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Asbestos has been used since the times of the Ancient Greeks, but its dangers are a modern-day issue. Asbestos was used often in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries because of its high tolerance to heat and its usefulness in fireproof insulation. However, recently it has been exposed that when inhaled, asbestos causes deadly lung conditions such as mesothelioma.

Occupational Exposure and Dangers To Workers

After noticing that chronic diseases, especially cancers of the lung such as mesothelioma, were extremely common in construction workers who were exposed to asbestos, doctors began making a connection between asbestos and mesothelioma. Unfortunately, construction and other workers who were exposed to asbestos from the 1950s through the 1970s, when the dangers of asbestos were more fully recognized, are still suffering from the ill effects of asbestos exposure at work. There are now laws and regulations in place that are designed to prevent workers from exposure to toxic asbestos; however, these laws cannot undo years upon years of exposure to this deadly mineral in the workplace.

Delayed Diagnosis Due To Long Dormancy Period

Workers may have been exposed to asbestos in the 1970s, but may only just now be developing the tell-tale symptoms of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is slow to appear which causes doctors to have a hard time diagnosing and treating patients with the disease in time. Because symptoms of mesothelioma don’t show up for many years after exposure and are similar to symptoms for other diseases, workers with mesothelioma might be misdiagnosed during the early stages of the disease.

Symptoms of mesothelioma include:

* shortness of breath;

* abdominal swelling;

* pain of the abdomen;

* blood clotting problems;

* chest pain;

* chronic cough;

* heart palpitations;

* fever;

* labored breath;

* weight loss.

Pleural, peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma are all possible variations of the deadly cancer, with pleural (lung) mesothelioma the most commonly manifested version of the disease.

High-Risk Professions

Though the use of asbestos is now regulated by laws and regulations, the disease’s long dormancy period means that it still has a high number of potential victims. Professions at a high risk for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma are those which involved repeated exposure to asbestos in its industrial forms. These professions include:

* electricians;

* painters;

* insulators;

* carpenters;

* bricklayers;

* construction workers;

* mechanics;

* other tradespeople, in particulal, people who worked in home or commercial construction prior to the 1970s.

Other people at risk for getting mesothelioma are the families of people who worked with asbestos because the dust may have settled in the employee’s hair or clothing.

Legal Options

Because of the huge number of potentially affected workers, there has been a significant amount of litigation against companies who irresponsibly used asbestos, exposing their workers to the threat of mesothelioma and other life-threatening asbestos-related illnesses. It is essential to consult your doctor to discuss a treatment plan if you are suffering from exposure to asbestos. Then contact an asbestos attorney who is experienced in mesothelioma litigation. A competent asbestos lawyer may be able to help you recover damages for the pain and suffering incurred through asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, defray the costs of treatment, and provide for your children if you die of the disease.

Mesothelioma affects many people across the globe every year. If you’re not sure exactly what mesothelioma is, it’s a form of cancer that occurs from exposure to asbestos. Normally, people who get it have been exposed to asbestos either by long term stays in a building containing the material, or by working for companies that are paid to remove the harmful material. Asbestos was used as a fire-retardant material in buildings and curtains on the stages in theatres. The rapid removal of asbestos from older buildings occurred when it began to be linked to the mesothelioma cancer.

If you are suffering from mesothelioma, or know someone who is, it’s important to look into your options. Although the laws on the subject are constantly in a state of change, there are legal actions that can be taken in order to ensure proper compensation for medical treatment and heartache. There are lawyers that specialize in mesothelioma cases, and finding the best ones in your state could mean winning a case or not.

Mesothelioma symptoms may not occur until 20 or 50 years after exposure to asbestos. That’s why the material was allowed to be around as much as it was. It wasn’t until recently that asbestos was linked to causing cancer, and laws surrounding it were created. Mesothelioma affects one of two areas, usually, the outer lining of the lungs or heart, or the chest cavity. Shortness of breath, chest pain or pain in your lungs or heart, shortness of breath, and fatigue are all common symptoms of mesothelioma.

