Choosing a Qualified Mesothelioma Asbestos Lawyer

An experienced Mesothelioma Asbestos Lawyer is able to examine a client's work and life history and determine the best course of action.

A good Mesothelioma Asbestos Lawyer is one with many years of success recovering millions of dollars in compensation for Mesothelioma patients and their families.

An asbestos lawyer is more than capable of litigating a malignant Mesothelioma lawsuit. However, a Mesothelioma lawyer is a specialist in dealing with such litigation.

Now there are many law firms and lawyers specialized in this area, it will make it easier for those affected by Mesothelioma cancer to get the legal action and assistance they need to file.

There is an increasing number of attorneys joining to fight against the manufacturer and the field becomes crowded.

It is important to carefully to select someone fully knowledgeable and qualified in Mesothelioma Asbestos lawsuit.

A good asbestos lawyer has a good educational background, understand the unique complexity involving litigation, lawsuit, including settlement asbestos product identification, specific asbestos medical issue, and specific time constraint that file a claim.

This means that asbestos Mesothelioma lawyer receives high percentage to the victim's recovery if law is successful.

A reputable attorney will be glad to provide facts and figures on the pervious cases that they have been handling.

Choosing the Best Mesothelioma Asbestos Attorney
1. Have enough knowledge in the lawsuit that provide and teach you about your legal rights.
2. Good educational background
3. Trustworthy
4. Intelligent
5. Industrious
6. Considerable
7. Not expecting in return (for own interest)
8.Sincere
9.Defensive

Having a qualified Mesothelioma Asbestos attorney is vital because the success of Mesothelioma settlement depends on the cooperation between a victim and the Asbestos attorney as well.

Keep in mind that the good asbestos Mesothelioma attorney has a good foundation for success.

Mesothelioma asbestos attorney inform their clients regarding their chance on how they come up to become successful litigant.

Mesothelioma Lawyers: How do I find one?

Except in localized regions with single industrial exposures, such as coal-mining or granite-quarrying regions, the most frequent inorganic dust-related chronic pulmonary diseases are associated with industries using asbestiform fibers. Asbestos is a generic term for several different mineral silicates, including chrysolite, amosite, anthophyllite, and crocidolite.

Besides workers involved in the mining, milling, and manufacturing of asbestos products, workers in the building trades, including pipe fitters and boilermarkers, were exposed to asbestos, which was widely used in construction because its exceptional thermal and electric insulation properties. In addition, asbestos was used in the manufacture of fire-smothering blankets and safety garments, as filler for plastic materials, in cement and floor tiles, and in friction materials, such as brake and clutch linings.

Exposure to asbestos (several mesothelioma cases), is not limited to persons who directly handle the material. Cases of asbestos- related diseases have been encountered in individuals with moderate exposure, such as the painter or electrician who works alongside the insulation worker in a shipyard or the housewife who does no more than shake out and wash her husband's work clothes. Community exposure has probably resulted from the use of asbestos-containing material sprayed on steel girders in many large buildings as a safety feature to prevent buckling in case of fire.

Asbestos was first used extensively in the 1940s. Starting in 1975 it was mostly replaced with synthetic mineral fibers, such as fiberglass or slag wool. However, asbestos is still uses in the manufacture of brake linings and remains as pipe and boiler insulation in hundreds of thousands of workplaces and homes. Despite current regulations mandating adequate training for any worker potentially exposed to asbestos, exposure probably continues among inexperienced demolition workers. The major health effects from exposure to asbestos are, pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis), and cancer of the respiratory tract, the pleura (Mesothelioma), and in rare cases the peritoreum. The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars. The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases. The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. It was not until 1960 that an article published by Wagner et al first officially established mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to crocidolite asbestos. The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. In 1962 McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australian asbestos worker. The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950. In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds.

In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.

There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, but victims of this terrible disease still have many options available for support. In addition to support from family & friends, it is also important to get legal support.

Mesothelioma victims have many legal options to explore and it is very important that you contact a qualified mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible. A good Mesothelioma Lawyer understands the unique complexities involved in this kind of litigation lawsuit, including asbestos product identification, specific asbestos-related medical issues, and specific time constraints that narrow the window of opportunity to file a claim. It's important to find the right Mesothelioma lawyer.

Mesothelioma Lawyers Know Exactly What is Going On

Mesothelioma is a heartbreaking condition caused by exposure to asbestos. It is a form of cancer that develops mainly in the outer lining of the lungs or the heart, but most certainly can also form in the abdominal cavity. This cancer is often found in people who have worked with asbestos in the past, most notably when it was inhaled on the job site.

In the United States, 10,000 people a year die from asbestos intake, and many people who suffer from mesothelioma have the legal ability to extract compensation from the companies that have used the asbestos that harmed them. Taking legal action for asbestos-related health issues is a touchy subject, though, and the laws are constantly changing. Different states have also adopted different laws on the subject, so depending where you live or where the incident took place, you may find yourself facing differing legal issues.

In Texas, the asbestos laws change all the time. Before you should worry about that, though, you need to have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you have not been diagnosed, but are worried that past exposure to asbestos may have caused harm, visit your doctor immediately. Mesothelioma diagnosis is difficult to perform mainly because the mesothelioma symptoms resemble those of other ailments.

However, a chest scan could find problems such as pleural thickening (that's thickening of the outer lungs) or other evidence of cancer in the abdomen. Tissue samples may also need to be taken to make sure that mesolthelioma is present. If a positive diagnosis does come out of this and you can link it with exposure to asbestos, you are probably qualified to seek legal counsel. The next step is to find an adequate mesothelioma lawyer.

Texas has a number of excellent mesothelioma lawyers to choose from. The lawyers here deal with constant change in the legal system representing mesothelioma, and as such have to keep up with the changes and trends of the laws regarding the disease. By working with a top medothelioma lawyer in Texas, you will be working with someone who knows exactly what is going on at all times regarding mesothelioma laws.

It can be difficult to choose a lawyer, as many of them claim to be a top contender in their field. It's hard to know who will really bring around a positive result at the end of your claim. Although it may be difficult to weed out the lawyers who don't know the mesothelioma laws so well, you can be assured that knowledgeable lawyers are out there.

Let's go over some of the more influential Texas mesothelioma lawyers out there. Fred Baron, who took on his first case for a toxic tort client in the early 1970's, has become one of the most important mesothelioma lawyers in not only Texas, but across the United States. In fact, he currently ranks as one of the "100 Most Influential Lawyers in the U.S." Lisa Blue is a psychologist and trial lawyer who has published books on mesothelioma and provided over 200 lectures on the subject of trials relating to the illness. Besides these two notable lawyers, there are many more top mesothelioma lawyers in Texas, all you need to do is look.

Finding a top mesothelioma lawyer in Texas puts you on the right path to receiving compensation for asbestos-related illness. There is no reason to have to suffer without being given what you deserve by the companies responsible for the asbestos. To find lawyers that work in Texas on predominantly mesothelioma cases, the best place to look is the internet. The top mesothelioma lawyers in Texas all have websites detailing their achievements and contact information. You can go through all the information for a number of these lawyers simply by going through some websites. From here, you can choose the ones you feel you would be comfortable with, and then speak with them personally.

Asbestos-related mesothelioma cases are more common than you think, and with the constantly changing laws it's important to find a lawyer that is on top of his or her game. There are many top mesothelioma lawyers in Texas, but it's finding them that will take some time. After a diagnosis proving your condition, you should look into finding a lawyer that is right for you. Then, you can start towards getting the compensation you deserve.

Why should you take legal action if you are diagnosed of Mesothelioma?

Why should you take legal action if you are diagnosed of Mesothelioma?

The reason why millions of people around the world are suffering from mesothelioma is very simple to understand. The only reason for this is the sheer negligence of the asbestos industrialists to safeguard their immediate society from asbestos hazards. They knew that the mining, manufacture and use of asbestos could create a lot of harm to the lives of many people. However, the short-term economic gain that they reaped made them blind to the long-term ill effects posed by asbestos on the health of individuals. This negligence on their part has resulted in the deaths of millions of people due to mesothelioma. Also, many more millions will succumb to this disease in the coming years. The main classes of people responsible for this negligence are listed below:

a) Asbestos mine owners: These people did nothing to protect their employees. They knew that asbestos mining was hazardous to health but they displayed complete negligence.

b) Factory owners: When asbestos is manufactured, lots of asbestos dust and asbestos fibers are released into the atmosphere. When the workers inhale these, they react adversely with the mesothelium cells in the body. The mesothelium cells start to divide rapidly. They also outlive the other cells leading to tumors. These tumors may also spread throughout the body. This condition is called as mesothelioma. Though the industrialists were aware of all this, they did nothing to safeguard the employees and their families. Thus, the workers carried asbestos dust on their clothes home. This was inhaled by their family members who also succumbed to the disease. Even a little bit of asbestos fiber inhaled once is enough to lead to mesothelioma.

c) Materials Producers: Various materials using asbestos were produced. The owners of these factories were aware of the hazards of asbestos and the substitutes available. However, they did nothing to protect their workers.

d) Insurance companies: There was medical evidence that asbestos was harmful to health. Still, the insurance companies continued to insure the asbestos industry.

