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What Is Mesothelioma

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General Terms to Know Related to Mesothelioma:

1.Asbestos- Asbestos is a mineral that is found naturally in the environment, typically in rock form. It is comprised of microscopic fiber bundles, which can either appear as ringlets or needle-like structures, the latter being the most dangerous. Asbestos was well renowned in the world for its thermal resistance, flexibility, and durability, all characteristics that made it an ideal substance for the use in various industries. An adverse trait of the substance is that it can easily become lodged into one's soft tissues when inadvertently ingested or inhaled. For years, business owners and workers were unaware of its potential health hazards. Nevertheless, asbestos continued to be used in shipyards, contracting sites, construction sites, manufacturing plants, and power facilities. It was widely used in consumer products, including refrigerators, toasters, and any other appliance which required heat resistance. Insulation in walls and around electrical wires all commonly contained asbestos for the prevention of fires. It was not until the late 1970s that people began to link the substance to various diseases.

2.Mesothelioma- Mesothelioma is directly related to asbestos exposure. 70 to 80 percent of diagnoses can be traced back to some form of asbestos contact, typically contact that has occurred over a long period of time. Some records have shown that contaminated vaccines may have contributed to the disease in some patients, but most of the time, the individual has inhaled or ingested asbestos unknowingly at the workplace.

Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that aggressively attacks the protective tissues surrounding vital organs in the body. There is no cure for the disease, and once diagnosis has occurred, few have longer than two years to live. About eight percent of individuals diagnosed with this cancer live longer than three years. Some forms of mesothelioma, particularly one that attacks the abdominal cavities, are more fatal than others, leaving the victim a mere 10 months to live. Once the cancer has manifested, cells tend to spread to other parts of the body rapidly. At this point, treatments serve only to make the patient conformable as he or she copes with the symptoms.

Mesothelioma can develop anywhere in the body. The most common location is in the lungs and chest. As the cancer cells deteriorate the mesothelium, or the tissue surrounding the lungs, the patient suffers from swelling in the chest, which forces the heart to work harder because gas exchange is a struggle. Consequently, individuals with this disease often die of other causes, including heart attacks and cardiac arrest. Mesothelioma can also develop in the abdominal cavities. Once this has occurred, the organs secret excessive fluids, which cause the region to swell. This is the most terminal form of cancer, as the cells quickly spreads to other organs, including the spleen, kidneys, and pancreas. Although extremely rare, sometimes mesothelioma can develop around the heart. Less than 200 cases of this form of mesothelioma have ever been recorded. There have been cases reported where mesothelioma has infected the reproductive organs of males and females, however, this is also very unusual.

3.Asbestos/ mesothelioma attorney- Although the nature of asbestos was unknown for a long time, legislative reforms have educated the public of its dangers. There are new requirements that have forced businesses to have their facilities inspected for asbestos and for removal to be completed by certified professionals. These regulations were not in place until recently, and although many entrepreneurs understood the harms asbestos could cause, they ignored warnings and continued to use the substance for their own purposes. As a result, businesses are facing lawsuits relating to negligence, personal injuries, and unlawful deaths.

If you have recently been diagnosed with a form of mesothelioma, and you believe you may have had exposure to asbestos at your place of employment, a mesothelioma or asbestos attorney may be able to help you file charges. You may be eligible to receive compensation for your lost wages, medical expenses, and for all the emotional distress you have been forced to deal with. It is important to hold these individuals accountable for carelessly providing unsafe working conditions. In order to increase your chances of a timely settlement, contact a lawyer to help you get started as soon as possible.