Claim Compensation For Mesothelioma: Asbestos Exposure Overseas

How to claim compensation for mesothelioma when your exposure to asbestos took place overseas

Mesothelioma can develop decades after exposure to asbestos fibres. It is all too common that you may have been exposed whilst working in a former country of residence before having emigrated to your now country of residence -- learn how you can still claim compensation for mesothelioma in these circumstances.

Which country should you start your claim for compensation for mesothelioma?

Imagine you were born in England where you lived and worked until the age of 30 when you emigrated with your family to Australia where you currently reside with your wife and children. At the age of 55 you are diagnosed with mesothelioma having been caused by exposure to asbestos in your job in England as a surveyor.

In this example -- your exposure happened in England and although mesothelioma developed while your were in Australia your claim is against your former employer in England and is subject to English law, so you should commence your claim in England.

Can you still claim compensation for mesothelioma despite your exposure to asbestos taking place so many years ago?

."Yes" -- there are three years from the date of an injury or the date of knowledge of an injury in England to commence a claim.

Mesothelioma can develop many years after exposure to asbestos and it is impossible to predict whether it will occur until symptoms develop and you are medically diagnosed.

You will therefore have three years from the date your doctor diagnosed your injury to commence a claim.

Mesothelioma is regretfully likely to be fatal and should you die within three years of the date of diagnosis your estate or family members would have another three years from the date of your death to commence a compensation claim.

If you are in the process of making a claim when you die - you can rest assured that your estate can continue your claim after you have gone.

Who can claim compensation if the mesothelioma proves fatal?

There are a number of people who can claim compensation if your mesothelioma proves fatal, including:

1. Your estate

If you have made a will and nominated personal representatives - the personal representatives will act on your estate's behalf and can make a compensation claim.

2. Dependants

Immediate family members such as your spouse or children have the right to make a compensation claim following your death.

How do you know the best personal injury lawyer to contact to make your claim for compensation for mesothelioma

Industrial disease and mesothelioma claims generally are quite complex. There are few lawyers in England who have the expertise to deal with your claim.

You should choose a lawyer whose firm deals with mesothelioma claims day in day out and who is recognised as a specialist by the Law Society.

I can help you in this search. You need only complete an online form that will guide you through a few questions about your injury -- once submitted online, I will locate the best lawyer to help you make a claim and have him contact you free of charge.

Visit the following links to have expert help finding a specialist lawyer.Mesothelioma Lawyer Visit the following link to find out about mesothelioma and asbestos diseases Claim Compensation For Mesothelioma

Australian Workers Report of Mesothelioma

As many as 900 Australians a year may be at risk for death due to mesothelioma cancer because of the rapidly rising number of mesothelioma diagnosis.

The Australian workforce once relied heavily on jobs from asbestos-related processing and construction companies and now is finding that they are becoming victims of their one-time employment.

Mesothelioma Death Rates

A professor for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine used World Health Organization (WHO) figures and found that the UK and Australia both currently lead in the number of mesothelioma-related deaths worldwide.

Professor Julian Peto, head of the Cancer Research UK Epidemiology and Genetics Group, speculated that the death rate from asbestos-related diseases will only increase, especially among men who are currently 40 years of age, and who will become nearly 100 times more likely to die by the time they reach 80 years of age.

Peto also speculated that since the 1980s, there have been approximately 10,000 cases of mesothelioma reported in Australia alone. He also concluded that within the next 40 years, more than 25,000 Australians could die from asbestosis.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma Diagnosis

At its peak, in the 1970s, nearly 10,000 tonnes (equivalent to more than 22 million pounds) of brown asbestos was being imported into Australia for use in the construction industry, largely affecting construction workers, carpenters, plumbers, electricians and shipyard workers.

According to Peto, who presented his findings at a public lecture at the University of Melbourne in April 2008, nearly 500 Australian men and 100 Australian women are diagnosed each year with asbestos-related conditions including mesothelioma cancer.

What is Asbestos and How Does it Cause Mesothelioma?

Vermiculite is a mineral for which asbestos comes from. There are several types of asbestos found throughout the world, and the use of asbestos was wide spread during the 20th century worldwide, as it was a heat-resistant product that was inexpensively produced, offering the construction industry a cheaply made and easily mass produced product.

In Australia, not only was asbestos mined, but it was imported as well. Over the years, any exposure to asbestos may have infected an individual with mesothelioma cancer.

Inhaling asbestos dust may cause mesothelioma cancer, an aggressive form of lung cancer. It is often misdiagnosed and even when symptoms are present, it can be difficult to diagnose.

Often termed "a silent killer" because it remains dormant for years, showing no signs or symptoms in victims. Mesothelioma can be a dormant condition, not revealing symptoms for decades in an individual.

Types of Asbestos

There are six types of asbestos commonly found including, chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), crocidolite (blue), tremolite, anthophyllite and actinolite. Blue, brown and white were the most commonly used types of asbestos. Chrysotile is considered a more flexible form of asbestos and its use was implemented into a range of products including cement roofing sheets for buildings, brake linings, pipe insulation, floor tiles, and even for fire protection within fuses. In the United States, chrysotile is the most common type of asbestos found and a large contributor for mesothelioma there.

Both the brown and blue, amosite and crocidolite asbestos, had been banned in Australia in the 1980s. Crocidolite is also predominately found in Australia and Africa.

Regulations for brown and blue asbestos didn't occur until the 1980s.

Australian Mesothelioma Treatment Facilities Increase

Due to the high rate of asbestosis cases reported in Australia, with no relief in site, many medical facilities and mesothelioma research centers are setting up headquarters there.

For example, the Asbestos Diseases Foundation of Australia and the Queensland Asbestos Related Disease Support Society are two groups working to offer mesothelioma victims support and information regarding their condition as well as funding for the research of mesothelioma treatments.

While mesothelioma treatment research continues there are no known cures for asbestos-related illnesses. Individuals are advised to speak with an experienced mesothelioma law firm to learn more about developing mesothelioma litigation.

Because of the preventable nature of mesothelioma and the high costs associated with managing the disease, developing a mesothelioma lawsuit may provide monetary compensation as a potential outcome for victims seeking relief.

Brachytherapy for Treatment of Mesothelioma

Brachytherapy is a form of radiotherapy and is an advanced form of treatment for mesothelioma. It has been used for over a century for the treatment of mesothelioma.

Radiotherapy is used to treat mesothelioma by ionizing radiation, thus killing cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be performed internally or externally. When radiotherapy is performed externally the radiation is put into the body from an object outside the body, which is usually called a linear accelerator.

When radiotherapy is performed internally radiation is put inside the body. Internal radiotherapy can also be called brachytherapy. "Brachy" comes from the Greek word for "short range." The radiation is put into the body at short range, thus, brachytherapy. Some other names for internal radiotherapy are sealed source radiotherapy, seed implantation radiotherapy or endocurietherapy.

The radiation is placed either inside the cancer source or very close to it. The radiation that is placed inside emits radiation killing the cancerous cells but can only kill up to a one inch diameter, so the radiation must be placed close to the cancerous site.

There are two different types of brachytherapy:

- temporary brachytherapy - permanent brachytherapy

Temporary brachytherapy consists of placing the radioactive seeds (radiation) inside the body and then taking them out after a certain amount of time.

Permanent brachytherapy consists of placing the radioactive seeds inside the body and leaving them. The radioactive seeds actually stop emitting radiation after a certain amount of time but lay in the body causing no problems.

There are actually teams of people who administer the brachytherapy. Among this team are a radiation oncologist, a radiation physicist, a radiation therapist, and the person who manually does the procedure.

The radiation oncologist decides the area to be treated and the overall treatment plan, the radiation physicist decides the best equipment to be used to infuse the radiation, the dosimetrist decides the dosage to be given and helps in distributing the dose and the radiation therapist operates the equipment that administers the radiation.

Brachytherapy is considered to be a safer method of treatment for mesothelioma than other treatments for the cancer, but there are side effects of this procedure. Right after the procedure there is soreness at the site of the radiation there may also be swelling in the same area. Short-term side effects are soreness and bleeding at the site but generally only last a few days.

Mesothelioma and Litigation: How to Get Cash For Asbestos Lung Cancer Palliative Care

Mesothelioma is a particularly nasty form of lung cancer, and mesothelioma litigation is increasingly being used as a means of getting cash for asbestos lung cancer palliative care. Without it, many families would not be able to afford professional care for their loved ones, and would have to tend for them themselves at the worst possible time for them and for the patient.

Incidences of mesothelioma asbestos lung cancer are steadily increasing, which indicates just how insidious this disease is. Caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers, the symptoms can take upwards of 40 years after exposure to appear, and may people who suffer do not even remember being exposed to the substance. It does not take much exposure, and many cannot understand the diagnosis when it is available because they cannot remember ever being exposed to asbestos.

