One interesting study is called, "Asbestos-contaminated nappies and familial mesothelioma." By Li, FP, Dreyfus, M Gand Antman, KH - Lancet. Vol. 1, no. 8643, pp. 909-910. 1989.  Here is an excerpt: "Mesothelioma has been reported in families of asbestos workers who carried home these fibers on body surfaces and soiled clothing. The authors identified another such cluster in which cotton cloth sacks in which moulded asbestos insulation had been transported were used to make diapers (nappies) for the children of an asbestos worker. The oldest child died of mesothelioma at age 32 years; her 29-year-old sister was similarly exposed but remains unaffected. The mother had laundered the diapers and her husband's workclothes, and she died of mesothelioma at age 49. Mesothelioma also developed in a 43-year-old maternal uncle, who, as a teenager, had lived in the contaminated household and worked briefly as an insulator. The father, an insulator, died with asbestosis and cirrhosis of the liver at age 53."

Another study is called, "Primary Pericardial Mesothelioma Following Exposure to Asbestos" by Kahn, EI, Rohl, A, Suzuki, Y, Barrett, W - Environmental Research ENVIRON. RES.. Vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 270-281. 1980.   Here is an excerpt: "This case illustrates the coexistence of a primary pericardial mesothelioma with sequelae of asbestos exposure. It provides strong evidence for an asbestos-induced mesothelioma arising in the pericardium. There was a clinical history of asbestos exposure 30 years prior to the onset of symptoms. Ferruginous bodies were seen in the lungs, proven to contain amosite by electron microprobe analysis. This is the type of fiber frequently associated with mesothelioma."

Another interesting study is called, "Asbestos exposure and ovarian fiber burden" by Debra S. Heller MD, Ronald E. Gordon PhD, Carolyn Westhoff MD, Susan Gerber MD - American Journal of Industrial Medicine Volume 29, Issue 5, pages 435-439 - May 1996.  Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - Epidemiologic studies suggest increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in female asbestos workers and increased risk of malignancy in general in household contacts of asbestos workers. Ovaries were studied from 13 women with household contact with men with documented asbestos exposure and from 17 women undergoing incidental oophorectomy. Ovarian tissue was examined by analytic electron microscopy.

Significant asbestos fiber burdens were detected in 9 out of 13 women with household asbestos exposure (69.2%), and in 6 out of 17 women who gave no exposure history (35%). Three exposed women had asbestos counts over 1 million fibers per gram wet weight (23%), but only 1/17 women without an exposure history had a count that high (6%). Although asbestos has been documented as a contaminant of some older cosmetic talc preparations, the chrysotile and crocidolite types of asbestos we detected are more indicative of background and/or occupational exposure.

This study demonstrates that asbestos can reach the ovary. Although the number of subjects is small, asbestos appears to be present in ovarian tissue more frequently and in higher amounts in women with a documentable exposure history."

We all owe a debt of gratitude to these fine researchers for their important work.  If you found any of these excerpts helpful, please read the studies in their entirety.

I was reading a leaflet on asbestos exposure and it said that most people who are exposed to asbestos do not become ill its usually those that have worked with asbestos for years and that being exposed to asbestos does not mean that you will develop an asbestos related disease, under that paragaph it said that children are especially prone to developing cancer after exposure to asbestos, do you think that means that ALL children that are exposed to asbestos will develop cancer or just more likely than adults

Pleura mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs. This isn't a main type of lung cancer; it is a cancer of the serous membranes.

The affected tissues line a number of organs within the center of the body, which includes the lungs. Even though pleura mesothelioma is the most common of type of the disease, it can affect the additional organs as well.

The stomach cellular lining, peritoneum, surrounding the heart, pericardium, and then can propagate to the lung area. While pleura mesothelioma is often referred to as asbestos lung cancer, it is incorrect. This particular cancer does not originate in the lungs but rather have metastasized to the lung.

Asbestosis is a type of asbestos lung condition that is in the lung area.

Unfortunately it is frequently mixed up with pleura mesothelioma.

This particular type of cancer, pleura mesothelioma, is brought on by asbestos breathing. The asbestos becomes imbedded in the lung lining, pleura, and over a lengthy period of time due to infection, can turn out to be cancerous growths. It can take as long as 20-50 years for the cancer malignancy to develop.

