Mesothelioma

Ohio Mesothelioma Attorneys

What Is Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the lining of the lungs or abdomen and occasionally, the lining of the heart. It is caused primarily by exposure to asbestos. Because mesothelioma usually takes decades – as long as 50 years – to develop and because symptoms can be mistaken for other less serious ailments, the diagnosis of this condition is often delayed. Most individuals who develop mesothelioma worked at a job where they were exposed to asbestos dust or fiber or inhaled asbestos particles. There is also indication that individuals who lived in a household with or laundered the clothes of a person who worked in asbestos exposure jobs have developed mesothelioma as a result of secondary exposure. Mesothelioma may be caused from only one to three months of asbestos exposure. Prognosis for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma is generally poor.

Asbestos exposure is also often linked to:

• Asbestosis – a noncancerous hardening and scarring of the lungs. The scarring of the lungs causes extreme shortness of breath and can lead to heart failure.
• Pleural plaque/thickening – scarring of the lining of the lungs causing diminished breathing capacity.
• Lung cancer adenocarcinoma – a lung cancer that is found primarily in the lower lobes of the lungs.

Here is more information about asbestos lawsuits and the jobs that may lead to asbestos exposure.

If you suspect that you have an asbestos disease, it is important to get a diagnosis as soon as possible. There are many clinics that specialize in diagnosing and treating mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.