Asbestos & Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer in the lungs that is linked to exposure to asbestos. The prognosis for it isn’t very good and most people that have it will die from it. They can get medication to help offset some of the pain but it is a slow way to die and it can completely consume a person. About 75% of those with Mesothelioma will die from it. In many cases it is directly the cause and for others it will result in ailments to their vital organs.
This type of cancer affects the many cells that line the lung area as well as the chest cavity. As a result tumors are likely to appear in these areas. They may not be cancerous but for most people with this type of exposure they are. Doctors began to see a significant rise in the number of these cases in the 1970’s. It was linked to the increased use of asbestos as a material for insulation in both businesses and homes.
More men than women are diagnosed with Mesothelioma but that is thought to be the result of them being mainly in the construction business instead of women. However, women have been exposed to it working in such environments or living in homes that have asbestos in them. Still, it seems like they tend to be more resistant to the fibers than males.
The number of asbestos related cases of Mesothelioma have continued to drop since the early 1980’s. This is due to it being banned as a substance to use for construction. Yet there are still places being found with it that weren’t identified in the past. The removal process of asbestos can result in exposure if it is not done correctly.
For some people, being exposed to asbestos for years results in Mesothelioma occurring. For others it only takes a very small amount of it and for a short period of time. This is a mystery to researchers but they believe it has to do with how the lung capacity of a person is able to process the fibers from the asbestos. This is why most construction crews will do a search for it before they begin any remodeling or destruction of the establishment.