Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that is a direct result of regular and unprotected exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma attacks the cells of the mesothelium – the lining protecting major body organs like the stomach, heart and lungs. Today’s treatment for mesothelioma is coming along, but current treatment is not very effective.

Mesothelioma usually becomes active in people ages 40+, and men are more prone to it than women. Due to the poor regulations and worker protection 40+ years ago, workers were exposed to asbestos, a material known to be hazardous by dishonest companies. Due to the nature of the Mesothelioma disease, mutated cells were not noticed until 30 to 50 years later, but action is being taken against these companies by the workers and family’s of workers in the form of multi-million dollar law suits.

Exposure to asbestos is the main reason why people develop mesothelioma. Of all patients with mesothelioma exposure at work to asbestos is seen in about 70 percent to 80 percent. Regardless of this, mesothelioma might develop in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is not a single substance. It is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally. It consists of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. In the past asbestos has been widely used in a number of industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. It is natural for tiny asbestos particles to float in the air, particularly during the manufacturing process. These floating particles may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems.

Surprisingly smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma development. But this is not a relief since smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a persons risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Did your work involve the possible inhalation of asbestos dust about 30-50 years ago ? Are you an elderly man (or woman) ? Do you have any of the following symptoms; shortness of breath, coughing, or chest pains ? You may possibly have mesothelioma cancer.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that arises from inhaling asbestos dust or fibres. Why is it called mesothelioma, you may ask yourself ? There is a protective lining that covers most of our organs. This lining is called the mesothelium. When mesothelioma cancer strikes, malignant cells develop within this lining. It is most common in the pleura (outer linings of the lungs and chest cavity), hence the name pleural mesothelioma. Other places it may occur are the peritoneum (lining of the abdominal cavity) and the pericardium (lining that surrounds the heart). This leads to peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma respectively.

Mesothelioma has got absolutely nothing to do with smoking. However, if you smoked the Kent brand of cigarettes during the 1950's, there is a chance that you may have developed mesothelioma because of that. This is because Kent used asbestos in its filters.

Even if you were exposed to moderate amounts of asbestos dust and fibre, or came in contact with the clothes of somebody who worked with asbestos, you may still contract the disease. Even if you weren't exposed to asbestos you may still get diagnosed with mesothelioma, although this is rare. (The asbestos fibres embed themselves in lung tissue and cannot be removed naturally by the body's immune system). Mesothelioma cancer has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide, and inhalation of other fibrous silicates.

Mesothelioma is most often found in men, but women can also be diagnosed with it. Close to a third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal (actually just under a third - upto 20%).

Asbestos Types

Asbestos Types

Individuals who don’t know a lot about asbestos but have heard much about its many dangers may be surprised to learn that asbestos is a natural substance, found in various places on the planet, not a man-made substance developed for commercial use. Indeed, asbestos is mined in many countries throughout the world and was, at one time, widely used in many commercial products, usually for a number of reasons including its high resistance to heat and chemicals, its low electrical conductivity, and its strength and flexibility.

AsbestosThis natural material was first used in 1828 as a lining material for steam engines. For many years, vinyl-asbestos tiles were used for floor coverings and automobile clutch facings and brake linings also contained asbestos. Alarmingly, asbestos was even used in toothpaste, as artificial snow for Christmas trees, and as incision thread for surgery patients.

A total of six different types of asbestos are found in the earth and they’re categorized into two separate groups: 1) serpentine, with a layered form and curly fibers, and 2) amphibole, with straight fibers and a chain-like structure. The latter has been determined to be the most dangerous type of asbestos to which human beings can be exposed.

The serpentine group has just one member…Chrysotile. This is the most common type of asbestos, still found in buildings in nearly every developed country throughout the world. As a matter of fact, figures show that between 90% and 95% of all asbestos found in buildings and other commercial products that contain asbestos is of the Chrysotile variety. Furthermore, this is the only type which is still mined, primarily in Canada, Africa, and the former Soviet Republic. Because of its rampant use, Chrysotile accounts for most asbestos-related health problems.

Chrysotile is usually white or green in color and is most often used in insulation and fireproofing products. It can also be woven into asbestos tapes and clothes and is used in the manufacture of cement in the form of sheets, shingles, and pipes. This type of asbestos is also used in a number of friction materials, largely due to its high resistance to heat. These products include automobile brake shoes, disk pads, clutches and elevator brakes. In addition, roof sealants, textiles, plastics, rubbers, door seals for furnaces, high temperature caulking, paper, and components for the nuclear industry contain Chrysotile.

Five kinds of asbestos are members of the amphibole variety. Only two of them were consistently used in commercial applications – Amosite and Crocidolite. These two forms, possessing strong and stiff fibers, are highly dangerous when airborne fibers are inhaled or ingested.

The commercial production of Amosite, also known as “brown asbestos”, was halted within the last decade. Most often used as an insulating material, the use of Amosite has been banned in most countries for several decades. However, at one time, it was the second most-commonly used type of asbestos, accounting for about 5% of the asbestos used in factories and buildings and was sometimes included for anti-condensation and acoustical purposes.

Crocidolite is a rare form of asbestos, bluish in color, and is highly resistant to chemicals. It’s believed to be the most lethal form of asbestos and was often used as a reinforcement material for plastics. In the mid-twentieth century, Crocidolite was also used in pre-formed thermal insulation and, prior to that, some yarns and rope lagging contained this form of asbestos.

Though the use of most asbestos products has long been banned in most developed countries, many buildings may still contain some form of this dangerous mineral. To learn more about the various types of asbestos and their uses, be sure to sign up for a free information packet, available from this site.

