Asbestos: A Deadly Environmental & Health Hazard
Asbestos is a term used for some naturally occurring minerals that form long thin fibers and fiber bundles on crystallization. Most commonly found group is the serpentine group that includes Chrysotile (white asbestos). It is also the most...
Asbestos Insulation: The Lurking Danger
Asbestos insulation contains asbestos, a mineral widely used in building materials because of its stability and heat resistant properties. However, asbestos is much in news because of the dangerous diseases caused because of its exposure. All...
Mesothelioma Victims - True Stories
Mesothelioma is as serious of a condition as any possible. Diagnosis usually precedes an extended and painful death. New technology for treating the disease provides some hope for the victims, but with the skyrocketing cost of medical care in...
Mesothelioma: What Mesothelioma Cancer is
Everybody have listened the word Mesothelioma, but few people know what this rare type of cancer really is. Through a series of articles you will know and learn rapidly about this cancer disease that affects either men or women at any age.
The...
Treatments And Clinical Trials For Mesothelioma
For years, chemotherapy has been used as treatment for mesothelioma to shrink tumors. More recently, doctors have used surgery in combination with chemotherapy with more success.
In addition, newer chemotherapy drugs in combination with surgery...
Mesothelioma: Your Health In Jeopardy
Are you at risk of Mesothelioma?
If you are above 40 and have ever been exposed to asbestos continuously for more than 2 months in last 15-40 years, then you are at risk of Mesothelioma. It is a rare but deadly cancer of membrane cells, which covers some vital parts of our body like lungs, abdominal cavity and heart, called mesothelium. Like in other cancers, in mesothelioma the membrane cells divide ruthlessly causing abnormal growth, which ultimately damage the lining of vital organ such as lungs and abdomen.
Causes of Mesothelioma
Asbestos a mineral, used in different processes including building, shipyard and manufacturing in the days of World War II and for a few more decades, is the main cause of Mesothelioma. Researches have proved that those who have worked in asbestos related industries are mostly at risk of Mesothelioma. The minute asbestos particles go into human body through nose or mouth during inhalation, talking or any other reason. They reach lungs or abdomen and damage the lining, causing Mesothelioma. Due to its long latency period, mesothelioma can attack you even 15 – 40 years after the inhalation of asbestos particles. Even the family members of person working in asbestos related industries could be vulnerable to mesothelioma.
Treatments for Mesothelioma
Because Mesothelioma is a newly found
disease, many doctors may not be able to diagnose it. However, if you have a known history of asbestos exposure you should ask your doctor to look for the symptoms of this disease. The good news is that there is a treatment for mesothelioma in the early stages. Some treatment options for mesothelioma cancers are surgical removal of the effected tissues; chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, the prognosis of later stage mesothelioma patients is bleak and the average survival time after diagnosis is 12-24 months.
Mesothelioma Compensations
The owners of Asbestos related industries were quite aware of the health hazards of asbestos. However, they persisted with its use without issuing any warnings or taking steps for avoiding the health hazards. This is the reason why US courts have awarded huge sums as compensations to the Mesothelioma patients/families by the companies/persons responsible for causing asbestos exposure.
About the Author: Kirsten Hawkins is a asbestos and mesothelioma specialist from Nashville, TN. Visit http://www.asbestosblog.org/ for information on asbestos reform, mesothelioma lawsuit news, and more.
View our entire article collection.