ASBESTOS INJURIES

WHO’S AT RISK?

Typically, individuals get exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, asbestos exposure can also come through common household products.

The American Cancer Society approximates that over a million employees in construction and general industries in the US encounter significant asbestos exposure while working. Before studies in the 1980’s discovered the deadly nature of asbestos, many industries widely used and sold products containing asbestos. Recent lawsuits even reveal that individuals encountered asbestos through common talc-based products. Talc can get contaminated by asbestos during talc mining, quickly turning talc into a health hazard.

Even family members of those who worked closely with asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers can stick to employees’ hair and clothes and remain there for the years. This can cause family members and close friends to get sick simply by associating with employees who regularly worked with asbestos.

Employees who may be exposed to asbestos include:

• Asbestos miners
• Electricians
• Plumbers
• Pipefitters
• Insulators
• Shipyard workers
• Insulators
• Demolition workers
• Military members
• Home re-modelers
• Users of talc-based products
• Family members and friends of individuals regularly exposed asbestos.

EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS SIDE EFFECTS

Individuals exposed to asbestos may develop crippling injuries, some of them potentially life threatening. Reports show individuals who encountered asbestos in the workplace or elsewhere developed severe side effects including:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• COPD
• Abestosis
• Throat cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Esophagus cancer

WHAT’S MESOTHELIOMA?

Mesothelioma is a severe and rare form of cancer the develops with asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested in the body. Asbestos fibers lodge themselves in a thin layer of tissue known as mesothelium, which covers most the body’s internal organs. The asbestos fibers cause irritation by rubbing against the skin and implanting themselves into the tissue. This irritation leads to the development of cell mutations that accumulate to form a tumor.

Mesothelioma is so rare because the only known cause is from asbestos exposure. Normally, people who have been exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma 20 to 60 years after the exposure, so many could be at risk without knowing it. Currently, mesothelioma can only be treated, not cured. So, mesothelioma treatment bills quickly become financial burdens for victims of asbestos exposure. Treatments can require surgery and chemotherapy, the average cost of treatments adding up to well over $30,000 annually.

Types of Mesothelioma:

• Pleural Mesothelioma – Impacts the lining of the lungs.
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma – Affects the lining of the abdomen.
• Pericardial Mesothelioma – Develops in the lining of the heart.
• Testicular Mesothelioma – Occurs in the lining around the testicles.

SYMPTOMS OF ASBESTOS MESOTHELIOMA

Symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on the cancer cells’ location. Common symptoms of mesothelioma include the following based on asbestos fiber location:

Pleural Mesothelioma (Lungs)

• Chest pain
• Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest
• Painful coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss

Peritoneal Mesothelioma (Abdomen)

• Abdominal pain and/or swelling
• Nausea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fluid buildup

Pericardial Mesothelioma (Heart)

• Breathing difficulty
• Chest pains
• Fatigue

Testicular Mesothelioma (Testicles)

• Swelling
• Mass on testicle
• Fluid buildup