If you’re thinking that these symptoms could be part of a number of illnesses, you’re right on the money. That’s why getting a mesothelioma diagnosis is so tough. Not only do you have to go through a chest x ray, doctors may need to take tissue samples from possibly infected areas in order to get a proper, positive diagnosis. Without one of these, finding legal compensation will not be easy.

If you have a diagnosis for mesothelioma and you can link the outbreak to past exposure to asbestos, the next step is to find a competent lawyer to aid you in making and winning a case. You also may be eligible for legal counsel if you are a grieving member of a family who has lost a loved one to asbestos-related mesothelioma. The best way to find out if you can make a case that is going to win is to find a lawyer that specializes in mesothelioma cases. Louisiana has a number of lawyers that are top notch.

Finding them are simple, but going through them to find the best of the bunch will always prove to be more difficult than you may think. There are a number of lawyers that can help you in Louisiana. Lawyers with years of experience in mesothelioma cases and who have won these cases time and time again. After all, working with a lawyer that is known to get compensation for his or her clients will bring you peace of mind in handling these delicate matters.

The laws in Louisiana regarding mesothelioma cases are always changing, so you’re going to need a lawyer that is on top of their game when it comes to the laws surrounding the disease. The Johnson Law Group employs lawyers that make it their specialty to take on cases for asbestos-related mesothelioma cases. You can know that your case in safe hands by working with one of our competent and knowledgeable lawyers. Of course, making a decision like this on a whim is not a good thing.

Do some research on the web and you’ll find links to a number of well-educated lawyers in Louisiana. Call up the ones you feel you’ll get along with more, because not only does knowledge and experience come into play for lawyers, but so does their social presence and ability to communicate. After skimming the pool of lawyers out there, we’re sure you’ll come to find that the lawyers employed by the Johnson Law Group are of the highest standards.

If you have any questions about our services, our lawyers, or about mesothelioma and the laws relating to it in general, please give us a call. Someone in the Johnson Law Group will be available to answer your questions and help you make the right decisions in choosing a course of action to take when diagnosed with the disease. You have the right to be compensated for your troubles, and the Johnson Law Group is here to help.

Persistent diseases like lung cancer and mesothelioma was extremely common in construction workers who were exposed to asbestos fibers or dust, doctors began making a connection between asbestos and mesothelioma. Shipping, construction and other workers, who were exposed to asbestos from the 1950s to the 1970s, when the dangers of asbestos was being recognized, are still suffering from the ill effects of asbestos exposure at work. More and more cases of people working under asbestos were infected with mesothelioma. So, Asbestos was considered a cause of mesothelioma. Various laws and regulations are in place, which is designed to prevent workers from exposure to toxic asbestos.

Workers who may have been exposed to asbestos in the 1970s, they are showing the symptoms of mesothelioma now. The reason behind this is that mesothelioma is slow to manifest. Mesothelioma cannot be diagnosed during its early stages. Because its symptoms take too long to manifest and it is often mistaken with those of other diseases, mesothelioma can be mistaken as pneumonia or other diseases during its early stages. The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, abdominal swelling, chest pain, chronic cough, fever, weight loss, etc.

Different laws and regulations have limited the use of asbestos; mesothelioma takes a long period to develop means that it still has a large number of probable victims. Professions with the risk for asbestos exposure and mesothelioma are those which involved repeated exposure to asbestos in its industrial forms. These professions could be electricians, construction workers, bricklayers, mechanics, insulators and people involved with commercial or home construction before the 1970s.The families of these workers or people were also at risk, since they may have inhaled asbestos through the employee?s clothing or hair.

