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Vermont Mesothelioma Lawyer

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Many residents of the state of Vermont may not realize that they have been put in harm's way due to the dangerous exposure to asbestos. In many independent studies, asbestos has been linked to a deadly form of cancer. This type of cancer is called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is rare but very aggressive. 3,000 new cases are reported of asbestos-related mesothelioma each year. There is only a 20 percent survival rate of people who live for five years after diagnosis.

If you or a loved one reside in Vermont and have developed mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos, do not hesitate to contact an attorney. An attorney will be more than willing to help you through this difficult time and to discuss your rights with you. No one should have to lose their life or a loved one due to an employer's negligence.

Asbestos was thought to be an ideal building material, and why not? It had all the fine qualities: Low conductivity to heat, high resistance to fire and burning, extremely flexible and very durable. Because of these qualities, asbestos was used in building materials, insulation, and many building products. It was used in many buildings, ships, and railroads built prior to the mid-1970s. This placed millions of workers at risk for developing mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure. Workers who were placed at a high-risk were those employed at mines, construction sites, factories, manufacturing facilities, railroads, railroad facilities, and shipyards. Other workers who were put at risk for handling asbestos products were roofers, masons, carpenters, sawyers, and power plant operators. Statistics have shown that asbestos insulators were placed at the highest level of risk. An estimated 6 percent of insulators are diagnosed with mesothelioma, and they are 300 times more likely to pass away from this type of cancer than the general public. Not only were millions of workers placed at risk, but so were their families. Family members who inhaled asbestos fibers on the workers' clothing are at risk for second-hand exposure to asbestos, which can be equally as deadly as exposure first-hand.

Once an individual inhales asbestos fibers, either through the nose or mouth, the fibers embed themselves in the linings of the lungs. If asbestos fibers happen to be swallowed, then they embed themselves in the abdomen. These fibers are the cause and development of mesothelioma; they cause direct DNA damage that causes the cells to malfunction, and they elicit immune responses that cause swelling and prime the region for cancer. Additionally, our bodies are unable to break asbestos fiber down, so the poison stays inside our bodies after the initial inhalation, and continues to do damage over a lifetime.

Mesothelioma can develop in the chest, abdomen, lungs, or heart. Symptoms of mesothelioma include difficulty breathing, a dry cough, and fluid buildup in one of the above mentioned areas of the body. If mesothelioma is thought to be present, a physician may take down the patients work history to decipher when and what level of exposure may have occurred. The doctor may then have the patient undergo a chest x-ray. The x-ray may show mineral deposits or the unusual thickening of the lungs. Both of these are considered to be signs of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be hard to diagnose because at first, it imitates other types of cancer. Unfortunately, the survival rate for mesothelioma is so low, and that's because it is usually not diagnosed until it has reached advanced stages. Thousands of Americans have died as a result of mesothelioma.

If you are a resident of the state of Vermont and have been exposed to asbestos, you should call a lawyer. A lawyer can process your claim and tell you how much monetary compensation you may be entitled to.