There are no known 100% effective conventional medical treatments for mesothelioma, and the prognosis is generally bad. However, there are several things that can be done to alleviate pain and make the patient's life more comfortable. While drugs can help, hospice care is an option that takes pressure of the family and provides a comfortable environment for the patient. However, these alternatives can be expensive and if responsibility can be placed on an employer for the exposure that ultimately led to the disease, then compensation can pay for the palliative care.

This is not seeking charity, but rather making those responsible pay for the treatment. A high level of compensation will be needed to pay for the treatment and care needed, and in order to achieve this result you will require the services of a good mesothelioma attorney. Any lawyer will not do due to the specialized knowledge needed to persuade judges and juries that there very few causes of asbestos lung cancer other than exposure to the fibrous silicates that make up asbestos.

The compensation awarded can be very large, although smokers will receive less since their habit can be construed as contributing to the disease. Mesothelioma is not just another word for asbestos cancer, but is in fact a cancer of the mesothelium, a membrane that lines many body cavities, including the thoracic, or chest cavity. The lining of the lungs is called the pleura, so mesothelioma refers to any form of lung cancer involving that membrane. In fact 80% of mesothelioma cases are caused by smoking.

It is therefore very difficult for smokers to blame asbestos exposure for mesothelioma unless they have been working with asbestos. However, a good asbestos attorney should be able to secure a reasonable level of compensation, even for a smoker. It will be a fight though, since the asbestos companies and employers that required employees to work with the substance are aware of the high levels of compensation being awarded, and now actively fight such cases.

When you consult a law firm with a view to instructing them to fight your mesothelioma case, you should insist on talking with the attorney that will be handling your case. You can then discuss your strategy, and you can make sure that your attorney has had previous success with such cases. You don't want to retain a loser!

Ask questions, and determine the success rate of your prospective attorney in such cases. He or she must also appreciate your condition and understand how you feel, so that they can fight your case properly. Nothing can beat experience in a mesothelioma asbestos cancer lawsuit, so make sure that you get the best you can afford. Better still: tell them their fee depends upon them winning!

Asbestos Removal Process

Asbestos has long been known to be tied with mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer that spurs the development of tumors on linings surrounding vital organs. Asbestos, while not used in construction today, is still known to be contained within numerous old structures, among them schools and older factories. Although not dangerous in a non-agitated state, its still a bit worrisome knowing that many buildings still contain the dangerous material, whose fibers can be dispersed into the air during lackluster constructions projects or accidents (such as fires or earthquakes).

If you know your home or your business structure contains asbestos, it might be time to remove it. The asbestos removal process is quite lengthy and complicated. Special steps are taken to completely eliminate the possibility of asbestos fibers being release into the air. If such an event would occur, the asbestos fibers would put everyone in the immediate vicinity in danger of contracting mesothelioma. This fibers are difficult to detect as they are microscopic and aren't accompanied by any particular taste or smell. The dangers that the removal process entails have recently been subject to controversy. Many are against removing asbestos from older buildings as a result of the problems which could ensue as a result of improper removal.

Many companies worldwide have already taken the initiative to remove asbestos from older buildings. Even the government has been involved in contracting with companies to remove asbestos. The controversy surrounding removal is not likely to subside anytime soon. However, people will soon need to begin understanding that the risks involved in removal may far outweigh those involved in keeping the asbestos as-is. In the end, it is the choice of a the specific owner of a structure whether he or she wishes to remove the asbestos that may be contained within the structure. While this decision is not always straight-forward, it is agreeably necessary.

Mesothelioma Variants

Mesothelioma is a rare yet deadly cancer that almost always surfaces in a malignant form and results in tumors on significant organs of the body. Most people believe mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. So what exactly is the mesothelium? The mesothelium is a film or sac that surrounds vital organs in an attempt to protect them (such organs can include the lungs and heart). Mesothelioma can almost always be attributed to asbestos. While we might think there exists only one form of mesothelioma, there actually several. We will be talking about pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pericardial mesothelioma. As unfortunate as it may be, mesothelioma's symptoms don't surface until the disease has progressed, which at times can be several years following exposure to asbestos. As one might guess, this can make diagnosis a pain and treatment a near impracticality.

Pleural mesothelioma is the widely known variant of mesothelioma. In this form of mesothelioma, tumors develop on the lining of the lungs. Most people with the disease have a difficult time swallowing, breathing, and getting around without coughing. They may also experience other symptoms such as weight loss.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a more uncommon form of mesothelioma. This variant of the disease sheds ill will on the lower parts of the body, particularly the abdomen and stomach. This cancer can start in either of the two locations and metastize (grow into other parts of the body). This variant of the disease tends to bring about more severe symptoms such as nausea and blood clots. Since these tumors can put pressure on surrounding organs, they can make for an unpleasant sensation.

Finally, its time we talk of a very rare type of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma. Th¬is variant focuses on the heart and can bring about palpitations and breathing problems.

If you are or have ever experienced these types of symptoms, its best to speak to a doctor.

Mesothelioma Introduction

Not too many people worldwide know exactly what mesothelioma is. Well, it's a type of cancer brought about by exposure to a fiber-like material known as asbestos. As of today, there exists no definitive cure for the disease, something quite unfortunate for those who suffer from it. Asbestos, although initially appearing to be a miraculous material, turned out to be a fraud when in the '70s it was discovered that asbestos was linked to the development of mesothelioma. Since the disease takes years to surface, many that were once involved in the shipping, refining, and mining industries are suing their former employers over their development of the disease.

If you were involved in any of the above industries and feel that you may be suffering from mesothelioma, an asbestos attorney can help you. Asbestos attorneys work hand in hand with the family of sufferers to build the best possible case for those who have become contaminated with the disease. If a qualified attorney is hired, there should be no concern that a victim will lose a case. The majority of asbestos cases have a very positive outcome, with victims earning settlements in the millions. However comforting that may be, the settlement will never be able to replace the victim's health.

Now's the time to get in touch with an asbestos attorney to get the money that you deserve. Stop hesitating because, as we've said above, most if not all mesothelioma cases have potential for settlements. Do the proper research and set up a consultation with an attorney that you know is qualified to serve you. With any mesothelioma sufferer, time is of the essence. Sitting and trying to decide whether to contact an attorney is pointless. Take some action and begin to get the compensation you deserve. Pick up the phone and call an attorney today.

British Workers Ignorant to the Dangers of Asbestos

A British Lung Foundation survey has revealed that most tradespeople
are unaware of the health risks posed by asbestos. Out of 400 people in
this survey relating to asbestos, it was found that 75% had not
received any form of asbestos awareness training. The survey showed
that asbestos related diseases are currently the main cause of work
related ill health. The asbestos related survey estimated that
approximately 3000 people die each year due to exposure to the mineral
dust.

Asbestos was commonly used in the construction of many buildings due to
its insulation and fire retardant properties. Asbestos was used in some
building materials until 1999; however most was phased out in the early
1980s. Tradespeople now have the highest risk of developing asbestos
related lung cancers, mesothelioma and asbestosis as they regularly
disturb and come into contact with materials that may contain asbestos
fibres. Building owners should always consider having an asbestos
survey carried out on their premise. An asbestos survey can help
evaluate the presence and extent of any suspect asbestos containing
materials in any building and assess their condition.

The British Lung Foundation survey relating to asbestos concentrated on
builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, joiners and gas fitters.
The survey found one in 10 had felt under pressure to continue working
even if they had not seen an asbestos survey for the building and
suspected that asbestos was present. In addition, nearly a third of
those in the survey mistakenly believed that they did not need to see
any types of asbestos survey because asbestos had already been removed
from all British buildings.

The majority of tradesmen - 81% in the British Lung Foundation’s
asbestos survey - said they never, rarely or only sometimes asked if
the site they were working on had been checked for asbestos via an
official asbestos survey, before they started a job - even though it is
a legal requirement for them to see an Asbestos survey which informs
them of the presence of asbestos.

Under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006, it is a legal
requirement that all those that may disturb the fabric of any building
must have Asbestos Awareness Training. This form of awareness training
for asbestos helps tradespeople increase their general awareness of
asbestos within their working environment.
It has been estimated that as many as 20 tradespeople die every week as
a result of exposure to asbestos in their workplace. In fact exposure
to asbestos has been deemed as one of Britain’s biggest workplace
killers.

So why isn’t asbestos awareness training a number one priority for
all tradespeople because with better training they would reduce their
risks of asbestos related lung disease and mesothelioma. However if the
British tradespeople continue their ignorance to the dangers of
asbestos and don’t put their own health first then campaigns, like
those run by the British Lung Foundation, to eliminate asbestos related
cancers such as mesothelioma and make them a disease of the past, are a
lost cause.

So lets all strive to make our British tradespeople more aware of the
dangers of asbestos by making sure asbestos awareness training is a
core skill they all own and all tradespeople are presented with an
official asbestos survey before they start a job on a particular site.