As more and people are getting aware of mesothelioma and asbestos there has been a significant amount of increase in lawsuits against companies who irresponsibly used asbestos, exposing their employees to the threat of mesothelioma and other life-threatening asbestos-related illnesses. If you were exposed to asbestos at any period of time you can get yourself diagnosed for mesothelioma. A mesothelioma sufferer or his family can contact an asbestos attorney who is experienced in mesothelioma litigation. A mesothelioma lawyer will help the person recover damages for the pain and suffering incurred through asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma surgery does not cure mesothelioma and is not even suitable for everyone. The main focus of mesothelioma surgery is on keeping the illness limited, under control and prolonging good health. Usually mesothelioma surgery is not done alone but is a part of a combination followed or led by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. According to the researchers, this is the best way of limiting mesothelioma.

The reason why mesothelioma surgery is not solely effective is because mesothelioma is diagnosed very late usually. If pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed in its early stages then the patient can opt for an extrapleural pneumonectomy. However, if the cancer has only spread, which is usually the case, then a pleurecomy can be helpful to control the symptoms. However, this treatment would not cure your mesothelioma and will not prolong your life under mesotheliomic conditions.

Mesothelioma surgery is helpful for people with peritoneal mesothelioma only if the cancer is diagnosed at its early stages.

There are various types of mesothelioma surgeries related to the different types of mesothelioma.

- Extrapleural pneumonecomy (EPP):
This one is a major mesothelioma surgery in which the affected side of the lung is removed. Also, some other areas namely the pleura, diaphragm and covering of the heart are also eliminated.

This type of mesothelioma surgery is not suitable for everyone. As it is a major surgery, therefore it requires proper health conditions determined and certified by a physician.

Pleurectomy:
Pleurectomy is another form of mesothelioma surgery which is meant to control symptoms. It helps control the fluid build up and can relieve chest pain.

Mesothelioma surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma:
mesothelioma surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma is not possible for everyone. There are a number of factors such as the age, health and others that determine whether or not a person is fit for operation. In this mesothelioma surgery, the lining of the peritoneum is removed.

Mesothelioma, or the cancer of mesothelium, is a fatal tumor that affects pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium – linings around lungs, abdomen, and heart respectively. It is a fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral.

Mesothelioma cancer be benign, i.e. it can be non-cancerous and non-spreading or it can be malignant i.e. cancerous and spread to other parts of the body leading to death. Its primary cause is prolonged exposure to asbestos and it has a latency period of about 30 to 50 years.

Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma can be classified into three types depending on the area of body affected by it. There are 3 common types of mesothelioma:

1. Pleural Mesothelioma

2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma

3. Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

The most common form of mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of pleura) is a tumor of the protective lining around the lungs. It can be either benign or malignant.

The pleura is a sac-like membrane made of two layers between which the pleural fluid is released. This fluid in turn acts like a lubricating agent and helps the lungs to function smoothly during breathing.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma are:

* Shortness of breath

* Chest pain

* Back pain

* Pain in the rib cage

Other symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma, for both benign and cancerous forms, include:

* Fluid build-up in the lung lining

* Hoarseness

* Coughing up blood

* Swelling of the face and arms

* Muscle weakness

* Paralysis

* Sensory loss

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Another common form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the peritoneum that causes tumor in the abdominal lining. Like pleural it can be benign or malignant.

The peritoneum is the membrane that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity and also includes:

* Tunica Vaginalis Testis (mesothelial tissue lining the male internal reproductive organs)

* Tunica Serosa Uteri (mesothelial tissue lining the female reproductive organs)

Symptoms

The fluid released in the peritoneum helps in the smooth functioning of these organs. When the peritoneum is affected, some common symptoms experienced are:

* Stomach pain

* Weight loss

* Nausea

* Vomiting

* Hernia

* Bowel obstruction

* Fluid in the abdominal cavity

If the cancer spreads beyond the abdominal cavity, additional symptoms can be found, such as:

* Anemia

* Blood clotting abnormalities

* Trouble swallowing

* Swelling of neck, face or arms

Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma or the cancer of pericardium is a tumor of the protective sac-like lining around the heart.