Knowledge about the hazards of asbestos:

During the early 18th century itself, the hazards of asbestos were confirmed. Research and studies were done but the results were silenced and dismissed. The Ancient Greeks, who were the first to discover asbestos, also found that the mineral caused harm. The slaves wove asbestos into their clothing. The Greeks found that the lungs of these slaves were damaged and they doubted asbestos to be the cause of the mischief. After that, in the recent past, there were lots of studies that confirmed that asbestos caused lung disorders. Since mesothelioma has a very long latency period between asbestos exposure and onset of disease, the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma was not confirmed till the 1940s. However before the end of the 1930s itself, all the other asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis, fibrosis and asbestos warts were recognized and named. Only after this, slowly, the countries started banning asbestos. UK was the first country to ban asbestos. USA followed suit. Japan had a late awakening. Countries like India and China have still not banned asbestos completely.

Concealment of research results:

Lots of research was done to confirm the hazards of asbestos. However, the rich factory owners and miners concealed the results of the research. They provided no safeguards to the workers. They had no protective clothing, masks or proper ventilation. They had no choice of deciding whether to continue to work in these hazardous companies or not.

The above paragraphs help us to realize the hazards of asbestos and the cause of mesothelioma. This clarity is essential for you to realize that contracting mesothelioma is a danger you are facing because of the evil seeds sown by those few industrialists. Thus, it is your right to sue those evil and selfish people. They have knowingly exposed their employees to the potential risk of mesothelioma. The patients can file claims against employers, asbestos manufacturers and all others who are involved in the mining, manufacture and distribution of asbestos. They are bound to compensate the innocent mesothelioma patients for medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional suffering, trauma, loss of quality of life and settlement for family members and dependents. Most of the mesothelioma lawyers don't charge any fees. They believe that the settlement given to you will bring a little comfort in this most difficult time and they do not want to spoil it in any way. Therefore, do not hesitate. It is in the best interest of all, if you file a case as soon as you realize you have mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma: Causes, Symptoms, Lawsuits And Prevention

What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that grows on the mesothelium, the membrane or hard sac that surrounds the various organs of the body. It guards the organs by producing a favourite type of fluid to promote mobility of the organs.

In the case of the lungs, mesothelium fluid allows ease in the movement when ingesting air. Mesothelioma tumor can commence on any area of the mesothelium which can be benign or cancerous. Known to be the cause of Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a heat resistant fibrous mineral wore in the industry as the main material in making roofing, gasket compounds, floor tiles and patching compounds.

Its versatility makes it a component of various products in the market but it is incredibly dangerous when inhaled no matter how tiny the quantity can be.

Inhaled asbestos fiber can pass through the air passages which can come in contact with linings of the lungs which can injure the cells and result to pleural Mesothelioma.

Swallowed asbestos on the even more hand can effect the fibers lined higher on the abdominal cavity resulting to peritoneal Mesothelioma. There are as well evidences that link Mesothelioma with Thorotrast, a component used for X-rays however its usage has been stopped for a long time.

The symptoms and signs of Mesothelioma can be incredibly common that is why the patient may just take it for granted. The symptoms can occur from both to three months before Mesothelioma is discovered.

Pleural Mesothelioma is the ordinarily occurring type which takes part in almost both thirds of the total detected Mesothelioma cases. The linings of the lungs and chest called pleura are the affected regions of Pleural Mesothelioma.

Common signs are weight loss however not related with shift in diet, extreme tiredness, difficulty in ingesting, raspy or hoarse voice, constant shortness of breath, cough that have lasted for a long time, pain the chest or back, extreme sweating and recurring fever.

For Peritoneal Mesothelioma, usually affected organs of the body are bowel, liver and spleen with signs that are similar to bowel related diseases.

Early symptoms include imposition on the abdomen area, recurring constipation or diarrhea, increase in the waist area, infection, vomiting, fever and even anemia.

Anyone who encounters these symptoms that have been exposed to asbestos can better consult their doctor for diagnosis to stop further Mesothelioma complicated problems.

Prevention of Mesothelioma can be best done by avoiding contact with asbestos which is proven to be its main causing professional. Asbestos is observed almost everywhere can it be at home, at work or in any public buildings.

Workers included with it must take extra care and precautions to avoid contact through inhalation or drinking. Low rates of Mesothelioma cases are discovered for the past 20 years however nowadays, the number of affected individuals has been growing to a large degree.

In United States almost 2,000 new cases are observed each year. It happens mostly with men since it's ordinarily the ones included in business and cases that include the apply of asbestos.

Factory workers, miners, railroad laborers, gas mask makers, insulation workers and ship builders are the typically asbestos related victims.

The patients or the individuals affected with Mesothelioma can file lawsuits against asbestos makers, manufacturers and employers since they have the duty to protect their workers from the negative effects of asbestos including Mesothelioma.

Many law firms and lawyers are today available to help the sufferers fight for their right and to attain the justice that they deserve.

Medical View of Mesothelioma

More than 8 million people have been exposed to asbestos and are at risk of succumbing to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is caused when the mesothelium cells start to divide rapidly leading to cancer. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers. The disease has a very long latency period, sometimes even around 60 years. The disease has no known cure and death becomes inevitable.

It is also very hard to correctly diagnose the disease in the early stages, as the symptoms of the disease are similar to other non-malignant diseases like pneumonia. The asbestos fiber, which is light and invisible, is released during mining and manufacture of asbestos. It is inhaled easily through nose and mouth and affects the mesothelium lining of the body part that it comes into contact with. This sets off the mesothelium cells rapid division operation, resulting in tumors. The mesothelium lining can be found in the organs like lungs, abdomen and heart.

Depending on this, mesothelioma can be classified into three categories: § Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lungs, § Peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdomen, and § Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the heart.

Due to the long latency period of the disease, people who have worked in asbestos-related factories in their youth may contract the disease in their old age during or after retirement. Many of them may have shifted many jobs by this time and they do not relate their condition to asbestos exposure. Thus, they do not consider mesothelioma as an occupational disease. They face huge sorrow at having to part with their loved ones in such a tragic way.

Life of Jack Daws

Jack Daws was working as a tutor in the rural regions of Pennsylvania. He had a beautiful wife and a handsome son. He had what is called as a perfect family! They were always supportive and co-operative. They had enduring love and constant hope on each other.

Jack Daws loved his job as he loved kids of all ages and all sizes. He was the coach of the local soccer team during weekends. When Jack was around 55 years, he was planning on getting a retirement from the school where he tutored in another year or two.

At this crucial point of time, Jack slowly started realizing something was wrong with his health. He felt a constant pain in his chest and severe shortness of breath. He, his family and his doctor dismissed all these symptoms as a cause of aging, initially. But, slowly, his condition started to worsen. He felt as if a heavy weight has been placed on his chest. Also, he started losing weight rapidly. By now, the doctor also started sensing that something was wrong with Jack. The doctor conducted a whole lot of tests on Jack. One of the tests that were conducted was to study the fluids & cells in his lungs. After this test, the doctor felt that it appeared cancerous. Further tests followed to make the right diagnosis. It was, finally, confirmed. Jack suffered from 'Pleural Mesothelioma', I.e. mesothelioma affecting the lungs. Doctors felt that Jack had only another year or two of life on earth. Jack started analyzing how he contracted mesothelioma. He had never worked in any asbestos-related industries. Slowly, it dawned on Jack. Lots of construction and painting work used to be done on in his school.

Due to his long career at the school, he was constantly exposed to asbestos dust, which was used during the painting work. The company, which did the job for the school, did not take any safeguards to protect, anyone. Jack was advised to initiate proceedings against the company. The company did not disclose the dangers of asbestos and behaved in a selfish profit-oriented manner.

When Jack initiated proceeding against the company, it was found that lots of people have already sued the company for the same reason and have won their cases. Thus, the Company did not want to go into lengthy and expensive legal proceedings. They agreed to go in for an out-of-court settlement. After negotiations, the company paid Jack around a million dollars for the health damages he suffered and around two million dollars for his family-dependents. Jack underwent treatment at a cancer center. The cancer was spread all around his body and surgery was ruled out for him. Jack underwent chemotherapy and lived a life of suffering for the next two years. After that he succumbed to the disease. However, his soul will rest in peace as he has provided a safe and comfortable settlement for his loving family members.

The US Epidemic of Asbestos deaths

The US Epidemic of Asbestos deaths

Asbestos, a wonder fibrous mineral, is fire resistant, chemical resistant and highly flexible. However, this wonderful substance also causes innumerable diseases like mesothelioma, asbestosis, fibrosis, asbestos warts and so on. The deaths due to asbestos are becoming an epidemic in the US.

More than 10000 people are succumbing to asbestos related diseases every year. The mining, manufacture and use of asbestos create a lot of asbestos dust and asbestos fibers are released into the atmosphere. The asbestos fibers are light in weight and invisible to the naked eye. Thus, they get airborne and are easily inhaled by the people. Thus, they enter the human body through the nose or mouth.

Even a single fiber is enough to cause an asbestos related disease. When this fiber comes in contact with the mesothelium lining of the body organs like lungs, abdomen and heart, it makes the mesothelium cells to act abnormally. They start to outlive the other cells. Also, they start dividing rapidly leading to tumors in that body part, which may later spread all over the body. This condition is called as mesothelioma and has no cure. Death is inevitable for most mesothelioma patients.