Mesothelioma Prognosis: Knowing Your Chances

Some mesothelioma patients want to know about mesothelioma prognosis. They may have their own personal valid reasons for wanting to know their chances of survival or getting better. If you are a mesothelioma patient interested in the same thing, then you have the right to know. Do keep in mind though that there are various prognosis sources. Here are some important points you should consider when reading about asbestos cancer prognosis.

Prognosis Data

Where it Comes From - The first thing you should understand is where prognosis data comes from. Real prognosis information is based form statistical data. Researchers look into different mesothelioma cases through clinical studies to get average figures. This may mean that genuine prognosis information may be true for a large number of patients. This does not mean though that the information is always true.

Asbestos cancer cases can be unique. This is because a lot of different factors can affect mesothelioma. Some of these include your overall health, treatments taken, time when treatment began, mesothelioma type and severity of the condition. It is therefore important not to view prognosis information as absolutely true in your case.

Difficulties with Prognosis

It may be difficult to arrive at statistical or personal mesothelioma prognosis. This is because mesothelioma itself is not like many other forms of cancer. The condition is rare. Asbestos exposure, which is the primary risk factor linked to this condition is not always experienced by a lot of people. Those who also have the condition may not immediately seek doctors' assistance for diagnosis and treatment. The symptoms do not obviously point to the condition and may even mimic the symptoms of other diseases.

Statistical Information

So what do the statistical figures say? Since patients are often diagnosed late, the prognosis for many patients is not good. A lot of patients are told that they can expect to live for only less than a year. Again, there are exceptions to this prognosis. There have been personal accounts of patients who have survived for more than five years. Some even live up to ten years after diagnosis.

Diagnosis

Like other forms of cancer, early mesothelioma diagnosis is important. Early diagnosis means early treatment and higher chances of survival. Since early diagnosis is not often made due to the lack of unique symptoms, you may not even think that a doctor's visit is necessary. Your only clue that may suggest that you may need medical monitoring is asbestos exposure. This is only true however for individuals who work closely with asbestos. Patients who do not handle asbestos on a regular basis may not even remember or know that they have been exposed to asbestos.

Treatment

Treatment is one factor that can affect individual prognosis. Depending on your overall health, the stage of your disease and your doctor's evaluation, you may have to undergo one or two cancer treatment methods. Like other forms of cancer, mesothelioma may be treated through chemotherapy, surgery or radiation therapy.

Mesothelioma prognosis is definitely never definite. Although prognosis information can provide you with valuable insight about the disease, there is no reason to believe that you absolutely have no hope of surviving beyond a year.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma: Facts You Should Know

Asbestos and mesothelioma are two terms that often go together. If you are a little familiar about mesothelioma, you would know that asbestos plays a big part in it. Here are some facts you may want to know about mesothelioma and the role of asbestos.

Asbestos Exposure

The biggest risk factor to mesothelioma is past exposure to asbestos. Around 80% of mesothelioma patients have been previously exposed to asbestos. This is the reason why some people alternatively call mesothelioma asbestos cancer. There could be a lot of ways in which exposure may happen. One of the most common ways however is through work situations. Employees who work for companies that use asbestos are the most at risk of developing mesothelioma.

There are however some patients who claim that they never have been exposed. There may therefore be some other risk factors involved. There are also a number of patients who may not exactly recall when and where they were exposed to asbestos. This is especially true for people who have indirect asbestos contact. The fibers of asbestos for example can be inhaled or ingested from objects like the clothes of people working with asbestos.

Appearance of Symptoms

Early treatment is often the key to increasing cancer patient survival rates. It is possible that the same can be true for mesothelioma. Many asbestos cancer patients however only learn of their illness when it is at an advanced stage. This is because the symptoms of mesothelioma seem a lot like the symptoms of other diseases. Mesothelioma symptoms can therefore be a bit misleading. Moreover, the symptoms may appear only after 20-30 years after exposure. By that time many patients do not expect it and may even forget that they have had some experience with asbestos.

Litigation

Asbestos and mesothelioma are also often heard together in court rooms. This is because an asbestos cancer patient may have developed the illness due to company negligence. It has been proven in decades old cases that some companies were actually aware of the dangers of asbestos and did not take steps to protect their employees. In recent cases, it may still be possible for some companies to have been negligent despite existing asbestos handling laws.

If you have reason to think that a company has been negligent, you can sue. It is possible that you were not warned about asbestos or a company's precautionary measures were not up to standard.

Prognosis

On the average, mesothelioma prognosis is not good. Based on average statistical data, a patient may not live beyond one year. This is not however an absolute figure. There have been some patients who have lived for more than five years. It is important to remember that your particular condition may not be the same as other people's conditions. Your hopes of survival are affected by a lot of different personal factors.

Asbestos and mesothelioma truly are interconnected. If you have reason to believe that you have been exposed to asbestos, you may want to ask your doctor about monitoring.

How Asbestos Litigation Plaintiffs Can Get Mesothelioma Lawsuit Loan In 3 Easy Steps?

Non-Recourse Lawsuit Funding for Mesothelioma Lawsuit Plaintiffs

If you are suffering from Mesothelioma or a loved one has died of
Mesothelioma, and you are a plaintiff involved in a Mesothelioma
lawsuit(asbestos lawsuit), and have hired a lawyer to represent your
claim then you may qualify for a Mesothelioma lawsuit funding or
lawsuit loan against the potential future proceeds you may receive from
your lawsuit.

This is called as Mesothelioma lawsuit funding, Asbestos lawsuit cash
advance, legal funding and litigation funding. It is also called as
Asbestos Lawsuit loan. But in true sense, these are not loans because
loans are repayable absolutely. But the Mesothelioma or Asbestos
lawsuit funding is a non recourse cash advance and it does not have to
be paid back unless the case is won or settled. What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is the scientific term used to describe a cancerous tumor
that involves the mesothelial cells of a body organ. Mesothelial cells
are cells that form a protective lining over the lungs, heart and
abdominal organs. The most common type of Mesothelioma is pleural
Mesothelioma.

What causes it? Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma:

Asbestos is the major cause of a number of ailments and diseases,
including the deadly cancer Mesothelioma in the United States. Asbestos
has actually been in use for centuries. The name asbestos was given to
this mineral by the Ancient Greeks and the word literally means
inextinguishable.

Who has the right to file a lawsuit to obtain compensation for Mesothelioma?

A Mesothelioma lawsuit can be filed by a person who has developed
Mesothelioma through exposure to asbestos. If the individual has died,
the lawsuit can be filed by a family member of victim, and also by
administrator or the executor of the estate of deceased. A lawsuit can
also be filed by a family member who has developed the Mesothelioma
disease through close contact with the victim person who was exposed to
asbestos.

If you are involved in a Mesothelioma or Asbestos lawsuit you know very
well that due to our tiresome legal process lawsuit moves forward in a
very slow and unhurried manner. Very often defendants are represented
by attorneys hired by big insurance companies. Therefore, even if, law
is on your side, deep-pocket defendants can manipulate or manage to buy
time with legal ploys and delays, and manoeuver to frustrate you. In
the legal battle, victory belongs to the most persevering.

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always
wins — not through strength but by perseverance. What your attorney
needs, in order to get you the best settlement or fairest trial, is
time. Just as the defendants can buy time, so can you. Mesothelioma
lawsuit funding, the non-recourse loan helps you to get instant cash.

A lawsuit loan or lawsuit funding on your expected Asbestos or
Mesothelioma lawsuit settlement can help you now. If you are suffering
from Mesothelioma, you may need money to pay medical costs and other
monthly bills also.

From a reputed and good lawsuit funding company, you can obtain your Mesothelioma lawsuit loan in three easy to follow steps:

A. Step - Submit the Application: When you apply for Asbestos lawsuit
loan there is no application fee. A good lawsuit funding company should
not charge any upfront fee or any application fee, processing fee or
any monthly fee.

B. Step - Your attorney faxes the required documents to Mesothelioma lawsuit loan funding company.

C. Step - If approved for cash advance, funds are wired into your bank
account, the same day. Of course, you can take a bank check also.

Once you get a Mesothelioma lawsuit funding, you do not pay back until
you win or settle the case. If you do not win your Asbestos lawsuit,
you do not owe any money to lawsuit funding company. The loan that was
advanced by lawsuit funding company is not owed. Any fees that may have
accrued are not owed. You pay back lawsuit loan only if you win or
settle the case. No Win- No Pay Back, Period

If you are involved in an Asbestos lawsuit and you are under a
financial pressure now, the expected large settlement in future will
not take care of your present financial and emotional needs.

Mesothelioma lawsuit funding or Asbestos lawsuit loan, allows you to
get relief from present financial pressure, so you do not have to
settle your case simply because you need whatever money you can get
now.

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.

About Benign Multicystic Mesothelioma

Benign multicystic mesothelioma is a form of non-cancerous
mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, a protective
membrane that protects and lines most of the body's internal organs,
such as the lungs and the heart. It produces a fluid that lubricates
the organs and prevents friction when they move against other internal
organs in the body. The lungs, for example, can expand and contract
during breathing without the danger of it getting worn or torn once it
rubs against other structures. As a form of cancer, Mesothelioma is
considered uncommon whether or not it is malignant or benign.

