What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that affects the membrane lining of people's lungs and abdomen. When mesothelioma becomes malignant, there are three known varieties: malignant pleural mesothelioma which occurs in the pleura or the lungs linings, malignant pericardial mesothelioma which occurs in the abdominal cavity wall, and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma which occurs in the lining of the heart.
Mesothelioma is caused by being exposed to asbestos and is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Symptoms include: chest pain under the rib cage, painful coughing, shortness of breath, unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest, unexplained weight loss, lumps of tissue in the abdomen, and abdominal swelling.
About 40% of patients with mesothelioma survive the first year after they have been diagnosed. This survival rate depends on many factors such as age, cancer stage, cancer type, race and gender. Patients with a long term survival rate have attributed their success to that of specialized treatment from a mesothelioma specialist, medicine, changes to their diet including better nutrition.
Causes of mesothelioma primarily stem from occupational asbestos exposure, but there have been cases of environmental exposures. Asbestos was an effective insulation material used for years and years primarily in commercial and industrial products. It took until 1989 to finally become regulated as a result of a joint effort between the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency. Although insulation workers seem to have the highest incidence rate of mesothelioma (Asbestos insulation workers are 300 times more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma than those with no exposure), many other industries have seen diagnoses such as: shipbuilding, power plants, and several other industrial settings.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma specialized treatment is a must to ensure a much longer survival rate. These treatments are costly, so it important to get the compensation that is deserved. An overwhelming majority of cases never reach the courtroom as they are almost always ended in settlement. Settlement amounts factor in medical expenses, lost wages, physical and mental distress and bills that accumulate. The best thing you can do is get the specialized treatment you deserve, and find an attorney as well to help you get the money needed to cover the costs of these specialized treatments. Protect yourself and your family.