Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is 99% attributable to a person's having been exposed to asbestos. It could be that you had a job years ago in which you were exposed but won't begin to show symptoms until 20 to 50 years later. Occasionally a case will be diagnosed in less than 20 years, but that isn't the norm. You may not even realize you were exposed to asbestos, and the initial symptoms can be as general as chest or back pain. Anyone who was working prior to the mid 1970s needs to explore the possibility that he or she could have been exposed to asbestos. If this is the case for you, then you'll need to watch out for the development of lung cancer for the rest of your life.
Mesothelioma patients have been diagnosed as having cancer cells surrounding their lungs or abdominal organs or inside their ribcages. While even a little exposure to asbestos could cause the disease, it's far more likely to occur in people who were exposed over longer periods of time. It's real possible that you aren't even aware that you were ever working around asbestos, because it was common for employers back then to withhold from their employees the information that was coming out regarding asbestos exposure. Some examples of people who may have been innocently exposed prior to the 1970s include construction workers or those who were in the Navy.
Maybe you're wondering what materials you may have been exposed to contain asbestos. After all, it was a pretty common material up until the 1970s when people started realizing the health implications it could have. Prior to that time, most insulation materials contained asbestos, including insulations for pipes, fire-proofing, and boilers. In addition, plasters, joint compounds, and cements that came in powdered form and were intended for insulation purposes also contained asbestos. These are particularly lethal in that using them meant breathing in a lot of dust.
If you worked in one of the following fields prior to the mid 1970s, then you may be at risk for Mesothelioma: * The manufacture or installation of insulation products * Steel refineries and other industries which included the use of steel * Fabricators of brake and clutch shoes * Paper mill employees * Maintenance workers * Boilermakers * Those doing electrical or carpentry work and brick masons * Shipyard workers
Even if you did work in any of these occupations, that's not a sure sign you're going to come down with Mesothelioma. However, it does put you at a higher risk, and you should let your physician know that you were exposed. He may recommend that you take some tests in order to determine if the asbestos is having any effect on you. He may want to do a complete physical, have x-rays taken of your chest and abdomen, and ask you to take pulmonary function tests. In some cases CT scans or MRIs are advisable. All of this testing may well find no evidence of Mesothelioma, but at least you'll know for sure which can be a relief.
If in the future you are diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you're going to want to hire a lawyer who specializes in the handling of lawsuits related to the disease. You may be able to get some monetary compensation to help make up for lost wages and medical expenses if your lawyer can prove that your employer's negligence in not providing you with adequate information or safety equipment caused you to contract the disease. - 15437
Mesothelioma patients have been diagnosed as having cancer cells surrounding their lungs or abdominal organs or inside their ribcages. While even a little exposure to asbestos could cause the disease, it's far more likely to occur in people who were exposed over longer periods of time. It's real possible that you aren't even aware that you were ever working around asbestos, because it was common for employers back then to withhold from their employees the information that was coming out regarding asbestos exposure. Some examples of people who may have been innocently exposed prior to the 1970s include construction workers or those who were in the Navy.
Maybe you're wondering what materials you may have been exposed to contain asbestos. After all, it was a pretty common material up until the 1970s when people started realizing the health implications it could have. Prior to that time, most insulation materials contained asbestos, including insulations for pipes, fire-proofing, and boilers. In addition, plasters, joint compounds, and cements that came in powdered form and were intended for insulation purposes also contained asbestos. These are particularly lethal in that using them meant breathing in a lot of dust.
If you worked in one of the following fields prior to the mid 1970s, then you may be at risk for Mesothelioma: * The manufacture or installation of insulation products * Steel refineries and other industries which included the use of steel * Fabricators of brake and clutch shoes * Paper mill employees * Maintenance workers * Boilermakers * Those doing electrical or carpentry work and brick masons * Shipyard workers
Even if you did work in any of these occupations, that's not a sure sign you're going to come down with Mesothelioma. However, it does put you at a higher risk, and you should let your physician know that you were exposed. He may recommend that you take some tests in order to determine if the asbestos is having any effect on you. He may want to do a complete physical, have x-rays taken of your chest and abdomen, and ask you to take pulmonary function tests. In some cases CT scans or MRIs are advisable. All of this testing may well find no evidence of Mesothelioma, but at least you'll know for sure which can be a relief.
If in the future you are diagnosed with Mesothelioma, you're going to want to hire a lawyer who specializes in the handling of lawsuits related to the disease. You may be able to get some monetary compensation to help make up for lost wages and medical expenses if your lawyer can prove that your employer's negligence in not providing you with adequate information or safety equipment caused you to contract the disease. - 15437
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