Benign multicystic mesothelioma affects the peritoneal tissue of the
abdomen. This is the lining that surrounds organs like the bowel,
spleen and the liver. It may also affect the pleura, the lining that
covers the lungs. A person with this disease will develop tumors in the
affected areas. If the tumors grow, they will cause difficulty in
breathing or cause pain in the abdomen because of the added pressure
placed on the lungs or in the stomach cavity.

Symptoms
Making a diagnosis of benign multicystic mesothelioma is always a
challenge because a patient can appear to be without any symptoms.
However, there are certain symptoms that may point to the disease such
as, chest or abdominal pain, chronic cough, difficulty in breathing or
in moving bowels, shortness of breath, fever, nausea, vomiting, anemia,
swollen feet, fluid build-up in the lungs or in the abdominal area and
unexplained weight loss.

These symptoms appear once the infection begins to spread or when the
tumors grow too big. Complications may also occur once fluid escapes
into the pleura of the lungs and may pose a serious health risk.

Causes
As with the malignant form of mesothelioma, the cause of benign
multicystic mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. This places workers
involved in industries and occupations where asbestos is produced or
used at a high risk of developing the disease. This includes people
whose occupations belong to certain industries such as construction,
demolition, automobile, ship yards, power plants, steel mills, oil
refineries, factories, railroads and asbestos mining.

Unfortunately, asbestos exposure is not only limited to workers in
high-risk industries. People may also be exposed to asbestos through
tainted drinking water, use of products that contain vermiculite such
as some pesticides and fertilizers, exposure to some older appliances
that contain asbestos or by living with a person who is exposed to the
material. Asbestos fibers can cling to a worker's skin, hair or
clothing and he or she may bring it home without even knowing it.

Diagnosis of benign multicystic mesothelioma
People suspected of having this disease have to undergo a physical
examination. This will include a chest x-ray and CT scan of the
affected areas. Biopsies of tissue samples taken from the lung or the
abdomen will also help in determining whether a person has benign
multicystic mesothelioma.

Once a diagnosis has been made, a treatment option will be prescribed.
Prognosis for people with benign multicystic mesothelioma is
significantly better compared to those with other forms of
mesothelioma. With early diagnosis and prompt treatment, patients can
expect a better outcome compared to people with the malignant form.

Treatment The goal of treating benign multicystic mesothelioma is to
remove the cause of the pain or discomfort. Which treatment options to
use will depend on the need for an immediate solution and on the
severity of the disease. In this case, the target of the treatment is
to eliminate the tumors. It's not always possible to eradicate all
tumors present in the affected area, but surgical removal will prevent
symptoms and alleviate any pain.

Chemotherapy may also be used to target the infected areas. With
radiation therapy, tumors are either shrunk or destroyed using high
energy beams. As a final solution to the disease, it is important that
further exposure to asbestos is either limited to such an extreme as to
produce only the minimum risk, or to avoid even mild exposure
altogether.

Benign multicystic mesothelioma is a highly treatable disease. If you
experience any of the symptoms or have had prior exposure to asbestos,
it's always best to consult a doctor for a proper medical evaluation
and diagnosis. This disease may not be cancerous, but it is still a
health risk and may prevent you from living your life fully. You may
even want to get in touch with a qualified lawyer to help you obtain
compensation for the suffering you have experienced.

Effects of Asbestos Exposure to Human Health

Exposure to any type of asbestos will increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, including asbestosis, pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and pleural effusions. This conclusion is based on observations of these diseases in groups of workers with cumulative exposures ranging from about 5 to 1,200 fiber-year/mL. Such exposure would result from 40 years of occupational exposure to air concentrations of 0.125 to 30 fiber/mL.

Diseases from asbestos exposure take a long time to develop. Most cases of lung cancer or asbestosis in asbestos workers occur 15 or more years after initial exposure to asbestos. Tobacco smokers who have been exposed to asbestos have a "far greater-than-additive" risk for lung cancer than do nonsmokers who have been exposed, meaning the risk is greater than the individual risks from asbestos and smoking added together. The time between diagnosis of mesothelioma and the time of initial occupational exposure to asbestos commonly has been 30 years or more. Cases of mesotheliomas have been reported after household exposure of family members of asbestos workers and in individuals without occupational exposure who live close to asbestos mines.

The Importance Of A Mesothelioma Attorney

The importance of a mesothelioma attorney is not fully appreciated by most people. Mesothelioma is an incurable form of lung cancer that is generally associated with exposure to asbestos fibers, and is probably the one form of cancer that has led to more lawsuits for damages than any other.

It would be thought that a person suffering from mesothelioma that had previously worked in the asbestos industry would have a cast iron case, but this is not in fact the case. The real facts are that mesothelioma is a term for cancer of the mesothelium, more commonly known as the pleura, the lining of the lung. The problem is that most forms of lung cancer are termed mesothelioma, and it can be extremely difficult to prove that they are caused by one source alone. This in itself could give a mesothelioma attorney a big headache. However, there is worse to come for them.

Smoking! Believe it or not around 80% of Mesothelioma cases in North America are caused by smoking - not asbestos! Hence, if a smoker contracts the disease then the asbestos companies will naturally use that as a defense, and claim that smoking was the real cause and not the asbestos. Your mesothelioma attorney now has a real fight on his or her hands to get you any compensation at all. Now that compensation for asbestos relayed cancers has reached very high levels, most asbestos companies will vigorously contest any case against them, and the services of a good attorney are absolutely essential if you are to have any success at all.

One of the problems involved here is that, just as smoking has not been definitively proved to cause lung cancer, neither has exposure to asbestos. Most doctors will agree on the relationship, but the courts require proof, and it is not there. There are still those that deny any relationship, and without cast-iron evidence their claim could be construed to be as legally valid as those of the vast majority that believe in the relationship. However, belief is not proof, even when that belief is held by over 95% of the population!

It is strange, however, that most people will accept that asbestos can cause mesothelioma while many that do so will not believe the same of smoking. It seems a case of unwilling to accept what might affect themselves. However, all of this is academic, and you will need a good mesothelioma attorney if the compensation awarded is to be sufficient to provide the palliative care that all mesothelioma patients will eventually need.

Most will require hospice care so that some of the pressure can be taken from their family, and while hospices in Europe are free, this is not true of the USA. What is certain is that a smoker will not receive the same level of compensation as a non-smoker since it has been established that smokers who are also known to have had long-term contact with asbestos are more likely to contract the disease than any other.

The importance of a mesothelioma attorney cannot be overemphasized, and if you are seeking one then there are many choose from since it is a lucrative profession. Make sure that you choose a good one, since there are also many of these around. Here are a few tips:

1. Make sure that your attorney has handled mesothelioma cases before, and that yours is not their first case.

2. Have they had previous successes in such cases, and what level of compensation have the succeeded in achieving?

3. Does your mesothelioma attorney have the backing of a good law firm, with others that can take over the case in the event of illness, or is your attorney a one man band. You are better to have a group of people helping you than a individual with this type of case.

4. Is your case being handled as an individual case or as as part of a class action. Class actions can save a lot of trouble, but can also result in a lower level of compensation - not always though, so discuss it with others who may have been involved in both before making a decision.

These are some of the aspects of your case that should be discussed with your solicitor. However, once you have considered everything related to your claim, you will always have to fall back to one simple decision. Who is to be your mesothelioma attorney and what instructions are you going to give.

UK Asbestos Regulations

Asbestos has been one of the most discussed health topics of the last few decades. This is due to the fact that asbestos emits invisible fibres that can have harmful effects on anyone who comes into contact with them for prolonged periods.

Research has shown that asbestos fibres are the catalyst for many diseases including Lung Cancer, Pleural Thickening and Mesothelioma. With this research in mind, and conclusive proof that asbestos kills, many governments from around the world have hastened to ban the usage of asbestos in any form. Many laws and legislations have been put in place to ensure that asbestos is not imported manufactured or used.

Like other governments from around the world, the UK government has taken steps to prohibit the usage of asbestos. Many laws have been passed for this purpose.

Below are some examples of the laws approved by the UK Government against the usage and import of asbestos into the country in any form.

- Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations (1983) - Asbestos (Prohibition) Laws (1999) - Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations (2002) - Control of Asbestos Regulations (2006)

The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations were put in place in 1983. The key features of these regulations being:

- To insure that all asbestos related insulating work is carried out by licensed asbestos contractors. This clause was added in 1998

- The contractors need to file an application at least 14 days prior to the day work is to commence for approval. The law was amended to include this clause in 2003

- The contractors need to follow certain terms and conditions which must be in accordance with the approved code of practice

- The Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations was replaced by Control of Asbestos Regulation in 2006

The Asbestos (Prohibition) Laws were implemented in 1999 and have the following key features:

- This law was actually accepted in 1985 and banned the use and import of Blue Asbestos (Crocodilite) and Brown Asbestos (Amosite).

