Linking Asbestos to Mesothelioma

By Thomas Crown

Many people will develop Mesothelioma, which is a benign or malignant tumor affecting the lungs, heart and/or abdomen, and most of these people will develop this disease because of their exposure to Asbestos (a heat-resistant fibrous mineral). Often Asbestos is the leading cause of Mesothelioma.

Asbestos and Mesothelioma have been linked to people who have worked in a factory that was lined with asbestos. There has even in the past been a possible link to people who washed the cloths of a person who has been exposed to asbestos and Mesothelioma.

Symptoms such as shortness of breath and weight loss have been linked to Mesothelioma; yet, there are other symptoms which may not appear until 20 -50 years after being exposed to asbestos. Lawsuits have been file in the past few years to help people reclaim some of their medical expenses associated with Mesothelioma.

People who are diagnosed with Mesothelioma do not have a very good prognosis. However, with the treatment options available today there is a decent survival rate, if it is caught in time.

On account of the symptoms mimicking other conditions; it can be rather difficult to diagnose a person who actually has Mesothelioma; therefore, it's recommended that people consult their doctors about the possibility of becoming exposed to asbestos and acquiring Mesothelioma.

The next step would be to have CT scan done. This will help to determine if the illness of the person is Mesothelioma or not. Keep in mind that it is vital to let the doctor know any and all issues that might lead to an illness.

If the results of the CT scan show that there may be the presence of possible growth then the doctor will need to perform a biopsy to determine if it is in fact Mesothelioma or not. Depending at this point how long it has been since the initial diagnosis will depend on the patients chance of survival.

Depending on how soon the Mesothelioma has been detected will determine the course of action that the person's doctor will pursue. If the asbestos linked Mesothelioma is caught soon enough then there is a good chance that conventional methods such as chemotherapy have an average chance of allowing the person to go into remission.

Some of the most commonly affected people are factory workers and military officials. The reason is because a long time ago the insulation for pipes was made with asbestos. The outbreak of Mesothelioma is a recent illness that has just come to surface. This is due to the prolonged symptoms and effects of asbestos exposure. In the last fifteen years lawsuits have been charged against companies that used asbestos insulation during installation of the pipes. - 30540

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