Mesothelioma patients have been diagnosed as having cancer cells surrounding their lungs or abdominal organs or inside their ribcages. While even a little exposure to asbestos could cause the disease, it's far more likely to occur in people who were exposed over longer periods of time. It's real possible that you aren't even aware that you were ever working around asbestos, because it was common for employers back then to withhold from their employees the information that was coming out regarding asbestos exposure. Some examples of people who may have been innocently exposed prior to the 1970s include construction workers or those who were in the Navy.

Prior to the 1970s asbestos was widely-used in many different applications. Once the reports of the health risks involved in its use started to be made public, this use of asbestos was curtailed. Before that time, however, almost every type of insulation contained asbestos, such as that used to insulate pipes, do fire-proofing, and in boilers. Types of plasters, cements, and joint compounds that came in powdered form and were intended to insulate were also full of asbestos. Since the powders caused a lot of dust, employees who breathed the air while using them were particularly vulnerable to asbestos exposure.

If you worked in one of the following fields prior to the mid 1970s, then you may be at risk for Mesothelioma: * The manufacture or installation of insulation products * Steel refineries and other industries which included the use of steel * Fabricators of brake and clutch shoes * Paper mill employees * Maintenance workers * Boilermakers * Those doing electrical or carpentry work and brick masons * Shipyard workers

Even if you know you worked in one of these industries and could have been exposed to asbestos, there's no need to panic. Since this exposure will place you at a higher risk for Mesothelioma, however, you'll want to make sure your doctor knows all the specifics. He may even want to run some tests just to make sure that you aren't showing any signs of the disease. Most likely he will want to do a complete physical if you haven't had one lately and have some x-rays taken of your chest and abdominal area. He might want you to take pulmonary function tests, a CT scan, or an MRI. If you show no symptoms, then you're clear for now, but you'll have to keep watch for the development of the condition all the rest of your life.

If the time comes when you're diagnosed with Mesothelioma, one of the first things you'll want to do is to hire a lawyer who specializes in cases involving the disease. He will be able to evaluate your claim and file a suit against your employer seeking damages if it can be proven that there was any negligence on the part of your employer in withholding information or not providing the safety equipment you needed.

1. Mesothelioma is not your fault. You are a victim of the negligence of the company you worked for. Businesses had access to information about the hazards of working with asbestos as early as the 1920s, and by the 1940s they were being advised to eliminate it from the workplace. Most of them didn't comply, however, and that's what caused you to become sick now. Instead of doing what they could to protect your health, these companies chose to withhold crucial information in favor of their own profits. Unfortunately, you're now suffering from their lack of responsibility, and they should be held accountable. Your Mesothelioma lawyer will be able to make sure that this happens.

2. Mesothelioma may have taken the life of a loved one and left you with insurmountable debts. An experienced Mesothelioma lawyer will be able to file a wrongful death suit in behalf of your loved one which will bring you a settlement to compensate you for the expenses you've inherited as well as for your emotional suffering brought about by this person's death.

3. It's possible that since you've been diagnosed with Mesothelioma you've been watching the depletion of your life's savings, seeing a possible foreclosure looming on the horizon, and trying to live on little of nothing. You don't have to worry about a Mesothelioma lawyer costing you money you don't have. The way most of these lawyers work is on a no win, no pay basis. Therefore, unless they will a settlement for you, you won't have to pay them anything.

4. As you probably already know, corporate negligence has been a problem for a long time. Too many companies put profits ahead of everything else, including employee health, and this should never have been allowed to happen. Because of these poor corporate decisions, hundreds of employees have become victims of their employers' greed. As a general rule, a Mesothelioma lawyer will seek punitive damages as well as well as financial compensation. These damages serve as a punishment for the negligence of the company and also warn others in corporate America that we aren't going to put up with this kind of behavior any longer.

Don't you think you owe it to yourself, your family, and workers all over the country to hire a Mesothelioma lawyer and allow your voice to be heard?

Lawyers that specialize in mesothelioma cases are well-versed in all of the legal, emotional, and medical issues that you are facing, and they know how to get you the care and support you and your family are going to need. In addition, they will be able to provide you with the experienced legal counsel necessary to sort through the facts that are unique to your claim and get you the restitution that you deserve. It can be difficult to find an attorney who has the mesothelioma litigation experience to be able to help you; however, by doing some research and talking with others who have been through similar situations, you can find just the right person.