- In 1999, this law was modified to include the prohibited usage of White Asbestos (Chrysotile).

- In 2002 the import of White Asbestos (Chrysotile) was banned and included in the law.

- In 2006 this law was replaced by Control of Asbestos Regulations.

2002 saw the implementation of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations. The following points offer a general overview of these regulations:

- These regulations set a limit to the amount of asbestos a person may be exposed to - Conditions need to be completely controlled when work with asbestos is to take place. This was implemented in 1987 - The asbestos based materials in the construction need to be properly recognized - In 1993 it was made law to replace asbestos based materials whenever and wherever possible - In 2002 it was made necessary to properly manage and identify all asbestos related materials - In 2006 this law was replaced by The Control of Asbestos Regulations

The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 is the most recent and the most comprehensive collection of regulations approved by the UK government to date in their fight against asbestos related deaths.

The Importance of Your Mesothelioma Attorney

The importance of a mesothelioma attorney is not fully appreciated by most people. Mesothelioma is an incurable form of lung cancer that is generally associated with exposure to asbestos fibers, and is probably the one form of cancer that has led to more lawsuits for damages than any other.

It would be thought that a person suffering from mesothelioma that had previously worked in the asbestos industry would have a cast iron case, but this is not in fact the case. The real facts are that mesothelioma is a term for cancer of the mesothelium, more commonly known as the pleura, the lining of the lung. The problem is that most forms of lung cancer are termed mesothelioma, and it can be extremely difficult to prove that they are caused by one source alone. This in itself could give a mesothelioma attorney a big headache. However, there is worse to come for them.

Smoking! Believe it or not around 80% of Mesothelioma cases in North America are caused by smoking - not asbestos! Hence, if a smoker contracts the disease then the asbestos companies will naturally use that as a defense, and claim that smoking was the real cause and not the asbestos. Your mesothelioma attorney now has a real fight on his or her hands to get you any compensation at all. Now that compensation for asbestos relayed cancers has reached very high levels, most asbestos companies will vigorously contest any case against them, and the services of a good attorney are absolutely essential if you are to have any success at all.

One of the problems involved here is that, just as smoking has not been definitively proved to cause lung cancer, neither has exposure to asbestos. Most doctors will agree on the relationship, but the courts require proof, and it is not there. There are still those that deny any relationship, and without cast-iron evidence their claim could be construed to be as legally valid as those of the vast majority that believe in the relationship. However, belief is not proof, even when that belief is held by over 95% of the population!

It is strange, however, that most people will accept that asbestos can cause mesothelioma while many that do so will not believe the same of smoking. It seems a case of unwilling to accept what might affect themselves. However, all of this is academic, and you will need a good mesothelioma attorney if the compensation awarded is to be sufficient to provide the palliative care that all mesothelioma patients will eventually need.

Most will require hospice care so that some of the pressure can be taken from their family, and while hospices in Europe are free, this is not true of the USA. What is certain is that a smoker will not receive the same level of compensation as a non-smoker since it has been established that smokers who are also known to have had long-term contact with asbestos are more likely to contract the disease than any other.

The importance of a mesothelioma attorney cannot be overemphasized, and if you are seeking one then there are many choose from since it is a lucrative profession. Make sure that you choose a good one, since there are also many of these around. Here are a few tips:

1. Make sure that your attorney has handled mesothelioma cases before, and that yours is not their first case. 2. Have they had previous successes in such cases, and what level of compensation have the succeeded in achieving? 3. Does your mesothelioma attorney have the backing of a good law firm, with others that can take over the case in the event of illness, or is your attorney a one man band. You are better to have a group of people helping you than a individual with this type of case. 4. Is your case being handled as an individual case or as as part of a class action. Class actions can save a lot of trouble, but can also result in a lower level of compensation - not always though, so discuss it with others who may have been involved in both before making a decision.

These are some of the aspects of your case that should be discussed with your solicitor. However, once you have considered everything related to your claim, you will always have to fall back to one simple decision. Who is to be your mesothelioma attorney and what instructions are you going to give

Mesothelioma Litigation Facts

Mesothelioma litigation is an option for mesothelioma patients. Litigation however is not an easy path to consider. Before you choose to sue, there are a couple of crucial facts that you should be aware of.

You have the right to sue.

In some cases, your condition may be caused by the negligence of others. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that results from exposure to asbestos fibers. Like any average individual, you probably wouldn't consider exposing yourself to asbestos of your own free will. You may have been exposed to asbestos due to your work or due to a family member who works with asbestos.

So why should you sue if you find out you have mesothelioma? Companies that hire individuals to work on asbestos would typically know that there are certain dangers involved in handling the mineral. Company safety rules should therefore be strictly implemented to prevent asbestos exposure. If you develop mesothelioma, it may be due to a company's inability to protect and warn people against the dangers of asbestos.

Different states have different laws regarding mesothelioma cases.

Mesothelioma litigation procedures aren't always the same. Different states have different rules and laws covering mesothelioma cases. One thing is common though, various localities have their own set specific time frames for litigation procedures. It is therefore very important that you seek legal assistance as soon as you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. If you act too late, you may not be able to get the monetary compensation that is rightfully yours.

Not every lawyer can handle a mesothelioma case.

Some lawyers do not handle mesothelioma litigations. Not every lawyer however is ready or equipped to do so. Every lawyer has his/her own line of specialty. There are therefore some lawyers who know better how to handle a mesothelioma case. A mesothelioma lawyer would know better the legal technicalities, laws and details involved in a mesothelioma case. Other than these, he would also have sufficient disease knowledge to help clients trace exposure details and determine the extent of physical, emotional and financial damage.

Time is of the essence in a mesothelioma case. This does not mean though that you should be haphazard in your choice of a lawyer. Make sure that the expert that you pick has had some background and success in mesothelioma cases. A good lawyer can make the difference between prompt financial or emotional relief and absolute loss.

Litigation can be expensive.

Like any form of lawsuit, mesothelioma cases can also be costly. Many legal entities however are aware that many clients are not able to pay outright. The collection of fees is therefore postponed until damages are awarded. Be warned though that attorney's fees for mesothelioma cases can be quite steep. Lawyers can collect up to 40% of the total amount awarded. For many patients though this is already considered a fair deal. After all, mesothelioma cases are not easy to handle and win.

Mesothelioma litigation may not be easy. The compensation however, that you can hope to get after the procedure can be a great help to you and your family.

Some Truths About Asbestos Lung Mesothelioma

There are various types of mesothelioma but asbestos lung mesothelioma is an asbestos-induced cancer of the mesothelium of the lung, more familiarly known as the pleura, which is the external lining of the lung.

Many of the major organs of the body have a mesothelium, that of the heart being called the pericardium and of the heart the peritoneum. However, it is with the pleura that we are concerned here, and the symptoms of asbestos lung mesothelioma are what you would expect: coughing, discomfort in the chest cavity and eventual pain.

Before we come to possible treatments and palliative care, let’s have a look at what causes it and why we are still seeing new cases today after asbestos was banned for construction use in the 1970s.

Asbestos comes in several forms, the most dangerous thought to be crocidolite, commonly known as blue asbestos. This form of asbestos is in a highly fibrous form, and it is the inhalation and ingestion of these fibers that cause the problem. They tend to remain in the body for a considerable period of time and it can take up to 40 ��" 45 years before the symptoms of mesothelioma begin to appear, though some people contract it in their 30s.

To complicate the situation, it is not only asbestos that causes the symptoms, but any fibrous silicate, which it is why some compensation cases are not as cut and dry as they could be. To add to this complication, smoking adds to the possibility of cancer and it is argued that many patients would not have contracted mesothelioma had they not smoked.

This is not only an argument made by solicitors in court, but has been established by statistics. It is pretty certain that smokers have a greater tendency of contracting asbestos lung mesothelioma than non-smokers, since attorneys for the employers have used this as a reason for having the otherwise high compensation significantly reduced.

There is a popular misconception that mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, but it is just a misconception. Lung cancer is mesothelioma, and in the USA 80% of mesothelioma cases are caused by smoking. That is an indisputable fact. In order to prove the intervention of asbestos in a case, therefore, not only would the patients have to prove that they had worked with asbestos, but also not to have smoked. Had they smoked, then the award could be greatly reduced.

The term “asbestos lung mesothelioma” is therefore a correct one because that form of the disease to which we are referring is caused by asbestos, and not smoking, is of the pleura of the lung and not of the pericardium or peritoneum, and is mesothelioma.

Its treatment is largely palliative, or intended to ease suffering, because the prognosis is fairly grim. Only about 20% of cases live to 5 years after diagnosis, with most surviving only one year, though much depends on how far the condition had developed by the time it was diagnosed. Chemotherapy and radiation treatment are used, but not successfully, and various degrees of surgery are also used. Removal of the affected lung, pericardium and half the diaphragm is the most major of these, and even that only extends life to a maximum of around five years from diagnosis.

