Asbestos Exposure – Mesothelioma Personal Injury Lawyer

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the cells lining the largest body cavities – the lungs, the abdomen and the heart sac. The majority of mesothelioma victims have tumors in the lining of their lungs. As the tumors enlarge and spread, they cause the lung tissue to expand and gather fluid, which makes breathing difficult and leads to persistent cough and chest pain. Unfortunately, patients typically notice these symptoms only at advanced stages of mesothelioma, which is why the average post-diagnosis survival rate is only one to two years.

A less common type of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma – malignant cancer affecting the lining of the abdomen. This type of mesothelioma progresses similarly to pleural (lung) mesothelioma. As the spreading tumor causes fluid build-up in the abdominal cavity, patients begin to notice persistent pain in the upper abdomen, which is sometimes accompanied by cough and shortness of breath. Sadly, the survival rate is also similar to that of pleural mesothelioma because there is currently no cure for this type of cancer. While mesothelioma treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgical removal of the cancerous cells, can extend the survival time, these procedures cannot stop the progression of mesothelioma. As a result, mesothelioma eventually leads to the death of its victims due to cancer-caused lethal events, such as heart failure.

Tragically, most mesothelioma deaths could have been prevented by avoiding exposure to asbestos. This is why a top Los Angeles concrete contractor will require their workers dealing with stamped concrete, patio pavers and driveway pavers in Orange County to wear protective clothing. Patient history evaluations and scientific experiments have proved the causal link between asbestos exposure and the onset of several deadly diseases, such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. The latter condition causes similar symptoms to mesothelioma. However, asbestosis is not a cancer and does not spread from the lung lining to other organs and tissues. Asbestosis develops as the body tries to remove the minuscule asbestos fibers embedded in the lungs. Unfortunately, because of the sturdiness of asbestos, the body's immune system can accomplish only the first step of removing foreign objects – covering each asbestos fiber with scar tissue. The body is unable to break down and remove asbestos particles, which means that, over time, the lungs become covered with scar tissue. As a result, breathing becomes increasingly difficult and severe strain is put on the victim's heart. In the absence of a cure, asbestosis treatments can only relieve pain but they cannot stop the scarring of the lungs, which eventually leads to death.

The majority of asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma cases can be linked to asbestos mines, shipyards and construction sites that used to handle large quantities of asbestos on a daily basis. Up to the 1960s, workers at these sites wore no protection and often handled asbestos with bare hands. Because asbestosis and mesothelioma typically develops 30 to 40 years following asbestos exposure, currently major urban centers are experiencing a great increase in diagnoses of these dangerous diseases. For example, recently thousands of asbestos exposure San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego cases have been linked to the cities' ship building industries, which used to employ asbestos as the insulation material of choice.

Asbestosis and malignant mesothelioma diagnoses mean large medical expenses, disability, loss of income and many other financial stresses, which is why victims of asbestos exposure and their families should try to hold those responsible for their suffering financially liable. Experienced mesothelioma and asbestosis lawyers can help them file personal injury lawsuits through which they can force the responsible parties provide just compensation.