Did you know?
More than 110,000 schools in the U.S. still contain some form of asbestos.
Welcome to the Mesothelioma Help Center. We have helped many families get experienced legal and medical help for their mesothelioma cancer and asbestos cancer cases. We will actually walk you though the process of contacting an experienced mesothelioma lawyer that we have worked with to get you the best possible settlement for your mesothelioma claim.
Mesothelioma Fact: Through 2008, more than 800,000 People have filed claims against more than 6,000 Asbestos companies. These same companies knew of the dangers for many years before ever warning the public of those risks.
TYPES OF MESOTHELIOMA :
PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA
Pleural Mesothelioma is a malignant mesothelioma that spreads within the chest cavity and sometimes involves the lung. The severity of the condition varies from person to person, but in most cases the onset of Pleural Mesothelioma is usually very slow with the most common presenting symptom being persistent pain localized in the chest. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by severe difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath. Cough, weight loss, fever and night sweats are less common.
PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is he second most common form of mesothelioma cancer. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells lining the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is found in 10% to 20% of the mesothelioma patients and is a rapidly fatal malignancy with a median survival of less than 1 year. The only known cause of peritoneal mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.
PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA
Pericardial Mesothelioma is a very rare form of mesothelioma and accounts for approximately 5% of all mesothelioma cases. Pericardial mesothelioma is a highly lethal and fortunately the rarest of mesothelioma cancers. Pericardial mesothelioma is a disease that affects the lining of the heart, or pericardium. Sometimes doctors refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the pericardium. Due to the rarity of this cancer, pericardial mesothelioma has not been definitely associated with asbestos exposure, although strong links between asbestos and pericardial mesothelioma have been made.
ABDOMINAL MESOTHELIOMA
Abdominal Mesothelioma is an aggressive but rare malignancy that principally affects the pleura and peritoneum. The pleura and peritoneum are lining that cover the lung (pleura) and the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Abdominal mesothelioma generally affects men ages 50-70, although women make up about one-fifth of all abdominal mesothelioma cases.
MESOTHELIOMA QUICK FACTS
- The first known asbestos lawsuit was in 1929 in New Jersey.
- Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos.
- It is estimated that there will be about 250,000 cases of Mesothelioma before 2020.
- It is estimated that 27.5 million Americans were exposed to asbestos between 1940 and 1979.
- About 4,000 People die from Mesothelioma every year, the rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
- Mesothelioma affects men more frequently than women and is more common in white Americans.
- The median age of onset of mesothelioma symptoms is 70. This number is dropping into the 60"s.
- Seven percent of workers exposed to asbestos have become affected with some type of asbestos disease.
- The latent period between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms can be 20-40 years.
- There are currently about 3000 new cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed per year, mostly in men over the age of 40.
- Many asbestos-containing products remain in buildings, ships, industrial facilities and other environments where the fibers can become airborne.
- During the 20th century, some 30 million tons of asbestos were used in industrial sites, homes, schools, shipyards and commercial buildings in the U. S.
- The name Asbestos was given to this mineral by the Ancient Greeks. The word “Asbestos” literally means inextinguishable.
- It has been well known for many years that asbestos exposure can result in the development of deadly cancers, particularly Mesothelioma.
- In the mid 1920s, an English doctor made the first diagnosis of asbestosis, and this was followed by a study which showed that 25% of English asbestos workers showed signs of a related lung disease.
- It is thought that around eight million people in the United States have been exposed to asbestos over the past half a century, and many more cases - are expected to be reported in the next 25 years.
- The National Institute of Health in 1978 estimated that eight to eleven million U.S. workers had been exposed to asbestos by that date. In fact, by 1970, it is estimated that some 25 million tons of asbestos were used in the U.S.
- Mesothelioma is a disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is via exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos . It comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades; eating away at the lining of your lungs and developing into a deadly cance
Mesothelioma Help Center is not designed to provide medical advice or is intended to be for educational use only. The information provided through Mesothelioma Help Center is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem we can refer you to a mesothelioma doctor or lawyer in your state.
MESOTHELIOMA LAWYER / ATTORNEY - EXPERIENCE
Law firms that we work with concentrate only on asbestos mesothelioma cases. We have experience placing people with experienced asbestos lawyers for five years. We will actually walk you through the process of connecting you with an experienced asbestos lawyer in your state.