There are new treatments being tested, but all treatment is expensive, and a good attorney is likely necessary to secure the compensation to pay for these. Ultimately hospice care will be required and again compensation money should be kept back for this. Ultimately, in spite of all the treatment given, it is palliative care that will make the last days of the patient bearable, as will the help and support of the family, and this is what compensation can fund.

Diagnosis Mesothelioma - Tips On Diagnosis Mesothelioma And safety At Workplace

Diagnosis mesothelioma is a scary subject you don't want to talk or hear about. It is a heart wrenching news for you and your family. But fortunatelly, over the years scientist has been able through research to detect and treat mesothelioma. There are a lots sites online filled with helpful informations. There are also support groups and help mechanisms put in place for every stage of this dreadful disease. Mesothelioma disgnosis does not guaranteed a grim prognisis; therefore, in most cases early detection of the disease as with any cancer is important so that it can be treated early.

Simply put, the diagnosis of mesothelioma is the first step on a road to discovery. There are many websites to aid in the publics’ research of mesothelioma and the warning signs that lead to early diagnosis and subsequently the blessing of early treatment. It is common to treat a diagnosis of mesothelioma with surgery and chemotherapy or surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Mesothelioma is also known as the asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma shows subtle variations from asbestosis or asbestos pleural disease. Regardless it is highly recommended if you have worked around asbestos in anyway or form that you are checked for mesothelioma on a regular basis. Early diagnosis is imperative. Some of the varied warning signs include shortness of breath as well as pain in the lower back or pain at the side of the chest. Others signs may include hoarseness, difficulty swallowing or sweating and fevers.

Prognosis defers significantly among people that have been disgnosed with mesothelioma and this depends on a number of factors. These causes have a significant impact on the speed of recovery; the size of the cancer, what part of the body it is found, and how far it has spread. And also, how the cancer cells looks under the microscope, and their respond to treatment as well as the age of the patients has direct bearings on recovery time.

There are legal issues involved with a diagnosis of mesothelioma. There are several lawsuits against companies whose employees were exposed to asbestos. These are definitely matters to be researched if you are among the individuals who qualify involvement in a lawsuit. If you are uncertain whether you qualify, you can simply fill out an online form and an attorney will be happy to talk with you. It is not necessary but there are good reasons to acquire an attorney who is knowledgeable in mesothelioma litigation.

There are speciality lawyers and law firms for mesothelioma cases. Most of these specialized attorneys have an impressive settlement record and successes in obtaining verdicts in the courtroom as opposed to settlements out of court. As in most cases, there is money to be dispersed though the monetary value of the settlements are not as important as the impact lawsuits like these will eventually make in the safety issues surrounding workplaces where potentially harmful chemicals can be inhaled or absorbed into peoples bodies.

Warning is Your 1970 house full of asbestos

With all the fears about mesothelioma, an asbestos-induced incurable cancer, we had a real shock just before Christmas.

We went away for a week in Spain, and when we came back, we found our bedroom carpet was like a wet sponge. Looking up, we saw water marks right across our bedroom ceiling, and across the upstairs landing as well. Rushing up into the loft, we quickly saw the cause of this leak, a sticking ball valve in the main water tank. Although there seemed to be no damage apart for the stain on the ceiling, we though we had better call the insurance company in case there had been some more permanent damage to the roof.

Well, the response I got from the insurance company was mind-blowing...

They asked me what type of ceiling, and I told them it was ‘Artex’.

Silence...

‘Do you realise there may be asbestos in your ceiling’ we were told, even though our house was built in the mid 1970’s They said that they would have to send a specialist out to check the roof, and the cost of the repair would either be about $200 to repair the ceiling, or several thousand if they found asbestos was present. Regardless of the outcome, they would meet the bill. Well, the specialist came, with his special mask and breathing apparatus, who checked the ceiling, and sure enough, it contained asbestos!

So we were going to end up having to have all of our fitted bedroom furniture dismantled, and then the ceilings in both our bedroom and landing removed, and a new one fitted, plus the bedroom, hall, stairs and landing all redecorated â€" all for a $200 excess on the insurance.

Talk about total disruption!

Luckily we had built a ‘Granny annex’ for my father who died some years ago, so we moved into that for two weeks, while the decorators took over.

But â€" when the day came for the ceilings to come down, well, Torchwood had nothing on our house. They arrived in a great big truck, with generators, and air conditioning, and all sorts of space age gadgets. They sealed all the upstairs doors, except for our bedroom, built a plastic airlock across the bottom of the stairs, and then two of them waddled from their truck in what looked like space suits complete with air tanks, vanished though the air lock and proceeded to demolish our ceilings.

When they had gone, we were left staring through our rafters at the outside roof tiles - Boy was it cold that night.

It’s quite scary really, as over the years we had knocked our kitchen and dining room into one, smashing part of the ceiling in the process, drilled holes for TV cables, and latterly Ethernet cables to go through the ceilings. After all, why should we be worried about the presence of asbestos? We thought they stopped using that, what, in the 1950’s?

But thatâ's not all...

While the supervisor was here, he looked at our garage. "Did you know your garage has got absolutely lethal asbestos sheeting under the eaves...?" Well. Here we go again. 'Torchwood, we need you again...'

Do It Yourself-ers â€" Beware â€" there is no cure for asbestos-induced cancer.

Asbestos Attorney

Are you familiar with mesothelioma, a sickness brought about by exposure to a fibrous mineral? Up to this date, little has been known about the cure of this type of cancer. It was actually in the 1970's where there was an increase of this medical problem. Employees who were connected in the past to corporations such as shipping, automation, refinery, construction and mining, among the others, came out into the open to press lawful charges with the help of an asbestos attorney.

Most of the time, an asbestos attorney directly deal with the families of the complainant who wish to seek for compensation from a particular firm whom they deem responsible for the grave condition. When the case is handled by a highly- experienced legal representative, there is not a shadow of doubt that the accuser will be able to gain a big amount of money. But sadly it will never recompense for the health and emotional damages.

If you know somebody who is diagnosed with mesothelioma, he or she has all the right to sue. However, it would be a wise move if the person will initially set an appointment with an asbestos lawyer who is more acquainted with the proceedings. He or she also has to have the patience to wait on the verdict because time matters before the arraignment will be solved. The argument needs to have substantial evidences where it requires more digging into the archives.

It is the responsibility of an asbestos lawyer to orient his or her client that the companies where they once offered their services are all aware of the perils caused by the organic rock. However, it does not follow that as soon as the individual has been in contact with the earthen block, he or she will feel the pain because the effect will only arrive after more than a decade. That is the very reason why up to this juncture, there are a lot of pending litigations in the court.

To date, there are plenty of legal representatives to choose from who can be of great help to those that have been badly affected by direct interaction with the fibrous mineral. Most of them are very much willing to impart their expertise in order to be of assistance to the affected party. Those that are highly reputable in the field can share more facts and figures of their previous suits managed.

Abdominal Asbestos Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, that thin layer of membrane that protects most of our body's internal organs. Since its first appearance, mesothelioma has been associated with exposure to the fibrous mineral used in construction, called asbestos. As a matter of fact, most cases of mesothelomia are almost always connected with previous exposure to the mineral.

In asbestos mesothelioma, the cancerous cells mostly affect the mesothelial layer of the lungs and chest cavity (called pleura). However, there are certain cases where the cancer could also occur in the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdominal cavity, as well as the pericardium, the membranous sac that surrounds the heart.

Abdominal asbestos mesothelioma is mesothelioma of the peritoneum. People who develop abdominal asbestos mesothelioma may have worked in an area where asbestos is present. Exposure to asbestos could come in many forms. A worker may inhale asbestos fibers during the course of regular duties. A person who is not a worker may be exposed to the mineral by other means, such as washing the clothes of an asbestos worker.

According to one survey, one out of seven people who came into contact with asbestos may develop any of the different types of asbestos-related cancer, including abdominal asbestos mesothelioma.

Signs and Symptoms

One of the main problems that doctors are having with abdominal asbestos mesothelioma is the fact that its symptoms are hard to identify. In fact, the first signs of abdominal asbestos mesothelioma may not be noticeable until 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. Moreover, the symptoms can vary, depending on several factors, such as the specific type of mesothelioma a patient has and his length of exposure to asbestos.

For abdominal asbestos mesothelioma, the symptoms include cachexia, a condition characterized by drastic loss of weight, fatigue, muscle atrophy and anorexia (loss of appetite, as opposed to anorexia nervosa). There may also be abdominal swelling as a result of the buildup of fluids in the abdominal cavity. If the abdominal asbestos mesothelioma is in its advanced stages, pain due to the buildup may also occur.