In unusual instances it has been associated with the breathing of other fibrous silicates, irradiation and thorotrast (intrapleural thorium dioxide). Most usually nevertheless, it is felt that asbestos fiber is the main cause.

The initial appearance is one of several tumor masses. The outside surface is generally much more affected than the visceral or inner area. The lower lobes of the lungs are usually the ones that are afflicted and it is believed that this is due to the law of gravity. The right lung is more frequently identified also with the much larger size of the lung thought to be the reason.

Frequently a diagnosis is not made till there are huge quantities of the growths within the pleura. As a secondary cancer pleura mesothelioma may appear from metastasis from the breasts, ovaries or intestinal tract. Lymphoma can also increase the risk of mesothelioma.

Symptoms

Initially the affected individual may complain of chest muscles pain. Frequently the problem is not of chest pain, but rather of shoulder joint or belly pain. The patient can easily become short of breath. coughing develops and fat loss due to anorexia, loss of appetite also can be found. Pleural effusion, fluid on the lungs, is also common with this type of mesothelioma. Often the fluid build up will also be in the abdomen and be a pronounced ascites. Often that accumulation of liquid is the first key issue that the individual has.

Fatigue, anemia and blood in the sputum are also indications of the disease. It is conceivable to really feel a bulk in the stomach and have difficulty with bowel movements.

Blood clots can build in the problematic veins. Low blood sugar and jaundice are listed as signs and symptoms. The individual is also more probable to produce blood clots in the lungs.

Prognosis

Mesothelioma has a bleak diagnosis. Several scientific studies have shown that the typical success rate after positive analysis is about eight months. Other elements additionally are taken into consideration. The general survival rate can be affected by the particular type of mesothelioma cells are present. Biphasic cells have proved to be the cells that will lead to the shorter success time.

Setting out to find mesothelioma asbestos lawyers to handle your case is easier than ever now, thanks mostly to the wide range of legal websites out there. There are not only the websites of attorneys but also legal resource sites that have free consultation widgets intigrated into each page. The best plan of action is to take advantage of these contact form widgets to receive a consultation without having to pay anything upfront.

Go about contacting many different mesothelioma asbestos lawyers which will make it easy for you to see who you should trust and which law firms to avoid like the plague. With each online meeting, have a prepared list of concerns and questions to ask them to guage their overall knowledge and also to test their patience. There is nothing worse than an attorney who views you as just another case, avoid these types at every turn. Make sure to inquire about whether they recommend filing individually or joining a mesothelioma class action lawsuit.

They can also assist you in recovering any financial losses already suffered as well as future financial losses due to being unable to work because of health deterioration. Any time you have to visit medical centers, be sure to keep track of your receipts as these can be reimbursed if you win your case. Once you have made your comparisons and decided on a reputable law firm, you will then be able to go into detail about the punitive damages to expect if you file individually or if it's a better course of action to receive a smaller amount by joining other mesothelioma victims in a class action suit.

Some people unfortunately do not feel the symptoms of asbestos exposure for years but have been exposed repeatedly in hazardous work conditions. If you fall into this category, do not hesitate to find a physician to run tests as soon as possible. This will not only give you a better chance at survival but will also allow for possibility of seeking damages and compensation against the offending employer.

Dating back to the 1980's, there have been approximately 100 corporations or companies that have filed for bankruptcy because of the success rate of lawsuits won by mesothelioma asbestos victims. This essentially means that there are too many attorneys in this field looking for easy pay days. That is why it is crucially important to get the upper hand from the start so they are competing for your case. This is unacceptable for less than desirable firms so they will weed themselves out of the process while you focus on the legitimate lawyers who stick around to hear you out and give you sound advice.

The dangers of exposure to asbestos dust are well documented with tens of thousands of people stricken ill with Mesothelioma, Asbestosis and related diseases.  For many years, unsuspecting homeowners and workers worked with and lived around free, friable asbestos without with no knowledge of the dangerous and often deadly harm that breathing in even relatively small amounts of asbestos dust could do.  A frequently asked question then among many that believe that they had at least some exposure to asbestos dust is just how much asbestos exposure will cause you to get sick or even worse cause cancer?