We help asbestos and asbestos patients and their families get in touch with legal and medical professionals. We help keep the public aware of new discoveries in treatments for Mesothelioma and Asbestos cancers. We also maintain a current online Mesothelioma Dictionary of Legal & Medical Terms and we keep you up to date on current legal settlements for asbestos cases.
MESOTHELIOMA LAWYER / ATTORNEY- CHOICES
Deciding which law firm to represent you and your case is very important. Choosing the right lawyer will also be important to your settlement. You are entitled to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who has a track record of success in asbestos lawsuits
MESOTHELIOMA LAWYER / ATTORNEY- LOSS OF A LOVED ONE
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos cancer, or a family member has died as a result, you may be entitled to recover compensation from the companies that made these asbestos products.
MESOTHELIOMA LAWYER / ATTORNEY– FILING A LAWSUIT
It is not uncommon for there to be 10-20 parties that are named in an asbestos lawsuit that are located across the United States.
For example, a worker in California may have been exposed to asbestos from asbestos products shipped from Libby, Montana or from an iron ore plant in St. Paul Minnesota. This is why it is very important to obtain an experienced mesothelioma lawyer that knows all of the companies in each state who have responsibility for your asbestos exposure.
According to The National Cancer Institute, malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells, are found in the sac lining of the chest (pleura), the abdomen (peritoneum) or the heart (pericardium). |
Mesothelioma Help Center
The Mesothelioma Help Center is dedicated to providing the latest information about Mesothelioma, its diagnosis, causes, treatments and the medical research currently underway to prevent Mesothelioma. We want to help those people exposed to Asbestos to understand which materials contained asbestos, during which years, and how exposures occur.
Types of Materials That Contain Asbestos
Thermal Insulation (pipe, block & cement)
Fireproofing Acoustical Texture Products
Textile and Clothing Products (asbestos gloves, blankets, etc.)
Spackling, Patching & Taping Compounds
Gasket and Packaging
Asbestos-cement Pipe and Sheet Material
Ceiling Tiles, Wallboard, Siding and Roofing
Friction Materials (Brakes & Clutches)
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Our Firm is dedicated to providing the latest information about Asbestos diseases, their diagnosis, causes, treatments and the medical research currently underway to prevent and and Peritonal Mesothelioma (cancer of the peritoneumthe peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdomen). Mesothelioma, like other cancers, will not normally develop for many years after first exposure to asbestos. However, some people have developed mesothelioma merely from being around a worker's contaminated clothing.
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What Should I do if I suspect that I may have Mesothelioma?
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If you have evidence of mesothelioma disease, you may be entitled to compensation for your illness. The laws involve a statute of limitations, or time limit, to file a claim. We reco mmend that you talk to an attorney about your situation. |
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| What Is Asbestos? |
Asbestos is a mineral that coat consists of very fine, microscopic, needle-shaped fibers. The fibers are so small that you cannot see them unless the concentration in the air is very heavy. Asbestos is an excellent material for many uses. It is strong, resists heat, acids, and friction, and is virtually indestructible! Because of these properties, asbestos was often combined with other materials for use in industry and construction |
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| Mesothelioma Diagnosis |
The earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better your chances are for an effective treatment. To determine whether a person has mesothelioma, doctors may use one or more of these diagnostic methods:
- Chest X ray
- CAT scan - CT or Computerized Tomography
- MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- PET scan - Positron Emission Tomography
- PFT - Pulmonary Function Test
- Transbronchial biopsy - A flexible, lighted scope is passed down the trachea to the bronchi area of the lungs.
- Thoracotomy - During surgery, the chest is opened and examined, usually between two of the lower ribs on one side.
- Thoracoscopy - A thoracoscope with a video camera is sent through an incision between the ribs.
- Centesis - Pleural, peritoneal, or pericardial fluid is drained and evaluated. This technique is used both for diagnosis and to relieve pressure, pain, and fullness in the chest or abdominal areas.
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| Mesothelioma History |
Asbestos use dates back to 4000 BC when it was used in wicks for lamps and candles. In the 1890s, asbestos, which previously had few industrial uses, becomes a raw material for large manufacturing industries, exposing large numbers of workers to asbestos dust for the first time. Asbestos-caused disease often develops decades after a person was first exposed. As a result, it was not until the early 1900s that large numbers of workers developed symptoms. |
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