Mesothelioma - What is it?
Mesothelioma lung cancer is a deadly form of lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure is a rare form of cancer called malignant mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma starts when cells found in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs, become abnormal and divide without control or order. These cancerous cells may then metastasize or spreads to other parts of the body, damaging tissues and organs.
Malignant mesothelioma may present itself in many forms. Common forms of mesothelioma include:
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma are usually non-specific and may not appear until 20 to 45+ years after a person is exposed to asbestos dust. When the mesothelioma symptoms may include shortness of breath and pain in the chest, due to an accumulation of fluid in the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. In addition, symptoms may include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling, due to a build-up of fluid in the abdomen. In some cases the mesothelioma symptoms may even include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, fever, night sweats and anemia.
High Risk of Mesothelioma from Asbestos
Although mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer, reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years. Almost all people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. In fact, a history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70-80% of all cases. Usually, the risk of mesothelioma will increase with heavier and longer exposure to asbestos. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Overview
Mesothelioma also occurs more often in men than in women, and risk increases with age. Yet, mesothelioma may appear in either men or women at any age. There is also some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of someone who worked with asbestos.
Occupations & Trades with Potential Asbestos Exposure
Many people wonder if they are, or have been, exposed to the health risks caused by asbestos. Health hazards from asbestos dust have been recognized in workers exposed in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, brake repair, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, and firefighters also may be exposed to asbestos dust.
People whose work brings them into contact with asbestos -- workers who renovate buildings with asbestos in them, for example -- may inhale fibers that are in the air; this is called occupational exposure. Workers' families may inhale asbestos fibers released by clothes that have been in contact with asbestos-containing materials; this is called paraoccupational exposure. People who live or work near asbestos-related operations might inhale asbestos fibers that have been released into the air by such operation; this is called neighborhood exposure.
Although it is known that the risk to workers increases with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals who had only brief exposures. Workers who develop asbestos-related diseases may show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear. Because of this time-lapse issue, lawyers are often asked if there is still time to make a claim for an injury or illness caused by asbestos.
Compensation For Mesothelioma
Many effects of toxic asbestos exposure are permanent and irreversible. Although the law seeks to place an injured person in the position he or she was in before an injury, this usually is not possible. Instead, economic compensation thought to be equivalent to the victim's damage is awarded. A plaintiff who can prove that he or she was exposed to asbestos may be able to recover for both the economic and noneconomic consequences of that exposure, including:
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The cost of past and future medical care;
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The cost of necessary rehabilitation;
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Lost past and future wages;
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Lost earning capacity;
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Lost enjoyment of life;
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Emotional distress; and,
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Past and future pain and suffering.
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Wrongful Death Damages for spouse and children
Mesothelioma Lawsuit - Talk to a Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a family member have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, then you may have a right to file a lawsuit against the asbestos manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos. Due to the nature of a mesothelioma case, time is of the essence, Don't Delay. Call for a Free Mesothelioma Lawsuit Case Evaluation. Talk to a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization with more than 25+ years of experience.
Free Lawsuit Evaluation - No Fees or Expenses Unless a Recovery is Obtained
