Mesothelioma Cancer - Lung Cancer From Asbestos Exposure

By Slaton Case  |   Submitted On December 10, 2009

  

Mesothelioma cancer is a rare form of cancer that has been attributed to the exposure to asbestos fibers. Many medical professionals believe that mesothelioma cancer can only be contracted through the inhalation of asbestos into the lungs; practically all cases of mesothelioma cancer have been connected with workers whose jobs have exposed them to abnormally high levels of asbestos.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that has approximately 4000 reported cases each year in the United States. Mesothelioma cancer can be broken down into three subcategories: Peritoneal mesothelioma, Pleural mesothelioma, and Pericardeal mesothelioma. Of the three, Pleural mesothelioma cancer is responsible for 75% of all mesothelioma cases.

The types of cancer are named after where each is located in the body. For example, Pleural mesothelioma is found in the cavities inside the chest which surround the lungs. These areas are called the pleural cavities; the pleura is the thin membrane sac which contains the lungs.

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the peritoneum, a thin cell membrane which surrounds the gastrointestinal tract. The peritoneum helps lubricate the stomach and intestines, helping the body properly digest food. Peritoneal mesothelioma composes approximately 15-20% of all diagnosed cases of mesothelioma cancer in the United States.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest of all diagnosed cases. The pericardium is the protective sac around the heart. The main function of the pericardium is to lubricate the heart, allowing the muscle to work at a more efficient level. This type of mesothelioma only composes 5% of all diagnosed cases.

As with all cancers, mesothelioma in it's various forms is simply the uncontrolled growth of cells. Typically, cells in the body grow and then die, however cancer cells grow unabated and are typically damaged by radiation or some chemical change. Mesothelioma cancer is caused by asbestos fiber entering the body through inhalation; once inside the body the asbestos fibers cut the protective sacs surrounding the organs. Mesothelium are small cells which help lubricate the pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium. These small cells become cancerous and rapidly expand, preventing the vital functions of the affected organs.

Mesothelioma can take decades to develop after an initial exposure to asbestos occurs. This prevents many people from recognizing the warning signs that they might be developing the disease. Each of the forms mentioned above has a different sets of symptoms, many of which match less serious diseases. The prognosis for mesothelioma found early is longer than cases caught later in their development, however the mortality rate for mesothelioma is notoriously high. Medical breakthroughs are attempting to increase the life expectancy and quality of life for sufferers of mesothelioma, however there is currently no cure.

People who worked in an environment with heavy amounts of asbestos or who were exposed to asbestos fibers at any point are at risk for developing mesothelioma. The various types of mesothelioma cancer have different symptoms, so if you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos please find more information about your symptoms.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Slaton_Case/494992

Asbestos Claims - Secondary Exposure to Asbestos

By Jessica A Parker  |   Submitted On May 21, 2009

  

We now know that asbestos is a killer, and those suffering from asbestos-related diseases have been entitled to claim compensation for their illnesses for a number of years. More recently, those who have been affected through secondary exposure have discovered they may be able to claim for compensation, as well.

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which is toxic to humans. Inhaling it can lead to a number of serious health problems, including lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.

It is soft, pliable and able to withstand heat, electricity and chemical damage, all properties which led to its widespread use in building and manufacturing from the late 19th century until the mid-1980s. It was at this time that it became widely acknowledged that asbestos was a dangerous substance, and many of it's uses have been banned ever since.

When is it hazardous?

Although many buildings still have asbestos within them, simply being in close proximity to the substance is not dangerous. You can live in a house which contains it without ever being affected by it, provided the dust and fibres are not released into the air and inhaled. However, anyone dismantling buildings which contain asbestos must take precautions so as not to inhale the fibres.

Exposure is most deadly when the fibres are inhaled regularly over a long period of time, for example, through working or as a result of living in close proximity to an asbestos mine.

Compensation claims

Asbestos has been used habitually for many years, mostly by people unaware of its dangers. Because lots of these people were effectively put in danger at work by their employer, many affected by related diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma are now claiming for compensation, and have been doing so since 1972.

Because symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses may not appear until many years after the initial exposure, asbestos compensation claims

Secondary exposure to asbestos

More recently, the medical profession has come to realise that it is not just those who have been exposed to asbestos at work that could become ill. Their friends and family may also be affected, if they regularly came into contact with them while they still had the fibre or dust on their work clothes.

Often, the partners or relatives of those who have worked with it on a daily basis have inhaled the substance each day while washing their work outfits or overalls. Many claims have been filed by women who were made sick in this way, and interviews with the victims showed that they would usually shake out the clothes before they washed them, thereby releasing more of the dust and fibres into the air they were breathing.

Can you claim compensation?

If you believe you could have been affected by secondary exposure, look out for symptoms such as coughing, chest pains and shortness of breath, as these can all be linked to asbestos-related diseases. Anyone suffering from secondary asbestos exposure, where the exposure was not their fault, has the right to claim no win no fee compensation for their suffering and for any medical expenses incurred.

The National Accident Helpline specialises in asbestos claims. Our specialist solicitors help victims make a no win no fee claim for their asbestos-related diseases.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jessica_A_Parker/253247

The Risk of Lung Cancer From Asbestos

By Dilek Eickelmann  |   Submitted On October 14, 2009

  

Asbestos has been categorized as a known human carcinogen (a material that causes cancer) by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Studies have revealed that exposure to asbestos may add to the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

While the majority asbestos-associated cancers are related to the intensity and duration of exposure, reports in medical journals have connected some mesotheliomas to short exposure periods, on the order of months. People who get asbestosis have typically been exposed to high levels of asbestos extensively. The symptoms of these diseases do not typically come into view until about 20 to 30 years after the first exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos-related lung disease rose at very high rates toward the middle of the 20th century, when patients who were uncovered decades earlier to asbestos ultimately developed disease. British asbestos workers were among the first who were detected to suffer lung cancer related to asbestos.

The majority asbestos lung cancer begins in the lining of the bronchi, the tubes into which the trachea or windpipe divides. However, it can also start in other parts such as the trachea, bronchioles (small branches of the bronchi), or alveoli (lung air sacs). Even though the cancer typically develops slowly, once it happens, cancer cells can break away and extend to other areas of the body.

Asbestos has been recognized as a principal risk factor for lung cancer for several years. However, though death statistics for Great Britain are readily obtainable, the number of deaths attributable to asbestos cannot be concluded in a straight line. This is because there are many agents that can lead to the disease - most significantly, tobacco smoke - and lung cancers resulting from asbestos exposure are clinically identical from those caused by these other agents.

There was a study that pointed out that exposure to asbestos and smoke makes you ninety times more possible to contract lung cancer than a person who is not exposed to either. A number of the symptoms of lung cancers include coughing, irregularities, breathing chest pains and also anemia.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Dilek_Eickelmann/436461