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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Additional
Mesothelioma links
1 Attorney Information.com Mesothelioma Mesothelioma
Alimta Mesothelioma Pemetrexed Treatment
Arkansas Asbestos Attorney Mesothelioma
Asbestos Article
Asbestos Attorney Lawyer
Asbestos Cement Siding
Asbestos City Litigation New York
Asbestos Lawsuit Texas
Asbestos Lawyer Apple Valley
Asbestos Lawyer New York - Internet Error
Asbestos Litigation Update
Asbestos Lung Cancer
Asbestos Management Software
Asbestos Poisoning
Asbestos Removal In New Jersey
Asbestosis Money
Cause Of Mesothelioma
Diffuse Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Failure To Diagnose Asbestos Lawsuit
Linkdomain Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer Lawyer.com
Louisiana Mesothelioma Attorney
New York Mesothelioma Lawyer
Oregon Mesothelioma Attorney
Philadelphia Asbestos Lawsuit
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorney
Prognosis In Mesothelioma Cases
South Dakota Mesothelioma Attorney
Vermont Mesothelioma Lawyer
Vinyl Asbestos Floor Tile
Wisconsin Mesothelioma Attorney
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
What is
asbestos?
Asbestos is the name for a group
of naturally occurring silicate minerals that can be separated into fibers.
The fibers are strong, durable,
and resistant to heat and fire. They are also long, thin and flexible, so that
they can even be woven into cloth. Because of these qualities, asbestos has been
used in thousands of consumer, industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and
building products. During the twentieth century, some 30 million tons of
asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial
buildings in the United States.
There are several types of asbestos fibers, of which three have been used for
commercial applications: (1) Chrysotile, or white asbestos, comes mainly from
Canada, and has been very widely used in the US. It is white-gray in color and
found in serpentine rock. (2) Amosite, or brown asbestos, comes from southern
Africa. (3) Crocidolite, or blue asbestos, comes from southern Africa and
Australia.
Amosite and crocidolite are called amphiboles. This term refers to the nature of
their geologic formation.
Other asbestos fibers that have not been used commercially are tremolite,
actinolite and anthophyllite, although they are sometimes contaminants in
asbestos-containing products. It should be noted that there are non-fibrous, or
non-asbestiform, variants of tremolite, anthophylite and actinolite, which do
not have the adverse health consequences that result from exposure to commercial
forms of asbestos.
Mesothelioma -
Ohio Attorney General Tries to Stop Anti-Asbestos Litigation Legislation - Part
2
The law would be the first in the
country to require people to prove exposure to asbestos and provide medical
evidence of an asbestos-related illness before continuing with their lawsuits.
The referendum drive is backed by a group of lawyers specializing in asbestos
litigation.
At issue are thousands of cases now pending in Ohio courts filed by people
exposed to the white flaky substance that was widely used in building material
during the 1950s and 1960s and can cause cancer.
The group would have to collect 193,740 signatures - 6 percent of the vote in
the last election for governor - by Sept. 2 to place the referendum on the Nov.
2 ballot.
The last time a referendum was on an Ohio ballot was in 1997, when voters
soundly rejected a law making changes to the workers' compensation system.
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 ... |
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