Mesothelioma is a dangerous, rare cancer that develops after exposure to products containing asbestos. According the American Cancer Society, between 2000 and 3000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year. People who worked in industry where asbestos was frequently handled are most at risk for developing mesothelioma. The dangers of asbestos in the workplace were finally widely recognized in the late 1970s and government regulations were enforced by the early 1980s, but today many older homes and commercial buildings still have asbestos-containing products.

Uses of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral, with heat-resistant and flame-retardant properties. Because of its flame retarding and heat resisting properties, asbestos was widely used in industry and construction, beginning in the late 1800s. By 1920, asbestos was extremely popular.

It was used in flame-retardant clothing for welders and other workers around high heat and flame. It was used as theater curtains. It was widely used in shipbuilding, since ships needed fire-proof materials, especially in the engine room. It was used throughout building construction, in flooring, roofing, paints, siding, and insulation. The workers using asbestos had no idea it could lead to a deadly disease like mesothelioma, but their employers often new the dangers.

Asbestos is dangerous when it releases tiny, microscopic fibers; if these fibers are inhaled into the lungs they can cause many health problems, including mesothelioma. Fortunately, asbestos fibers stayed contained within most asbestos-containing products; the problems begin with older asbestos products which may be deteriorating. Any asbestos product which is crumbling or can be crumbled by hand is considered friable; this means that it is giving off dangerous fibers.

Workers in industries which made asbestos-containing products are likely to have exposed to asbestos, because any process which disturbs asbestos can cause it to release fibers. Electricians, plumbers, construction workers, and shipyard workers are likely to have cut or in some other way disturbed an asbestos-containing product and thus been routinely exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers. Developing mesothelioma generally requires long-term exposure to asbestos.

The Effects of Asbestos

Inhaling asbestos can lead to scarring of the lungs and relatively harmless spots of damaged lung tissue called pleural plaques. The longer a person is exposed to asbestos, the greater the chance that their lungs will be scarred and that they may develop asbestosis and/or mesothelioma.

Asbestosis is a progressive lung disease which causes shortness of breath; it can be extremely disabling. Asbestosis can lead to life-threatening complications, including high blood pressure.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer. Most mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. This means that it has attacked the pleura, the lining of the lungs. In rarer cases, mesothelioma can attack the lining of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the lining of the cavity surrounding the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Extremely rare cases of mesothelioma have been known to attack lining around the testicles

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease. It has no known cure, although treatment has greatly progressed in the last two decades and some mesothelioma patients have experienced long-term remissions when the disease was caught early and aggressively treated.

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnosis. The first symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear for two decades or more after the first exposure to asbestos. Many workers were exposed to asbestos through negligence on the part of their employers; these employers were aware of the dangers of asbestos, yet did nothing to protect their workers from exposure to the dangerous mineral.

If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you need the help of an experienced lawyer to get the financial compensation you deserve. An adequate financial settlement can help you pay for the staggering cost of mesothelioma medical treatment. Do not delay. Contact Newsome today and fill out our case evaluation form. Our online case evaluation form is available to the right of the screen.

One of our team of experienced personal injury attorneys will advice you of your legal rights and help you get just financial compensation to cover all of your mesothelioma-related expenses. Our team of qualified attorneys is experienced in dealing with mesothelioma cases and when it comes to the law, experience is a major factor. We are ready to fight and win for you.

Protecting yourself from Asbestos Exposure

• If you work with asbestos, follow all safety precautions.
• If you are afraid your work may be exposing you to asbestos, first talk with your supervisors about your concerns. If you are still concerned, you can contact the Occupational Health and Safety Administration.
• When dealing with asbestos in a home or building use these precautions:

Remember asbestos is safe if it is sealed within a product.

Older, crumbling flooring, plaster, paint, and so on may contain asbestos.Asbestos in a home or other building made be made safe by sealing it overwith a special sealant or by removing it, but removing asbestos can cause an exposure hazard and asbestos is frequently best left in place. Asbestos removal can be dangerous and should really be done by professional asbestos workers. If you have asbestos-containing products in your home, do not sand them or disturb them in other ways which could cause the release of asbestos fibers.