The Tragedy Of Asbestos Cancer
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. While asbestos is recognized as harmful, it is still used in industry and the number of mesothelioma victims continues to rise each year.
Individuals should educate themselves about the dangers of asbestos materials and learn how to prevent, or eliminate exposure.
What is mesothelioma?
An often fatal disease, mesothelioma is a cancer that usually invades the lining of the chest (pleura), abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or lining around the heart (pericardium). The most common form is pleural mesothelioma where it attacks the lungs.
What's the cause of mesothelioma?
The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. This can occur when exposed to asbestos in building materials, or in the workplace during the manufacturing process.
How much exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma?
The chance of developing this cancer will depend upon how long you were exposed to asbestos. The greater the exposure, the more your health is at risk. While only minimum exposure to asbestos can cause the disease, mesothelioma takes a long time to manifest itself and can take 20 - 50 years before symptoms appear.
How fast does mesothelioma progress?
Mesothelioma develops slowly; the person affected might experience symptoms like lower back and chest pains. These may be accompanied by fever, difficulty breathing, lack of appetite and weight loss. Once mesothelioma is present in the body, it rapidly becomes aggressive and victims must seek medical treatment quickly.
How is mesothelioma treated?
Treatment options can vary according to the health and age of the patient and the extent to which the disease has progressed. The prognosis for mesothelioma will largely depend on how early it was diagnosed and how aggressively the cancer is treated. Traditional therapies include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Two or more of these treatment types are sometimes combined. Promising results have also been seen with alternative treatments.
Are there legal remedies for asbestos cancer?
As long as you can prove that you were exposed to asbestos, mesothelioma sufferers can obtain settlements from asbestos manufacturers and employers. Both the spouse and children of someone who died from asbestos cancer may also file court claims and receive financial compensation. For more details, send for our FREE Mesothelioma Packet using the form above.