Mesothelioma has a terribly long latency period. The disease may start some 15 to 40 years after exposure to the asbestos dust. The only way to prevent the disease is to ban all types of asbestos use and manufacture all over the world. UK was the first country to ban asbestos. US also followed UK's example. However, since the disease has a very long latency period, the effects of asbestos exposure may be felt for the next one or two decades. No state in US is free of asbestos related deaths. The States of California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas have the highest asbestos related mortality rates.

Asbestosis in US: Asbestosis is not a cancerous disease like mesothelioma. However, if it is not properly diagnosed and treated, it may lead to death. Nearly 1400 people die of asbestosis every year. Most of the asbestosis cases are not diagnosed correctly and thus, it is not even reported. Therefore, the actual mortality statistics may be much higher than the above documented statistics. It is expected that the asbestosis mortality rate would skyrocket in the next decade.

Mesothelioma in US Mesothelioma may be cancerous or non-cancerous. When it is cancerous, it is known as a malignant form of mesothelioma and when it is non-cancerous, it is known as a benign form of mesothelioma. Around 75% of the mesothelioma cases are of the pleural type (affecting the lungs), 20% affect the abdomen and are of the peritoneal type of mesothelioma. A small percentage is of the pericardial type (affecting the heart). Every year, around 2500 people succumb to this disease and this number is expected to peak by 2015.

Lung Cancer in US: The cancer of the lungs is the most terrible and painful death. It is pathetic to see the patients pant and struggle to breathe, coughing up blood in the process. Nearly 4800 people fall prey to asbestos belated lung cancer annually. The above figure does not include cases of lung cancer without exposure to asbestos.

Abdominal cancer in US: When asbestos fibers and asbestos dust enter the body through the mouth, they settle in the abdomen leading to cancer. Nearly 1200 cases annually succumb to abdominal cancer due to asbestos exposure.

Why is a sudden rise in asbestos deaths expected in the US? Till the 1970s, nearly 3000 asbestos related products (both industrial products and consumer products) were marketed in America. The American workers were exposed to asbestos fibers and they inhaled them. The asbestos dust settled on their clothes and they carried them home. At home, their parents, spouse, siblings and children inhaled them.

The safeguards to protect the workers came only around the 1980s but much before that thousands of American citizens had already inhaled asbestos fibers. Also, many industrialists only worried about their profits. They did not provide adequate safeguards to protect the workers. The US government protects and encourages the mesothelioma victims and their dependents to legally sue their relevant employers for the medical expenses and hardship caused to them.

The disease, mesothelioma has a huge latency period. That is why people who are exposed in 1970s will succumb to the disease only in 2005-2020. Sometimes, maybe even as late as 2030. This is the reason why as years go by, the deaths due to asbestos exposure are increasing.

Terrible forecasts in US for the near future Around 10000 deaths are being recorded every year in America due to asbestos exposure. Research in medicine and clinical trials are still only in process. Even then, only marginal help may be available as irreparable damage has already happened. It is expected that around 10-40 people may die everyday in the next 10 years because of their history of exposure to asbestos. The total mortality on the basis of the current trends will be around 200,000 by 2015.

If there is a great medical discovery and a significant breakthrough has happened, even then, maybe around 50% of the deaths would come down. Even then, it is expected that within the next decade, around 100,000 people would succumb to asbestos related diseases. In a country like America, which has already banned asbestos, the statistics are so shocking. If this is the case in US, it is depressing to think of the situation in countries like India and China, which have still not imposed a complete ban on asbestos.

Copyright ArchanaSarat

about the author

Archana Sarat is a freelance writer and a researcher at a medical research firm. To know more about mesothelioma log on to http://www.rarehope.com

Why You Need A Lawsuit Asbestos Lawyer

The number of asbestos lawsuits filed and the number of asbestos lawsuit lawyers who will take up an asbestos lawsuit case are a sad reflection of a long-time construction mistake that may lead to the ill health of over 250,000 Americans by the year 2020. If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos without proper protective filter masks, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit with the help of an asbestos lawyer.

A natural, fibrous form of a number of minerals, asbestos was used since ancient times in fabrics because of its durability and fireproofing ability. For over seventy years, asbestos was used in the insulation of and as fireproofing material in numerous buildings. Over 30 millions tons of asbestos in America alone made its way into the walls of commercial buildings, home, schools, shipyards, and industrial sites. Construction workers labored with asbestos without protection.

In the 1970s, however, the medical community, faced with an overwhelming number of construction workers coming down with illnesses, found that inhaling asbestos can lead to mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer, and the material was immediately banned for use in construction. Over the years, scientists have also linked asbestos to pleural disease, gastrointestinal cancer, and a disease specifically diagnosed for asbestos exposure, asbestosis.

A lawyer who specializes in asbestos lawsuits can tell you that each year asbestos surfaces in over 3000 new people and 10,000 people die of asbestos-related disease. As asbestos can line the lungs and accumulate over long periods of years before the body exhibits any symptoms, even workers who haven't worked in the construction field for twenty to fifty years have come down with asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestos lawsuit lawyers have filed lawsuits for more than just construction workers, though. Even some family members of construction workers have exhibited some form of asbestos disease because asbestos fibers can travel on clothing. Buildings over thirty years old that were made with asbestos likewise can seep asbestos to its occupants over time, although some efforts have been made to correct those buildings.

Do you think that you have been exposed to asbestos at a work site or by living in an asbestos-filled building or with a worker who was exposed to asbestos? You may be able to file a lawsuit, so contact an asbestos lawsuit lawyer. Some asbestos lawsuit lawyers have gotten their clients as much as $7.5 million dollars to offset the medical bills, pain, and suffering that have resulted as a consequence of this massive construction oversight.

If you feel that you may have been contaminated by asbestos, don't hesitate to see a doctor. If you find that you have suffered from asbestos complications, consult an asbestos lawsuit lawyer to decide where you should go from there. For one asbestos lawsuit firm that gives good information about asbestos contamination sites in the US and offers a free asbestos lawyer case evaluation, visit abestoslawsuitinfo.com.

Mesothelioma cancer - very rare type of cancer

Mesothelioma is a very rare type of cancer that develop in the outer membrane of some internal organs of the human body, it may develop in the outer membrane of the lungs which known as the pleura, may develop in the outer membrane of the internal organs in the abdominal cavity and may develop in the outer membrane of the heart which known as the pericardium.

Pleural mesothelioma or the cancer of lung lining is the most common type of mesothelioma cancer and often be associated with the asbestos exposure. Asbestos are several minerals that was used in the manufacturing companies, workers which was in the asbestos environment are the most people who can develop mesothelioma due to the direct contact with the asbestos particles, by inhalation asbestos fibers can enter the chest cavity and settle in the pleura (the lung lining) and cause chronic inflammation which may cause malignant tumors after several years.

Pericardial mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma and related to asbestos exposure, in this type the asbestos particles settle in the pericardium (the heart lining). Scientists don't know how asbestos can get in pericardium, there is an imagine way in which asbestos particles are transfered from the pleura to blood steam then to the heart, the heart pumps them to the pericardium and the disease start to grow there.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is another type of mesothelioma and affects the peritoneum. Peritoneum is the outer membrane of internal organs in the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is often related to asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma symptoms may be shortness of breath, cough, chest pain and general weakness. Mesothelioma diagnosis is very difficult, as its symptoms are very similar to other kinds of diseases take very long time to appear 25-50 years. The options of treatments are confined to surgery, chemotherapy ( special chemicals to kill the cancerous cells) and radiotherapy ( using some kind of radiations to get rid of the cancerous cells).

The Stages of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is difficult to diagnose. Symptoms are chronologically far apart. This creates a lot of confusion among some doctors because some symptoms could be attributed to other common diseases. Well-timed diagnosis can be extremely difficult due to the dormant period between getting infected and manifestation of indications. This could take up to 40 years to fully show itself and the damage it has caused. When symptoms are apparent, this cancer is already in the advanced state. By that time, treatment can do little for the patient. Treatment choices differ according to the stages of the cancer. Pleural mesothelomia has around four stages while peritoneal mesothelomia is not staged.

Stage I shows the presence of mesothelomia either on the right or on the left pleura or the stomach. Stage II assaults the chest wall or the esophagus, heart or pleura on both sides. At stage III, lymph nodes can be found further and may involve the chest. This is also the stage when mesothelioma has penetrated the abdomen down to the lining of the abdominal cavity. Stages II to IV is categorized as the advanced state of cancer. Stage IV is considered advanced mesothelioma and most of the time it is an open/close surgery, as it is no longer helpful. The cancer of mesothelioma is difficult to the point of being impossible to treat. Initially tumors can be seen in the membranes that enclose the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. It then metastasizes to the organs nearby.

The gauge of the stages is done through CAT scans, MRI testing, and other use of mechanisms like x-rays. By way of these tools the physician can see how far the cancer has has spread. Through theses measures the physician will be able to translate what level and type treatment is appropriate for which stage. Once stage and treatment has been defined, the doctor then talks it over with the patient and his family. By the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, most of the treatment is pain management and control, drug therapy, and psychological methods to help the patient deal better with the effect of pain.

Treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery are not sufficient without supplementary medications. But when conventional methods are no longer an option, experimental methods might be considered. Clinical trials are being done on humans to see how effective new drugs are with human beings. If a patient will agree to participate in a clinical trial the patient benefits in return for helping scientists analyze its efficacy of the research.