The first thing to know about asbestos exposure is that ill effects from this exposure have a long latency period.  It is not unusual for someone exposed to asbestos to not develop mesothelioma for 25-40 years after exposure.  Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the Mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's protective organs.  Asbestos fibers that are breathed in become lodged in the linings of the lungs and eventually cause the cells to mutate and become cancerous.  About 70-80% of Mesothelioma cases are estimated to be caused by various degrees of asbestos exposure.

The amount of exposure that causes disease in people is up for debate.  While there are many cases of factory or other workers that have had heavy exposure to free, friable exposure for many years developing disease, there are also cases where exposure has been as short as several months or just a few weeks.  Intensity of exposure is most likely as relevant as length of time.  If you think you were exposed to asbestos dust it is a good idea to write down as much as can be remembered as to length of time, intensity, where and how you were exposed.  Frequently asbestos litigation can be pursued if you can prove you worked in an industry or work setting or lived in an environment where there was exposed friable asbestos that affected you.

One of the reasons it is so important to document as much as possible how much asbestos exposure you might have had is because the disease of Mesothelioma is notoriously hard to detect and quite often is mistaken for other cancers.  It is important to detect the initial signs of asbestos disease both to receive early treatment as well as to clearly identify the cause for possible litigation later. The two primary types of Mesothelioma are Pleural (chest) and Peritoneal (abdominal).  In Pleural a lung's membrane will thicken a fluid will collect.  Both of these cause difficulty in the contractions of the lungs and make breathing difficult.  In Peritoneal similar symptoms appear but around the abdominal region  leading to fluid accumulation and pain in the area.

It is unknown how many people have died from Mesothelioma that might have been mis-diagnosed with another type of cancer.  Therefore it is important to educate youself on the differences and causes of each. One place to get great information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure is www.AsbestosLA.com.  There you can read lots of articles and get great links for further information.

As many are already aware, asbestos exposure has been linked to a number of life threatening diseases.  Most exposure related illnesses result from the inhalation of tiny asbestos particles or fibers.  One interesting study that examined the rate of disease in miners is called, "Relation between asbestosis and bronchial cancer in amphibole asbestos miners" by G K Sluis-Cremer, B N Bezuidenhout - Br J Ind Med 1989;46:537-540 - Epidemiology Research Unit, Medical Bureau of Occupational Disease, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa.  Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - In a necropsy series of 339 amphibole asbestos miners heavy smoking, age, and the presence of asbestosis were significantly associated with the presence of bronchial cancer. Of the 35 cases of bronchial cancer, 24 were associated with asbestosis. Eleven cases of bronchial cancer occurred in men without asbestosis; all were smokers. Standardised proportional mortality rates indicated no excess of bronchial cancer in 302 exposed men without asbestosis whereas these rates were progressively raised in men with slight or moderate/severe asbestosis. Of the four exposure variables introduced separately into a logistic regression model, "years of exposure" made a small but significant contribution; "residence time" marginally failed to achieve a 5% level of significance. Two other exposure variables tested including cumulative fibre exposure (fibre years) made no significant contribution. In the absence of asbestosis at necropsy a bronchial cancer in a man exposed to asbestos is unlikely to be due to asbestos."

Another interesting study is called, "A cohort study on mortality among wives of workers in the asbestos cement industry in Casale Monferrato, Italy." By C Magnani, B Terracini, C Ivaldi, M Botta, P Budel, A Mancini, R Zanetti - Br J Ind Med 1993; 50:779-784 - Here is an excerpt "Abstract - The study investigates mortality from cancer and other diseases in a cohort of wives of asbestos cement workers in Casale Monferrato (northwest Italy). After the exclusion of women with an occupational record in the asbestos cement industry, the cohort comprised 1964 women. Their domestic exposure was estimated according to their husbands' periods of employment in the plant: 1740 had a period of domestic exposure whereas the remaining 224 married an asbestos cement worker only after he definitely stopped his activity in the asbestos cement plant; these have, therefore, been considered as unexposed.

