Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma Cancer

By Richard Hastings

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral consisting of strong, flexible fibers, which can be partitioned and woven into insulation material. Mining of asbestos began late in the 19th century and the use of asbestos escalated in the 1940's. Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma. Tiny particles of asbestos invade the body through inhalation or ingestion and become embedded in the linings of body cavities. Asbestos limits and stricter protocols for workers handling asbestos were instituted in the 1970's, when the health risks started to become apparent.

Mesothelioma occurs when the cells of the mesothelium, a two-layer lining of the internal organs, become abnormal and attack the organ or spread to other parts of the body. There are three malignant types of mesothelioma:

· Pleural: This form originates in the chest cavity and may involve the lungs. It is difficult to detect and most often spreads to other parts of the body. It is the most common type, responsible for approximately 70 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses. The survival rate is 17 months after symptoms commence for 92% percent of victims.

· Peritoneal: The type begins in the abdomen cavity lining and advances to the liver, spleen and bowels. The survival prognosis is ten months after symptoms appear. About one-quarter of all mesothelioma cases are peritoneal.

· Pericardial: This manifestation involves the lining of the heart. Eventually the cancer progresses until the heart cannot deliver oxygen to the body. It is the rarest form and accounts for approximately 5 percent of all cases.

Benign mesothelioma is a separate form of mesothelioma where a non-cancerous, non-spreading tumor develops and invokes symptoms similar to those of malignant forms of mesothelioma. Extensive testing is required to differentiate between malignant and benign. Benign mesothelioma occurs in less than 10 percent of all cases.

Mesothelioma lies dormant in the body's system for a substantially long period of time, typically between 20 and 50 years, before symptoms begin. The age at the time of exposure, levels of exposure and duration of exposure are all risk factors. Young workers with high levels of exposure over many years are at greatest risk. People that fall within this category are more likely to die from one of asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure still exists in our environment today. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates 700,000 buildings, including schools, in the United States contain asbestos insulation.

A jury in Baltimore recently awarded a mesothelioma victim $1.178 million in compensation. The Plaintiff was exposed to asbestos during the 1960s and '70s.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is imperative you seek legal advice from a knowledgeable attorney as soon as possible.

Attorney Richard Hastings, for the past two and one half decades, has been helping injured clients and families collect millions of dollars in losses ranging from motor vehicle accidents to wrongful death, to medical malpractice. He is the founder of Selectcounsel, LLC, a free service that helps you find one of the best lawyers in your area and is the author of the books "How To Find A Great Lawyer" and "Understanding And Improving The Value Of Your Personal Injury Case."

Please visit http://www.SelectCounsel.com to see how they can find you one of the best lawyers in your area for your serious injury or medical malpractice case.

Selectcounsel, LLC is a FREE national service that helps people with serious personal injury and medical malpractice cases find one of the best lawyers in their area to represent them. The lawyers we recommend are independently rated by attorneys and judges as being among the very best in their field of practice. Visit us at http://selectcounsel.com/ to see how we can help you find one of the best lawyers for your case.

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Asbestos and Reproductive Cancers

By Joseph Devine

While asbestos was once thought to be an incredibly beneficial material, we now know that it causes cancer. Although the primary cancer associated with asbestos is mesothelioma, it can also cause lung, esophageal, gastrointestinal, kidney, and colorectal cancers. Additionally, doctors are now finding links between ovarian cancer and a form of mesothelioma that affects the testes.

Despite evidence pointing to a link between deteriorating health and asbestos from the ancient Greeks and Romans, we continued to use asbestos, with it gaining mass popularity during the Industrial Revolution. Finally, in the late 1950s, doctors and researchers from a hospital in South Africa presented evidence that exposure to asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. However, it wasn't until the late 1980s that the U.S. government outlawed asbestos.

Sadly, asbestos had a widespread presence before it was banned. Asbestos was recognized as a wonderful insulating material because it is resistant to heat, flame, chemicals, electricity, and biodegradation. Thus, it was utilized in the construction, automotive, and shipping industry, which helps to explain its occurrence in ceiling tiles, vinyl flooring, insulation, counter tops, brake pads, and gaskets.

However, now we know that asbestos is a carcinogen because it remains lodged in our bodies since we cannot degrade the material. While most cancers associated with asbestos affect the lungs or gastrointestinal system, it can also turn into ovarian cancer or a specific type of mesothelioma that attacks the lining of the testes.

Although there is no definite link yet, studies have shown that women who use talc powder laced with asbestos are three times more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those that do not. The powder must come into contact with the genital region, and the talc must contain the amphibole type of asbestos. Additionally, women who did not use the talc powder but whose husbands did were also 50% more likely to develop ovarian cancer.

Asbestos doesn't just affect women's reproductive systems. A rare form of mesothelioma attacks the lining of the testes. Mesothelioma cancer, as a whole, hurts the different linings of the body, including lungs, abdominal, heart, and even testes. The membrane lining that surrounds the testes is called the tunica vaginalis. When mesothelioma infests this membrane, it can harm the testes to the extent that part of a testicle or even an entire testicle must be removed.

These types of cancer can damage someone's chances to have children, as well as spread and affect other parts of the body. If you or someone you know has suffered from asbestos-related cancers and diseases, you should speak to a lawyer about your rights.

For more information, contact a Williams Kherkher asbestos attorney today.

Joseph Devine Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine