestosis Meaning
Attorney County Desoto Mesothelioma
Diffuse Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Failure To Diagnose Asbestos Lawyer
Failure To Diagnose Mesothelioma Attorney
Florida Mesothelioma Attorney
Lawsuit Mesothelioma Washington
Lawyer Ojai Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Attorney Dallas
Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma Support
New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyer
Wisconsin Asbestos Consultant
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).
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 -
Cancer of the Lung Lining - Part 1
Mesothelioma is a very rare form
of lung cancer that arises in the Mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma is made up of
parietal and visceral membranes, thin layers of tissue, which surround organs
and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane
immediately surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering the
visceral membrane. The visceral and parietal membranes that make up the
Mesothelioma. This fluid helps organs move easily among surrounding structures.
In the case of the lung, it helps reduce friction between the lung and chest
wall during normal breathing as the lung expands.
Here are some
Additional
Mesothelioma Resources
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... about asbestos lawsuits and the cost of filing a mesothelioma lawsuit. ... Why should I hire you instead of a law firm closer to my home? Will I have to travel? ... |
Find out more about mesothelioma and asbestosis, including your legal rights. ... Mesothelioma Lawsuit.us. Your source for Mesothelioma & Asbestos information ... |
By law, you have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit for mesothelioma. ... Is it okay to hold off from filing suit for the time being? ... |
Site includes mesothelioma lawsuit and medical diagnosis information, ... legal services for Mesothelioma lawsuits, however most of these law firms do not ... |
Mesothelioma & the Law. Mesothelioma Lawyers. Asbestos Lawyer ... Mesothelioma Litigation. Filing a Lawsuit. Mesothelioma Settlements. Lawsuits: FAQ ... |
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