Other symptoms of abdominal asbestos mesothelioma are anemia, fever, blood clotting abnormalities, and bowel obstruction. Additionally, if the cancer has spread to other organs, the person may suffer swelling of the neck or face or have trouble swallowing.

Treatment

Abdominal asbestos mesothelioma is not incurable. However, most of the treatment methods available at present have only been moderately successful. Doctors often use a combination of radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy in order to achieve the best results. Other types of treatment for abdominal asbestos mesothelioma are more for symptom relief than for an actual cure. A procedure known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy is said to help prevent the development of the cancer by removing as much of the tumor from the patient.

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a term for several commonly found fibrous magnesium-silicate minerals. Due to their durable and versatile nature, asbestos materials were used widely in construction and manufacturing for most of the 20th century. Today, it is widely understood that asbestos is an extremely harmful substance. However, this was not always known. Even minimal inhalation of these asbestos fibers can develop into serious, and even fatal, conditions. In 1918, The United States Department of Labor issued a bulletin stating that there was an "urgent need for more qualified extensive investigation" into the severe harm caused by asbestos. Nevertheless, many industries kept using asbestos.

For decades, construction workers, vehicle mechanics, shipyard workers, electricians, and others employed in the building trades did not realize the danger, as they were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis. Even now, workers renovating or demolishing old buildings may encounter asbestos. The danger was not limited those who directly handled the asbestos. If a worker had substantial exposure to asbestos, his or her co-worker or spouse also was vulnerable to asbestos-related illness.

Eventually scientific research confirmed the life-threatening risks caused by exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. However, companies still ignored the danger, and continued to make and use products containing asbestos, until it was banned during the latter part of the 20th century. Asbestos was used widely in heavy industry, as well as insulation in hair dryers, electrical wiring, cement, paper, roofing materials, floorboards, and hundreds of other common items. Despite the legal ban on new uses, over one million Americans are endangered by exposure to existing asbestos sources every year.

Asbestos Removal

Asbestos still exists in many older buildings, including schools, hospitals, airports, and factories across Michigan. From skyscrapers to residential buildings, asbestos continues to threaten the health of unsuspecting citizens.

Removal of asbestos is a complex process. Special precautions are necessary, to avoid release of asbestos fibers into the surrounding environment. Otherwise, the asbestos will endanger anyone in the area, who inhales or ingests its odorless and tasteless microscopic fibers. The danger is great, because any amount of asbestos can be harmful. For these reasons, there is a conflict between those who push for removal of asbestos from existing structures, and those who oppose it, if it is unlikely to enter building ventilation systems.

Some companies and government agencies arrange for asbestos removal to prevent public exposure, while others do so to avoid potential litigation. Still other projects are driven by legislation or public outcry for asbestos removal from public buildings, including many older schools across the country.

Mesothelioma and Other Asbestos Diseases

Three serious health conditions may result from exposure to even a small amount of airborne asbestos fibers. All three conditions result from inhaling the fibers, which become embedded in the lungs or other parts of the body. It can take years for symptoms of any of these asbestos illness to appear. Some experts believe that no symptoms appear for more than a decade after exposure. In some cases, it takes even longer for the illness to become evident. The following is information about the three major conditions resulting from asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma The medical profession used to consider this type of cancer as quite rare. While still uncommon, the number of workers diagnosed with mesothelioma has risen. Now, about 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported in the United States every year. The incidence of this disease is increasing at an even higher rate in Europe. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer, usually caused by asbestos fibers that actually penetrate lung tissue. It is also possible for mesothelioma to develop after these fibers penetrate the heart or the abdomen. While doctors have found many different causes for other forms of cancer, the only definitely identified cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Asbestosis Sometimes, this term is used incorrectly to refer to all ailments resulting from asbestos exposure. However, it is actually a very specific condition. Asbestosis (also known as interstitial fibrosis) develops when inhaled asbestos fibers cause scarring of the lung tissue. Over time, this scarring reduces the capacity of the lung. Individuals with asbestosis may suffer disabling lung impairments, and must be monitored closely because they are at increased risk of even more serious asbestos-related conditions.

Lung Cancer Lung cancer is all too common in our society and has many possible causes. However, there is evidence of a link between asbestos exposure and lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer is even higher for an individual who has been exposed to asbestos, and also smokes cigarettes. Mesothelioma Treatment Options "Staging" is a term that medical professionals use to define the spread and extent of cancers like mesothelioma. In general, the least serious "first stage" only involves the lining of the lung. By the most serious "stage four," cancer has spread to other organs of the body.

Medical researchers continue to improve treatment for mesothelioma. The most common form of treatment is still chemotherapy. With new combinations of drugs, such as pemetrexed and carboplatin, chemotherapy may slow the progression of cancer in some victims. Radiation or surgery is the an appropriate treatment for other mesothelioma patients. In addition, some experimental treatments are yielding promising test results and offer hope for future victims.

Mesothelioma is still regarded as a deadly form of cancer. The average life span after diagnosis is only one to two years. However, the stage of the disease when it is discovered, and an individual's response to treatment are significant factors in determining life expectancy. Due to medical progress, 20% of those diagnosed at an early stage of mesothelioma have at least 5 more years to live.

Mesothelioma Symptoms and Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Men are many times more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. This may be due to the higher percentage of men who work in factories and construction, where there is an increased risk of exposure to airborne asbestos fibers. Older men are more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma. This is not surprising, because of the relatively long period of time between asbestos exposure and the onset of this cancer.

Physicians may have difficulty diagnosing mesothelioma, because initial symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest or abdominal pain, can be confused with other conditions. There are tests to rule out mesothelioma, including a thoracoscopy or a peritoneoscopy. If you have symptoms and believe that you may have past asbestos exposure, see your doctor immediately. If you or a loved one suffer from asbestos related cancer or mesothelioma cancer, talk with an experienced asbestos lawyer today.

The Law Offices of Samuel I. Bernstein, our Michigan mesothelioma, asbestos cancer, and personal injury law firm, has championed the cause of seriously injured Michigan victims for three generations.

Original article

author:

Attorney Marya Sieminski joined the Law Offices of Sam Bernstein in 2003. She is admitted to practice law in Michigan state courts and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at MIT and graduated magna cum laude from Wayne State University Law School. Marya has worked as a trial lawyer for 10 years and exclusively represented victims in personal injury litigation and in worker compensation claims.

Asbestos Lung Mesothelioma

Asbestos Lung Mesothelioma The main cause of asbestos lung mesothelioma, as its name implies, is the mineral fiber, called fire curtain. Before the 1970s, asbestos curtain was widely used as an additive in various products, including insulation materials, rug sheeting, and the like.

Do you like to learn about new and interesting things? If so, then this article will be right up your alley!

It was not awaiting just (across various existence ago) that it was found out the carnal, when inhaled, swallowed or induced in the body, can cause numerous unpleasant things, inclusive of development of deadly diseases.

Asbestos lung mesothelioma is one such disorder. It is a form of menace that generally impresss the mesothelium, which is the protective wrapper of most of our bodies exclusive

organs, good the lungs and longing.

From now until the now until the end of this article, take the time to think about how all of this information can help you.

When asbestos fibers dive in the lungs terminated the ball gun that we breathe, they can voyage whole the way to the pleura where they cause corporeal dent to the mesothelial cells. Overtime and if left nude, the contamination may answer in menace.

The trouble with good wrap is that they are not simple to reveal. It would take existence from the first exposure to asbestos fibers before the persona unnatural will establish to mature an asbestos curtain-alike disease such as fire curtain lung mesothelioma.

In statement, according to health scientists, it could take as many as thirty to forty existence before the first heralds of good wrap lung mesothelioma thump in after primary exposure.

Asbestos coal miner's lung mesothelioma is one of the astral bases in differing official entreatys made as a answer of exposure to the kittens while at the bureau.

Diverse regulations and status order have obsolescent accepted to oblige duties ahead employers and statementory owners to shield their hands and other individuals who may be unnatural from baring to the deadly fiber.

while fire curtain lung mesothelioma and other such diseases are above all regarded as industrial hazards, more latest legislation has come to comprise residential premises (such as neighborhoods located near a manustatementured that uses good wrap in its materials) as part of the duties of the function pocket in preventing exposure.

It does not inevitably that ethical because you do not work for an activity that involves the use of asbestos you may not be at stake of asbestos lung mesothelioma. It is promising to achieve exposed to asbestos kittens and age plague by inhaling fibers from the work clothes of an asbestos hand.

Because the symptoms of fire curtain lung mesothelioma are regularly very immense to reveal, it is important that you be secondary observant, generally if you are an good wrap companion or have a family component who facility in such activity.

Most people who are diagnosed with the corruption have had the symptoms for two to three months. However, because they unnoticed the symptoms, no previous preventive steps were full to rest the adequate foray of the disease.

This article is meant to both inform and entertain those who read it. Hopefully, we have (will) accomplished both goals for you.

How Asbestos Litigation Plaintiffs Can Get Mesothelioma Lawsuit Loan In 3 Easy Steps?