Mesothelioma Litigation

With mesothelioma on the rise, and new cases of this cancer coming to light on a regular basis, mesothelioma litigation has become a multi-billion dollar industry in compensation claims against manufacturers of asbestos as well as the companies that may have exposed staff to this carcinogenic substance without adequate protection and warning. Because of the steep rise in mesothelioma cases over recent years, there are now many specialist lawyer and law firms that deal specifically with mesothelioma cases and litigation, fighting to get mesothelioma victims and their families the compensation they deserve for their pain and suffering.

For those looking for legal assistance relating to asbestos and mesothelioma, it is worth looking into finding a lawyer who has experience in mesothelioma litigation. This because the more experienced lawyer will have already established links and access to other groups and resources that could help your compensation claim and lawsuit along.

There are time limits set from state to state with regards to mesothelioma litigation. In most states you will find that these time limits are 12-24 months from diagnosis. If you are a family member of a loved one who has already passed away from this cancer, you can also file a lawsuit. Again, you need to act quickly as the time limit is generally 12-24 from the death of your loved one.

By contacting a lawyer that is experienced is asbestos litigation, you can discuss your case and find out what your legal options are. There is not set conclusion with regards to mesothelioma litigation, and it is impossible to predict which way your lawsuit will go. However, by seeking early advice and being as open and honest as possible with your lawyer, you can help to increase your chances of filing a successful lawsuit. It is important to allow plenty of time for the lawyer to put together a watertight case, which is another reason to seek legal assistance as early as possible.

Mesothelioma litigation offers a number of options depending on the circumstances of the individual. Some of the options for filing a claim as part of mesothelioma litigation includes:

Product Liability :

This is where you have been exposed to asbestos and therefore have contracted mesothelioma through the use of a defective product. By ingesting asbestos dust and fibers from the defective products you may have developed this cancer, hence this form of litigation may prove the most effective.

Professional Malpractice:

This is for delay in treatment due to medical incompetence or negligence. However, you should remember that the symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific which means that they are common symptoms in a wide range of other diseases. This makes mesothelioma very difficult to diagnose and your doctor should be made fully aware of your exposure to asbestos.

Worker Compensation:

This is where you may have been exposed to asbestos through your job. Many people now in their sixties and seventies worked with asbestos thirty to fifty years ago and have now developed mesothelioma. The company that was responsible for this exposure can be sued for compensation. And even if the company has gone bankrupt, special federal laws mean that you may still be entitled to compensation.

Wrongful Death:

This is where the victim of mesothelioma has already passed away and a member of the family is filing a lawsuit. Again, it is very important to seek legal assistance as early as possible as it can take time to put the case together and you must act within the limitations. The family member can help to speed things up by providing as much information as possible, although the lawyer can also arrange investigations into the exposure of the victim to asbestos.

Develop of Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma, a type of asbestos lung cancer, is caused by regular and unprotected exposure to asbestos. After a period of 20 to 50 years (or even more) from the initial exposure people can develop mesothelioma. The average period is between 35 and 40 years and in rare cases the interval was less than 20 years. That is why mesothelioma is most common in men between the ages of sixty and seventy.

The risk rises with the intensity and duration of exposure to asbestos. However, there are cases of people getting mesothelioma 30 or 40 years after a summer job in construction. But most of the people diagnosed were exposed in the Navy many years ago, often unknowingly.

An increased risk of developing mesothelioma affects people who w orked at a shipyard or at an asbestos mine and mill producing asbestos products. Workers in the heating and construction industries, people trading with them and also the friends and family of these workers may develop a mesothelioma injury.

Other people at risk of mesothelioma are those who have had a regular contact with a person who has worked with asbestos, because dust and fibers on its clothes, skin and hair could be ingested by family members.

The organs most affected by mesothelioma are the lungs and the surrounding tissue. Pleural mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the lungs, is the most common. Its symptoms include breathing and swallowing difficulties, coughing, shortness of breath, fever and weight loss. Peritoneal mesothelioma has symptoms like nausea and vomiting, weight loss and loss of appetite, fever, bowel obstruction and pain or swelling of the stomach area. Pericardial mesothelioma that affects the heart and the tissue surrounding has symptoms like palpitations, breathing difficulties, and persistent coughing.

Although there are treatments for mesothelioma, they do not have a high success rate, particularly on mesothelioma patients whose cancer is in its later stages. The faster the mesothelioma is diagnosed and treated, the more chances of success, which is why it is important to get as fast a diagnosis as possible.

However, because the disease takes decades to develop fully and manifest, many mesothelioma patients were oblivious to this until thirty to fifty years later. It is these men who are now lodging million dollar Mesothelioma lawsuit actions against the unscrupulous companies that exposed them to the dangers of asbestos.

Although the effects of asbestos have been observed, tested and verified, this mineral is still used today in many places around the world.

About two thousand new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. And because reported incidence rates increased in the past twenty years,

Asbestos Exposure

Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can remain suspended in the air for a long time. When breathed into the body, are toxic. We can differentiate:

• Occupational asbestos exposure: people working in factories that manufacture asbestos who are likely to have a high exposure to asbestos and a higher risk of developing the cancer.

• Paraoccupational asbestos exposure: family members of the workers exposed in the workplace are susceptible to exposure from asbestos dust brought home on clothes or skin.

Neighborhood asbestos exposure: those who live in the vicinity of an asbestos manufacturing plant are also at risk of mesothelioma.