The cohort of wives was constructed entirely through official records in the town offices and is both exhaustive and unaffected by recall bias. At the end of follow up (1988) 1669 women were alive, 270 were dead and 25 (1.2%) were untraced. Main mortality analyses were only up to age 79 to reduce the misclassification of causes of death. Expected mortality was based on local rates. Mortality analyses were limited to the period 1965-88 due to the availability of local rates: in that period 210 deaths occurred among women with domestic exposure v 229.1 expected. There were four deaths from pleural tumours (one diagnosed as mesothelioma at necropsis) and six from lung cancer v. 0.5 and 4.0 expected respectively. Two further cases of mesothelioma were diagnosed by histological examination after the end of follow up. None of the three wives with histologically diagnosed mesothelioma had been engaged in industrial activities. Corresponding information for the other three cases could not be traced."

A third study is called, "Asbestosis: a marker for the increased risk of lung cancer among workers exposed to asbestos." By Weiss W. - Chest. 1999 Feb;115(2):536-49.  Here is an excerpt: "Abstract - This review examines the hypothesis that excess lung cancer risk in worker cohorts exposed to asbestos occurs only among those with asbestosis. The adequately designed studies in the literature support this hypothesis. The summary relative risk for lung cancer was 1.00 in seven cohorts with no deaths from asbestosis. In addition, there is a high correlation between asbestosis rates and lung cancer rates in 38 cohorts in contrast to a poor correlation between cumulative exposure data and lung cancer relative risks in eight cohorts with adequate data. The evidence indicates that asbestosis is a much better predictor of excess lung cancer risk than measures of exposure and serves as a marker for attributable cases."

If you found any of these excerpts interesting, please read the studies in their entirety.  We all owe a great debt to these fine researchers.

Lung Cancer, like all forms of cancer, is a terrible disease. It leaves its victims in so much pain and throws away their quality of life. It is caused through a variety of ways, the most popular one being tobacco smoking. Not surprising, considering the vast amount of people across the world who smoke. Less commonly known causes include exposure to petroleum gases you tend to inhale when at a filling station, exposure to asbestos and consistent exposure and/or inhalation of smog like that of being trapped in a gridlock rush hour.

A very rare form of lung tumors is mesothelioma. It affects a handful of people, for example in the United States, but its incidence rate is significantly growing, i.e. a lot more people than previously are being diagnosed with the malignant tumor. The cancer to a large degree can be caused by unprotected & prolonged exposure to asbestos. An outrageously high amount of the brave HERO rescue workers who endangered their lives to fight the madness of 9-11 as it unfolded in New York, developed mesothelioma and other (somewhat) preventable types of lung cancer. A lot of the SAINT rescue workers, beloved by their families, friends communities and country, sadly already passed away in the near decade since the atrocity was cowardly committed by terrorists.

There is no known cure for it to date. It is a horrible monster befalls unassuming, everyday people and shatters entire families. Many families grieving the loss of their loved one(s) are left to pick up the pieces from the havoc wrecked by the nightmare. Since mesothelioma is so much of a rare disease, it's very difficult for those left behind to come to terms with the realities of it, i.e. why it had to happen; 'If it's so rare, why did it have to happen to me/us etc?' I have had the chilling experience of witnessing a lady interact with group members of a mesothelioma forum, first asking everybody to keep her uncle in their prayers as he's battling mesothelioma, then returning a few days after to announce that he had passed away. This was very disturbing, especially as I was amongst the people who sent her goodwill messages to console her when she first made the announcement.

Due to the fact that mesothelioma is more often than not developed through the exposure to asbestos, it can unfortunately present itself in a number of (potentially) hazardous situations, if proper care is not taken to observe and inspect the environment at home, school, work or many other places. In the United States, for example, there have been a growing number of incidents of official/authoritative negligence on part of school boards, employers, government ministries etc to ensure that respectively children, artisans, civil servants etc are protected from (potentially) dangerous exposure to asbestos by protective means or even denial access.

The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center reported "Those who've studied the potential hazard of asbestos caused by the collapse of the World Trade Center estimate that more than 110,000 people may have suffered serious exposure including 80,000 tower workers, 30,000 local residents, and 4,000 first responders. Deborah Reeve was the first 9/11 emergency responder to die of mesothelioma. Doctors agree that her exposure to asbestos was a result of her days spent working at the recovery site."