You are not to blame for what has happened to you. You couldn't possibly have known that the environment you worked in was going to make you sick. Even if you were aware that there were asbestos particles in the air, you most likely didn't know that they were hazardous. After all, we're all exposed to particulates in the air everywhere we go, and the majority of them do no damage. However, the company you worked for was aware of the risk to employees, and a mesothelioma cancer lawyer will tell you so.

Information has been available since the 1920s which told employers that exposure to asbestos could have damaging effects on employee health. Medical science developed positive links between asbestos exposure and cancer in the decades that followed, and authorities repeatedly warned companies which used asbestos in their manufacturing process that they should switch to the use of one of the safer materials that were available.

It's hard to believe in a country that prides itself on the value it places on human life, but executives in these companies made the decision to keep using asbestos, because it meant bigger profits and more money in their pockets. The health of their employees took a back seat to their greed, a fact that the courts now look upon as totally unethical. They also withheld the information they had concerning the asbestos-cancer link from their employees who continued innocently working in dangerous environments. Therefore, the bad decisions made by these heartless employers are being blamed for the suffering of their employees who contracted mesothelioma. Things could have been much different if they had only acted responsibly.

What the company you worked for has done to you is nothing short of criminal, and the legal system recognizes this fact. To go after your legal rights and the restitution you deserve, you're going to need a mesothelioma cancer lawyer who has the expertise to prove your claim. Some of the benefits you are entitled to include financial assistance to make up for lost wages, payment of medical bills that aren't covered by insurance, help in meeting funeral expenses, and emotional support for family members. Although your lawyer won't be able to get your health back for you, he can do a lot of things to make what you're going through easier for you, including providing your family with the financial security it needs.

Mesothelioma is a life-threatening lung cancer that is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. A lawsuit can also be filed by a person who has developed the condition through association with a person working in an asbestos-related environment. Even if you aren't sure where you got the disease, the lawyer you hire will be able to have private investigators research your history to locate the job in which you were exposed. If you already know where you worked that exposed you to these harmful carcinogens, then your lawsuit will be able to proceed much more quickly than if time needs to be spent investigating first.

All mesothelioma claims need to be filed in a timely manner depending on the date of diagnosis and the laws in the state where the suit is being filed. Every state sets its own time limits for filing lawsuits, and you need to know what those limits are so that you can file before the time is up. In most states the law will give you from 1 to 2 years after diagnosis to file your suit; however, since the time limits can vary from state to state, it's something you should check on right away. If you wait too long, you won't be able to file a suit at all. Time limits apply to both personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits, so make sure that you act quickly.

Don't hesitate to file mesothelioma lawsuits because you're afraid of what an expert lawyer is going to cost you. These people are well aware of the lost wages and medical bills you're already facing, and so they work on a no win, no fee basis. By so doing they guarantee that they will win your case and get adequate restitution for you or else the work they put in will be given free of charge.

Once you've discussed your claim with your lawyer, he'll be able to give you a better idea of how much in damages you can hope to win. A lot will depend on how good of a case he can put together against your employer and on the severity of the cancer. You'll be interested to know, though, that in the past there have been mesothelioma cancer lawsuits that have netted thousands of dollars in payments and even as much as several million dollars in some instances. Therefore, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by pursuing your legal rights if you're suffering from mesothelioma.

In December, 2008 it was reported that an 82-year-old man who had been exposed to asbestos as a machinist back in the 1940s was awarded a $10 million settlement as a result of his Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit. His employer had been privy to information which it hadn't shared with him and his fellow employees about the health issues that were involved in doing their jobs, a fact that the jury considered to be both conspiracy against the employees and a criminal act.

As far back as the 1920s companies had information telling them how dangerous it was for their employees to work around asbestos. By the 1940s they were being told to quit using asbestos in their manufacturing processes. They didn't listen, though, because it would have meant lower profits for the company. Instead, they made the decision to ignore the findings and allow their employees to continue working in unsafe conditions. This practice continued until the mid 1970s. As a result, thousands of workers inhaled asbestos fibers which could cause this devastating form of lung cancer. Now the only recourse open to this victims of negligence who find their lives destroyed by the disease is to file a Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit.

