| Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that forms | | | | mesothelioma is still considered as a cancer with a |
| in the linings of the chest (the pleura) abdomen | | | | relative small reach. Not everyone who was once |
| (the peritoneum) or heart (pericardium). This | | | | exposed to asbestos developed this cancer later |
| cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos. | | | | on. The figures are still low compared to other |
| Asbestos is a fibrous incombustible mineral used | | | | types of cancer: about 3,000 new cases are |
| for fireproofing, electrical insulation, building | | | | diagnosed in the US every year. Although it |
| materials, brake linings, and chemical filters. When | | | | seems to affect mostly men, increasing the risks |
| this chemical is inhaled, it can be extremely toxic | | | | with age, it can appear on anyone at any point in |
| and cause this type of cancer.Asbestos was | | | | their lives. The asbestos found in finished products |
| widely used especially before mid-1970s in | | | | in the houses like walls, tiles, and pipes do not |
| industrial products such as cement, brake and | | | | pose a threat unless they are damaged or |
| clutches, roof, floor and ceiling tiles, textiles, and | | | | disturbed. It is only this way that the asbestos |
| insulation.The people that are most likely to suffer | | | | fibers are released into the air and inhaled or |
| from mesothelioma are those who were exposed | | | | digested which may cause the cancer.Since |
| to asbestos fibers at work. Since mesothelioma | | | | Mesothelioma is primarily a personal injury |
| usually has a latency period of 20-50 years where | | | | occurring from the work place, those injured |
| the illness is not apparent, most people with this | | | | should be able to take action against irresponsible |
| cancer did not know about it until it was too late. | | | | businesses that exposed its employees to this |
| The disease usually appeared many years after | | | | cancer-causing material. This disease can actually |
| having been exposed to asbestos, even if it was | | | | be completely prevented, since the only known |
| only during a short summer job. The jobs that | | | | cause is asbestos exposure. This disease not |
| are believed to have been exposed to | | | | should continue killing people. The horrific effects |
| considerable amounts of asbestos are: workers in | | | | of asbestos were well-known by companies |
| asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos | | | | making good use and big profits out of this |
| products, insulators, who are also known as | | | | material. Many companies even tried to hide the |
| asbestos workers, boilermakers, plumbers, | | | | awful truth about the deadly effects of asbestos |
| pipefitters and steamfitters, plasterers who | | | | to its workers and their families. Of course, this |
| worked with fireproofing spray, shipyard and | | | | was easy because for most cases it took 20 |
| Navy workers, electricians, mechanics, bricklayers, | | | | years to be diagnosed.There are many |
| millwrights, carpenters, steel workers, refinery and | | | | treatments to combat this cancer such as |
| other industrial workers, maintenance workers, | | | | chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. |
| and many others.There are also other people who | | | | However, this is one of the deadliest cancers |
| have been exposed to asbestos in their homes | | | | because the time between it is diagnosed and the |
| without even being aware of the danger. There | | | | person dies, averages to less than 6 months. |
| were those people who were family and friends | | | | Because of this rapid nature of Mesothelioma, it is |
| of those who worked with asbestos products. | | | | imperative to take action against those companies |
| These workers would bring asbestos particles | | | | that lied to its workers before it may be too |
| stuck to their clothes, shoes, hair and skin. This is | | | | late.Do you want to know more about |
| known as household exposure.However, | | | | mesothelioma cancer? |