Asbestos Products

Asbestos Products

aprons
air cell pipecovering
ASB weatherproof jacket
AC&S asbestos products
acoustical panels
acoustical plaster
acoustical tile
Acoustone ceiling tiles
adhesive
Aeroflex
Aerogun insulating mix
AFJ board
Aircell
Aircell asbestos board
Aircell block
Aircell board
Aircell paper
Aircell pipecovering
Aircell sheets
Aircell zebra pipecover
Allbestos
Alumi-Shield pipecover
Amblerex #2 cement
Amblerex finishing cement
Antisweat covering
Antisweat pipecovering
apron
Armabestos
Armabestos block
Armabestos pipecovering
Armafil
Armaflex
Armaflex finish
Armaflex pipecovering
Armaflex sheets
Armaflex tape
Armaglas
Armaglas Flex
Armaglas fire resistant
Armalite
Armalok
Armaspray
Armatemp #10 cement
Armatemp 85% magnesia
Armatemp block
Armatemp cement
Armatemp pipecovering
Armstrong 1/8" vinal ASBE
Armstrong block
Armstrong cal sil
Armstrong fire resistant
Armstrong lagging adhesive
Armstrong pipecovering
Armstrong products
Armstrong woolfelt
Arrestone asbestos pads
asbestos boiler wall coat
asbestos corrugated sheets
asbestos finish cement
asbestos insulating blanket
Asbestocel
Asbestocel corrugated paper
Asbeston
Asbeston cloth
Asbestone panels
asbestos
asbestos blankets
asbestos block
asbestos board
asbestos canvas
asbestos cement
asbestos cement pipe
asbestos cellular pipecover
asbestos cloth
asbestos cord
asbestos curtains
asbestos felt
asbestos fiber
asbestos finishing cement
asbestos flatboard
asbestos forms
asbestos furnace tape
asbestos gaskets
asbestos gloves
asbestos heat bags
asbestos insulating cement
asbestos insulation
asbestos lap
asbestos micarda
asbestos millboard
asbestos mineral wool
asbestos mittens
asbestos packing
asbestos panels
asbestos paper
asbestos paper pipecovering
asbestos pipecovering
asbestos products/care
asbestos rollboard
asbestos rope
asbestos seals
asbestos sheets
asbestos sponge block
asbestos sponge cover
asbestos spray
asbestos tape
asbestos textile
asbestos tiles
asbestos weatherproof
asbestos wick
asbestos yarn
asbestospray
asbestos-faced mineral wool
asphalt
Atlasite block
Atlasite pipecovering
automobile hood liners
B&W boiler
Baldwin-Hill cement
Baldwin-Hill products
bead board
BEH block
BEH cement
BEH pipecovering
BEH products

Bestfelt
Bestfelt block
Bestfelt pipecovering
B-H expansion joint
black asbestos
blanket
block
block adhesive
block stick
Blue Mud cement
board
boiler
boiler coating
boiler insulation
brake linings
Buck Stay cement
BW firebrick
cables
Cafco adhesive
Cafco blaze shield
Cafco emulsion adhesive
Cafco heat shield
Cafco patching fiber
Cafco powershield
Cafco sealer
Cafco shield-coat
Cafco sound shield
Cafco spray
calcium silicate
calcium silicate block
calcium silicate canvas
calcium silicate cement
calcium silicate cover
calcium silicate hangers
calcium silicate pipecovering
Calcrete30
Calsil block
Calsilite
Calsilite block
Calsilite canvas
Calsilite insulating cement
Calsilite pipecovering
Caltemp cement
canvas
carded asbestos cloth
Caretemp block
Carey 7M cement
Carey asbestos cement
Carey all-temp
Carey asbestos insulating ducts
Carey asbestos cloth
Carey asbestos felts
Carey asbestos tank jacket
Carey block
Carey BTU cement
Carey calcium silicate block
Carey calcium silicate pipecovering
Carey Candad asbestos
Carey cement
Carey corrugated asbestos paper
Carey duct adhesive
Carey fibrous adhesive
Carey fireclad asbestos paper
Carey firefoil board
Carey firefoil panel
Carey fireguard asbestos paper
Carey flex board
Carey insulation duct
Carey insulation seal
Carey marine panel
Carey insulating cement
Carey panel board
Carey pipecovering
Carey products
Carey stone sheathing
Carey super-lite pipecovering
Carey thermalite
Carey woolfelt
Carey york products
Carey york clock
Carey york pipecovering
Careycell block
Careycell pipecovering
Carey thermaboard
Careytemp
Careytemp block
Careytemp pipecovering
Careytemp adhesive
Careytemp block
Careytemp cement
Careytemp pipecovering
Careytemp pre-molded insulation
Castable
Castablock
CC navy sealer
CE cement
ceiling tiles
Cellotone
Celotex products
cement
Cement insulation
Cementboards
Cerafelt
ceramic tile
Chrysotile
CI mastic
clapboards
clay
Cleangard
cloth
clutches
CMT-Eagle 20
coat
coat cement
Cominco insulation cement
cord
cork board
cork covering
cork-filled mastic
cork mastic
corrugated asbestos sheets
Covergard
Crocidolite
Cummings insulation