Pericardium protects the heart by:

* Smoothening its motion against surrounding organs

* Limiting its motion so that it stays in the chest cavity

* Preventing it from over-expansion during excess influx of blood

Symptoms

When pericardium’s function is affected by mesothelioma, the following symptoms may occur:

* Chest pain

* Shortness of breath

* Fluid accumulation in the lining

If the mesothelioma cancer spreads to other organs of the body, it can affect their normal functioning and cause painful symptoms. Thus, it is important that mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed on time and proper treatment is given to save the patient’s life.

There are three types of mesothelioma namely peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. The types of mesothelioma are given below in detail:

1. Pleural Mesothelioma:
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma. It accounts for more than 75% of all documented cases of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma affects the section of mesothelium called the pleura. Besides being the most common type of malignant mesothelioma, pleura mesothelioma is still found in rarity. This is the reason why pleura mesothelioma is confused with other types of similar diseases such as lung cancer and viral pneumonia. No doubt lung cancer is also developed due to asbestos (Asbestos lung cancer) but it is different from pleural mesothelioma.

Amongst all symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, chronic chest pain is the major one. A mass storage of fluid inside the pleural space can cause severe and chronic chest pain called pleural effusion. There are ways of draining the fluid and relieving the pain however there are possibilities of recurrence. A surgery can be performed to close the pleural space with no possibility of recurrence. Other common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

-

Of the three forms of Mesothelioma, Pericardial, Peritoneal, and Pleural, there is no way to determine which is the most aggressive or the most destructive or the most vicious form of Mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma, which attacks the lining of the lungs, is the most often diagnosed. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is when it attacks the lining which encases the internal organs. Pericardial Mesothelioma is Mesothelioma of the lining of the heart.

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive, deadly form of cancer that is only known to be cause via exposure to asbestos. Asbestos related illnesses can take anywhere form ten to forty years before announcing themselves with symptoms of illness. Pericardial Mesothelioma often presents with symptoms which include shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations and a persistent cough.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer, and the treatment options available for patients are like any other form of cancer. The problem with that is that most patients do not respond as well as most other forms of cancer. Mesothelioma victims typically only survive maybe two years after diagnosis, with others not surviving nearly that long.

Pericardial Mesothelioma can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation treatments, palliative therapies, and surgical procedures. Each treatment option presents its own set of negative side effects which may or may not complicate the symptoms of it.

When treating Pericardial Mesothelioma with chemotherapy, a chemical concoction known to kill Mesothelioma cancer cells is introduced into the body. This chemical cocktail then attacks the cancer cells which are causing the Mesothelioma. The chemicals also tend to strip away the body’s immune system. Treating Mesothelioma with chemotherapy is also known to cause severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, the loss of hair, fatigue, and sometimes mood alterations which lead to irritability.

Treating Mesothelioma with chemotherapy often does not prove to be aggressive enough, and radiation therapy is also introduced into the treatment regimen. Radiation therapy is the directed attack of radiation into the affected area in hopes of killing the Mesothelioma cancer cells. Radiation therapies are also known to weaken the immune system and create fatigue and illness. Often using chemotherapy in tandem with radiation therapy leads to destroying what quality of life the Mesothelioma patient has left without successful results.

Surgery is not a treatment option for Pericardial Mesothelioma. Pericardial Mesothelioma is very difficult to treat because it has been deemed unbeneficial to attempt to remove the cancer from the heart. Pericardial Mesothelioma patients do not qualify for heart transplants because there is a great risk of cancerous cells being spread throughout the additional mesothelium. Most Pericardial Mesothelioma patients do not live long enough to wait out a transplant list even if their overall health qualifies to be on the list in the first place, which unfortunately is very rare with Pericardial Mesothelioma.

Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rarest form of it. It is difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. Pericardial Mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until treatment options are severely limited.

There are alternative options for treating Mesothelioma in conjunction with traditional methods, such as nutritional and lifestyle therapies, counseling, massage therapies, and holistic approaches to dealing with the vigorous side effects of the traditional treatment options. Alternative therapies and treatments have mostly only been effective in alleviated the discomfort and depression that is typically associated with Mesothelioma and its variable treatments.