By and large, treatment would always depend on the location of tumor, what stage the cancer is in, its spread and how mesothelomia cancer metastasized. Factors like age and the overall health condition of the patient may well be considered during treatment.

Management and handling of mesothelomia cancer is a very difficult procedure. The patient needs to be physically and emotionally ready for the consequences of having mesothelioma cancer. Whatever the doctors' prognosis will be, the patient needs to be able to prepare for what will happen next.

How Do I Find a Good Mesothelioma Lawyer?

If someone from your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, finding a mesothelioma lawyer right away is essential. When you are searching for the best attorney to represent you, there are important things which you have to consider. First, you need to make sure that the law firm is reliable. Its lawyers should also be reliable. Second, you have to consider the relationship that you will be building with your lawyer. Establishing rapport with him is essential, since you will be talking with him regularly. What is more, you will be divulging personal information to him.

When you are planning to file an asbestos-related lawsuit, you should start by researching law firms first. There are various law agencies which concentrate on litigating mesothelioma cases. You can find a reputable firm within your state if you know where to begin. If you are looking for an experienced mesothelioma lawyer, you can do your research over the Internet, directories, or bar associations. Inquire about the services that they are offering to their clients. You might want to make a list of the firms or lawyers whom you think are qualified enough to represent you.

When you think that the list is long enough, try to reach each of the firms or mesothelioma attorneys. You can do this by sending out a letter or e-mail or even with a phone call. Give the firms general information regarding your case, and determine whether they will be able to manage it well or not. You might also want to know how much they will be charging you. Their charges include initial consultation fees, and the overall charge for handling the mesothelioma claim. It is also important for you to meet personally with different lawyers. This way, you can determine if you are comfortable with the lawyer or not. Most of all, you have to know the expertise of the attorneys in your list. You will know that he is capable of upholding your rights when he has won many cases already.

After you decide which mesothelioma lawyer you want to hire, talk to him right away. The two of you will be able to converse well during the initial consultation. Your lawyer will assess your case, and learn its depth. He should inform you of your legal rights. If there are alternative steps available, you have the right to know what these are. During the initial consultation, your lawyer should also tell you what he can do to help you with your lawsuit claim. Along with this, he has to inform you how much this will cost you. When you are satisfied with the information that you have obtained during this first meeting, you can ask for a written agreement for the fees that you will be settling.

Based on the initial consultation, you will be able to know if you can really trust your mesothelioma lawyer. Furthermore, you will know if you can be comfortable around him or not. Make sure that the lawyer listens attentively to what you have to say. He should also be able to provide you with as much information regarding your rights, the lawsuit, and the steps that have to be taken. Most importantly, you have to make sure that you can understand your lawyer well.

There is a way for you to lessen legal costs. It is possible that a paralegal or junior attorney can handle the lesser legal tasks involved with your case. You can also offer help with the other duties if you are able to. There are some lawyers who work according to a contingency basis. When you are offered this kind of service by your lawyer, this means that you will have to pay him a percentage of the compensation. But if you do not win the lawsuit claim, you are not required to pay your lawyer anything.

I've Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma, What Do I Do Next?

Mesothelioma is a disease which you should not take lightly. This ailment is a deadly and rare type of cancer. It can start in the heart and abdomen; however, it usually starts from the lungs. The latter is commonly known as pleural mesothelioma, where the membrane lining of the chest cavity has accumulated plaque. Because of this, cancer-causing cells increase out of control. Usually, these cells invade other bodily organs and tissues. The symptoms of this medical condition manifest themselves after 3 to 5 decades of being exposed to asbestos. Since it is already at its advanced stage, it is hard to treat and can lead to death. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, there is a greater likelihood that you or your loved one will die within a year.

Like most mesothelioma patients, you might not be aware that you have contracted this type of disease. There are a lot of patients who do not know that exposure to asbestos is the reason why they are affected with mesothelioma.

Unfortunately, many company owners and employers know of the hazards that asbestos fibers bring. However, they have not done anything to protect their workers from the risks. With this fact, certain state laws allow you to file a lawsuit claim against the company you were working for when you were exposed to asbestos. There are also individuals who have not been warned of the hazards of the asbestos-laden product that they have been using. If this is your case, you are also entitled to file a claim.

If you want to file a claim, you have to remember that you have to do this right away. You will only be able to do this within a specific time after you have been diagnosed with the problem. You will know whether you have gone past the statute limitation of your state when you ask for the guidance of a mesothelioma lawyer within your state.

When you are exposed to the fibers of asbestos, you will be carrying the effects for the rest of your life. You cannot reverse the effects. Generally, the law asks the liable party to return your life back to its original state, before you have been exposed to asbestos. However, this is not possible. On the other hand, you will be provided with monetary compensation, which covers the damage that you have been through. If you have adequate evidence to prove that you have been exposed to asbestos fibers, you will be offered non-monetary and monetary compensation. These are usually based on the following:

* the pain and anguish due to your condition

* emotional distress

* loss of life enjoyment

* loss of your capability to work

* loss of previous and future income

* rehabilitation and medical care expenses

* hospital bills

You will also be able to obtain another type of recovery damage. This comes in the form of "punitive damages". This is provided to the claimant as a punishment to the bad conduct of the defendant. This has received great attention from the media; however, this is rarely given to the victims.

If you or your loved one has just been diagnosed with mesothelioma; it is important that you act right away. This way, you will still be able to obtain the rightful compensation that you need. Although the total amount of compensation will not be able to cover for all of the pain that you have gone through, the money will allow you to pay for medical and legal expenses.

How Do I Find a Good Mesothelioma Doctor?

Just like looking for the best lawyers to handle a serious case, looking for the best doctors for mesothelioma is very important. If you or your loved one has this form of cancer, only the best trained and experienced doctor can give you the accurate diagnosis and can recommend other recuperative approaches. You will need to find a doctor who is knowledgeable about the disease and medication or other treatment options. You need a doctor who can come up with the correct options in care such as chemotherapy, radiation, surgical appraisal, and/or other more focused forms of treatment. It is of paramount significance to broaden your search for doctors who handle mesothelioma successfully. You want the doctor who also keeps himself informed of the latest procedures and studies.

You also need to know who is the backup physician. With a qualified substitute you can feel rest assured that you will be taken care of when you need medical attention. You have to consider the hospital where the doctor has work privileges. Since you will be visiting the clinic or hospital every now and then, it is important that you are comfortable with the location and quality of care that you would receive at that location.

You and your doctor will be partners for the rest of your life. So choosing a doctor should be done painstakingly and with care. Consider recommendations or referrals. Reflect on the credentials of the doctors and verify them. Choose 3 or 4 specialists and study their credentials before finally making appointments with those doctors. Then meet them and evaluate how well you two interact. Second opinions can also be helpful. There are conservative doctors and there are assertive ones. Only you can be the judge as to what kind of doctor is right for you.

You will be telling your doctor important information about your disease ranging from symptoms to how long ago the exposure was and how much time were you exposed to asbestos or asbestos-related substance. After the initial consultation the doctor may feel it necessary for you to undergo some scans like the Chest CT scan or biopsy, contingent on the type of mesothelioma cancer you have. Basically, there are three types of mesothelioma cancer. Pleural lungs, peritoneal (abdominal) and pericardial (heart), any of these can develop within you. As soon as your doctor has arrived at a definite analysis, you will know what type of mesothelioma cancer you have, at what stage and if the cancer has metastasized. Treatments are then scheduled. Whatever the treatments are, your doctor will recommend what is appropriate for you in considering how far along the cancer has progressed.

Having a good effective relationship with your doctor is key to your treatment. Being able to communicate properly with each other makes a big difference in your ability to deal with your cancer. Remember not to leave everything to your doctor. You also have responsibilities. Telling the doctor honestly how you feel, your opinions, and your questions will educate you about your illness. With recent research and discoveries, patients who undergo treatment are experiencing longer remissions than ever before. Mesothelioma patients with proper doctor care are living for longer periods of time.

Asbestos-Related Diseases

Several diseases are related to the exposure of asbestos fibers. Not all of these are deadly, but they all result in health damage and even damage to the quality of the patient's life. Most of these diseases can be predicted and treated during the time of asbestos exposure. Normally, your exposure to the dust and fibers of asbestos does not cause disease immediately. However, you need to protect yourself from being exposed just to make sure that you will not develop a medical condition related with the mineral.

The dust and fibers of asbestos are hazardous since these are really small. In fact, a microscope is needed just to determine the type of an asbestos fiber. Once they enter the body, there are two possible places where asbestos fibers go. When the fibers are breathed accidentally, they go to your lungs. If they are swallowed, they go to your stomach. Hence, the most common types of asbestos-related diseases occur in the human chest and lungs.

When the fibers of asbestos are viewed through a microscope, they appear sharp. If they get inside your body, they will destroy your tissues. It has been said that all levels of asbestos exposure are harmful to the body. This is due to the fact that just one fiber can bring severe harm. The risk is greatest when you are constantly exposed to it. Medical experts say that the only way for you to hinder the development of asbestos-related health problems is to keep yourself from being exposed to its fibers.

