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Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial cells, which cover most
internal organs. The two places in which mesothelioma can develop are the lungs
and the abdomen, but it is most commonly found in the lungs.
Mesothelioma which affects the lungs is called pleural mesothelioma,
and in 70-80% of cases is caused by asbestos fibres being breathed in and
becoming stuck in the tissue which covers the lungs (pleura). It is not known
for certain what causes mesothelioma in the other 20-30%, although research is
continuing.
Who suffers from mesothelioma?
2,000 cases of
mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the UK and the number of people who die
from it is expected to rise to a peak between 2011 and 2015. This is because the
disease can take 15-40 years to develop, and blue and brown asbestos (thought to
be the most likely types to cause mesothelioma) were banned only in the late
1908s.
85% of the people who suffer from mesothelioma are male, and this
is thought to be because it is mostly men who worked in trades involving
asbestos. Most of the women who develop mesothelioma are thought to have
breathed in asbestos fibres whilst cleaning the clothing of husbands who worked
with the material.
Tradesfolk who are particularly likely to have handled
asbestos and are at high risk of developing the industrial illness mesothelioma
include:
- Metal plate workers
- Plumbers
- Gas
fitters
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Builders
-
Decorators
What are the symptoms of
mesothelioma?
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
-
pain in the lower back or side of chest
- shortness of breath
-
persistent cough
- weight loss
- difficulty
swallowing
These symptoms do not necessarily mean a person has
mesothelioma as they could apply to a range of other illnesses, but it is much
more likely if they have had contact with asbestos.
What is the
prognosis for mesothelioma?
The majority of people who suffer from
mesothelioma only see their doctor when it has reached an advanced stage, and at
this point the likelihood is that survival will be less than a year.
This
very much depends on a range of factors, however, which include blood count,
general health, and the type of mesothelioma from which a person is suffering.
One study found that 3 years after diagnosis, 1 in 10 people had
survived, and after 5 years, survival rate was 1 in 20. However, other studies
found a much better survival rate, with one study finding that 1 in 3
mesothelioma patients survived for 5 or more years, although this study only
looked at people with epithelioid type tumours.
There is currently no
cure for mesothelioma, but a range of drugs and treatments such as chemotherapy
can help to delay the symptoms of the disease.
What should
someone do if they are diagnosed with mesothelioma?
If there is a
history of contact with asbestos in the workplace, an industrial illness claim
may well be an option to consider. If successful, it will provide financial
support to help the mesothelioma patient and their family pay for treatment and
care, as well as substantial compensation for the exposure to asbestos that
caused the illness.
Although most compensation claims have to be started
within 3 years of the injury occurring, the nature of asbestos-related disease
means that the disease does not become obvious for many years, so industrial
illness claims are still valid as long as they are begun within 3 years of
diagnosis.
-ends- Who suffers from
mesothelioma?
2,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in
the UK and the number of people who die from it is expected to rise to a peak
between 2011 and 2015. This is because the disease can take 15-40 years to
develop, and blue and brown asbestos (thought to be the most likely types to
cause mesothelioma) were banned only in the late 1908s.
85% of the
people who suffer from mesothelioma are male, and this is thought to be because
it is mostly men who worked in trades involving asbestos. Most of the women who
develop mesothelioma are thought to have breathed in asbestos fibres whilst
cleaning the clothing of husbands who worked with the
material.
Tradesfolk who are particularly likely to have handled asbestos
and are at high risk of developing the industrial illness mesothelioma
include:
- Metal plate workers
- Plumbers
- Gas
fitters
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Builders
-
Decorators
What are the symptoms of
mesothelioma?
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
-
pain in the lower back or side of chest
- shortness of breath
-
persistent cough
- weight loss
- difficulty
swallowing
These symptoms do not necessarily mean a person has
mesothelioma as they could apply to a range of other illnesses, but it is much
more likely if they have had contact with asbestos.
What is the
prognosis for mesothelioma?
The majority of people who suffer from
mesothelioma only see their doctor when it has reached an advanced stage, and at
this point the likelihood is that survival will be less than a year.
This
very much depends on a range of factors, however, which include blood count,
general health, and the type of mesothelioma from which a person is suffering.
One study found that 3 years after diagnosis, 1 in 10 people had
survived, and after 5 years, survival rate was 1 in 20. However, other studies
found a much better survival rate, with one study finding that 1 in 3
mesothelioma patients survived for 5 or more years, although this study only
looked at people with epithelioid type tumours.
There is currently no
cure for mesothelioma, but a range of drugs and treatments such as chemotherapy
can help to delay the symptoms of the disease.
What should
someone do if they are diagnosed with mesothelioma?
If there is a
history of contact with asbestos in the workplace, an industrial illness claim
may well be an option to consider. If successful, it will provide financial
support to help the mesothelioma patient and their family pay for treatment and
care, as well as substantial compensation for the exposure to asbestos that
caused the illness.
Although most compensation claims have to be started
within 3 years of the injury occurring, the nature of asbestos-related disease
means that the disease does not become obvious for many years, so industrial
illness claims are still valid as long as they are begun within 3 years of
diagnosis.
-ends-
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBlast.com
About The Author:
Editorial notes: YouClaim provides an
absolutely cost-free, risk-free compensation service to people who have been
injured through no fault of their own. Get free legal advice on making a
personal injury claim at www.youclaim.co.uk or call 0800 10 757
95.
Author: Alexandra Gubbins of www.youclaim.co.uk
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Mesothelioma and Asbestos Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial cells, which cover most internal organs. The two places in which mesothelioma can develop are the lungs and the abdomen, but it is most commonly found in the lungs. Mesothelioma which affects the lungs is called pleural mesothelioma, and in 70-80% of cases is caused by asbestos fibres being breathed in and becoming stuck in the tissue which covers the lungs (pleura).
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