Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Mesothelioma Disease

Asbestos And Mesothelioma Disease Legal Advice

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral which had many uses in the past. Asbestos fibers are resistant to heat and chemicals and do not conduct electricity.

Asbestos has been used in North America since the late 1800's. Its use increased dramatically during World War II. For decades, asbestos products have been widely used at many worksites by many trades in industries such as shipbuilding, construction, steelmaking, oil, chemical and power plant operation and many others.

Mesothelioma And Other Diseases

Malignant Mesothelioma
Malignant Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor. There are two areas where malignant Mesothelioma develops: in the pleura, including the lining of the chest wall, lung and diaphragm; and in the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity. The majority of the medical community agrees that mesothelioma is caused only by asbestos exposure. What are the medical options for malignant mesothelioma?

Lung Cancer
Lung Cancer is a cancer of the lung and air passages. Asbestos exposure causes lung cancer. Cigarette smoking, together with asbestos exposure, increases a person's risk of developing lung cancer by 50-90 times.

Other Asbestos Caused Cancers
Evidence has shown a connection between asbestos exposure and the development of colon/rectal cancer, laryngeal cancer, esophageal cancer and other forms of cancer.

Many of these cancers, if detected early, are treatable. If you are not under the care of an oncologist (cancer doctor), we may be able to help you find a doctor experienced in the treatment of asbestos-related cancers.

Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a non-cancerous scarring of the lung tissue as a result of inhaling asbestos dust and fibers. Once an asbestos fiber is inhaled and trapped in the lung, it cannot be removed. The body reacts with the formation of scar tissue which may impair lung function and eventually cause death. Symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing and clubbing of the fingers. There is no cure for this disease which is also known as interstitial fibrosis.

Pleural Plaques and Pleural Thickening
Pleural Plaques and Pleural Thickening is a non-cancerous scarring of the pleura (the lining of the lung) which may impair lung function. This condition is also known as pleural fibrosis.

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral which had many uses in the past. Asbestos fibers are resistant to heat and chemicals and do not conduct electricity.

Also, asbestos products such as floor, wall and ceiling materials have been used in many commercial buildings including schools, hospitals and office buildings.

Who is at Risk?

Worksites at risk
Trades at risk
Asbestos Products

Manufacturers and Distributors of Asbestos Products

It takes from 10 - 50 years after first exposure to asbestos for a person to develop mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos diseases. People who worked directly with asbestos such as insulators, shipyard, refinery, construction and utility workers, military personnel and other trades are at risk.

Other people at risk are housewives and children of people who work with or around asbestos, school teachers and others who were indirectly exposed. Short term, intense exposure may cause mesothelioma many years later. It is important to determine if and how you or a family member were exposed to asbestos in a trade or at a worksite.

Medical Options

Presently, there is no known cure for malignant mesothelioma. However, there are treatments that may improve the quality and quantity of life for people with mesothelioma.

Some of the treatments are:
Chemotherapy
Radiation Therapy

Surgery
Pleurectomy (removal of the pleura) and extrapleural pneumonectomy (removal of the pleura, lung, pericardium and diaphragm).

Palliative Therapy
Treatment of symptoms such as shortness of breath and pain.

Experimental Therapies
Treatments such as photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy.

Mesothelioma