Cancer diseases, which are linked with asbestos exposure, generally take two to four decades to develop. The whole duration is known as the "latency period." Compared to other asbestos-related diseases, pleural thickening occurs more often. There are some individuals who refer to their disease as "asbestosis." However, asbestosis is the specific term for one condition. In order for you to know what is affecting you precisely, you need the diagnosis of a specialist.

The following are among the diseases that are brought about due to severe exposure to the fibers and dust of asbestos:

Mesothelioma

This is a type of cancer which is a result of one's exposure to asbestos dust. Inhaled asbestos dust can accumulate on the lining of your lungs, stomach, and chest. Life expectancy for this kind is 6 to 18 months after the diagnosis.

Lung cancer and other types of cancer diseases

Epidemiological studies suggest that asbestos is one of the primary reasons for lung cancer-related deaths. On the other hand, there are times when a specialist finds it hard to determine the cause of lung cancer. This is especially true when the patient smokes a lot. It has been discovered that exposure to asbestos, paired with smoking, increases the likely of developing lung cancer. Other types of asbestos-related cancer are larynx cancer; stomach cancer; and cancer to the rectum, colon, and ovaries.

Asbestosis

This is a type of pneumoconiosis. Asbestosis is the general reference for the damage occurring to the interior of your lung as a result of asbestos dust inhalation. Your lung is comprised of several alveoli where carbon dioxide and oxygen are transported to and from your blood. When asbestos dust gets inside your lung, the walls of your alveoli are damaged.

Pleural plaques

These refer to the local scarring or thickening of the membrane lining your lungs. Although this type of illness is not that severe, it can be painful and discomforting. It can act as a precursor to another type of asbestos-related disease.

Pleural thickening

This happens when the pleural lining of your lung hardens due to the asbestos fibers found in your lungs. When the case is severe, it can lead to breathing difficulties.

A Closer Look at Peritoneal Mesothelioma Cancer

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that commonly occurs due to increased exposure to asbestos for a long period of time. There are findings that this cancer develops even without asbestos exposure. This type of cancer affects the peritoneum, which is the lining that protects the internal organs of the abdominal cavity. The peritoneum is made up of mesothilial cells which are the cells affected by cancer. It is a rare form of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma, which is the cancer of the mesothelial cells of the covering of the lungs, is the more common form than the peritoneal mesothelioma.

Asbestos is a material used for insulation, which is resistant to heat and fire. It is used in the construction or engineering of buildings, ships, household appliances and motors. It has been reported that there is a higher incidence of mesothelioma in males because this type of caner is work related. Males are commonly hired for the construction or engineering of buildings, ships, motors and household appliances which causes the increased incidence of mesothelioma in males.

THE CULPRITS

There are three types of asbestos namely the blue, white and brown. These are all linked to cancer which caused asbestos to be banned in many countries such as the UK. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers that can be breathed into the lung. It then works its way to the pleura irritating and damaging the mesothilial cell. Some asbestos might be coughed up as a defense of the body to get rid of the irritating foreign body that has entered the lung. When this happens the asbestos goes to the mouth and is then swallowed. It then works its way to the internal organs of the abdominal cavity irritating and damaging the peritoneum or the mesothilium, which the tissue made up of mesothelial cells that covers the internal organs. Upon exposure to asbestos, the fibers are deposited in the clothing of the worker. The worker exposed to asbestos spreads it to his family when he gets home through his clothing. This puts the family at high risk to developing mesothelioma since they are also exposed through asbestos.

There are also less common causes of mesothelioma. It has been found out that exposure to radiation can also cause pleural and peritonieal mesothelioma. Thoratast or thorioum dioxide was used in x-ray tests in the 1950s. Exposure to a mineral in turkey, which is called the Zeolite can also cause the cancer mesothelioma. The virus SV40 also known as the simian virus increases the risk of developing mesothelioma. It acts as a co-factor when the person is exposed to another risk factor, amplifying the possibility of developing mesothelioma.

GETTING CHECKED It is not easy to diagnose mesothelioma. There is no specific screening for mesothelioma. People who are high risk to develop mesothelioma should be checked periodically in order to spot mesothelioma at the earliest stage possible so prompt treatment may be done. There are some signs and symptoms the doctors watch out to get further tests to confirm mesothelioma. Pain, swelling tenderness to any area and a possible lump are the common complaints that are considered.

Blood test is then done to evaluate the person's general health. If doctor suspects that the person may have peritoneal mesothelioma, the person may have abdominal x-ray, abdominal CT scan or abdominal MRI scan to check and confirm for swelling and fluid accumulation in the abdomen. Abdoparacentsis or fluid drainage from the abdomen may be done to relieve the swelling and pain around the abdomen and to see if there are malignant or cancerous cells in the fluid. Laparoscopy or biopsy of the abdominal lining or peritoneum may be done, wherein they get a tissue sample of the abdominal lining and check if the mesothelial cells are damaged by cancer.

If these tests confirm that one has peritoneal mesothelioma, it is then evaluated if it has spread to other parts of the body. This is called staging or determining the gravity of the cancer itself. This process is very important to determine what action or treatment will be done. A PET scan may be done to see how the cells are working. PET stands for positron emission tomography. This is done if the peritoneal mesothelioma cancer is treatable through surgery. This shows the extent of spread of the cancer cells to the other parts of the body like the lymph nodes and other organs.

Tips to Prevent Mesothelioma: Prevention Asbestos at Home

Did you know that mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure can be prevented at home?

Mesothelioma is an illness characterized by scattered pulmonary fibrosis from the infiltration of asbestos dust into the lungs. Current laws restrict the use of asbestos, but many industries used it in the past. Therefore, exposure occurred, and may still occur, in various jobs, comprising of manufacturing and mining of asbestos, shipbuilding, demolition of structures containing asbestos, and roofing. Materials such as cement, clothing brake linings, vinyl asbestos tile, shingles, and fireproof paint, and filters all contained asbestos at one time, and many of these materials are still in existence. Additional diseases related to asbestos exposure include lung cancer, asbestosis, and asbestos pleural effusion.

What is Mesothelioma?

Inhaled asbestos dust enters the body and sticks to the lungs. The common affected area is the mesothelium or the protective sheet that covers the internal organs in the lungs. Mesothelium is located in the chest cavity and the lungs known as pleura.

Asbestos dust triggers the abnormal activity of the mesothelium. They also propagate without control. The onset of the disease is subtle, and the patient has persistent, dry cough, shortness of breath, chest pain brought about by the buildup of fluid in the pleura, weight loss, and abdominal pain.

In the case of mesothelioma, cancer cells can metastasize or undergo the process of metastasis. This is the dissemination or spread of malignant cells from the pulmonary tumor to distant sites by direct spread of tumor cells to body cavities or through lymphatic and blood circulation.

Frequency Cases

Statistical reports show that more than 2,000 Americans are affected with mesothelioma every year. However, even if most cases occur at work, many are still affected right at their own home. This does not necessarily mean homeowners use asbestos at home. Surveys reveal that cases of mesothelioma at home are commonly caused by asbestos dust brought at home.

People who work at industrial companies or construction sites, or simply those who have been inadvertently exposed to asbestos may unconsciously bring asbestos dust at home. Asbestos dust may stick to clothes, hair, skin, cars, or even in their tools. Hence, to avoid Mesothelioma, learn the prevention asbestos at home tips.

Here's how:

1. Learn to recognize asbestos

The problem with most people who get sick with mesothelioma, even if they are not working in an industrial company or construction field, is that they do not know how to recognize asbestos or asbestos-containing products right at their own home.

The government has already passed laws and is now implementing full restrictions and control on the use of asbestos in home products. Asbestos containing products are considered as one of the primary factors for developing mesothelioma.

Hence, if you are planning to buy tools for your home, try to check if they contain asbestos. Some of the products that normally contain asbestos are floor adhesives, door gaskets, boilers, furnace ducts, vinyl floor tiles, textured paint, fireproof gloves, asbestos cement roofing, etc.

2. Buy quality materials

The use of asbestos cannot simply be ignored considering the fact that they have high resistance to fire. However, it is best that you check on the quality of the asbestos containing product you are about to buy. Low quality or damaged products may tend to emit asbestos dust, which can infiltrate your lungs and may develop mesothelioma.

3. Dispose asbestos dust before going home

Workers at an asbestos infested environment must try to eliminate any signs of asbestos dust from his clothing or tools. Before going home, it is best that the employee must take a bath thoroughly and wash his clothes carefully to eradicate asbestos dust.

4. Be wary on floors that contain asbestos

If you have used asbestos containing products in your home, such as the flooring, it is best not to wax or brush the floor. Brushing or waxing the asbestos containing flooring may discharge "microscopic fibers" into the air, increasing the risk of inhaling asbestos dust.

5. Do not sweep suspected asbestos dust

If you think you are about to sweep asbestos dust, leave it alone. Dust particles may only infiltrate the lungs once inhaled. This can be prevented by leaving asbestos dust alone. Do not let them fly into the air.

Prevention is better than cure. Hence, to avoid mesothelioma, it is best to learn the prevention asbestos at home tips and start a life away from health hazard

Green Tea: Why it's Good for Mesothelioma

One of the rarest forms of cancer is the mesothelioma cancer. This is a form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs but it is different from lung cancer. The major difference is that it is the mesothelium (a double-layered organ lining), which is strongly affected rather than the entire lung itself. But this does not make mesothelioma less deadly. In fact, compared with other types of cancers, mesothelioma is one of those few forms that do not have any cure. This might come in as a grim reality but early detection and prevention of the illness would be much better than thinking of the methods of treatment that would only alleviate the pain or slow down the growth of the cancer cells.

