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Asbestos Exposure

by Loz

Asbestos Exposure

Symptoms of lung cancer, asbestosis or other asbestos - related diseases may include chronic cough and hoarseness, wheezing, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, dysphonia, coughing up blood and shortness of breath. Mesothelioma lung cancer is usually associated with asbestos exposure. The real crisis regarding asbestos exposure in the workplace is not potential litigation but the number of victims who contract the deadly disease Mesothelioma.

People who contract the disease must be absolutely sure that the cause for the same was asbestos exposure and then take steps to get the right legal counsel. Second, is the long latency period between exposure to the cause of the disease, asbestos, and its onset. Currently, these asbestos cause a disease for which there is no cure; however, due to the amount of attention that this disease is getting, many top scientists and researchers worldwide are working to develop a cure for the disease.

Because of the devastating nature of the disease and because we are able to point to a single root source, asbestos exposure, there is significant reason for all individuals to take necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the disease. In conclusion, there many things that you have to do for prevent developing of asbestos related disease, but The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) could be very useful and a good start point. If you think that you may have an asbestos - related disease because you worked exposed to asbestos many years and you show any of the symptoms above mentioned, you should visit a specialist doctor to be explored by him and decide whether you need more exams or not.

Other important thing is to visit the doctor regularly to stay informed about your health, (but this one must be specialist in the disease) whether you work or worked in contact with asbestos at your job. Without writing a book, I wouldn’t have the space to detail every observation I’ve made during this period, but I can assure you that no contact with asbestos is without a possible adverse health consequence. There are many more instances of contact for which I don’t have the time to detail here, but basically, with the characteristics of the material, knowledge of where you may encounter the substance and many hours of observation (I’ve been in construction over thirty years), you too can make the same deductive conclutions that I have made.

So, I set out to try to logically deduce, with a knowledge of the physical properties of asbestos,when I encountered the substance as I attempted to clean every surface and item in every room of the house. Supporters of the bill propose to set up a 0 billion dollar asbestos compensation fund, but it is doubtful if even an all out effort this week will bring the bill to a vote on the floor of the US Senate. While the Asbestos Bill is unfair and serves to limit rights and remedies of victims in favor of multi-billion dollar corporations, you can take action to help defeat this bill.

Every major asbestos victims’ organization opposes this bill, while being supported by the corporate defendants who knowingly poisoned their workers and the public with asbestos and would receive billions of dollars in liability relief. It was estimated that approximately 10 million workers had been exposed to asbestos by the year 1978 and that by 1970 25 million tons of asbestos had been used in building work across the USA. Even if the ancient wisdom had been lost, insurance companies were refusing to insure asbestos workers, or charging higher premiums for them by the 1920’s.

In the 1920s the asbestos industry was aware of the damaging effects of asbestos, and yet they did nothing to protect workers or their families. Back in the 1920s, a large variety of medical articles showed that there was scarring on the lungs of asbestos factory workers. Become involved in the fight to keeps victims rights regarding asbestos litigation in the hands of the people.

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What Are The Four Stages of Mesothelioma Cancer?

One rare form of cancer is called Mesothelioma, a malignant tumor in the mesothelial tissues of the lungs and the abdomen, arising from the inhalation of asbestos. Its rarity is one of the reasons why a lot of people are not aware of this kind of fatal disease. In fact, many people die of Mesothelioma undiagnosed. Although there is now a growing awareness of the hazards of asbestos to health, still many have not heard of Mesothelioma and thus, have not understood its nature, cause, signs and treatment. Even some physicians find it hard to detect Mesothelioma because its symptoms are akin to other diseases like lung cancer and pneumonia. Furthermore, it takes decades for a patient who was exposed to asbestos to develop Mesothelioma — fifty years, at most.

Being unaware of Mesothelioma poses higher risks since it deters diagnosis and treatment. A person undergoing treatment must know the different stages of the cancer or the extent of the disease. Chances of recovering from Mesothelioma and the kind of treatment depend on the stage of the illness. There are basically two staging systems used for Pleural Mesothelioma (lungs): TNM system and Brighan system. These staging systems are also used in other kinds of cancers; however, the first is commonly used. There is no established method in determining the stage of the Peritoneal Mesothelioma cancer (abdominal) so the TNM system is used.

There are three variables in the TNM system: tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis. In the earliest stage of Mesothelioma, stage I, the malignant Mesothelioma cells start to grow and multiply only one layer of the pleura. The pleura is the membrane that encloses the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. However, there are some instances wherein the pericardium (membrane that covers the heart) and diaphragm cover are already affected. In this case, the cancer patient is still in stage I Mesothelioma.

In the second stage, the two layers of the pleura are already affected by Mesothelioma. Take note, however, that in this stage, only one side of the body is affected. Normally, the pleura produces only small amount of lubricating fluid that allows easy expanding and contracting of the lungs. The excess fluid is absorbed by the blood and the lymph vessels so there’s a balance between the amount of fluid produced and removed. During the second stage Mesothelioma, fluid starts to build up between the membrane of the lungs and the membrane of the chest wall, resulting to pleural effusion. The increase in the volume of fluid produced causes shortness of breath and chest pain. Other Mesothelioma cancer patients experience dry and persistent cough. Diagnosis of the pleural effusion is achieved through a chest x-ray.

