Cancer From Asbestos

The cancer from asbestos exposure is called Mesothelioma. Because mesothelioma can take up to 50 years to manifest after someone has contact with asbestos, it's become a grave concern to builders, contractors, people who worked in factories that produced asbestos and people who worked on board naval vessels during and after World War II.

It's also a grave concern to family members, as second hand asbestos contamination, such as washing the clothing of someone who came into contact with asbestos, can also cause mesothelioma.

Although a relatively rare disease, with only 2,000 to 2,500 cases diagnosed annually, mesothelioma is a growing concern to those who had daily contact for years with asbestos through their jobs, schools or homes.

And unfortunately, 9/11 provided another source of concern. Rescue workers and people who lived in the surrounding areas of Manhattan were exposed to toxic fumes, as the rescue effort unfolded.

To understand asbestos exposure, you need to understand the nature of asbestos itself. Contrary to what you might think by looking at it, asbestos is a mineral, with a crystalline structure.

Because it is a mineral, it is extremely friable or breakable. When agitated or exposed to air currents, a strand of the asbestos mineral can break down into minute particles that are easy to breathe. Mesothelioma has occurred without any kind of mining manufacturing process being involved, in several southwestern states.

Exposure to airborne particles have happened where naturally occurring asbestos formations are at ground level.

But, most exposure to asbestos is because of it's extensive use for insulation and building materials. Asbestos was used for:

• spray insulation coatings for fireproof doors
• adhesive in linoleum flooring
• roofing shingles
• insulation materials for hot water pipes
• automobile brake linings
• fireproof wall sheets (plaster board)

Asbestos was cheap, easy to incorporate into manufacturing processes and used extensively for home and building contruction through the 1970's and early into the 1980's.

Cancer from asbestos happens most often when the following occurs: repetitive exposure to breathing in airborne asbestos particles over a long period of time. Remember this phrase.

The development of mesothelioma in the naval community primarily affected shipbuilders, not the men who went to sea. The builders were in shipyards installing materials made with asbestos. Their repetitive exposure could have easily taken place over a 10 year or more period. The build-up of our navy during World War II was a breading ground for mesothelioma.

The sailors who served on the vessels and repaired ducts and insulation were also exposed, but unless they specialized in repair and maintenance, or spent most of their time in areas where exposed asbestos was being disturbed, their chances of developing cancer from asbestos, was relatively low. Although reports from active sailors who remember ducking under pipes that were constantly under repair or hitting their heads on pipes and ducts wrapped in unshielded asbestos is not a rarity. The length of their service in a vessel with asbestos contamination was usually much shorter than a builders.

There are scientific developments that have happened in the past six months that might lead to a definitive answers on how asbestos causes cancer in the lining of the lungs and the lining of organs like our liver and stomach.

Many people confuse mesothelioma or cancer from asbestos with lung cancer.

The only relationship they share is symptoms and unfortunately, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as lung cancer.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the mesothelium, a double layer of cells that surrounds your organs and provides them with a protective lubricant. The mesothelium is the reason why your lungs, stomach, liver and other organs can move in your body without rubbing up against each other.

Mesothelioma creates hardened spots on the mesothelium. The once flexible membrane no longer has the elasticity to expand and contract as needed. It also stops producing lubricant between the two layers of cells.

Imagine trying to breathe with a belt tied around your lungs. If the belt is made out of elastic, fine. If it is made out of leather, expansion of your lungs to breath in, would be very difficult.

Of course the first thing that comes to mind is whether a cancer is malignant or benign and cancer from asbestos is no different. This is the first information you want from your doctor.

Then, the location of the cancer is discussed:

Pleural mesothelioma - lining of the lungs and internal chest wall
Pericardial mesothelioma - the lining that surrounds your heart
Peritoneal mesothelioma - the lining that surrounds abdominal cavity

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of cancer from asbestos.

At a certain point, the asbestos industry was fully aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure and did very little, if anything to make the industry safer.

Due to the fact that these companies knew that they were putting their workers and consumers at risk, a government mandated asbestos / mesothelioma "superfund" was established to pay the resultant lawsuits of people who developed cancer from asbestos.

While the first thought that comes to mind after you've been diagnosed with cancer wouldn't be to call your lawyer, mesothelioma settlements, even those reached out of court, are usually for substantial amounts.

Enough to provide you with the care you'll need during your battle with this dread disease.

However, remember the phrase: repetitive exposure to breathing in airborne asbestos particles over a long period of time.

Many mesothelioma lawsuits are predicated on proving that your employer or a company involved in home building created the environment, within which this condition occurred. A specialized asbestos cancer attorney will be able to help you document the details of your exposure.