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Last Updated: Mar 29th, 2007 - 14:37:16 |
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer involving mesothelial tissues of
body organs usually lungs or abdominal. It is often caused by
exposure to asbestos materials. However, there are 30-50% of
patients without any history of asbestos exposure. People who have
received asbestos exposure of as little as one or two months to very
low doses are at risk of mesothelioma cancer. Even people who wash
clothes of asbestos exposed people are at risk. People in the
occupations such as construction jobs in shipyards, insulators,
boilermakers, etc. are at the risk of contracting asbestos disease.
The 2 common types of mesothelioma are:
Pleural mesothelioma (lung cancer) and Peritoneal mesothelioma
(abdomen organs). The survival time for a patient with diffuse
malignant mesothelioma is from 4 to 24 months from the observance
of the symptoms. Mesothelioma is also difficult to diagnose.
The chance of recovery for a patient with mesothelioma depends on
size and location of the cancer, age of the patient and his response to
the treatment. Presently, the treatment options for mesotheliomas are:
Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, Surgery and Photodynamic
therapy. There is some evidence that provitamin A or beta-carotene
may decrease the risk of mesothelioma.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an extremely nasty and permanent cancer that
infects the membrane surrounding most internal organs. It is also a
very subtle form of cancer providing only a few noticeable symptoms
until it becomes extremely advanced. The most common type of
mesothelioma is called pleural mesothelioma. It causes shortness of
breath and/or chronic coughing that can easily be mixed up with
allergies or a common cold. In many cases mesothelioma is
discovered by accident when patients are looking into these
symptoms. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
* Chest Pain
* Chronic coughing that worsens over time
* Shortness of breath
* Coughing up blood
* Fatigue
* Wheezing
* Lung infection
* Swollen lymph nodes
* Loss of appetite and weight loss
MesotheliomaTtreatment
75% of all mesothelioma cases are Pleural mesothelioma. Another
type is called Peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma
affects the lining around the stomach and intestines and can be just
as dangerous and deadly. Symptoms of Peritoneal mesothelioma
include:
* Pain or swelling in the abdomen
* Weight loss
* Bowel obstruction ¨C blockage in the small / large intestine
* Anemia ¨C reduction in number of red blood cells
* Fever
High risk groups such as asbestos and construction workers must
undergo frequent check-ups to monitor any conditions leading to
mesothelioma. Because this cancer is so deadly, early diagnosis and
treatment can help prolong life, but the mortality rate is usually 100%
within five years.
Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a dangerous and potentially deadly substance that was
once widely used in a range of items, from ceiling and wall tiles to
insulation and auto brakes. In the past, most people outside of the
industry were totally unaware of the dangers relating to asbestos.
However, over recent years the dangers and deadly effects of
asbestos have become all too apparent, with more and more cases of
the most deadly of these effects - mesothelioma - coming to light
every day.
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that can start in the cavities of
the lungs, the heart, or the abdomen. This cancer is the direct result of
exposure to disturbed asbestos, where the fibers become airborne.
These airborne asbestos fibers can then be easily ingested or
breathed in by those in the vicinity that are not wearing adequate
protection. Once the asbestos fibers have lodged themselves within
various parts of the body, they cannot be destroyed by the cells of the
immune system, which are known as macrophages. Instead, the
asbestos fibers lead to scar tissue within the body, and this is what
can lead to mesothelioma and other asbestos related injuries.
Mesothelioma Treatment
People that have contracted mesothelioma through asbestos
exposure do not realize that anything is wrong for years. The typical
latency period for this cancer is around twenty to forty years, which
means that those affected may not find out for three or four decades
following the exposure. Further delays can be experienced because
of the symptoms of mesothelioma, which are very non-specific in
nature - this means that they could easily be attributed to other more
common ailments. This often leads to a delay in diagnosis, causing
further delays when it comes to treatment of any sort.
There is currently no known cure for mesothelioma, although clinical
trials and tests are continually being conducted. Over the past few
years, many breakthroughs have been made in short term treatments
and diagnostic procedures, which gives fresh hope to sufferers of this
cancer. However, until a cure has been found, many people will
continue to lose their lives due to the irresponsibility of various
companies and manufacturers in decades gone by.
Understandably, sufferers and their families want to see some form of
compensation for the pain, suffering, and misery caused by asbestos
and mesothelioma. Although no amount of money can make up for
the damage done by unprotected asbestos exposure, it can help to
pay for medical costs, and can also provide the sufferer's family with a
more financially secure future.
It is important for anyone that is diagnosed with mesothelioma to seek
legal assistance from an experienced mesothelioma lawyer without
delay. Although legal action may not be something that you wish to
think about after being dealt a bombshell such as this, any delay
could make a difference between claiming millions of dollars for your
suffering, expenses, and your family's future, or getting nothing at all.
Your lawyer will need to know the extent of damage and the stage of
your cancer, so it is advisable to provide a medical report from your
doctor to enable your lawyer to put together a solid mesothelioma
lawsuit and get as much compensation as possible for you and your
loved ones.
Why Do You Need an Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney?
There are many attorneys around today, some of who specialize in
particular areas of law and others that deal with a wide range of legal
issues. When it comes to a sensitive and often complicated area such
as mesothelioma litigation, it is always advisable to go through a
specialist mesothelioma attorney with experience and contacts within
this field. Having an experienced mesothelioma attorney deal with
your mesothelioma case can help to speed the process, and can
ultimately make the difference between a successful or a failed
mesothelioma compensation claim.
Trained and experienced mesothelioma attorneys will have
established links and contacts with other groups and organizations
within this field, which means that you will be able to get additional
advice and even support as well as getting sound legal advice. A
more experienced mesothelioma attorney will already have dealt with
cases similar to yours, and will therefore know the pitfalls and
loopholes to look out for, which could help to speed up your case and
could maximizes your chances of a successful claim.
When you choose an experienced mesothelioma attorney, you will be
able to determine the success rate of that particular law firm or
specialist by asking about similar cases and their outcomes. Because
a more experienced attorney will already have dealt with a large
number of such cases, he or she will be able to demonstrate their
success rate within the field of mesothelioma litigation.
A mesothelioma attorney will be highly trained in this particular area,
and will be completely familiar with the information and facts required
in order to put together a successful lawsuit on behalf of a
mesothelioma sufferer or a family member that is filing on behalf of a
sufferer. An experienced lawyer will be able to ask the right questions,
and will be able to initiate early action on your mesothelioma lawsuit
through the use of links and contacts that he or she has already
formed. Also, since a specialist mesothelioma attorney will have
experience in dealing with asbestos litigation, he or she is more likely
to be able to advise you with regard to the timeframe involved as well
as the likely success of your lawsuit based upon your circumstances.
Because most mesothelioma attorneys work on a contingency fee
basis, you will not have to worry about paying costly legal bills upfront.
When working on a contingency fee structure, you will only pay legal
fees if and when you receive compensation, which means that you
can enjoy the benefits of expert legal assistance and advice without
having to pay any money upfront.
Using a trained, experienced mesothelioma attorney to deal with your
lawsuit could save you a great deal of time and worry over your claim,
and you could increase your chances of getting the compensation
you deserve for your asbestos related injury. With a number of
specialist mesothelioma attorneys to choose from, you should have
no problem finding expert legal assistance from a professional with a
high level of experience within the area of mesothelioma litigation.
About the AuthorFor more information visit
http://www.legal-asbestos-advice.com/
Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com
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