Causes of Mesothelioma

Causes of Mesothelioma

Connelly Asbestos Law Firm

What Are the Causes?


The causes of mesothelioma are among the most common questions asked by victims of the disease. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the lining that covers the internal organs of the body, or what is called the mesothelium. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Exposure to asbestos may result in fibers becoming implanted in the lining of the lungs via inhalation through the mouth or nose.



Due to the long latency period typically associated with the presentation of symptoms of mesothelioma, it is often difficult to trace the exact source of exposure. Asbestos was once widely used in industrial and commercial products in the U.S. and other places across the globe. Workers in a number of industries, including, construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding, were at a high risk of asbestos exposure prior to regulations enacted in the 1980s that enforced safety protections.

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The extensive use of asbestos has led to exposure to the toxic mineral by individuals who have worked in high-risk occupations prior to the regulations. Living near an asbestos mine, an improperly performed asbestos abatement project in one’s home, or living with someone who worked with asbestos have been among the reported sources of exposure for those diagnosed.

It is always important to seek the proper medical attention in the event that one shows signs of having any asbestos related health condition. A mesothelioma lawyer can provide victims with legal support for those exposed to asbestos in the workplace, military or elsewhere who have developed mesothelioma.

Below is a list of questions that are important to ask if you or a loved one believe that you have been exposed to asbestos and are concerned about mesothelioma:
• What are the risk factors?
• How can one obtain a diagnosis?
• What is typically the prognosis after a diagnosis?
• Are there statistics available related to children?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, an attorney may be able to help you assess your legal options.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to damage or kill cancer cells. Though it is not a cure for mesothelioma, radiation therapy may be used to delay the cancers growth. When used in combination with surgery, radiation therapy is referred to as adjuvant radiation and can be used to destroy small deposits of cancer that may have been missed in surgery.

External Beam Radiation

External beam radiation uses radiation delivered from outside the body. During treatment, a machine similar to an x-ray machine directs intense beams of light from outside the body at the cancer. It is the most commonly used form of radiation used in the treatment of mesothelioma.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy involves placing sources of radiation inside the body. Radioactive sources are positioned in the patient’s abdomen or chest, either close to, or inside the tumor itself.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs or chemical agents to treat cancer. A doctor or mesothelioma specialist may recommend a single drug, or a combination of drugs. Chemotherapy drugs are systemic, meaning that the drugs are designed to enter the bloodstream and then circulate throughout the patient’s body or ‘system’ to destroy the cancer cells. While not a cure for mesothelioma, chemotherapy may help delay the progression of the cancer.

Surgery

Surgery may be used in one of two ways: as a palliative treatment (to relieve pain and discomfort caused by the disease) or as a curative treatment (to cure or slow the progression of mesothelioma). Surgery may be performed in conjunction with other radiation or chemotherapy treatments, otherwise known as “multi-modal therapy.” Whether surgery is indicated depends on many factors, including the patient’s medical history, the health of the patient and the location and stage (extent to which the cancer has spread) and cell type of the cancer.

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