Deltamaid hitemp master
Deltamaid one-shot cement
Detrick bonding cement
dry mix joint compound
Duplex block
Duplex pipecovering
Duriseal
Eagle insulating cement
Eagle pitcher products
Ehret 85% magnesia block
Ehret 85% magnesia pipecover
Ehret asbestos fiber felt
Ehret block
Ehret pipecovering
Ehret products
EM cell block
EM cell board
EM cell pipecovering
EM felt covering
Empire ace products
Empire aircell block
emulsions
Endless plastic ring style
Enduro block
Enduro pipecovering
Erco products
Erhet 85% magnesia block
Excel block
Excel board
Excel pipecovering
Excelon tile
expansion join
fake snow
featherweight block
featherweight pipecover
fiber cement
fibreboard products
Fibrekote
fibrex cement
fibrous adhesive
finishing cement
fire brick
fire resistant insulation shield
fireproofing cement
flameguard
Flames Safe pipecovering
Flapseal adhesive
Flash Tite cement
Flexfast adhesive
Flexfelt
Flexible corner bead
flexible duct connectors
Flintkote floor tiles
floor tiles
Flurobestos
Franco-therm cement
frost proof
furnace cement
Fyrbestos sheets
G. Bond wood fiber paster
GAF asbestos felt
GAF products
Garlock gasketing
Garlock products
gasket material
gaskets
Gator tape
Generator
GE products
glassbestos
glassblower mitts
Glosscell block
Glosscell covering
gloves
Gold Bond adhesive
Gold Bond asbestos paper
Gold Bond asbestos sheets
Gold Bond cement
Gold Bond perfo-lyte
Gold Bond Plaster
Gold Bond products
Gold Bond spackle paster
Gold bond tar paper
goldbestos
Griptex mineral wool block
Guardian heatguard
gunning mix
H.K. Porter canvas
H.K. Porter products
H/2 insulation block
hairfelt
Heatguard
Heat-seal
helmet
HI mastic
HI stick cement
HI temp cement
high pressure packing
High Temp insulating cement
Hilite insulating cement
Hitemp block
Hitemp board
Hitemp pipecovering
Hou Daille 10 11
Hou Daille 1871H
Hou Daille 65
Hylo block
Hylo cement
Hylo pipecovering
Hy-temp block
Hy-temp cement
Hy-temp pipecovering
industrial A-C board
Insubestos felt strips
Insubestos felt type A
Insubestos felt type B
insulating block
insulating cement
insulating contractor
insulating felt
insulation
insulation blanket
insulation board
insulation coating
insulation jacket FAB
Insulbestos felt
Insulkote SG
Insulkote-coating
Insulmastic
Insulseal
Insulstick
Insultape insulation
J-M asbestos cloth
J Spray
Jcafco products
joint compounds
JM 301 cement
J-M asbestos canvas
J-M asbestos gasketing
J-M block
J-M cement
J-M finishing cement
J-M pipecovering
J-M products
J-M transite pipecover
J-M products distributed by CE
joint compounds
JPS asbestos cloth
K & M block
K & M finishing cement
K & M pipecovering
K & M Kaytherm 1700
Kaiser mineral wool block
Kalite
Karnak mastic
Kaylo block
Kaylo block insulation
Kaylo canvas
Kaylo pipe insulation
Kaylo pipecovering
Kaytherm block
Kaytherm block insulation
Kaytherm cement
Kaytherm pipe insulation
Kaytherm pipecovering
Keasby cement
Keasby products
Keene asbestos products
Keene block
Keene pipecovering
Keene woodfelt
Krack-pruf insulation
lagging adhesive
lagging cloth
lagging tape
lagtone
lap seal
leggings
limpet spray
limpet spray asbestos
Litecase 30 S
LK block
LK pipecovering
LK12 calcium silicate
LK-12 calciom silicate
LT block
LT pipecovering
LT sealer
Magnesia block
Magnesia cement
Magnesia covering
Magnesia insulating cement
Marinite insulating panel
Magnesia pipecovering
masonry fill
mastic
mastic adhesives
metal mesh blanket
Micabestos
Micarda plate and tube
millboard
Mills boiler
mineral wool insulating cement
mineral wool
mineral wool blankets
mineral wool blocks
mittens
mitts
molded cork pipecovering
Monoblock
Monofoam
Monokote
Monoplast
Mono-ply insulating cement
Monospray
mortat mix
Multiply block
Multiply pipecovering
Mundet asbestos cement
Mundet pipecovering
Mundet products
Mundetblock
Mundetcork
N-1200 block
National gypsum sheetrock
National gypsum board
Navy sealer
Navy standard hairfelt
Newtherm pipecovering
NG Asbestos millboard
Nicolet pipecovering
Nicolet/Keasby products
non-sweat pipe insulation
non-sweat pipe covering
Novabestos
Novatex
Nsulkote
nuclear reactor w/comp
OCF asbestos cloth
OCF products
one coat cement
one coat insulating cement
one coat cement
one coat finishing cement
Osnaburg
Owens-Corning 660 cement
Owens-Corning asbestos cement
Pabco
Pabco block
Pabco caltemp pipecover
Pabco F-1 hydraulic cement
Pabco pipecovering
Pabco super caltemp block
packing
packing material
paint
paper
paper tape
patching plaster
Perf-a-tape
Perlite
Perltex spray surface
Perltex super 40
Permaboard
Permiseal
Philip Carey products
pipe insulation
pipecovering
Pitcote
Pittsburgh Corning products
Pittwrat
plaster
plasticork
Plibrico cement
Plicaste cement
Plisulate cement
Polybestos cloth
Pork chop boiler
Porterlag
Portersite
Powerhouse cement
Prasco pipecovering
preformed pipe wrap
pumps
pumps and packing
pumps with packing
putty
Pyrobar blocks
Pyrokure
Pyrokure paper
Pyrokure tape
Pyroscat fireproofing
Pyrospray
Pyrotex
quick-setting joint compound
quick treat compound
quickset cement
R & I block
R & I unsulating cement
Racko asbestos cement
railroad asbestos
railroad electrical arc chutes
range boiler jacket
raw asbestos
raw asbestos fiber
Raybestos amosite blanket
Raymark brake linings
Raymark products
ready mix joint compound
Red Top plaster
Red Top products
refractory cements
regular pipecovering
Rexalt
Rhinoestos cloth
Riley Stoker asbestos products
Rockwool insulation cement
Rockwool asbestos blanket
Rockwool asbestos blanket
Rockwool blanket
Rockwool block
roofing felt
roofing paper
roofing product
rollboard
rope
rope packing
roughing cement
Ruberoid block
Ruberoid calsilite
Ruberoid cement
Ruberoid hi-temp cement
Ruberoid pipecovering
S&K ranger boiler jacket
Safekote cement
Salmo glazed aircell
Seal fast adhesive
sealer
sheet packing
sheet rope
sheetrock
sheets
shingles
silicate calsilite
Silvabestos cloth
sleeves
Smith & Kanzler products
Sniper 3000 cement
spackle
Sparkfast adhesive
Speedlag
Splicegard
sponge felt
spray fireproofing
spun felt
Stalastic
steam generator
Stic-Tite cement
Stic-Tite finishing cement
Stik-Tab cement
stone corrugated sheets
Super "66" insulating cement
Super 48 cement
Super 711
Super D blockinsulate
Super finish stic-tite cement
Super finish cement
Super high temp cement
Super insulation tape
Super light block
Super powerhouse cement
Super stic-tite cement
Super48 insulating cement
Superex block insulation
Superex pipe covering
Super-light cement
Superseal packing
Supertemp blocking
supplied/distributed ASBE
supplied/distributed PRO
supplier
T/NA insulation jacket
tape
tar paper
temp check block
temp check pipecovering
terra lite
Terrybestos
Themobestos metalon P/C
Therm Block
Thermabestos block
Thermabestos cement
Thermaguard
Thermaguard asbestos cloth
Therma-K block
Therma-K pipecovering
Thermalcoat
Thermasil
Thermasil block
Thermasil cement
Thermasil pipecovering
Thermasil-general
Thermo 12
Thermo 12 pipecovering
Thermo pipecovering
Thermobestos
Thermobestos pipecover
Thermoblock
Thermokote
Thermolite
Thermon heat cement
Thermotex B
Thermotex B (paper)
Thermotex B weatherpro
thin set materials
Titegrip cement
Transite board
Transite pipe asbestos
Tri-bestos
Tri-calite block insulation
troweled coating
turbines
turbines with ancill insulation
U.S. gypsum spray
Unarco amocel pipecover
Unarco board
Unarco cloth
Unarco insulating cement
Unarco mineral wool
Unarco products
Unibestos
Unibestos block
Unibestos pipecovering
Unibestos products/distribution
USG aircell pipecover
USG hairfelt pipecover
USG woolfelt pipecover
Util thermal finish cement
valve rings
valve stem packing style
valves
valves and packing
various JM products
V-Dent pipe insulation
Vee block mix (relabel)
Vermont asbestos
Versakote
vinyl gypsum adhesive
vinyl wallpaper
Vitricel asbestos sheet
Vitricel cement
wallboard
water tube boiler
waterproofing
Weathercote asphalt CM
Weatherkote
Weatherseal
weld-on cement
welding rods
white loose wool
white surface cement
white-cement
wick
wire mesh blanket
wires
Woolfe LT pipecovering
Woolfelt block
Woolfelt covering
Wovenstone
yarn
yellow insulation
Zono plaster aggregate
Zono-coustic
Zonolite acoustic plaster
Zonolite asbestos
Zonolite cement
Zonolite decorators
Zonolite dry cement
Zonolite high temp
Zonolite mono-cote F.P.
Zonolite plaster
Zonolite spray insulation
Zonolite spra-tex

