Mesothelioma Support

MESOTHELIOMA INFORMATION AND SUPPORT

Mesothelioma & Asbestos

According to the National Cancer Institute, “most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.” Mesothelioma Asbestos.

The risk of malignant mesothelioma increases with age and mesothelioma is found more often in men than women. Still, this cancer has been found in women and is by no means exclusive. Mesothelioma has been found in individuals that were exposed to asbestos in other settings, such as the home. This may be due in part to the widespread use of asbestos in the past.

Mesothelioma Doctors have been able to determine that exposure to asbestos for as little as one to two months can result in mesothelioma appearing decades later. Because mesothelioma can take such a long time to develop, doctors are treating patients today who were exposed as far back as the 1950’s. Current statistics put the number of new mesothelioma cases at about 2,000 a year in the United States. Why this is relatively rare as far as cancer is concerned, rates have increased in the past 20 years. Asbestos exposure also is the cause of asbestosis, a chronic lung ailment that can produce shortness of breath, coughing, and permanent lung damage.

Risk Factors

As noted, the National Institute of Cancer cites working with asbestos as the major risk factor for mesothelioma. While almost 80 percent of those that have mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos, there are still reported cases where there is no known asbestos exposure. Smoking alone has not been shown to increase the risk of mesothelioma but smoking in conjunction with exposure to asbestos does increase risk. The heavier the exposure to asbestos, the greater the chance of mesothelioma , although not everyone exposed is afflicted with the cancer.

Mesothelioma “At Risk” Jobs

Although millions of Americans have been exposed to some amount of asbestos since the 1940’s, there are particular fields where there is an increased risk of exposure. These fields are primarily areas where asbestos was used heavily in production. Particular workers affected include; asbestos miners, shipyard workers, workers in the heating and constructions fields and the producers of other asbestos related products. Not everyone exposed to asbestos, even in these areas, ends up getting mesothelioma. Still workers in these areas are seen to have an increased risk of developing this type of cancer.

If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma as a result of Asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.

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