Asbestos Exposure Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma typically develops about 20 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos. The symptoms can be difficult to diagnose because they tend to be mild.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was utilized in thousands of industrial, commercial and household products. When disturbed it releases fibers that can be harmful to inhale.

Exposure to Work

Many people who suffer from mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos during their work. In fact, previous exposure to asbestos in the workplace is responsible for as much as the 80% of cases. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of organs such as the abdomen and lungs, is a rare type of cancer. Workers at workplaces that used asbestos in shipbuilding, construction, manufacturing and other industries are the most affected. However, mesothelioma can also occur in those who lived with those who were exposed to asbestos regularly.

Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally is extremely durable and withstands high temperatures. It was extensively used in construction, shipbuilding and other industrial tasks before the dangers were recognized. It was used in homes and other residential structures because of its fire resistance properties.

When asbestos is disturbed, it releases tiny fibres into air. The fibers can be inhaled, or swallowed. The resultant irritation to the lungs or stomach causes mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure can take years to cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be caused by asbestos exposure in mining, shipbuilding, manufacturing and other industrial positions. Veterans and those who lived with someone who had been exposed to asbestos are at risk.

Mesothelioma also poses a risk for smokers who smoke often. Additionally the family history of mesothelioma or other types of asbestos-related cancers can increase the risk of an individual.

The most commonly encountered mesothelioma types are mesothelioma peritoneal and pleural. Asbestos fibers get into the lungs after inhalation and become embedded in the lining that protects. The mesothelium consists of cells that react to the asbestos and turn into cancerous tumors.

Researchers have found that the incidences of peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma as well as asbestosis asbestos mesothelioma attorney increase in proportion over time. However, the rate of latency seems to flatten out at approximately 45 years after exposure for men and women. The type of asbestos can influence the mesothelioma asbestos lawyers's latency. Crocidolite is believed to cause more peritoneal cancer than pleural mesothelioma. Similar to amosite, it has a higher rate of pleural mesothelioma than chrysotile and mixed fibres.

Secondary Exposure

Asbestos is found in many household items. Families of asbestos workers may be exposed unknowingly to toxic fibers when they bring asbestos home. This is known as secondary exposure. In some cases, family members might have directly touched the asbestos workers and breathed their breath.

Women who develop mesothelioma are often those whose husbands and fathers were employed in asbestos-related businesses. They could have brought home asbestos fibers from their clothing or skin or from the contaminated clothes they were wearing to work. The children may have worn these clothes while playing and be further exposed.

Asbestos particles can get airborne and pose a danger to anyone who lives in the house. Studies have shown that asbestos fibers can stay in homes for as long as 20 years, posing a risk to the people who live there. Mesothelioma patients have reported frequently sneezing and coughing when in their homes and asbestos dust accumulated on furniture and other surfaces.

Because the time of latency for mesothelioma can be so long many people who have had para-occupational exposure to asbestos do not know about it until they begin to develop mesothelioma-related symptoms. The symptoms could be misinterpreted as a sign of other illnesses like asthma, COPD or lung cancer. The signs of mesothelioma could be misinterpreted as colon and ovarian cancers, and heart problems.

Patients with mesothelioma often report that their doctor did not inform them about their asbestos exposure since these cancers do not show up in standard lab tests. A doctor for a patient has to be thorough when examining the medical history of a patient to determine if mesothelioma was caused by occupational or secondary exposure.

Studies that focus on a specific community or region with an industrial source of asbestos exposure in para-occupational settings have been more effective at measuring mesothelioma risk than those which focus on individuals who were exposed to asbestos. A study conducted in Casale Monferrato (northwest Italy) showed that people living within 2000m from an asbestos cement manufacturing facility were more at risk of developing mesothelioma than those who didn't.

Signs and symptoms

Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, develops in the tissue lining the outside of many internal organs. It can affect the lung lining and chest cavity (pleura) and the membrane that covers the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the membranes that surround other organs in the internal system. The disease is triggered by mesothelial cells. Mesothelioma is a malignant condition that causes cells to grow uncontrollably and Mesothelioma develop tumors.

It takes a while for symptoms to manifest after exposure to asbestos and can take longer to diagnose. The earliest symptoms are often very mild, which makes it difficult to identify. Mesothelioma predominantly affects the respiratory system, but can also affect other organs, such as the heart, stomach, and larynx.

In the majority of cases, asbestos fibers that cause mesothelioma are trapped in the lung. The fibers enter the bloodstream of the lungs, which can cause damage to the cells that line the lungs. This can trigger a variety of symptoms, including chest pain, difficulty breathing and coughing. The symptoms of advanced mesothelioma may be more severe. These include fluid accumulation in the chest (pleural effusion) as well as weight gain, fatigue, fever, and anemia.

A person who has been exposed to asbestos should consult a physician immediately for a complete physical exam, laboratory tests, and a chest x radiograph. The doctor will want to know about the individual's working history and any family history of asbestos-related ailments.

If a patient is suffering from mesothelioma-like symptoms in the beginning and symptoms, the doctor should consider a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. The doctor should utilize an approach that reduces the chance of suffering discomfort and pain. In most instances, the biopsy may be carried out by a specialist as an outpatient procedure. The tissue sample what is the average settlement for asbestos claim then sent to a laboratory for testing.

If the results of the test are positive for mesothelioma, further tests will have to be carried out to determine the stage of the cancer and plan the treatment. Based on the stage of cancer, patients can undergo a number of surgical and nonsurgical treatments. Some people can breathe easier after a lung transplant, and chemotherapy can make them live longer.

Diagnosis

If you notice chest pain or breathlessness, or other signs of mesothelioma triggered by asbestos exposure, seek medical attention immediately. They should also tell their doctor about any exposure to asbestos they have had in the past.

The asbestos fibres are believed to cause mesothelioma by altering the genes of lung cells. Mesothelioma can also affect the heart's lining (peritoneal mesothelioma) and the testicles (pericardial mesothelioma). Mesothelioma can take several decades to develop, meaning that people who suffer from asbestos exposure may not realize that they have mesothelioma until they are very ill.

Many patients struggle to get mesothelioma diagnoses because symptoms often come on gradually and can be confused with other conditions, such as pneumonia or the flu. It can be a challenge for doctors to know whether mesothelioma sufferers are caused by work-related exposure.

Imaging tests can be used to diagnose mesothelioma by finding lung tumours and other areas of the body. X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans are usually the first tests used because they can reveal tumors or lumps and help doctors rule out other diseases.

If the tests aren't conclusive mesothelioma can be detected by carrying out the procedure of a biopsy to determine whether cancerous cells are present. This is done by putting tubes into the lung through small cuts in the chest. The doctor can then make use of tools to take a sample of tissue and send it to a lab to determine if mesothelioma is present or other cancers.

A blood test known as the mesothelioma cellular marker can aid in identifying cancerous cells. The blood marker is not always accurate and cannot detect mesothelioma.

If a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed, treatment can begin. Mesothelioma patients need to discuss the treatment options with their physicians. This could include surgery or chemotherapy. Contact a U.S. Veterans' Compensation Specialist to claim to receive VA benefits. Click here for a no-cost VA claims packet.