What Causes Mesothelioma? Can You Prevent It?

Mesothelioma is closely related to asbestos. Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer that generates at a rate of about two thousand new cases per year in the U.S. Mesothelioma is seen to be more often found in men, as 70% to 80% of the medical histories of patients were men. This cancer has a strong connection with asbestos. Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur most often in old buildings with poor ventilation.

Asbestos is made of strong flexible fibers. it is used in several chemicals, mostly cement, floor coverings and textiles. When the tiny particles of asbestos are inhaled or swallowed, they represent serious health risks that are directly associated with lung cancer. Mesothelioma is a special type of cancer, it has a long latency period of 15-50 years, which means that the symptoms appear 30-50 years after the start of asbestos exposure.

Furthermore mesothelioma symptoms are not specific. The symptoms also occur in several other diseases, therefore mesothelioma testing is very important if you think you might have it. There are three prominent symptoms of mesothelioma which can not be overlooked. Trouble breathing or coughing, shortness of breath and a persistent cough which may be streaked with blood addition. Fatigue, weight loss and anorexia are just some of the other participating symptoms.

If you have been exposed to asbestos you should first tell your doctor and than immediatley seek the consultation of mesothelioma lawyers. Other symptoms are very rare hoarse voice, swelling of the face or neck, difficulty swallowing and pain in the lower abdomen. Cancer of the lining of the stomach is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. It is the fluid in the abdominal cavity than can cause abdominal pain and swelling. Significant symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are as follows: weight loss - Abdominal pain - Structure of fluid in the abdominal cavity - intestinal obstruction - abnormal blood clotting - abdominal mass and fever. Mesothelioma treatment depends on various factors such as location of cancer, stage of disease and age. The treatment of this cancer is done through either surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined to achieve better results. It is worth mentioning to your doctor if you feel you have been exposed to asbestos.

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Asbestos Exposure Locations

Unfortunately, because asbestos use was so widespread for so long, many people ran the risk of being exposed to unhealthy amounts of it prior to the late 1970’s. Occupational exposure, in particular, was the leading cause of human contact with asbestos. Those who directly handled asbestos and asbestos products, as well as those who worked in close proximity to this substance, are most at risk of developing an asbestos-related illness such as lung cancer or mesothelioma.
Occupational exposure, however, is not the only source of human contact with this material. People can be exposed to asbestos accidentally, as well, such as in the case of a building collapse or being caught in the aftermath of an earthquake. Some older buildings, including certain schools and residences, contain asbestos. Those who are inside of these structures on a regular basis may develop asbestos-related complications.





Occupation Exposure :

There are a number of workplaces and occupations that exposed mass numbers of people to dangerous levels of asbestos. Of course, asbestos mines and processing plants were key locations of occupational exposure. However, a number of other work locations put workers in hazardous contact with asbestos. Power and manufacturing plants, shipyards, metalworks, and refineries were all prime locations for this incidental exposure.
Certain occupations, as well, put workers at much higher risk of asbestos exposure. The following are all jobs that carry with them an elevated chance of exposure:

• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Firefighters
• Auto workers
• Construction workers
• Machinists
• Shipyard workers

Many times, these laborers deal directly with asbestos-containing products, such as insulation or other job-related materials and products.


Exposure in U.S. Armed Forces :

Asbestos was widely used in a number of products and applications used by the U.S. Armed Forces for many years. In particular, Navy veterans who worked onboard warships and with the following items likely came into contact with elevated levels of asbestos:

* Insulation
* Steam pipes
* Cement
* Hot water piping
* Gaskets
* Brakes and clutches
* Boilers, turbines, and generators

This means that those who spent the majority of their time under the deck in low-ventilation rooms, working on ship processes, likely inhaled very dangerous amounts of asbestos. Those who worked in shipyards on these products also exposed themselves to dense amounts of asbestos.

However, the Navy is not the only branch of the Armed Forces that exposed its members to asbestos products. All sectors – Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Army – all utilized unsafe, asbestos-containing items and insulation.

Source :  mesolawsuit.com

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