Facts You Should Know About Mesothelioma

• Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor that is formed in the protective lining tissues of the lungs, heart, or abdominal organs.
• Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. It is found in the pleural membrane between the lungs and the chest cavity.
• Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related disease and in most cases, inhalation, or consumption of asbestos is supposed to be the primary cause of the disease.
• People who work in asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, and some older Navy ships have a high chance of being exposed to asbestos while working
• Family members of workers exposed to asbestos can contract mesothelioma through exposure to the workers clothing.
• Smoking greatly increases the risk of contracting mesothelioma.
• There are about 3,000 cases per year (mostly men over the age of 40) and it is estimated to have about 300,000 cases before 2030.
• Mesothelioma usually spreads rapidly through the mesothelial cells to the heart and abdominal organs.
• The life span is typically 24 months after diagnosis, but it

depends on what stage the cancer is detected, the health of the patient and other factors.
• Constant pain in the chest is usually the first symptom. Other symptoms include coughing, fever and weight loss.
• Mesothelioma can be diagnosed by your doctor with a chest CT-scan.
• There are three primary treatments used for malignant mesothelioma, as well as for other types of cancer: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
• A victim of mesothelioma can claim compensation from the manufacturers of the asbestos products, and worker’s compensation claims from his employers.
• Specialized law firms exist to take up mesothelioma litigation cases to claim compensation.
• In July 2004, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 1,493 people died from asbestos in 2000, compared with 77 in 1968. Six years ago, the federal agency said, asbestos-related deaths overtook those of black-lung disease, reflecting in part the decline of the coal mining industry. Asbestos was once commonly used for insulation and fireproofing in buildings and its use increased substantially after World War II and peaked in the late 1970s and early 1980s.