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Asbestos and
Cancer
by: Karen Brown
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with
mesothelioma or another asbestos related cancer, you may
want to seek legal advice. Typical legal settelements can
reach five million dollars.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant
(cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a
protective sac that covers most of the body's internal
organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked
on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects
most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed
of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds
the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The
mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released
between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the
beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to
glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its
location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial
tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal
cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the
lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The
pericardium covers and protects the heart. The
mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal
reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis
testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal
reproductive organs in women.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in
which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide
without control or order. They can invade and damage
nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also
metastasize (spread) from their original site to other
parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in
the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the
past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare
cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are
diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma
occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases
with age, but this disease can appear in either men or
women at any age.
What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for
mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is
reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases.
However, mesothelioma has been reported in some
individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur
naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can
be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has
been widely used in many industrial products, including
cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products,
textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles
float in the air, especially during the manufacturing
process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause
serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma,
exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer,
asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and
other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of
mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and
asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk
of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.
About The Author
Karen Brown
http://asbestos-attorney-mesothelioma.net/
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