Stage III Mesothelioma means that the malignant cells have already spread to the chest wall, esophagus and the lymph nodes on one part of the chest. The patient may suffer severe pain near the parts affected. When not treated immediately or when the Mesothelioma patient doesn’t respond well to medication, the cancer may advance to the fourth stage. The fourth stage Mesothelioma is formidable since at this stage the Mesothelioma cells have penetrated into the bloodstream and other organs in the body like the liver, the bones and the brain. The lymph nodes on the other side of the chest may also be affected by Mesothelioma in stage IV.

Brighan staging system, on the other hand, determines whether the Mesothelioma can be surgically removed or not and whether the lymph nodes are affected or not. In stage I Mesothelioma, the lymph nodes are not yet affected and the patient can still recover through surgery. In stage II, surgery can still be executed but some lymph nodes have already been infiltrated by the cancer cells. In stage III, the heart and chest wall are already affected; thus, surgery is no longer advisable. The lymph nodes in this stage, however, may or may not be affected. In the final stage, stage IV Mesothelioma, cancer cells have already gone to the bloodstream and other parts of the body like the heart, brain, bone and liver. In most cases, a patient who has reached stage IV Mesothelioma only has four to twenty-four months to live.


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Article on Mesothelioma Cancer

Everyone is probably aware that people are able to develop an illness or even cancer from exposure to harmful chemicals. But did you know, people come in contact with these chemicals in the workplace without their knowledge? The type of cancer developed from these harmful chemicals, asbestos, is called Mesothelioma. Continual exposure to asbestos in the workplace causes cancer cells to form in the body. This cancer generally affects the lungs, but in some instances, the cancer is able to develop in the abdominal cavity of the heart.

Many people question why asbestos is so harmful to people if it is comprised of minerals that naturally appear within the environment. The reason why it is pernicious is quite simple; Asbestos causes an unnatural and harmful reaction within the body. Unlike other minerals found in the environment, the minerals that comprise asbestos are unaffected by fire and heat. They do not dissolve, evaporate into the air, nor contain an odor. In addition, the minerals in asbestos are tasteless. Thus giving the harmful chemicals free range to enter your body through inhalation. For some reason, many companies avoid warning workers on the presence and danger of asbestos. Sometimes, the companies are unaware of the presence of asbestos, but most often they are negligent and flat out do not warn their workers of the dangerous chemicals that engulf the workplace. Employees unknowingly work within these environments for months or years on end, unequipped with proper protective gear. When a workplace is filled with asbestos, the threat of malignant Mesothelioma is very much present. The three ways the body is susceptible to attack from this deadly cancer are: pleural (lung), peritoneal (stomach), and pericardial (heart).

SYMPTOMS OF MESOTHELIOMA

When dealing with the symptoms associated with Mesothelioma, people should be aware warning signs may not appear until 20 years after the were unknowingly exposed to asbestos. For the three different types of Mesothelioma, Pleural, Peritoneal, and Pericardial, there are many different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma strikes the lining of the lungs and causes shortness of breath, persistent cough, and a pain that lingers in the chest. A victim of Pleural Mesothelioma may also suffer from chronic wheezing and a hoarse voice. All of these symptoms stem from excess fluid gathering in the space surrounding the lungs. When this type of cancer is sever, the development of numerous tumors may form. In time, pneumothorax (collapsing of the lungs) may occur.

Another type of this cancer develops within the lining of the abdominal cavity, Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Unlike victims of Pleural Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma victims experience weight loss, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, and muscle atrophy. This group of symptoms is often referred to as Cachexia. Diseases with weakened immune systems and cancer usually bring on cachexia. Similar to Pleural Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma also has built up fluid, although this form of the cancer has built up fluid in the stomach cavity, accompanied with abdominal swelling and pain. Additional signs that one suffers from Peritoneal Mesothelioma include: fever, anemia, bowel obstruction, and blood clotting. In late stages of the cancer, tumors may appear in the abdominal cavity.

The third type of Mesothelioma, which is Pericardial Mesothelioma, attacks the heart, as well as the lining surrounding the heart. Pericardial Mesothelioma is the most rare form of all three diseases. The symptoms of this type of cancer are somewhat similar to those of Pleural Mesothelioma, but also include chest pain, heart palpitations, and a nagging cough. Severe cases of Pericardial Mesothelioma display a different crop of symptoms. A patient may notice a yellowing of the eyes and skin. They may also experience low blood sugar levels, blood clots in the veins and arteries. Severe bleeding may also occur various organs throughout the body.

Generally, Mesothelioma related caner does not spread to other parts of the body besides, the lungs, heart, and stomach, but in some instances the disease will breach other parts of the human body (i.e. brain, bone, or adrenal glands). When spreading of the disease occurs, additional signs and symptoms may appear. These include but are not limited to: excessive pain, trouble swallowing, and swelling of the neck and/or face.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma related cancer or suspect you may have Mesothelioma related cancer then please do not hesitate to contact Nick Johnson at http://www.johnsonlawgroup.com.
About The Author

Being born and raised in Houston, TX, Attorney Nick Johnson proudly serves the community that helped him to where he is today. Johnson attended Duke University, where he graduated and received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. After attending Duke, Johnson went on to graduate from the University of Houston Law Center. In 1991, he formed the law firm that became JBC, L.L.P Law Firm. Now leading the Johnson Law Group, Johnson practices in all areas of personal injury law, specializing in Mesothelioma related Cancer. In addition, he also handles cases involving nursing home negligence, paxil side effects, and auto-accidents. Johnson has also been actively representing thousands of clients in mass tort cases and severely injured plaintiffs in accident cases.