Asbestos as a primary cause

Asbestos is a type of insulation material, which was used widely in the past in the following industries:

* Construction industry
* Ship building industry
* Automotive industry
* Other manufacturing industries

Mesothelioma occurred most often in persons who worked in the above industries and were exposed to asbestos in their workplace. The use of asbestos was very widespread after 1945. However, first symptoms of mesothelioma may not become apparent 10-40 years after the initial exposure, which makes it very hard to diagnose. The peak in mesothelioma cases is expected to be reached around 2010 according to some studies. There are three most commonly used types of asbestos: white, brown, and blue. Brown and blue asbestos are most commonly associated with mesothelioma. These types of asbestos have been banned by most countries in the 1990s.

Asbestos is a very dangerous substance and can cause a lot of damage to your health. It is made up of very small fibers, which can find their way to pleura (outside lining of the lung) and damage the cells pleura is made of. These fibers can also be carried on clothing, which makes them dangerous not only to the person exposed to asbestos, but to their family members as well.

Asbestos & Mesothelioma

When asbestos is intact, it does not pose a health threat. But when the material deteriorates, asbestos fibers can be released into the air and inhaled.

The chance of getting an asbestos lung cancer, like mesothelioma, increases with the level and duration of exposure. More than 1.3 million employees in the construction industry are exposed to asbestos on the job and risk developing mesothelioma. Construction workers face heavy exposure to asbestos especially during the removal of asbestos meanwhile renovating or demolition. Employees working in areas of manufacturing of asbestos such as textiles, friction products, insulation, and other building materials, are also likely to be exposed.

The Center for Disease Control says that thousands of Americans continue to be over exposed to the mineral dust in the workplace and news cases of mesothelioma are still occurring. There is a current battle with Congress to create a USD 140 billion fund to compensate victims of asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is highly correlated to the previous high exposure With Mesothelioma Cancers, malignant cells develop in the mesothelioma which is a protective fine lining or sac that covers the organs inside the body.

Most of the Mesothelioma cancers develop near or at the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).

Generally, the majorities of people who develop mesothelioma cancers have had or are working in jobs where they are exposed to asbestos particles thus inhaling it. Secondary exposure can also occur to those who are in contact with the substance too such as those who wash the clothes of family members to work with asbestos or even being exposed to renovations where old asbestos based roof linings or cement is removed and dust forms.