By and large, many organisations and institutions tend to flout regulations and health & safety procedures stipulated by law or stick to them in a completely unacceptable manner. Thereby, people are put at risk of contracting the disease and/or those who have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma are left uncared for, unattended by institutions and unable to get the professional and highly competent support and assistance they require, in a legal capacity.

The track record of legal experts in the fields of lung cancer and mesothelioma has been impressive; incredible amounts of compensation have been paid out to families of mesothelioma sufferers, in support of their plight to fight the cancer and address the gross maltreatment and inequality they have experienced at the hands of their academic or vocational superiors. It is therefore advised to quickly seek the help of a trusted legal expert, with a proven track record on lung cancer and mesothelioma litigation cases to best address the legal needs in the way it is deserved to have it treated.

Under no circumstances does this article intend in any way to discredit the United States of America. The content has been attempted to be portrayed as factually as possible. Any subliminal mocking of any nature that could possibly be inferred from it, is completely unintentional.

References:

The Mesothelioma & Asbestos Awareness Center

http://www.maacenter.org/jobsites/WTC/asbestos.ph

Many people have found that they are simply are not as aware of the complications related to asbestos exposure as they should have been. Because of this, some have been diagnosed with lung cancer only to find out later that their illness has been a result of exposure to asbestos. Even if you do not currently have any medical problems, it might be a good idea to think back through the past ten or twenty years to determine whether there was a time when you may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos. In extreme cases, some symptoms will not manifest until up to sixty years later. If so, you should know to keep an extra close eye on your health. If you start to experience any of the signs and symptoms related to asbestos exposure visit your doctor immediately. Some of the symptoms may include anemia, back pain, chest pain, persistent coughing, enlarged abdomen, fever, hoarseness, recurrent build-up of fluid in the lungs, shortness of breath and weight loss.

You might initially experience a dry cough that will not go away, and you could end up having breathing problems. Upon further testing, there is a chance that lung cancer might be diagnosed, more specifically Mesothelioma. While there is no absolute cure for cancer, it is important to remember that there are treatments that can possibly send the cancer into remission. Many people have lived for years after being diagnosed with lung cancer. The determining factor is often when the cancer is diagnosed, what treatments are performed and the strength of the person going through the treatments.

You will want to make sure that you are keeping yourself and your family away from asbestos when at all possible. Avoid old buildings that are in need of repair. Miners and workers who are responsible for removing old building materials have a high risk of being exposed to asbestos, so it is important to make sure that you are using the proper equipment, from breathing masks to whole body suits. This is the best way to make sure that you and your loved ones will not be exposed to asbestos. Remember that you can bring asbestos home on your clothes, putting your children at risk for developing lung cancer in the future.

For those who have been exposed to high levels of asbestos, it is important to make sure that you are doing what you need to do in order to stay as healthy as possible. Consult with your doctor. Explain the history of your exposure to asbestos and what your concerns are. Request tests be performed to check the condition of your lungs. Make sure that you have not developed lung cancer.

You have good reason to suspect something could be wrong and are entitled to the tests that can save your life. Ask for them. Insist on being scanned for lung cancer. If it turns out that you are fine, make sure that you go back for periodic checkups because you never know if lung cancer will form later on.

I am a tenant in an office building built in 1978 in northern Calif. The owners want to "update" the fire alarm system. I was told that the fire alarm system would be extended to each unit and installed in the ceiling. Any thing to look out for or to ask about in regards to avoiding/reducing asbestos exposure during the work? Thanks.
The wise guys who give thoughtful answerers thumbs down are just awful! I never give a thumbs down unless ppl are vicious.

My father-in-law was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma. He is a disabled vet on a limited income. The life expectancy is only 4-18 months. He and my mother-in-law have filed a lawsuit against the asbestos manufacturer. The concern is that they have very little money and without compensation we are afraid that my mother-in-law will lose their house when he passes. Does anyone have experience with this?
Thanks for answering. The lawyer says that because he has the disease that we have a good case. Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.

We have filed the suit against the manufacturer because we believe that he was exposed while working in the boiler room while in the army and suing the army just isn't an option.

The lawyer we have retained has been involved with thousands of these cases. He has given us examples of awards won by his law firm, but I want to know what the chances are of not winning.