Asbestos Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma: Is there hope?

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Business )



Mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer are both environmental diseases caused by exposure to asbestos. Due to the insulating properties of asbestos, it was used extensively in construction materials, textiles, friction products, spare parts of jets and even in paints. However, exposure to asbestos fibers causes asbestosis and after a period of 20-30 years, it can progress to lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the chest and abdominal lining. Once asbestos dust had been inhaled, it stays in the lungs and causes tumors to develop. These tumors could develop into asbestos lung cancer. Sometimes, these tumors spread to the chest cavity (pleural mesothelioma), to the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or in the cavity surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma).

Asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma are difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are very similar to other ailments and since symptoms appear even 30 years after exposure to asbestos, it is quite difficult to associate the symptoms with asbestos exposure. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, persistent coughing, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, pain in the chest or abdomen and coughing-up blood.

One-fifth of all mesothelioma cases are peritoneal mesothelioma. 100% of cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are caused only by exposure to asbestos. Additional symptoms that you’ll have are pain in the abdominen, unexplained loss of weight, throwing up, and abdominal swelling. The growing tumor might also obstruct bowel movement and impair breathing capacity. If you have these symptoms, it is best to have yourself checked and tested because the key to treatment is early detection.

If you have mesothelioma due to your occupation, you might want to consider filing for an asbestos claim. This would allow you to recover some of your financial loss due to costs of treatments and loss of income. Companies have known for more than 60 years about the harmful effects of asbestos on the body. They chose to withhold this information from their workers to continue getting profit at the risk of their workers health. Since the latency period is up to 20 years, most of them got away with it. If you are a victim, filing an asbestos claim will help you feel that you have some control and can force those responsible for your cancer to answer for it. A typical asbestos claim amounts to $1 million and if the case goes to court, it can go up to $6 million. Since most lawyers get 40% of the settlement, many are very eager to get clients. Choosing a mesothelioma lawyer can be a demanding and stressful task. The most important information you should know is the history of your lawyer in asbestos claims. You need to know how many cases were handled, how many had settlements and how many actually went to court.

While filing for an asbestos claim won’t return your life to normal, you’ll at least have the knowledge that you’ve force the guilty parties to be responsible. You’ll also have the means to continue getting treatment and somehow having a comfortable life.


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