Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer

Who is at risk for Mesothelioma?

The only recognized cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, though other factors such as smoking can make mesothelioma more or less likely in some individuals. Industrial laborers were widely subjected to asbestos exposure on the job, as the material was widely used throughout the 20th century. Few of these workers knew they were being exposed to asbestos and thus put at risk for mesothelioma, however, despite the fact that many manufacturers were aware the material was hazardous. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms will not appear in an individual exposed to asbestos until many years after the exposure has occurred. Those who believe they may have been exposed to asbestos are at risk for mesothelioma and should fill out our form to receive a free mesothelioma information packet, detailing treatment options, emerging therapies, and jobsite exposure information.

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The disease targets the mesothelium, the protective membrane surrounding the liver, lungs, heart, and other internal organs, and is most often found in white men between ages 50 and 70. About 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year, with just one in five victims surviving for five years past the date of their diagnosis.

Inhaling asbestos fibers at work is the leading known cause of mesothelioma and accounts for about 80 percent of such cases. Workers in the construction, mining, industrial, automotive repair, and related fields are at increased risks of developing mesothelioma. Also, loved ones of exposed workers may come into contact with asbestos fibers brought home on dirty work clothes, tools, and other items.

What Jobs put you at the Most Risk for Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer?

• Mining, manufacturing, removal, or disposal of asbestos products
• Construction, including insulation and tile work
• Plumbing
• Automotive repair
  Demolition or building remodeling
• Police, firemen, and first responders to fires and other emergencies

Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Exposure

Asbestos exposure is the single known cause of mesothelioma cancer. Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers may cause an inflammation of internal tissue and disrupt organ function which leads to the development of mesothelioma. Asbestos products were used extensively throughout the 20th century in a wide variety of applications. Many of these products were responsible for asbestos exposure sustained by both the individuals who manufactured the products as well as those who used them at commercial and industrial jobsites including shipyards, refineries, power plants, steel plants and more. Several asbestos companies continued to produce these products even after they were known to be hazardous and harmful to workers and their families. Those who have become sick with mesothelioma because of exposure to these products may now be eligible for financial compensation if they were wrongfully exposed. Also reported cases of Leucemia.