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If you or a
loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or
another asbestos related cancer, you may want to
seek legal advice. Typical legal settlements can
reach five million dollars.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which
malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the
mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of
the body's internal organs. Most people who develop
mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled
asbestos particles.
What is the
mesothelium? The mesothelium is a membrane that
covers and protects most of the internal organs of
the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One
layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other
forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a
lubricating fluid that is released between these
layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating
heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to
glide easily against adjacent structures.
The
mesothelium has different names, depending on its
location in the body. The peritoneum is the
mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in
the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane
that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the
chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects
the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the
male internal reproductive organs is called the
tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri
covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
What is
mesothelioma? Mesothelioma (cancer of the
mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the
mesothelium become abnormal and divide without
control or order. They can invade and damage nearby
tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also
metastasize (spread) from their original site to
other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma
begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common
is mesothelioma? Although reported incidence rates
have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is
still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new
cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United
States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in
men than in women and risk increases with age, but
this disease can appear in either men or women at
any age. What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Working
with asbestos is the major risk factor for
mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work
is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all
cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in
some individuals without any known exposure to
asbestos.
Asbestos is
the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally
as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be
separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has
been widely used in many industrial products,
including cement, brake linings, roof shingles,
flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny
asbestos particles float in the air, especially
during the manufacturing process, they may be
inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health
problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to
asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer,
asbestosis (a non-cancerous, chronic lung ailment),
and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and
kidney.
Smoking
does not appear to increase the risk of
mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking
and asbestos exposure significantly increases a
person's risk of developing cancer of the air
passageways in the lung.
By Karen
Brown
For more
information, email us at
Info@TheMesotheliomaLawyers.com
http://www.asbestos-attorney-mesothelioma.net
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/
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