Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

If you or anyone you know have been exposed to such things as hazardous materials containing asbestos you may want to get checked out by a physician. Asbestos poisoning can lead to a cancer known as mesothelioma. There are several different types of mesothelioma as well including;
Malignant pleural mesothelioma -This type is a malignant cancer of the lungs, which is the most common type of the disease seen in patients suffering due to the inhalation of the asbestos fibers. This can be caused by working in such hazardous occupations as welding and fabrication plants, various types of construction, and many other industrial occuptions handling hazardous scrap materials. Pleural mesothelioma is most commonly apparent before other forms of the cancer, as the lungs are the first organ exposed to the asbestos. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common as opposed to just pleural mesothelioma as the exposure rate of the lungs is higher than other organs, and cancerous growth is more eminent.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects mesothelium lining of the abdomen, and is due to exposure of asbestos dust. Most cases seen are in some way pleural affecting the lungs as the asbestos fibers must be inhaled through the airways in order to enter the body in the first place. That's why you also may see cases in which the patient has both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. The mesothelium lining which lines the body's internal organs is a protective tissue lining in which malignant cells develop in.
Pericardial mesothelioma is cancer of the heart in which the mesothelium of the heart is affected with malignant cancer cell growth. This can be an especially dangerous form of the cancer as it can impair the function of the heart through affective disorder of the protective heart lining or mesothelium of the heart. In cases where tumor growth is present it is especially dangerous of the pericardium. The pericardial lining is present inside the ribs or pleura and in or around the abdominal organs which is the peritoneum. Unfortunately, by the time this disease is diagnosed it is almost always fatal. Because of the rate of use in asbestos type materials several decades ago there has been seen an influx of mesothelioma cases due to the incubation rate of the disease in patients suffering from this type of cancer. It is important that if you even think you may have been subject to exposure of asbestos of any kind including that of old paint or old building materials you get checked out immediately even if no symptoms are present. It's unfortunate that symptoms cannot be used as an indicator for the disease due to the high fatality rate.
If you have been exposed to such materials or even think you may have it is also suggested that you seek the aid of a mesothelioma lawyer who can help make you aware of your rights, and to the fault of the exposure. This can help take a load off on the costs of getting tests run and initiating treatment to help treat the disease before the onset of symptoms occur. They can make you aware of your rights, and what you can do in such a case. They are equipped with many resources to help you find the best physicians and treatments as well.
There are also many mesothelioma attorneys who are now assigned to cases of mesothelioma poisening who act on behalf of both the affected and the defendant as well. There are several class action law suits against asbestos exposure due to the unlawful intent of several companies operating in such unsafe condition; as to make their workers in danger of asbestos poising leading up to mesothelioma disorder. If you think you may have rights to such a mesothelioma lawsuit an attorney can help determine if you qualify, and aide you in getting the process started. They are a good resource and starting point when you become aware that you have been affected by asbestos in your life.

Toxic Town Receives Attention

A small town in Montana has a big cleanup ahead. According to several news sources, the Environmental Protection Agency has been assigned to clean up an entire town covered in toxic dust, a residual from years of vermiculite mining close to the town. Libby, Montana, the town in question, would receive over $130 million in additional federal aid to assist in cleaning up the highly dangerous mess, which is estimated to have caused over 200 deaths. This number drastically exceeds the national average for deaths related to asbestos exposure and asbestosis.
The town of Libby was coated with a layer of asbestos-laced dust that blanketed everything from trees to cars to playgrounds; no one was immune to exposure. The dust originated from a nearby vermiculite mine which has been in operation since 1919. Dust from the plant covered lawns, trees, cars and drifted through the air in a hazy smoke. The vermiculite dust alone is not toxic, but the particulate matter was infused with a substance called tremolite asbestos, chemically linked to mesothelioma. According to federal prosecutors, this high level of exposure resulted in more than 200 deaths and 1,000 illnesses over several decades.
The alarming fact of the matter is that this level of extreme exposure in an isolated location is incredibly dangerous for residents of the town and for federal health regulatory institutions. Earlier this year, a federal jury acquitted the operator of the mine along with three of its former executives of criminal charges related to the contamination. The facility was under the control of W.R. Grace from 1963 until it closed in 1990, and prosecutors insisted that its executives had knowledge of the toxic substance's release. Additionally, they claimed that the company tried to conceal the danger the dust presented from the community.
The total cost of the cleanup is uncertain at this point, but with the federal government's contribution, the grand total now comes to $333 million, with $6 million going to local health care providers to screen, diagnose, and treat asbestos related illnesses. The agency also stated that it needed sufficient time to conduct extensive research concerning the health effects of this particular type of asbestos, as well as specific locations in the town where the dust has been spread or concentrated.
Mesothelioma is a deadly and debilitating form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. No known treatment can currently completely cure the effects of the cancer, which is why it is imperative that a patient recently diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer locate an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who can provide a free legal consultation as to the development of a possible mesothelioma lawsuit. Developing litigation of this nature may result in monetary funds being dispersed to a victim, who can then use such compensation to pay for costly medical treatments and increase quality of life during their cancer.