The deadly nature of Pericardial Mesothelioma is grounds for a wrongful death lawsuit. Mesothelioma is the result of negligent exposure to asbestos. The long term exposure to asbestos creates the malignant cells in the protective lining of the internal organs, which over the course of decades, causes it. Mesothelioma in any form is typically deadly with a remarkably low survival rate.

The fact that companies who were responsible for the asbestos exposure were completely aware of the health threat which they were introducing to their employees makes it that much more deplorable. Victims and their families are well within their rights to file lawsuits to provide for their medical expenses, receive compensation for their pain and suffering, and to provide a secure financial future for their families. Mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuits are one of the only ways available to hold big business accountable for their blatant neglect. Many victims consider their lawsuits as part of their overall Mesothelioma treatment plan, allowing them to reclaim their dignity and have their voices heard. The crime of asbestos exposure should come with much more severe penalties, but for now the only recourse that victims have is th filing of Mesothelioma and wrongful death lawsuits.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma, but both of these typically malignant mesotheliomas can be just as tragic. Peritoneal mesothelioma begins in the abdominal cavity, as opposed to the lungs and pleural areas of pleural mesothelioma. ?Peritoneal? means it has to do with the peritoneum, which is a membrane that surrounds the abdominal area. ?Pleural? refers to the pleura which is a membrane that surrounds the lungs. There is also a ?pericardial? mesothelioma which targets the heart membrane first.

The lungs, abdominal area and heart all have a membrane made up of mesothelial cells, named the mesothelium. A cancerous attack of these membrane areas are mesotheliomas. Asbestos is the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma in well over 90% of the cases. There are a few rare recorded cases of malignant mesothelioma when asbestos exposure was not identified. If you have been exposed to asbestos, there is a high chance you will suffer from an asbestos-caused disease such as asbestosis or pleural plaques. However, not all asbestos-caused diseases are fatal.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma can be fatal malignant mesotheliomas which spread uncontrollably, or they can be benign, when the tumor stays where it is and can likely be removed. Unexplainable weight loss is a mesothelioma symptom which may occur in as many as 90% of benign and malignant mesothelioma. Generally, benign mesothelioma tends to show less symptoms than malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma symptoms for peritoneal mesothelioma almost always includes abdominal pain. This is because there is excess fluid between the peritoneal membrane and the abdomen walls. Pleural mesothelioma has excess fluid in the pleural area and this causes shortness of breath and chest pain.

The mesothelioma symptoms of pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma are not as outwardly visible as the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. In peritoneal mesothelioma, the abdomen can appear larger. Tumor masses may be visible, but external tumor visibility only occurs in a minority of peritoneal mesothelioma cases. Nausea is a common mesothelioma symptom with peritoneal mesothelioma, and the abdominal area will also be very tender.

In a healthy peritoneal area between the membrane and the wall, the peritoneal fluid helps the intestines move food. In peritoneal mesothelioma however, excess fluid causes bowel obstruction. The mesothelioma symptoms of extra fluid and bowel obstruction both contribute to abdominal pain. The bowel obstruction can also produce mesothelioma symptoms of constipation and diarrhea. Many peritoneal malignant mesothelioma patients have reported mesothelioma symptoms of a burning sensation in the abdomen. Mesothelioma symptoms for peritoneal malignant mesothelioma may not surface for 20-30 years after asbestos exposure, but it generally surfaces sooner than pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is fortunately rare, however its rarity sometimes makes it harder to diagnose. The symptoms are similar to hernias and gall bladder problems, and identifying peritoneal mesothelioma in a CT scan is difficult. The medical industry is aware that asbestos-related diseases will be escalating over the upcoming years, and treatment for peritoneal malignant mesothelioma is undergoing many clinical trials. If you have been exposed to asbestos and have unexplainable abdominal pain and are experiencing unexplained weight loss, begin preliminary testing for peritoneal mesothelioma. The sooner the testing begins, the higher the chances for symptomatic relief, and hopefully today?s mesothelioma clinical trials will lead to a mesothelioma cure in the future.