If this form of cancer has already its clout on you, make sure to combat it with, not only your unending faith, but also some of the proven methods of treatment that would prolong your existence and alleviate pain. The most common methods of treatment include radiation therapy and chemotherapy; immunotherapy and also for the worse cases--surgery. But the good news is, there are alternative forms of treatment that are now being introduced to cancer patients. One of the many treatments is partaking of natural stuff that has medicinal substances in them. This is called the natural method of treatment.

Green tea is just one of the many substances that have anti-oxidants which help in neutralizing free radicals that cause cancer. Other sources of anti-oxidants include the following: asparagus, blueberries, red beans, tomatoes, pomegranates, and yes, even dark chocolates! Anti-oxidants are necessary in combating cancers because they help in battling the unhealthy cells from invading the still healthy cells.

Long before the discovery of cancer or any of those fatal diseases, the Chinese have already accustomed themselves to drinking green tea for better health. Thousands of years ago, they have already reaped the benefits of having green tea on their diet.

Green tea is rich with catechin polyphenols and EGCG or epigallocatechin gallate (which is a potent anti-oxidant. The main difference green tea has when compared with all other forms of mesothelioma cancer treatment methods is that, it kills the cancer cells as it leaves the healthy cells, well, healthy.

But a great news is that, a study at the University of Kansas showed that green tea is 100 times more effective in deactivating free radicals when compared to vitamin C. There have been countless studies regarding the prevention and treatment of cancer through the help of green tea. All of these studies have proven that green tea did reduce the occurrence of most types of cancer.

The Saitama Cancer Research Institute did a more specific study where green tea was specified to have delayed the occurrence of cancer (forms include mouth cancer, breast cancer and, of course, lung cancer) if 5 or more cups were consumed daily. Not only was the occurrence hampered but also the recurrence of the disease once it is detected early and then treated!

As if all of this wasn't enough, green tea is a cut above the rest of the sources of anti-oxidants because it isn't fermented when it's processed. Fermentation causes some changes in the anti-oxidants (which, of course, you would not want!).

With regard to mesothelioma cancer, this is known to be one of the most aggressive forms of cancer so it is best to counter the effects of the cancer cell attacks by taking in a substance that would equally hamper the invasion at the same speed. Green tea is best at stopping the growth of abnormal cells that affect the still healthy cells. It does all this because green tea greatly improves the immune system which is the body's natural army against illnesses.

And do you want to know another great thing? Green tea does not have any side effects! So if you are still in doubt as to the medicinal effects of this type of tea, it is actually safe to include this on your diet now. Although it has caffeine, its content when compared to coffee or even the regular sodas are contrastingly low.

Asbestos Lung Cancer Risks and What to Do About Them

Asbestos Lung Cancer Risks and What to Do About Them

Asbestos is a substance which was extensively used in the 1990's for construction and decoration. This is because asbestos was found to have a high tensile strength and was known very well for its flame and heat resistance. However, people who worked in factories and who were commonly exposed to this substance were not really warned about asbestos lung cancer risks. What sort of risks are there?

Well, so far, there are two main asbestos lung cancer risks you should be worried about:

Mesothelioma - This is cancer that does not occur in the lungs but in the tissue covering the lungs. Mesothelioma is a disease wherein a person develops tumors on the tissue covering the vital organs. Although there are certain cases wherein the tumors are benign, the majority of those which develop are very much malignant. Because of this, common use of the term no longer makes decisions between benign and malignant mesothelioma. Almost all of the cases of mesothelioma being reported today have a history of asbestos exposure. This just goes to show you how large the asbestos lung cancer risks are.

Actual lung cancer - Mesothelioma differs from lung cancer in the sense that while mesothelioma affects the tissue covering the vital organs, lung cancer hits the vital organs-the lungs themselves. This is not a pretty sight which is why you should be thankful that lungs are inside your body.

These are the two types of asbestos lung cancer risks that some people face everyday. Now comes the question of how those risks can be lowered.

The first thing that you can do to lower the asbestos lung cancer risk on yourself is to work someplace other than a factory or establishment which makes use of asbestos as a raw material. Most people who have developed asbestos lung cancer have been exposed to the substance in a work environment. This is because during the early 90's when people used asbestos extensively in construction and decoration, employers frequently forgot to mention to their employees that asbestos was a very dangerous substance when inhaled. People were not equipped with the right accessories to help them prevent the asbestos fibers from getting into their lungs. Although these people did not feel any sort of symptom while they were working, 20-50 years later, they finally realize how big an impact that job actually made on them.

The next thing you can do to lower the risk of asbestos lung cancer is to try and get rid of any asbestos products at home. In cases like this, you have to remember that there are certain regulations that need to be followed in the disposal of asbestos. You should also try to get an inspector to look around your house and see which asbestos products need to be removed or which products need to be left alone for the general safety of people.

This is because although there are some products which do give off dangerous asbestos fibers, there are those products which are better left alone in order not to render contained asbestos fibers airborne. Hiring an expert will be able to help you make sure that everything is taken care of. After all, no matter how good you may be, you won't be able to spot asbestos products immediately without the help of an expert, right? By doing this, you can be sure that each asbestos product is disposed of properly and that you don't place yourself in unnecessary danger.

Another thing you can do to lower the risk of asbestos lung cancer is to check out your workplace or school. Some offices are located in old buildings wherein the ceiling can be a bit damaged. As you may well know, old ceilings do have asbestos in them. This is mainly because people thought that adding asbestos to ceiling tiles can help fireproof a building. If you notice some cracked ceiling tiles, you might want to talk about it to someone who can get it fixed. Old ceiling tiles which are quite crumbly give off a huge amount of asbestos fibers so removing them can help you reduce the risk of asbestos lung cancer. These few tips are quite simple but they may save your life.

Asbestos Cause Lung Mesothelioma Cancer

Asbestos induced lung cancer is known as Mesothelioma. It is a dangerous disease that, while rare, is troublesome for several reasons. For one thing, the initial symptoms of mesothelioma are ones that can usually be associated with other, less threatening problems, including asthma, old age, and being out of shape. Because of this, while only 3000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed every year, it is held that quite a few fatal cases of seemingly harmless lung ailments were in fact misdiagnosed cases of mesothelioma.

The inital cause of mesothelioma is the introduction of minute fibers of asbestos into a person's lungs through inhalation. Asbestos is a fibrous, fire retardant material that was commonly used in the past several decades for fire proofing purposes. The fibrous nature of the material causes it to fragment into small slivers that are easily airborne and almost invisible to the naked eye. People who inhale the fibers first develop a problem called asbestosis.

Asbestosis is the development of small scar tissue in the lungs due to the fibers of asbestos. This scar tissue causes difficulty breathing, and given time can block entire sections of the lung's air passages altogether. However, if left unchecked, asbestosis causes a more severe lung problem called mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer caused by tumors in the lungs. The lungs and chest cavity in general develop an excess of fluids due to the body's unsuccessful effort to combat these tumors and the foreign particles (the asbestos fibers).

Symptoms

The earliest symptoms of lung asbestos problems is a harsh, rattling breathing pattern commonly associated with smokers. The other symptoms include shortness of breath, shallow breathing, and a drop in physical endurance. Since these symptoms are commonly found in smokers as well, it was a previously held misconception that asbestosis was also caused by smoking filtered cigarettes. Recent studies show that this is not the case - not that smoking is healthy, but rather only that the two, while having the same symptoms, are not related.

If left unchecked asbestosis develops into mesothelioma, and the symptoms worsen to sudden chest pains, even more difficulty breathing, and even a "sloshing" feeling when breathing, like that experienced by people during severe coughs where the lungs temporarily fill with phlegm. Again, this symptom can be easily explained away as a case of fever or cough, and can easily be misdiagnosed.

In either case, the only real way to determine if someone has asbestosis or mesothelioma is to undergo an x ray. X ray scans can detect the presence of asbestos fiber induced scar tissue, or the formation of tumors in the lungs. Without an x ray there is no sure way to determine the presence of asbestos in the lungs.

Effects

The effects of asbestosis and mesothelioma are ultimately fatal if left unchecked. Pulmonary emboli, a condition where blood clotting forms in the lungs and not only restricts breathing, but also sends these clots into the blood stream and eventually causing cardiac arrest, is one of the usual causes of death from asbestos inhalation.

The fluid buildup in the lungs, chest cavity, and chest lining brought about by mesothelioma is another common cause of death, as this fluid can literally fill a person's lungs, restricting breathing completely, or can likewise cause cardiac arrest eventually. The lung tumors of mesothelioma can also grow out of control, eventually eating away a person's lungs like a regular cancer, or can cause severe wounds in the chest cavity that causes internal hemorrhaging.

Treatment

Regular lung surgery can be used to treat early cases of asbestosis, assuming that no cancers have developed yet. The survival rate is pretty much on par with regular operations, so at this early stage people can be treated with safety. However, if the asbestosis has already developed into mesothelioma, regular surgery ceases to be an option, as the average life expectancy of a patient after the operation is only 5 years. Chemotherapy and laser surgery procedures geared towards cancer treatment are the most effective medical procedures used in tandem to treat mesothelioma tumors.