The problem with all types of Mesothelioma Cancers are that most signs will not appear until 20 to 50 years after harmful exposure to asbestos. The time in which it takes for the first symptoms to present is what makes this cancer particularly harmful. Often if the patient exhibits symptoms, the Mesothelioma cancer would have progressed so far that treatment proves to be extremely difficult.

There are several types of Mesothelioma Cancers, each with its own specific symptoms and signs. For Pleural Mesothelioma, shortness of breath, excessive coughing, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often signs of the affliction. As a consequence of this the patient will normally suffer from acute shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness and deep coughing.

Another type of Mesothelioma Cancer is Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other possible symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include excessive bowel disturbance and occasional obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body then these severe stage will show symptoms like pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

In severe cases of Mesothelioma Cancers, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung in extreme situations. The malignant Mesothelioma cancers might also metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body causing other malignant cancers in other organs or body parts.

Additionally, in severe cases of Mesothelioma Cancers, the following signs and symptoms may be present indicating the advanced stages:

• blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis;
• disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs;
• jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin;
• low blood sugar level;
• pleural effusion;
• pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs;
• severe ascites.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma takes a long time to incubate within a human body before symptoms of mesothelioma may appear and cause suffering to the carrier. It can take fifteen to twenty years for this deadly disease to fully present itself and the damage it has done. This presents a very difficult challenge for doctors and the medical community in diagnosing mesothelioma and in many cases patients with this disease are either not aware that they have it or do not ask the doctor to specifically check for symptoms of mesothelioma.

If a patient notes a history of asbestos exposure or contamination a doctor will immediately start looking for signs of the disease, most notably within the tissues and lining surrounding the lungs, heart and stomach areas. They will likely also begin with a full physical examination to determine the possible causes of patient discomfort. This will usually involve some lung and chest x-rays if the patient is reporting difficulty in breathing which is often a common ailment of mesothelioma suffers.

The physician will also order a number of pulmonary procedures to test the area around the lungs in particular since three quarters of all mesothelioma cases occur in the lining and tissue around the lungs. Follow up CAT scans and MRI tests may also be ordered if the preliminary tests show the probability of mesothelioma and these tests should be able to confirm or deny the presence of mesothelioma. They can also aid the medical personnel in being to determine the exact size and location of any tumors that may have developed as a result of the progress of the mesothelioma.

The next steps that a doctor may take are to request a biopsy of the affected area. This is a procedure to remove a piece of tissue from the area where mesothelioma is suspected and once that biopsy has been performed then the tissue sample can be tested further to determine the type of mesothelioma tumor that is present in the patient. Tissues that come back as benign usually mean that the tumor is not cancerous and while it may not be comfortable for the patient, benign tumors are rarely fatal. Malignant mesothelioma tumors however are cancerous and pose a great threat to the health and life of the patient.

1. Physical Examination

As with all diseases, a doctor begins the mesothelioma diagnosis by doing a complete physical exam and reviewing your medical history. Because mesothelioma is almost always caused by breathing in asbestos exposure (see Causes of Mesothelioma), you should tell your doctor about your exposure to asbestos if you suspect you may have mesothelioma.

After performing the physical exam, a doctor should have x-rays of the chest performed and, in some cases, pulmonary function tests to determine if the symptoms are consistent with malignant mesothelioma.

2. CT Scans and MRI's to Diagnose Mesothelioma

In many cases, a doctor may order CT scans and/or MRI's to aid in the mesothelioma diagnosis. These tools allow a doctor to assess the size, location, and extent of the mesothelioma tumor in the chest or abdomen.

3. Biopsy to Diagnose Mesothelioma

All of the steps described above are only preliminary indications of mesothelioma. If, after performing these tests, a doctor suspects mesothelioma, a biopsy should be taken to confirm the mesothelioma diagnoses.

* A biopsy is the procedure used for obtaining a tissue sample of the tumor. The two most common methods for removing tissue samples are a thorascoscopy and a broncoscopy.

* A thoracoscopy is obtained by inserting a telescope-like instrument connected to a video camera (thoracoscope) through a small incision in the chest. The doctor then removes the tumor using special forceps with the aid of the camera. This procedure is used for diagnosing both pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma.

* A bronchoscopy involves inserting a flexible lighted tube through the mouth into the bronchi to remove tissue in the airway. This procedure is used for diagnosing pleural mesothelioma.

Although a biopsy is the most effective procedure for diagnosing mesothelioma, malignant mesothelioma cells can look like other types of cancer. Therefore, special laboratory tests are sometimes performed or electron microscopes are used to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Four Stages-Mesothelioma

The Four Stages of Mesothelioma

After confirming a mesothelioma diagnosis, the next step is called staging. Staging is the process used to find out how far the cancer has spread. Imaging studies, such as CT scans and MRI's, help a doctor to determine the mesothelioma stage. This is important because it affects the treatment and prognosis of mesothelioma.

The most common system used for measuring mesothelioma staging is the Butchart Staging System. This staging procedure is only used for pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs) because it is by far the most common type of mesothelioma.

A. Stage 1 - Localized Malignant Mesothelioma
Stage I mesothelioma is the initial stage of mesothelioma. Here, the cancerous tumor is found in the pleura (the lung lining), and may also involvesome tumors in the lung, pericardium (the lining of the heart), or the diaphragm.

B. Stage 2 Mesothelioma
In Stage II mesothelioma, in addition to the presence of mesothelioma in the pleura, mesothelioma has spread to the chest wall, esophagus, or heart. Also, mesotheliomamay have spread to the lymph nodes in the chest.

C. Stage 3 Mesothelioma
In Stage III, mesothelioma has invaded the diaphragm into the peritoneum (the lining of the heart), and may involve lymph nodes outside of the chest.

