Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and breathing asbestos fibers. It is a very serious disease, which is often at a very advanced stage when a diagnosis is made. The disease is uniformally fatal. The first asbestos lawsuit was filed in 1929, and with thousands of people being diagnosed with this condition each year.
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos either directly or indirectly through family members who worked with the material. A mesothelioma cancer diagnosis can be made years after a family member carried home asbestos dust or fibers on their clothing, shoes, skin or in their hair.
Common industrial fields where works may be exposed to asbestos include:
Factory Workers, Ship Builders, Brake Repair Workers, Contruction Workers, Insulation Manufacturers and Installers, and Asbestos Miners.
The rare form of cancer is found in the lining of the chest and lung and initial symptoms include shortness of breath, chest wall pain or significant weight loss. Because the mesothelioma symptoms are not always recognized, by the time the cancer is diagnosed, the median survival time is often under a year.
Mesothelioma litigation is often referred to as the longest running mass tort in the history of the United States. Cases have been filed by over 600,000 people against approximately 6,000 defendants as a result of a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Medical Analysis: Nasty disease with limited treatment options.