Avoidance/Safety Tips

One fact about asbestosis and mesothelioma is that the symptoms only manifest between 20 to 50 years after inhaling the fibers, depending on the fitness of the person and the amount of asbestos inhaled. Therefore, at the first possible signs x rays should be taken to determine of the problems are simply old age or not.

Wearing safety masks with air filters if working in an area with asbestos is a must to prevent asbestosis and mesothelioma. This not only includes factory workers who are exposed to industrial materials laced with asbestos, but to civilians who travel through construction and demolition sites where old houses are situated. The reason for this is because some houses and buildings constructed in the 1970s and 1980s included asbestos lining as part of the materials in an attempt at fire proofing.

The Need for a Maryland Asbestos Attorney

Being on the 16th highest rank on asbestos related fatalities, it is but vital that citizens of Maryland get the appropriate protection and services. Such services include lawsuits and other legal issues as well as medical concerns that should be put to order.

Since 1991, there have been 51 cases of deaths related to mesothelioma. However, that's just part of the big problem. There are actually 1,074 people who have died because of asbestos since 1979 and many more are yet to be diagnosed.

There is an alarming rise in asbestos cases in Maryland and the United States as a whole. This is because, the maturation of the cancer development in the body of the victim are now beginning to unfold. It takes somewhere between 20 to 50 years before the inhaled or ingested asbestos fiber creates severe damage in the bodies of the victims.

Exposure to asbestos fiber in high degrees is likely to cause asbestos-triggered diseases, but the development of the disease takes decades before they can be appropriately diagnosed. During this span of years, the effects of the fibers including the developing disease does not lay dormant. It just can't be diagnosed accurately. The worst part isthat once the diagnosis is rendered, the condition is already beyond treatment. Unfortunately, there are still no cures for asbestos-related diseases.

Because of deaths, damages and injuries, victims choose to seek compensation. While compensation will not able to heal the dying, bring back the dead and replace the losses, it will however allow the victim and the family to recover from the losses incurred.

If you want to get compensation from companies or bodies of people who have caused the exposure to asbestos, it is best that you seek the legal help of an asbestos attorney.

A Maryland asbestos attorney is an expert in dealing with asbestos law, asbestos lawsuits,and asbestos trial. Since he has devoted his studies in this personal injury case, he will be the best source of information, facts and details that will help you make an informed decision. He has the resources to investigate the conditions that caused asbestosis and mesothelioma going back several decades ago to further strengthen the claims. In short, he is all that a victim will need when wanting to file a case, go into a trial or settlement and seek for a fair compensation.

Because there has been a great rise in asbestos incidences and deaths, there is also an increase of Maryland asbestos attorneys. The average amount of compensation a person gets from an asbestos lawsuit is $6 million. The chances of raising the compensation amount are relatively high.

Some people are hesitant to bring their cases to court though. This is because of the misconception that they will have to invest tremendously for trials and payment for the lawyer or the firm. The truth is personal injury attorneys are paid only on a contingency basis. They will do the research and court trials for you and you need not worry about out-of-pocket expenses. At the end of the trial, either by full court trial or settlement, the lawyer or law firm will receive a certain percentage on the total amount of compensation.

There are quite many of ways to seek the legal advice of a Maryland asbestos attorney. First there are the local firms that you can drop by to check if they offer services on asbestos cases. Then there are individual lawyers who can help expand your knowledge on asbestos. You could also check into local directories and get information on how to contact a Maryland asbestos attorney that you are considering to hire.

You could also go online and check the websites of some Maryland asbestos attorneys since many attorneys and law firms have already established more visibility through building their own websites. You may also find that some of the law firms and attorneys offer free consultation services through toll free calls and consultation through e-mail.

Unlike before, it is far easier these days to get a reputable Maryland asbestos attorney to help you fight for the justice that is due you. You just have to do some research to contact the persons you are interested in hiring.

Getting an Attorney / Lawyer for an Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit

There are several things you must remember when you are entering into an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit, but the most important of these is to get a good attorney / lawyer to help you. The right attorney / lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit has two qualities which can help you a lot:

Knowledge - This is the main reason why people hire lawyers. When you get an attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit, it is because of the fact that you do not have the expertise needed to handle the lawsuit on your own. An attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit will be familiar with the law in order to best help you win your case. Not many people realize the fact that different lawyers have different specializations. You need to make sure that the attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit you get actually specializes in that sort of law. Knowledge will help the attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit in planning a strategy to get you the justice that you need.

Experience - How much experience the attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit has in handling cases like yours determines just how effective he or she can be in the actual litigation. This is because experience will actually help determine a person's ability to cope with the things going on around him or her. In other words, a person with more experience in handling asbestos cases have a higher chance of being able to make the right decisions in a similar case. If you want to hire a attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit, then know that a lot of lawyers make use of what you would call gut instinct in order to win a case. This gut instinct helps a lawyer recognize the various pitfalls that can be set by an opponent during the course of a lawsuit. This gut instinct, however, needs experience in order to be properly sharpened. Given enough experience, any attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit will be able to win any cases that he or she handles.

A lot of attorneys today are on the lookout for a client to represent so that they can grab a share of the asbestos-litigation pie. This means that looking for an attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit should be quite easy. Here are some sources you can make use of:

The television - Because of the mass-tort nature of asbestos litigation, most attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuits today attempt to gather clients using any sort of ad media they can use. If you watch the television often, you might encounter a scrolling announcement asking for people who have experienced different symptoms and who have been exposed to asbestos to contact a certain number immediately. Since the television is the most widely-used type of media today, it has a high success rate in terms of attracting new clients. This means that you may be able to learn how to get in touch with an attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit through watching the television.

The internet - this remains to be one of the best sources of information today. The internet is able to provide people with the information that they need right at their fingertips and at a speed which will astonish even the Flash. You can use the internet to look for the attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit that you need. Also, you can immediately contact that person through the internet without the need to change into another medium of communication.

Getting an attorney /l awyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit through the internet does have its risks, though. For one thing, you aren't really sure about the various claims made by different firms advertising over the internet.

Yellow Pages - If you want to get in touch with any attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit without first having the privilege of previewing their services, then the phone book is what you need. Some people believe that the phone book is an old and therefore obsolete device better left in the past decade, but it actually pretty much still delivers the information that you need whenever and wherever you need it.

There are, of course, other sources which you can use to gather information needed to contact the attorney/lawyer for an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit you need. However those mentioned above continue to be the most effective methods of all.

Getting the Advice of a Lawyer for Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer Settlement

If you have been exposed to the danger of asbestos in the past, there is a strong chance that you have developed one illness or another which is said to root from asbestos. You might be feeling very angry and are looking for some way to make those responsible for your illness to own up to what they did. It is because of this that people hire lawyers and sue various companies.

Because of what happened to you, you might be so wrapped up in the quest to bring the company to justice that you want to go all-out in the legal battle with them. Because of this, when you hear the advice of a lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case, you immediately reject this path.

Before you let your emotions prevail, however, you should really turn your mind inward and try to examine the various possible reasons which may be behind such an advice. You should realize that lawyers are also quite often as full of pride as their clients are in terms of litigation. They will also rather fight all the way if they see the chance that you will win the case outright. This means that there must be something about your case that causes your lawyer to lose a bit of confidence.

There are two sides to this. The first one is that he or she has found a weakness in your case. When you get advice from a lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case, then you know that there could be something wrong with the strength of the case. There could be some weak link which your counselor has spotted and he or she is just trying to get you out of the case before your opponent catches sight of the same weakness and crushes you.

You can also take the advice from your lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case and interpret it as a sign that there may be something being planned by the company which would leave you hanging dry. By negotiating for a settlement while you still have the advantage, you are at least able to make sure that you will get something for your troubles. If you choose not to settle and you lose the case then you might end up wishing that you had listened to the advice of your lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case.

A settlement is also a quick and quiet way to wrap up a case. If you are fighting a large corporation, then you have to realize that taking it into court may have very profound effects. For one thing, they could actually bury the case underneath so much paper work that it would be hard for you to actually get a trial started. Even if your case does go to trial, the case could drag on for months, consuming and exhausting your resources without you even seeing one cent of the anticipated damages.

Many companies opt to settle because everything is kept quiet during a settlement. This means that a company's stock will not lose its value. However, if you opt to go for the "public trial" route, then you should know that it will leave the company no chance but to try to crush your case utterly. This means the company will hire the best lawyers in town. If you don't give the company a quiet way out, you might find yourself facing the wrath of a cornered wild cat. Remember to always give your opponent a graceful way out since a person with nothing to lose makes a very dangerous opponent.

Some people complain that the advice from lawyers for settlement of mesothelioma asbestos cancer cases is unreliable as they often end up with less money than they would have gotten if they had taken the case into court. You have to realize that this is the whole point of settlement. When you receive advice from your lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case, you should see it as the exchange of certainty for uncertainty. That is, the possibility of getting paid for damages versus the reality of being paid now in settlement. The decision is always up to you.

When you get advice from your lawyer for settlement of your mesothelioma asbestos cancer case, you should definitely listen hard. This is because you should not take settlement as a sign of giving up. You should, instead, take it as a sign of a skilled opponent yielding when that opponent knows that he has been defeated.