D. Stage 4 Mesothelioma
In Stage IV, mesothelioma has metastasized, spreading through the bloodstream to other organs of the body.

Understanding Mesothelioma

Dealing with mesothelioma is a very difficult process. It will require a lot of physical and emotional endurance, a strong family and social network, and expert medical and professional advice and assistance. The best way to approach dealing with mesothelioma is to first learn everything that you can about the disease. This should include the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mesothelioma.

Understanding all of the aspects of mesothelioma will help the patient and their family and caregivers feel less helpless during treatment and give them the hope they need to recover successfully from this terrible disease. There are many sources of information available to help with understanding mesothelioma. They include doctors, nurses and community health care workers. They also include cancer information centers and university teaching hospitals that specialize in mesothelioma.

There are also many books written about the subject of mesothelioma, including ones written by mesothelioma patients, survivors and their families. Some books written by specialists in the field also provide helpful tips for patients and families who are beginning their mesothelioma treatments on what to expect and how to maximize pain management tools and techniques. The Internet has a wide range of websites that promote education and information about mesothelioma and offer suggestions on where to find specialists and other resources.

The relationship between the doctor and patient should be the primary source of understanding mesothelioma for the patient. The doctor has made the preliminary diagnosis and has the experience of dealing with similar situations in the past. To make the most of this important relationship the patient should prepare a list of questions in advance of any meeting or session with the doctor so as to minimize the time required and to get the most accurate information and answers to their questions.

Other people who have been through mesothelioma treatments can also provide helpful suggestions from their own experience on not just what to expect but how to best assist in one's own recovery. These suggestions will probably include tips on pain management but will also likely help the mesothelioma patient to physically and psychologically prepare for possible surgery and the recovery period that will follow.

Mesothelioma patients will require a lot of other support if they are going to successfully navigate the path to recovery. Some time and consideration will need to be given to financial concerns that will arise during the period of treatment and recovery from mesothelioma. This may include meetings and advice from a range of financial and insurance advisors in order to ensure that medical costs are covered and regular bills are paid during this difficult time.

It is certainly not easy to deal with all of the medical, physical, emotional, and financial issues that may be raised when dealing with a serious disease like mesothelioma, but it always better to be prepared.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

About 15% of Mesothelioma cases are found in the early stages, before the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or elsewhere. The 5 year survival rate for people with Mesothelioma is 50% if there is no evidence of cancer in lymph nodes at the time of surgery. Unfortunately, in most cases, the spread of cancer has already occurred even if not detected by current medical tests. When all Mesothelioma stages are considered together, the 5 year survival rate is only about 14%. Many early Mesothelioma are diagnosed incidentally - they are found as a result of tests that are done for an unrelated medical condition. Although Mesothelioma does not cause any symptoms until it has spread too far to be cured, symptoms do occur in some patients with early Mesothelioma . Prompt attention to symptoms, leading to early diagnosis and treatment can result in a cure for some patients. For others, prompt attention to symptoms can improve the likelihood that treatment can extend their life and relieve many of their symptoms.

Common signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma include:

* A cough that does not go away
* Chest pain, often aggravated by deep breathing
* Hoarseness
* Weight loss and loss of appetite
* Bloody or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm)
* Shortness of breath
* Fever without a known reason
* Recurring infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia
* New onset of wheezing
* When Mesothelioma spreads to distant organs, it may cause:
* Bone pain
* Neurologic changes (such as weakness or numbness of a limb, dizziness)
* Jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes)
* Masses near the surface of the body, due to cancer spreading to the skin or to lymph nodes (collection of immune system cells) in the neck or above the collarbone.

A. Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma cancer of the lung lining) include:
pain in the lower back or the side of the chest
shortness of breath
a persistent cough
difficulty swallowing food
fever and sweating
fatigue
weight loss.

These symptoms are also common to many minor ailments and, therefore, may not cause a doctor to suspect mesothelioma.
Pleural Effusion-fluid in the Lungs

One of the most common and specific symptoms of pleural mesothelioma is the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and chest cavity. This generally causes shortness of breath, and requires a doctor to drain the fluid, called fine-needle aspiration, to make breathing easier and relieve chest pain. This symptom is more unique to mesothelioma, making it more likely that you may have the disease.

B. Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma (abdominal mesothelioma - mesothelioma of the lining of the stomach) include:
stomach pain
nausea and vomiting
weight loss.

Like pleural mesothelioma, these symptoms are also common to many minor ailments and, therefore, may not cause a doctor to suspect mesothelioma.

Types of Mesothelioma

Types of Mesothelioma

About Pleural Mesothelioma - A Cancer of the Lining of the Lungs

Pleural Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, called the "pleura". The "pleura" are fibrous sheets that help to protect the lungs. They produce a lubricating fluid that allow the lungs to move smoothly as we breathe.

Because pleural mesothelioma is uncommon, some doctors misdiagnose the disease as lung cancer. Lung cancer, however, is different from pleural mesothelioma because lung cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the lungs, whereas pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lungs.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma. It accounts for about 75% of all types of malignant mesothelioma.

Find out more about:
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms.
Articles / Case Studies on Pleural Mesothelioma or Diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma.
About Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining that surrounds the stomach or abdomin, called the peritoneum. The peritoneum are cells that produce a lubricating fluid that protect the stomach. They allow the stomach to move freely when, for instance, you are digesting food.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common than pleural mesothelioma. It accounts for about 10 to 20% of mesotheliomas.

