Learning About Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

With regard to the cancer known as mesothelioma and asbestos as the cause, it is a tumor that shows up most in the mesothelial cells of an organ. The heart, lungs and abdominal organs are the ones most likely to be affected. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this cancer and it affects the lining of the lungs.
Exposure to roofing, ceiling and floor tiles, along with pipes, insulation and other materials used in construction before the 1970s is the most common cause of this cancer. All of those materials contained asbestos fibers, which are now known to be toxic. Automobile brakes contain asbestos and mechanics are at risk for developing the cancer as well.
The rule for determining the possibility of a person's chance of developing mesothelioma is dependent on the time they were exposed. It also is dependent on the amount of exposure.
It is hard to pin down, as mesothelioma affects do not show up for a long time. The average latency period seems to be somewhere around 35 to 40 years after the last exposure to products containing asbestos.
The symptoms of mesothelioma cancer can start to show up gradually. Chest pain and back pain are the most common complaints at the beginning. Fever, difficulty breathing and weight loss are symptoms that will probably bring the patient to the doctor for a diagnosis. The unfortunate part is that once mesothelioma shows itself, the progression of the disease is swift.
Prompt and aggressive treatment is necessary for a good outcome. There are several treatments available for mesothelioma. These include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. The key is to catch the disease in its early stages, which will increase the patient's chance of survival. If you have developed mesothelioma and asbestos exposure was the cause, then you should alert your doctor as soon as possible.
It has been proven in asbestos cases in court that building product manufacturers knew of the deadly health risks of asbestos, yet continued to sell it and not provide a warning to the consumer or the worker. Because of this fact, many people who would otherwise be deemed healthy have contracted mesothelioma cancer.
After a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, manufacturers are mandated to provide compensation. Those eligible to make application for and receive this compensation include the families (spouses and children) of those who died from the disease before this mandate was handed down.