Non-Recourse Lawsuit Funding for Mesothelioma Lawsuit Plaintiffs

If you are suffering from Mesothelioma or a loved one has died of Mesothelioma, and you are a plaintiff involved in a Mesothelioma lawsuit(asbestos lawsuit), and have hired a lawyer to represent your claim then you may qualify for a Mesothelioma lawsuit funding or lawsuit loan against the potential future proceeds you may receive from your lawsuit.

This is called as Mesothelioma lawsuit funding, Asbestos lawsuit cash advance, legal funding and litigation funding. It is also called as Asbestos Lawsuit loan. But in true sense, these are not loans because loans are repayable absolutely. But the Mesothelioma or Asbestos lawsuit funding is a non recourse cash advance and it does not have to be paid back unless the case is won or settled. What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is the scientific term used to describe a cancerous tumor that involves the mesothelial cells of a body organ. Mesothelial cells are cells that form a protective lining over the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. The most common type of Mesothelioma is pleural Mesothelioma.

What causes it? Asbestos Causes Mesothelioma:
Asbestos is the major cause of a number of ailments and diseases, including the deadly cancer Mesothelioma in the United States. Asbestos has actually been in use for centuries. The name asbestos was given to this mineral by the Ancient Greeks and the word literally means inextinguishable.

Who has the right to file a lawsuit to obtain compensation for Mesothelioma?
A Mesothelioma lawsuit can be filed by a person who has developed Mesothelioma through exposure to asbestos. If the individual has died, the lawsuit can be filed by a family member of victim, and also by administrator or the executor of the estate of deceased. A lawsuit can also be filed by a family member who has developed the Mesothelioma disease through close contact with the victim person who was exposed to asbestos.

If you are involved in a Mesothelioma or Asbestos lawsuit you know very well that due to our tiresome legal process lawsuit moves forward in a very slow and unhurried manner. Very often defendants are represented by attorneys hired by big insurance companies. Therefore, even if, law is on your side, deep-pocket defendants can manipulate or manage to buy time with legal ploys and delays, and manoeuver to frustrate you. In the legal battle, victory belongs to the most persevering.

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins — not through strength but by perseverance. What your attorney needs, in order to get you the best settlement or fairest trial, is time. Just as the defendants can buy time, so can you. Mesothelioma lawsuit funding, the non-recourse loan helps you to get instant cash.
A lawsuit loan or lawsuit funding on your expected Asbestos or Mesothelioma lawsuit settlement can help you now. If you are suffering from Mesothelioma, you may need money to pay medical costs and other monthly bills also.

From a reputed and good lawsuit funding company, you can obtain your Mesothelioma lawsuit loan in three easy to follow steps:

A. Step - Submit the Application: When you apply for Asbestos lawsuit loan there is no application fee. A good lawsuit funding company should not charge any upfront fee or any application fee, processing fee or any monthly fee.
B. Step - Your attorney faxes the required documents to Mesothelioma lawsuit loan funding company.

C. Step - If approved for cash advance, funds are wired into your bank account, the same day. Of course, you can take a bank check also.
Once you get a Mesothelioma lawsuit funding, you do not pay back until you win or settle the case. If you do not win your Asbestos lawsuit, you do not owe any money to lawsuit funding company. The loan that was advanced by lawsuit funding company is not owed. Any fees that may have accrued are not owed. You pay back lawsuit loan only if you win or settle the case. No Win- No Pay Back, Period
If you are involved in an Asbestos lawsuit and you are under a financial pressure now, the expected large settlement in future will not take care of your present financial and emotional needs.

Mesothelioma lawsuit funding or Asbestos lawsuit loan, allows you to get relief from present financial pressure, so you do not have to settle your case simply because you need whatever money you can get now.

Mesothelioma, a Cancer You Shouldn't Have Had to Deal With

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. This disease attacks the protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs and in almost all cases is fatal, although new treatments for cancer are always underdevelopment giving us hope we may live cancer free sometime in the future.

You can avoid mesothelioma by not exposing yourself to asbestos. Typically a worker was exposed to asbestos on their job. In the past asbestos was widely used in the large industrial manufacturing industry, the automotive industry and the heating and ventilating industry. Typical exposure is from inhaling asbestos dust a by product of manufacturing. When the worker goes home, their family experiences secondary exposure to the asbestos dust on their clothing.

In residential construction during 1960's and 1970's, asbestos was commonly use to seal leaks and seams on heating ducts in residential houses and in other heating and ventilation systems. Exposure to asbestos dust comes when the asbestos seal begins to breakdown and gives off the deadly asbestos dust particles. So, if you are buying an older home, be certain to have it inspected for asbestos. If found, asbestos can be removed or sealed with a protective cover to prevent exposure to humans.

Detection of mesothelioma and drawing the connection between work-related hazards wasn't always realized. It has only come to light recently that large corporations were negligent in exposing their workers to asbestos dust. This is due to the fact that it takes some time for the cancer to form. Most families were so consumed with helping their loved ones; they failed to realize the cancer they were battling was actually caused by the working conditions of a loved one.

If an individual was exposed to asbestos during their working career then the corporation employing them is at fault and is responsible for the damages resulting from the asbestos caused mesothelioma. Individuals and families battling mesothelioma and facing the loss of a loved one need realize and understand their legal rights.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma then you need to consult with a mesothelioma lawyer to understand your legal rights. This type of lawyer is experienced with asbestos related cases and taking on the large corporations and winning. Typically, a mesothelioma lawyer will review your case at little or no charge to evaluate if you have a case. If it is determined you do they will handle the lawsuit for damages from the corporation responsible.

It is a shame to think your life or a loved ones life is cut short due to the negligence of a corporation not controlling the exposure to asbestos. You may be uncomfortable with a lawsuit, but it is your legal right to seek adequate compensation for your life or a loved ones being cut short and the resulting impact of not being able to provide for the family any longer.

Asbestos caused mesothelioma is a preventable disease and it's sad to think an employee who works hard for a corporation is actually killed slowly by the exposure to asbestos. If you're dealing with mesothelioma in your life, seek the help of a mesothelioma lawyer to ensure your financial future peace of mind while you and your family deal with the loss of a loved one.

What is Asbestosis?

Asbestos occurs naturally in some geological settings. It’s a group of six minerals which have a variety of crystal shapes. The name asbestos comes from a Greek word meaning inextinguishable, which is an appropriate name for it, since it is has heat and chemical resistance, fibrous strength, and flexibility.

Brief History of Asbestos Use
The ancient Greeks and Romans used asbestos in clothing, and it was noted even back then that the slaves who wove those fabrics developed lung problems.

During the 19th century, it became popular with building companies because of its many useful properties. Asbestos fibers were combined with cement, woven into fabrics, and used in electrical insulation. It was used in brakes and gaskets.

The first commercial asbestos mine was started in 1879 near Quebec, in the Appalachian foothills there. Use of asbestos expanded until the mid-20th century, and by then it was used in bricks, pipes, fire retardants, ceiling insulation, drywall, flooring, roofing, lawn furniture, and even in some cigarette filters. During WW II, ships were built with asbestos in the pipe wrappings, boilers, and engine parts. Millions of homes were built with asbestos being part of them, and thousands of schools and other public buildings.

Parallel with this expansion of asbestos use was the gradual discovery that it seemed to cause breathing problems and a lot of early deaths. In 1924 in England, the first case of Asbestosis was diagnosed.

Asbestosis is chronic inflammation of the lungs. When a person has been exposed to asbestos for many years, as in an asbestos mine, shipbuilding yard during WW II, or construction site in the first part of the 20th century, asbestos fibers lodge in the lungs. As time passes, they penetrate more deeply into the lungs until they reach the tiny air sacs where oxygen is transferred from the air breathed in to the blood circulating in the lungs.

The presence of these tiny fibers triggers the lung’s protective mechanism. The body has special cells whose job is to ingest foreign bodies, but the asbestos fibers resist and prevail. The cells die off and eventually a fibrous mass builds up. It impedes the intake of oxygen from the air, and the elimination of carbon dioxide from the blood. As more such fibrous areas build up, lung capacity reduces.

There is no cure. People can use an oxygen tank to help with the shortness of breath. Built-up fluid in the lungs can be drained. Mesothelioma may also develop, which is cancer of the lungs’ lining. Breathing problems may become so severe that the brain is deprived of oxygen, and fails to send heartbeat messages. This leads to heart failure.

Asbestosis and mesothelioma are viewed as occupational diseases. If you believe you may have been exposed to asbestos at any time in your life, the first step would be to get a chest X-ray.

You might also want to consult an asbestosis attorney to learn more about your legal rights. Each state has a statute of limitations, a time limit within which you must file your asbestosis case. They do not start running from the time of your asbestos exposure, but from the time you first discovered that you had a health condition caused by asbestos. There have been many lawsuits over asbestosis and mesothelioma which have won compensation for the plaintiffs.