Mesothelioma Cancer Treatments

Mesothelioma History

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, asbestos was considered an ideal material for use in the construction industry. It was known to be an excellent fire retardant, to have high electrical resistivity, and was inexpensive and easy to use.The problem with asbestos arises when the fibers become airborne and are inhaled. Because of the size of the fibers, the lungs cannot expel them.They are also sharp and penetrate tissues.

  Asbestosis - A lung disease first found in textile workers,asbestosis is a scarring of the lung tissue from an acid produced by the body's attempt to dissolve the fibers. The scarring may eventually become so severe that the lungs can no longer function. The latency period is often 10-20 years. Mesothelioma - A cancer of the mesothelial lining of the lungs and the chest cavity, the peritoneum or the pericardium. Unlike lung cancer, mesothelioma has no association with smoking.The only established causal factor is exposure to asbestos or similar fibers.The latency period for mesothelioma may be 20-50 years. The prognosis for mesothelioma is grim, with most patients dying within 12 months of diagnosis.

Cancer of the lung, gastrointestinal tract, kidney and larynx have been linked to asbestos.The latency period for cancer is often 15-30 years.Diffuse pleural thickening Considerable international controversy exists regarding the perceived rights and wrongs associated with litigation on compensation claims related to asbestos exposure and alleged subsequent medical consequences. Some measure of the vast range of views expressed in legal and political circles can perhaps be exemplified by the two quotes below, the first from Prof. Lester Brickman, an American legal ethicist writing in the Pepperdine Law Review, and second, Michael Wills, a British Member of Parliament, speaking in the House of Commons on July 13th,2006.