Asbestos exposure causes deadly diseases such as mesothelioma or cancer of the linings that cover the vital organs. The disease derives its name from the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs, where the malignant cells develop. When the lungs are involved, the pleura or outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall refers to pleural mesothelioma. It may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.
This is an occupational hazard that affected a large number of people working with asbestos or in an asbestos-infested environment before the fact became public in the 1970s. Industries most at risk included the Navy, that used asbestos extensively and all construction related work as it included use of products that contained asbestos for its fire retardant and heat resistant properties. Demolition work in present times is the most susceptible for workers owing to pulling down or renovation of buildings that were constructed in the period when asbestos reigned as the miracle material of the age.
What to do if exposed to asbestos?
If you recall being exposed to asbestos during your professional life, it is necessary to see an asbestosis and mesothelioma doctor at once. Effect of the exposure depends on various factors which need to be assessed on priority:
- Exposure concentration
- Exposure duration
- Exposure frequency
- Size, shape and chemical makeup of asbestos fibers
- Habits of the individual such as smoking
It is necessary get regular health checkups and stop smoking. Also, using protective equipment if you are still working is mandatory. Consider seeking compensation if the test results are positive.
Symptoms after Asbestos Exposure
Symptoms that can indicate possible presence of mesothelioma in the body and require immediate attention include:
- Shortness of breath
- A constant cough or coughing up blood
- Pain in the chest or abdomen or bones
- Substantial weight loss
- Difficulty in swallowing
A medical examination will include a chest x-ray, CT scans, MRI, lung function tests, and blood and urine and other medical tests. Biopsy procedures may be advised; these test fluid samples and tissue for the presence of cancerous cells and also reveal the cancer’s progression and metastasizing; i.e., whether other parts of the body have already been affected or not.
Asbestos Exposure for a Short Period
Generally, the longer the exposure, the more the chances of the progression of the disease. While most fibers that are inhaled while working with asbestos are expelled when we breathe out, even a single asbestos fiber entering the lungs can become trapped in the airways and lung tissue. This can fester and cause scarring of the lung tissue and manifest as mesothelioma eventually.
Asbestos Exposure for a Long Period
If exposure to asbestos has been ongoing for a long period, the risk of developing mesothelioma in later years increases manifold. Research on groups of workers with exposures ranging from about 5 to 1,200 fiber-year/mL confirms this. Exposure across 40 or more years of occupational exposure to air concentrations of 0.125 to 30 fiber/mL is most likely to result in tumors or cancers in the lungs, stomach, heart and/or other linings. The gestation period of 50 to 70 years is exceptionally long and generally makes recall difficult regarding the exact exposure levels anyway; a legal recourse usually depends on proof of employment, class action suits, if any, and/or related medical reports.
Asbestos exposure with cancer! What's next?
If you have been exposed to asbestos, help from medical experts and the legal fraternity are all that you have to go on. The medical path leads to the trimodal approach that includes surgery, radiation and chemotherapy as palliative measures in the absence of curative and preventive aspects. Owing to the long gestation period of the disease, the diagnosis often occurs in declining years when the disease has already established a grip and not much can be done other than trying to improve the quality of the remaining years. Some patients may also opt for experimental procedures such a gene therapy and immunotherapy, or choose to be part of a clinical trial. Studies are always ongoing to test up-and-coming treatment options and medications. Mesothelioma patients who qualify for various studies and participate in an effort to help medical professionals search for a mesothelioma cure make important contributions for the benefit of others.
Legal Asbestos
Legally, working towards and obtaining asbestosis compensation or mesothelioma compensation with the help of experienced attorneys goes a long way to help meet the heavy cost of medical treatment. It also makes the perpetrators accountable; this group often comprises companies that knowingly manufactured asbestos-contaminated products disregarding human safety and health for large amounts of immediate pecuniary gains. Different states have different rules regarding the time period during which a case may be registered relating to mesothelioma. To know the rules applicable to your own case, it is imperative that you contact a mesothelioma lawyer at once so that you do not miss your chance of compensation for lack of adequate information.
