Mesothelioma is an Asbestos-related Disease in Georgia

There Is Often A Long Lag Between Exposure and Disease

Many of the  asbestos-related conditions can take years to manifest and many workers who were exposed long ago are just now being diagnosed with asbestos-related injuries and diseases such as cancers and difficulty breathing due to asbestos exposure (asbestosis). These diseases are generally caused by asbestos fibers that were inhaled or ingested in the work place. However, the longest latency period of any asbestos-related condition is that of mesothelioma.

If you have worked with or around asbestos containing products in the past and have trouble breathing or have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition, call us today on (800) 613-1923.

It has been shown by clear and convincing evidence that when workers are exposed to asbestos in the workplace, asbestos causes a number of cancers. The most serious cancer or condition caused by asbestos exposure is mesothelioma. In addition, asbestos exposure causes other cancers such as ovarian, lung and laryngeal cancer. Although not as clearly linked, it is believed that asbestos exposure in the workplace can cause gastrointestinal and colorectal cancers, throat cancers, kidney cancers, esophageal cancer, gallbladder and pancreatic cancer.

Mesothelioma In More Detail

Mesothelioma is a cancer that attacks the tissue lining of the lungs, stomach, and other body organs. Most often, it invades the lining of the lungs and the prognosis is poor, as most people do not live long after diagnosis. In fact, the vast majority of mesothelioma cases are in the lungs and this is where the asbestos is ingested in the body most of the time, i.e., from breathing in asbestos dust. This is especially trues because many of the workers who worked with or around asbestos in the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s were not warned about the dangers of asbestos and were not provided proper safety equipment to protect them from breathing in asbestos dust.

There have been many reported cases of mesothelioma secondary to second-hand exposure. In other words, the person who contracts mesothelioma did not work with or around asbestos, but rather may have had a husband or other family member work at a location that contained asbestos and, for instance, may have shaken-out and washed the family members dusty work clothes. This is a common way to contract an asbestos related condition, especially mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a deadly condition that can develop anywhere for 15 to as much as 40 years after a person was initially exposed to asbestos. Even with this wide range of latency, each case is different and there are many cases of mesothelioma that occur less than 15 years after exposure to asbestos and other cases that occur more than 40 after the exposure.  The most common sign of mesothelioma is difficulty breathing. Other signs and symptom of this deadly cancer include shortness of breath, a painful cough, pain in the chest or abdomen, fluid build-up in the chest or abdomen, lumps under the skin on the chest or in the abdomen, loss of appetite or weight loss, difficulty swallowing, fatigue, and unexplained fever. Most experts agree that the only way to contract mesothelioma is from asbestos exposure, and this link is stronger with some types of asbestos than others. Most workers (or those who contract mesothelioma through second-hand exposure) consider treating it with some mixture of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, clinical trials, and holistic therapies. There is no cure yet for malignant mesothelioma, but your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan that best meets your needs, and they have made great progress in treating this potentially deadly form of cancer. Unfortunately, once a diagnosis of mesothelioma has been confirmed, life expectancy is almost always less than one year.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related condition, call (800) 613-1923 right now for a free and confidential case evaluation.

Robert J. Fleming has been handling wrongful death cases, mesothelioma asbestos claims, and other personal injury cases for individuals and families who have been harmed, injured or died as a result of negligence for over 20 years. He practices in and around the Atlanta, Georgia area. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition and would like to discuss your case in complete confidence, contact Robert J. Fleming directly on (404) 525-5150 or contact us online.