Mesothelioma (Asbestos Cancer) is a type of cancer (a deadly tumor) involving mesothelial tissues or cells of usually lungs or stomach and abdominal organs.
Mesothelioma or asbestos cancer is often caused by exposure to asbestos fibers and dust. The incidence of mesothelioma is increasing in developed countries due to widespread exposure of individuals to asbestos. The other factor may be occupational asbestos exposures, in which case mesothelioma may occur even after the exposures have been eliminated. There are 30-50% of patients without any history of exposure.
Note that every asbestos related lung cancer is not a mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the most lethal of the lung cancers.
There is some evidence that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma [Muscat JE, Huncharek M, Division of Epidemiology, American Health Foundation, New York, NY, USA, Br J Cancer, May 1996]
People who have received asbestos exposure (an exposure of as little as one or two months) even to very low doses are at risk of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos related diseases. This is regardless of their age, sex and trade. Even people who wash clothes of asbestos exposed people are at risk, because asbestos can be carried on clothing. A person exposed to asbestos could develop mesothelioma after 50 years of exposure. The mesothelioma latency period is about 35 - 40 years. This means that a person exposed to asbestos today can have mesothelioma cancer after 35-40 years.
People in the following occupations have high risk of contracting asbestos disease:
Insulators, Boilermakers, Construction jobs in shipyards, Shipfitters, Steel Workers, Maintenance Workers, Pipe Fitters and Brake Mechanics. Friends and family of the workers in the above listed fields are also at risk.
Prof. RT Gun of the Department of Community Medicine, University of Adelaide, South Australia [Med J Aust, Apr 17 1995] in a study of people not occupationally exposed to asbestos for the period 1980-1985 found that the incidence of mesothelioma in men was 5.9 per 1,000,000 person-years more than women. The reason for this difference for men and women is not available. The occurrence of mesothelioma in men between the age group of 60-70 is 10 times higher than the age group of 30-40.
The body mass index, BMI is unrelated to the risk of mesothelioma.
The government authorities throughout the world should make appropriate legislation to stop industrial and consumer use of asbestos. However, mesothelioma will be expected to occur up to 40 years even after such a legislation is made effective.
If you or someone you love is suffering from mesothelioma, you have the legal right to seek medical expenses, loss of income, and pain and suffering. You should consult a qualified attorney to advocate your rights in a mesothelioma lawsuit.
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