There are hundreds of workers who are facing the possibility of developing Mesothelioma due to the negligence of their employers. If you end up being diagnosed with the disease, you need to file a Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit right away. Your lawyer will gather the information he needs to prove that the company is liable for your condition in that they withheld information and failed to provide you with the safety items that could have prevented your illness. A suit like this will seek restitution for your lost wages, medical expenses, and suffering as well as additional punitive damages. These punitive charges are a way of punishing the company for what it allowed to happen to you, and they send the message to all other companies that Americans will no longer tolerate this kind of negligent corporate behavior.

The first Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit was filed in 1966, and since that time hundreds of similar cases have been decided in favor of the victims that resulted in millions of dollars in cash settlements. Unfortunately, the political climate has also been changing since that time, and now many of the country's political leaders, the ones who make the laws, are company executives who are supporting corporate interests instead of the rights of the people. This may not bode well for the future of Mesothelioma cases; however, there is still a lot of history and past practice that will stand your attorney in good stead when you file a Mesothelioma asbestos lawsuit.

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of the chest or abdomen.
Being exposed to asbestos can affect the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.
Possible signs of malignant mesothelioma include shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage.
Tests that examine the inside of the chest and abdomen are used to detect (find) and diagnose malignant mesothelioma.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and mesothelioma treatment options.

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the lining of the chest or abdomen.

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen). This summary is about malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and mesothelioma treatment options

Anatomy of the respiratory system, showing the trachea and both lungs and their lobes and airways. Lymph nodes and the diaphragm are also shown. Oxygen is inhaled into the lungs and passes through the thin membranes of the alveoli and into the bloodstream (see inset).

Being exposed to asbestos can affect the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.

Many people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos. After being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes a long time for malignant mesothelioma to occur. Other risk factors for malignant mesothelioma include the following:

Living with a person who works near asbestos.
Being exposed to a certain virus.
Possible signs of malignant mesothelioma include shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage.

Sometimes the cancer causes fluid to collect around the lung or in the abdomen. These symptoms may be caused by the fluid or malignant mesothelioma. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

Trouble breathing.
Pain under the rib cage.
Pain or swelling in the abdomen.
Lumps in the abdomen.
Weight loss for no known reason.
Tests that examine the inside of the chest and abdomen are used to detect (find) and diagnose malignant mesothelioma.

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. The following tests and procedures may be used:

Physical exam and history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient’s health habits, exposure to asbestos, past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
Chest x-ray: An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.
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X-ray of the chest. X-rays are used to take pictures of organs and bones of the chest. X-rays pass through the patient onto film.

Complete blood count (CBC): A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
The portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells.
Sedimentation rate: A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the rate at which the red blood cells settle to the bottom of the test tube.
Biopsy: The removal of cells or tissues from the pleura or peritoneum so they can be viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to check for signs of cancer. Procedures used to collect the cells or tissues include the following:
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy: The removal of part of a lump, suspicious tissue, or fluid, using a thin needle. This procedure is also called a needle biopsy.
Thoracoscopy: An incision (cut) is made between two ribs and a thoracoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted into the chest.
Peritoneoscopy: An incision (cut) is made in the abdominal wall and a peritoneoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted into the abdomen.
Laparotomy: An incision (cut) is made in the wall of the abdomen to check the inside of the abdomen for signs of disease.
Thoracotomy: An incision (cut) is made between two ribs to check inside the chest for signs of disease.
Bronchoscopy: A procedure to look inside the trachea and large airways in the lung for abnormal areas. A bronchoscope (a thin, lighted tube) is inserted through the nose or mouth into the trachea and lungs. Tissue samples may be taken for biopsy.
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Bronchoscopy. A bronchoscope is inserted through the mouth, trachea, and major bronchi into the lung, to look for abnormal areas. A bronchoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a cutting tool. Tissue samples may be taken to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease.

Cytologic exam: An exam of cells under a microscope (by a pathologist) to check for anything abnormal. For mesothelioma, fluid is taken from around the lungs or from the abdomen. A pathologist checks the cells in the fluid.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

The prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options depend on the following:

The stage of the cancer.
The size of the tumor.
Whether the tumor can be removed completely by surgery.
The amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen.
The patient’s age and general health, including lung and heart health.
The type of mesothelioma cancer cells and how they look under a microscope.
Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred (come back).