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
Mesothelioma here. . .
To your right you will find links to various
Mesothelioma related pages. There you will find great
information about
Mesothelioma.
We've taken the time to check out each and every featured
Mesothelioma website to make sure they are quality sites, with quality information.
You will find some incredible resources
for
Mesothelioma on our site
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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
Alaska Mesothelioma Attorney
Asbestos Abatement And Removal Services
Asbestos Attorney La Quinta
Asbestos Attorney Litigation New York
Asbestos Attorney Mirage Rancho
Asbestos Cement
Asbestos Cleveland Craig Lawyer Plaintiff
Asbestos Company
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Asbestos Floor Removal Tile
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Asbestos Lawyer
Asbestos Lawyer Southern California
Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit Austin
Asbestos Removal Company
Asbestos Removal Procedure
Asbestos Symptom
Asbestos Vs Cancer
Asbestos Worker Union
Asbestosis Disease
Cancer Caused From Asbestos
Chrysotile Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Fort Myers Mesothelioma Attorney
Mesothelioma Case
Mesothelioma Law Litigation
Mesothelioma Resource
Mesothelioma Symptom
Mesothelioma Treatment Washington
Mesothelioma -
Lung Cancer Link - Part 2
Hilary Koprowski of Jefferson
University in Philadelphia, who created one of the first polio vaccines, says he
is not surprised that the magnesium chloride preparation did not work. "Nothing
inactivates something 100 per cent," he said. "I would believe there were still
remnants [of SV40] left."
Fresh kidneys The contamination of the Soviet vaccine highlights the need for
safer methods of growing viruses for vaccines, Koprowski says, something he is
trying to tackle by using plant cells. The US stopped using fresh monkey kidneys
for polio vaccine in 2000. But the vaccine is still made in this way in several
other countries.
"I would say that it suggests that [old] vaccines made in different countries
should be examined for possible contamination," says Janet Butel of Baylor
University College of Medicine in Houston, a leading SV40 expert.
"In any epidemiological studies where they're comparing exposed versus
non-exposed, if in fact there was any contaminated vaccine used after 1963, the
control group wouldn't be a control group."
Pleural mesothelioma
Current medical science does not
know exactly how and why, at a cellular level, asbestos fibers cause mesothelial
cells to become abnormal (malignant or cancerous.) Thus it is not known whether
only one fiber causes the tumor or whether it takes many fibers. It seems that
asbestos fibers in the pleura can start a tumor as well as promote its growth;
the tumor does not depend on any other processes for its development.
There is as yet no known cure for malignant mesothelioma. The prognosis depends
on various factors, including the size and stage of the tumor, the extent of the
tumor, the cell type, and whether or not the tumor responds to treatment. The
Firm has represented many clients who lived for five to ten years after
diagnosis, most of them in good health for a majority of those years. Some
mesothelioma victims succumb within a few months; the average survival time is
about a year.
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
-
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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