Asbestos is Damaging to Your Health

Asbestos is the definition given to the six types of silicate materials that are found on earth. These materials are very strong and useful in constructing buildings, because of their beneficial properties. They are usually used as insulation for roofing, siding, and for sealing agents like wall compounds. Asbestos is resilient to high temperatures and extremely durable, but the fibers are detrimental to human health. In industry this material was a popular choice for manufacturing, due to its variable uses and strengthening properties.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of virulent cancer that attacks the linings of the lungs, heart, and other organs within the abdominal cavity. This cancer is directly linked with asbestos inhalation. Symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, persistent coughing (dry, hacking), and chest pain.

Unfortunately, it can take years for mesothelioma to develop and the symptoms can often be mistaken for another disease. Treatment for mesothelioma can include chemotherapy drugs, Radiotherapy (using radiation to kill cancerous cells), and even surgery to remove malignant tissue or tumors. Other treatments can be attempted, in some cases, to prolong life further. For example, mesothelioma immunotherapy uses the body’s immune system to attack and starve cancer cells. This type of treatment is passive and is meant to increase the life expectancy of many mesothelioma patients.

10,000 people in the U.S die each year from asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. In response to this, many victims have filed asbestos lawsuits. Asbestos products have been banned in 60 countries worldwide, but there is no ban in the U.S. Over 1.3 million workers might have been unknowingly exposed to the dangers of asbestos material. Asbestos lawsuits help these victims come forward and provide them an opportunity to obtain potential compensation for damages to their health. Because of the many asbestos lawsuits, most manufacturers have replaced asbestos with substitute materials. One common challenge of asbestos lawsuits is the long latency period, in which symptoms for the disease will show up years after exposure. The funds received from potential compensation from a lawsuit makes initiating an asbestos lawsuits important to consider for anyone suffering from mesothelioma.