Find out more about:
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms.
Article / Case Studies on Peritoneal Mesothelioma / Abdominal Mesothelioma.
About Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer

Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining that surrounds the heart, called the pericardium. The pericardium are cells that produce a lubricating fluid that protect the heart. They allow the heart to move freely when, for instance, it is pumping blood to other parts of your body.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common form of malignant mesothelioma. It only accounts for 5 to 15% of all mesotheliomas.

Find out more about
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms.
Article / Case Studies on Pericardial Mesothelioma

* Peritoneal Mesothelioma
* Pleural Mesothelioma
* Pericardial Mesothelioma

Against Mesothelioma

The mesothelioma lawsuit is one of the most serious legal actions taken in cases of negligence or asbestos liability issues. It is about an injured person (a personal injury lawsuit) or about the family of one who has died of asbestos lung cancer (a wrongful death lawsuit).

In a personal injury mesothelioma lawsuit, the individual diagnosed with mesothelioma is living and bringing the lawsuit on his/her own behalf. A wrongful death suit takes place when the survivors bring the mesothelioma lawsuit on behalf of a deceased victim: the spouse, relative, and/or representative of the estate of the departed individual.

Mesothelioma lawsuits usually seek compensation for medical treatment costs, lost wages, pain and suffering. In the case of a wrongful death lawsuit, funeral expenses are also considered, as well as the economic value of the deceased person's life.

The plaintiff's injury is very important in this kind of lawsuits. In the case of a mesothelioma lawsuit, this is quite easy to establish, because all persons who suffer from mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos materials. More difficult is the process of establishing the specific materials that the plaintiff was exposed to and who manufactured it. This can be especially difficult if the exposure took place decades before, or in the case of wrongful death actions where the plaintiff is no longer alive to add his or her testimony to the manner and type of exposure that was suffered.

In some cases, the Mesothelioma lawsuit is resolved through the settlement process, the specialized mesothelioma lawyers having the important role of identifying the relevant asbestos containing products that the plaintiff was exposed to. If the settlement process fails, the only way left is litigating the case at court. A mesothelioma lawsuit that ends in a trial will be difficult for both the plaintiff and the plaintiff's lawyer.

Because this is such a devastating form of cancer, clearly linked to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma lawsuits are on the rise. Most persons diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos at work place. That is why mesothelioma lawsuits usually name the employer of the mesothelioma victim as one of the defendants (other defendants in a mesothelioma lawsuit being the manufacturer of the asbestos materials or others who may have contributed to the asbestos exposure).

Most mesothelioma lawsuits do not get to trial, but are settled out of court, saving a large amount of money for both sides. And even if a favorable settlement is reached, or the mesothelioma lawsuit is decided in favor of the plaintiff, it can take years to receive payment from the defendant because the growing number of mesothelioma lawsuits can make it difficult for all parties to collect the full amount to which they are entitled.

Mesothelioma Lawyers

Mesothelioma is a disease that, until recently, was extremely rare. To date, little is know about the condition. However, as the rate of the disease has increased, a new breed of lawyers – those dealing specifically with mesothelioma lawsuits – have stepped in to fight for the rights of victims afflicted with this disease. These lawyers and law firms often deal exclusively with mesothelioma victims and their families who wish to claim compensation from the companies that were responsible for their exposure to asbestos. These mesothelioma lawsuits often result in millions of dollars for the victims when handled by an experienced lawyer or law firm.

Those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have every right to file a lawsuit. Many of the companies responsible for exposing workers to asbestos were well aware of its dangers and effects, but still saw fit to let their workers continue with little or no protection against the dust and fibers that emanated from this hazardous material. Now, decades later, the effects of this exposure is taking its toll on American workers just as they reach their golden years. These workers are entitled to compensation and justice for their pain, suffering and loss of life. A mesothelioma lawsuit can provide them with such justice.

Today, there are many mesothelioma lawyers to choose from. The number of lawyers and law firms handling these lawsuits is on the rise. Many of these lawyers have dealt with numerous mesothelioma lawsuits and have a good deal of experience and knowledge about the disease. Those looking for a mesothelioma lawyer should chooser someone that has proven experience in the field. Most reputable lawyers will be happy to provide facts and figures on previous cases that they have handled. However, these lawyers often do not provide private information that might be subject to confidentiality. They can, however, provide you with details on how quickly cases were resolved, how much compensation was successfully obtained and how many mesothelioma lawsuits they have dealt with.

It is also worth finding out about the mesothelioma lawsuits that were not successful, and why they were not successful. It may be something as simple as a missed piece of evidence to failure to comply with sensitive timetables associated with such cases. These elements can make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful lawsuit. By finding out why some lawsuits resulted in no compensation, you may be able to avoid making the same type of mistake.

It is important that you find a good, experienced mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after you have been diagnosed with the disease. Most states have a set time limit in which you can file your lawsuit, and it is very important that you not miss that deadline known as a statute of limitations. Otherwise you may find that you are ineligible to make a claim. You also need to give your lawyer as much time as possible to do the necessary research and put together a solid and case against the negligent parties. In short, the earlier you get to a mesothelioma lawyer, the better your chances of success.

Many people are concerned because they do not know exactly where and when they were exposed to asbestos. Some people may have worked in several different places and been exposed to asbestos on numerous occasions. However, your mesothelioma lawyer can help in identifying products that you were exposed to. If necessary, your mesothelioma lawyer will hire the services of a private investigator to find out where the exposure took place. With some research and digging, the lawyer is generally able to pinpoint the company or companies responsible for the exposure.

Again, this can take time and is another reason why it is so important to find a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after the diagnosis of the cancer has been confirmed. Understandably, patients who have just been told that they have mesothelioma will have a great deal on their minds and filing a lawsuit may not be one of their priorities. However, the timely process of selecting a lawyer and filing your lawsuit can make all the difference in securing the future of your family.