Considered one of the most devastating and dangerous diseases, mesothelioma is a mystery to most people unless they have personal experience with the disease. Many questions remain, and hopefully these frequently asked questions can eliminate the most common concerns.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral often used in the construction, engineering and scientific industries for insulation. A person is prone to a number of health hazards if the microscopic fibers released into the air are inhaled.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos, affecting the heart, abdomen and the lining of the lungs.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
A person may experience shortness of breath, coughing up blood and chest pain. These common symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to other health disorders and the natural signs of aging, making it harder to diagnose. Also, different forms of mesothelioma have different symptoms.
Are there different types of mesothelioma?
There are three main types of mesothelioma that affect different areas of the body. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form which affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the cell membrane inside the abdomen. The rarest form, pericardial mesothelioma, causes damage to the protective sac that covers and lubricates the heart.
Who is at risk for exposure to asbestos?
People who have worked in the asbestos, shipbuilding and construction industries have a greater risk for asbestos exposure. There are over 3,000 known products with asbestos material of which millions of people have been exposed.
What makes asbestos dangerous?
The small size of asbestos particles is the most dangerous because they can become suspended in the air. These particles are inhaled easily and linger on clothing. Once the asbestos particles are inhaled, damage to the cellular structure of internal organs, such as the lungs, begins.
Is mesothelioma the only disease caused by asbestos exposure?
Mesothelioma is not the only deadly disease that is caused by asbestos exposure, although it is the most common. Asbestosis is another condition that is caused by inhaling asbestos particles.
What is asbestosis?
The accumulation of scar tissue in the lungs from asbestos particles causes asbestosis. Over a period of time, the lung becomes overwhelmed from the scar tissue, causing lung and heart failure.
Are treatments available for asbestos-related illnesses?
Currently, no cure exists for either mesothelioma or asbestosis. However, medical science is continuously making advances to diagnose and produce treatments for these devastating, often deadly, conditions.
Can a person get mesothelioma from smoking cigarettes?
Cigarettes are not a cause of mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos should not smoke, as smoking can aggravate damaged lungs and increases the chances of developing mesothelioma by 50-90%.
What should I do if I am diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease?
You should strictly follow your doctor’s orders for treatment. Contact an attorney to see if legal action against the responsible party of your injury is possible.
Is there a statute of limitations for filing a claim?
Yes. Each state has statutes of limitation laws which limit the amount of time you have to initiate a claim.
How can I afford an attorney for a lawsuit?
Most attorneys who specialize in mesothelioma lawsuits work on a contingency fee, meaning no fees, court costs or expenses (the exception is unpaid medical bills) are paid until you win. This guarantees that they attorney will invest a lot of energy into winning your case.
Reference:
National Cancer Institute
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a fibrous mineral often used in the construction, engineering and scientific industries for insulation. A person is prone to a number of health hazards if the microscopic fibers released into the air are inhaled.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos, affecting the heart, abdomen and the lining of the lungs.
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
A person may experience shortness of breath, coughing up blood and chest pain. These common symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to other health disorders and the natural signs of aging, making it harder to diagnose. Also, different forms of mesothelioma have different symptoms.
Are there different types of mesothelioma?
There are three main types of mesothelioma that affect different areas of the body. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form which affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the cell membrane inside the abdomen. The rarest form, pericardial mesothelioma, causes damage to the protective sac that covers and lubricates the heart.
Who is at risk for exposure to asbestos?
People who have worked in the asbestos, shipbuilding and construction industries have a greater risk for asbestos exposure. There are over 3,000 known products with asbestos material of which millions of people have been exposed.
What makes asbestos dangerous?
The small size of asbestos particles is the most dangerous because they can become suspended in the air. These particles are inhaled easily and linger on clothing. Once the asbestos particles are inhaled, damage to the cellular structure of internal organs, such as the lungs, begins.
Is mesothelioma the only disease caused by asbestos exposure?
Mesothelioma is not the only deadly disease that is caused by asbestos exposure, although it is the most common. Asbestosis is another condition that is caused by inhaling asbestos particles.
What is asbestosis?
The accumulation of scar tissue in the lungs from asbestos particles causes asbestosis. Over a period of time, the lung becomes overwhelmed from the scar tissue, causing lung and heart failure.
Are treatments available for asbestos-related illnesses?
Currently, no cure exists for either mesothelioma or asbestosis. However, medical science is continuously making advances to diagnose and produce treatments for these devastating, often deadly, conditions.
Can a person get mesothelioma from smoking cigarettes?
Cigarettes are not a cause of mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos should not smoke, as smoking can aggravate damaged lungs and increases the chances of developing mesothelioma by 50-90%.
What should I do if I am diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease?
You should strictly follow your doctor’s orders for treatment. Contact an attorney to see if legal action against the responsible party of your injury is possible.
Is there a statute of limitations for filing a claim?
Yes. Each state has statutes of limitation laws which limit the amount of time you have to initiate a claim.
How can I afford an attorney for a lawsuit?
Most attorneys who specialize in mesothelioma lawsuits work on a contingency fee, meaning no fees, court costs or expenses (the exception is unpaid medical bills) are paid until you win. This guarantees that they attorney will invest a lot of energy into winning your case.
Reference:
National Cancer Institute