Common Mesothelioma Type And Its Treatments

What a paradox! Mesothelioma cannot be fully cured. This is one real fact. And the other is Mesothelioma can be cent percent prevented only if asbestos dust fibers are not allowed to mix in the atmosphere and pollute the air in which we respire. Isn't the saying that prevention is better than cure exclusively appropriate in this context?

To completely wipe out the presence of asbestos dust in the air the use of asbestos has to be totally put off. The law and order has to be made every strict to put a ban on the use of asbestos. Again an alternative for asbestos has to be figured out to serve such similar purposes where asbestos was used.

Let's hope that the day is near when no sign of Mesothelioma will be present in the human civilization. But now when the disease is taking a dangerous shape, all of us must become aware of it. How many types of Mesothelioma can attack your body and what type of treatments can be availed? This is something quite preliminary and each one of us must have knowledge about it.

Three types of Mesothelioma

 Pleural Mesothelioma  Peritoneal Mesothelioma  Pericardial Mesothelioma

These are the three types of Mesothelioma cancer known till date and among them the Pleural Mesothelioma is the most widespread whereas the Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rare type. A mere group of 5 percent becomes the victim of this rare type of cancer.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma is the most known form of Mesothelioma affecting the workers of the asbestos industries. The Mesothelium covering around the lungs beneath your chest is badly affected by the asbestos dust. Slowly water starts accumulating in those cavities and take the shape of tumors. Initial symptoms pop up as pain across the chest, running out of breath and suffering from cough and cold. The initial diagnosis is often mistaken for influenza. But with time some other symptoms become prominent like weight loss, frequent fever and the coughing blood. Further medical tests confirm that you are actually suffering from Pleural Mesothelioma.

The treatment

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the most appropriate means of treating the Pleural Mesothelioma patients. Better ways of treatment are under research and may be they can help the patient to get fully cured.

Surgical method is only used when the condition of the patient is really adverse and immediately the tumors have to be removed from the body. Surgery causes an immense pain to the body and it becomes tough to get back to the normal life, hence avoided in the first step.

Mesothelioma and the Health Risks of Asbestos

Asbestos has been in use since the mythological era of Ancient Greece, but asbestos can be a modern-day killer. Widely used for fireproof insulation purposes in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, asbestos has since been found to cause the deadly cancer mesothelioma along with other lung conditions.

Occupational Exposure and Dangers To Workers

After noticing that chronic diseases, especially cancers of the lung such as mesothelioma, were extremely common in construction workers who were exposed to asbestos, doctors began making a connection between asbestos and mesothelioma. Unfortunately, construction and other workers who were exposed to asbestos from the 1950s through the 1970s, when the dangers of asbestos were more fully recognized, are still suffering from the ill effects of asbestos exposure at work. There are now laws and regulations in place that are designed to prevent workers from exposure to toxic asbestos; however, these laws cannot undo years upon years of exposure to this deadly mineral in the workplace.

Delayed Diagnosis Due To Long Dormancy Period

Workers may have been exposed to asbestos in the 1970s, but may only just now be developing the tell-tale symptoms of mesothelioma. This is because the disease is slow to manifest, which challenges doctors struggling to diagnose and treat mesothelioma patients in time. Because its symptoms take so long to manifest and often align themselves with those of other diseases, mesothelioma in workers may be misdiagnosed as pneumonia or other diseases during its early stages.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma can include:

A shortness of breath, abdominal swelling, pain of the abdomen, blood clotting problems, chest pain, chronic cough, heart palpitations, fever, labored breath, and weight loss.

Pleural, peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma are all possible variations of the deadly cancer, with pleural (lung) mesothelioma the most commonly manifested version of the disease.

High-Risk Professions

Though the use of asbestos is now regulated by laws and regulations, the disease's long dormancy period means that it still has a high number of potential victims. Professions at a high risk for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma are those which involved repeated exposure to asbestos in its industrial forms.

These professions include:

Electricians, painters, insulators, carpenters, bricklayers, construction, workers, mechanics, and other tradespeople, especially those who were involved with commercial or home construction before the 1970s.

The families of these workers were also at risk, since they may have inhaled or ingested asbestos through the employee's clothing or hair.

Legal Options

Because of the huge number of potentially affected workers, there has been a significant amount of mesothelioma litigation against companies who irresponsibly used asbestos, exposing their workers to the threat of mesothelioma and other life-threatening asbestos-related illnesses. If you are suffering the ill effects of asbestos exposure, talk to your doctor and determine a reasonable treatment plan. Then contact an asbestos attorney who is experienced in mesothelioma litigation. A competent asbestos lawyer may be able to help you recover damages for the pain and suffering incurred through asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, defray the costs of treatment, and provide for your children if you die of the disease.

Mesothelioma Asbestos

What is Mesothelioma Asbestos?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally-occurring fiber, that, when released into the air, can be inhaled or swallowed. Asbestos has no smell or taste, and asbestos fibers are so tiny that they are not visible to the naked eye. Asbestos fibers can "stick" in the lung, abdomen and other body tissues and over time, lead to the development of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.

The generic name "asbestos" belongs to a group of minerals called "asbestiform" minerals. Asbestos is a fibrous material which is mined from serpentine rock. Basically, rock was mined and crushed. When the rock was crushed, fibrous stands of asbestos were extracted from the rock. The strands where put in bags and shipped to manufacturing facilities were the asbestos was used as an ingredient in insulation and other materials. The three most commonly used forms of asbestos in product manufacturing were chrysotile, amosite and crocidolite.

Mesothelioma Treatment!

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new mesothelioma treatment based on the theory that single celled organisms die when exposed to certain frequency of light. Photosensitive drugs are administered intravenously. In a couple of days, the drug concentrates on the diseased cell and kills it. Skin sensitivity, nausea and vomiting can be some of the side effects.

Immunotherapy(biological therapy) is another new way to treat mesothelioma. Immunotherapy will try to rejuvenate the immune system and there by improving the natural immune system which is the most effective way to fight any disease. The therapy also repairs the immune systems that are faulty. Biological response modifiers (BRMs) are the substances used in immunotherapy. BRMs naturally develop in the body but it can now be prepared in laboratory and is found to give the same effect as the natural ones.

Treatments with the combinations of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, are being researched studied. Heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy and use of pemetrexed drug, brand named Alimta, are some of the new developments in the treatment of mesothelioma.

Causes Of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is the growth of malignant cells in mesothelium, the thin membrane covering the body's internal organs. This mesothelium lining covers the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial cavities. Pleura is a membrane covering the lungs and it is the most common location where mesothelioma cancer occurs also known as pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneum, the protective covering that lines the abdominal cavity may also develop malignant tumors and cause peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is one of the rarest cancers in the world that is caused only by exposure to asbestos. Its exposure can be direct, by inhalation of asbestos or indirect exposure in which the asbestos particles are inhaled from the clothing, hair, equipment or other articles that were previously exposed to asbestos.

Causes of Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that is mined in different parts of the world due to its wide utility in various industries. However, it is a deadly carcinogen too and a mojor cause of mesothelioma and asbestosis.

Asbestos fibers are known to cause cancer of the mesothelium. Asbestos is the fibrous form of several minerals and hydrous silicates of magnesium found under ground. There are 3 types of asbestos, the blue one, the while one and the brown one. Of all these 3 types, the blue one also called amphibole, long and thin in structure is more carcinogenic than white or chrysolite asbestos or the brown one known as amosite.

However, in some cases the brown asbestos has also been found to cause mesothelioma. And it is for this reason that people exposed to asbestos even for a short period are vulnerable to the disease.

Pleural Mesothelioma
Asbestos fibers are very fine and easily make their way to the lungs where they settle down in the parenchyma of the lung and penetrate the pleura that later develops malignant mesothelial plaques.

Pleura, which anchors lungs to the chest cavity, is itself a double-layered membrane. The inner layer called visceral pleura surrounds the lungs, while the outer one, known as parietal pleura, forms the lining of the pleural or chest cavity. The two pleural layers are filled with a fluid that helps them to slide over each other as we breathe. As the disease progresses, the delicate pleural membranes thicken and press the lungs. A fluid secreted by the malignant cells, pleural effusion, may also collect between visceral and parietal pleurae that causes problem in breathing and other complications.

Peritoneum Mesothelioma
The asbestos fibers may also cause cancer in the peritoneum, known as peritoneal mesothelioma. This leads to thickening of the membranes surrounding abdominal organs and collection of a fluid, ascites in the abdominal cavity making it swell.

Though it is yet not clear how peritoneal mesothelioma develops, it is believed that from lungs, the asbestos fibers are transported to abdomen and its organs by the lymphatic system or they may be deposited in the gut through saliva contaminated by the asbestos fibers.

Pericardial Mesothelioma
This is the rarest type of mesothelioma cancer that comprises of only 5% of all the mesothelioma cases. Like other types of mesothelioma cancer, pericardial mesothelioma is also caused by the inhalation of asbestos dust and fibers. The lining of the chest cavity which protects the heart is known as pericardium. It is provided with a natural fluid or mucous that provide continuous lubrication to the heart so that it can work properly and perform its functions.

It is a very deadly disease that destroys the tissues around the heart and diminishes the survival chances of the patient. As the asbestos particles settle further into the lining of the chest or pericardial, the cancer spreads in the body. It destroys the heart tissues and muscles that is very hazardous to life and proves fatal for the patient.