asbestos cancer lawyer

Mesothelioma

What is mesothelioma?

The protective cover surrounding a person’s internal organs is called the mesothelium. Occasionally, the mesothelium can become malignant and divide out of control. When this happens, a person is considered to have developed cancer of the mesothelium, or more commonly known as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is not a prevalent form of cancer. The United States only reports about 2,000 cases of this rare cancer annually. Statistically, Mesothelioma is more common among men and the risk of developing the cancer increases with age. The majority of those afflicted have had worked with asbestos in their past.
Asbestos is a group of highly fibrous minerals that are used for heat resistance and its anti-corrosive properties. Since the 1800′s, asbestos has been used in building materials, such as insulation, roofing materials, resilient flooring, and textured paints. Eighty to ninety percent of patients diagnosed with Mesothelioma have worked or live with someone who works with asbestos.

Additional common risk factors of Mesothelioma, including smoking, family history of mesothelioma, and exposure to the SV40 monkey virus found in old polio vaccines are still being researched.
Mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are quite general. A doctor can confirm their suspicion of this cancer by ordering a biopsy of the mesothelium tissue. If mesothelioma has been diagnosed, treatment may begin. Mesothelioma is usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

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