Frequently Asked Questions About Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a term used to describe a lung cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Inhalation is the most common method of exposure. The inhaled fibers cause a cancer that attacks the smooth linings of the chest, heart, and abdomen. When mesothelioma develops in the chest, the cancer attacks the pleural cavity, hence the term pleural mesothelioma. Likewise, perotenial mesothelioma describes mesothelioma developing in the abdominal cavity, as it is attacking the peritoneal cavity.

Asbestos is a mineral, mined from rock and made up of long, tiny fibers. Asbestos has been used extensively in thousands of building and insulation applications due to its resistance to burning, sound absorbant qualities and tensile strength.

As it ages, asbestos releases very tiny (sometimes microscopic) fibers which can easily become airborne. Once inhaled or swallowed, these fibers can exist without detection for years or even decades without any noticeable immediate effects.

• Chronic Cough
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing
• Difficulty sleeping
• Pain in the chest and abdominal regions
  (which may be unresponsive to pain medications)
• progressive loss of appetite and weight loss
• Fluid in the chest cavity

Some of the following occupations are typically associated with the onset of mesothelioma later in life:

• Automotive Mechanics
• Boilermakers
• Bricklayers
• Carpenters
• Cement Finishers
• Drywall Workers
• Electricians
• Engineers
• Foundry Workers
• Insulators
• Lathers
• Machinists
• Mechanics
• Millwrights
• Operators
• Painters
• Paper Workers
• Plasterers
• Pipe Fitters
• Plumbers
• Power Plant Workers
• Roofers
• Sailors (Navy & Merchant Marine)
• Shipyard Workers
• Steel and Sheet Metal Workers
• Welders

The treatment and outlook for those with mesothelioma depends a great deal on the stage of their cancer. Because the most frequently occurring type of mesothelioma is pleural and it is also the one most studied, it is the only type for which a staging system exists. The following stages are based on a system known as the Butchart system, which divides mesothelioma into four stages:

Stage I: Mesothelioma is found within the right or the left pleura and may also involve the lung, the pericardium, or the diaphragm on the same side.

Stage II: In this stage, mesothelioma has spread to the chest wall or involves the esophagus, the heart, or the pleura on both sides. The lymph nodes in the chest may be involved as well.

Stage III: Mesothelioma has gone through the diaphragm and into the lining of the abdominal cavity. Additional lymph nodes besides those in the chest may be involved.

Stage IV: There is evidence that mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to distant organs or tissues.

By the time symptoms show up and mesothelioma is diagnosed, the disease is often advanced. The average survival period after diagnosis is about one year. If the cancer is found before it has spread and it is treated aggressively, about half of the patients will live two years, and approximately 20% will survive five years.

There are treatments available for all patients with malignant mesothelioma. The three kinds of treatment used are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Coping with cancer treatment can be difficult and exhausting. It can be very helpful for the patient receiving therapy for mesothelioma to find a group of family and friends who can aid with household responsibilities, provide transportation, and give psychological support. The patient should not feel a need to rush back to normal activities after treatment is completed.

If you have mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related disease, chances are you were exposed to asbestos. Many of the manufacturers of asbestos insulation products knew that asbestos was hazardous, yet made a business decision not to warn people of those hazards for decades. You may have a right of recovery against those manufacturers, which can help cover the costs of cancer treatment and provide compensation for your suffering.

Our law firm handles mesothelioma cases throughout Florida and the rest of country to ensure that our clients medical bills and suffering are fairly compensated. If you have developed mesothelioma as a result of prolonged exposure to asbestos, contact the Florida mesothelioma lawyers of The Lipman Law Firm today by calling 1-800-226-2620 or using our confidential online case evaluation form.