Reliable medical research links a variety of serious health conditions to asbestos exposure. These conditions, which include lung cancer, mesothelioma, pleural plaque, and asbestosis, are all serious, and some are absolutely deadly. Many preventable illnesses are the tragic result of failures on the part of asbestos mining companies and those using asbestos to manufacture products, many of whom knew of health risks associated with their products, yet did nothing to protect employees and consumers. If you have contracted an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys of the Madeksho Law Firm can help you explore your options and make the right decision for you.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the mesothelium. Though benign mesothelioma does occur, and is involved the growth of benign tumors in the mesothelium, malignant (cancerous) mesothelioma is more common. Mesothelial membranes line various cavities in the body, including those surrounding the heart, the lungs, and the stomach and intestines. The different types of mesothelioma are classified based on the area of the body they affect.
Mesothelioma is probably the most infamous of all diseases associated with asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma and asbestos are closely linked, with nearly all mesothelioma cases being traced back to past asbestos exposure according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The disease may not present symptoms until 20 to 50 years after exposure, though it sometimes does so after no more than 10. Symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on the area affected, but typically include respiratory effects, such as hoarseness, shortness of breath, or persistent coughing. Additionally, as malignant cells multiply in the affected mesothelial tissue, fluid buildup may contribute to pain and swelling in that area, and pressure on internal organs.
Though there are a variety of mesothelioma treatments, the disease is nearly always fatal in the end. Currently, treatment primarily seeks to improve the patient’s comfort and alleviate the symptoms. Because mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, it is not considered contagious, and those around the mesothelioma patient are not in danger.
Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory lung condition generally caused by occupational exposure to asbestos. As asbestos fibers build up in the lungs over time, they trigger the body’s immune system, which causes chronic inflammation of the lungs. This condition worsens over time as the lungs attempt, unsuccessfully, to expel the irritant fibers. Eventually, chronic inflammation causes scars to develop on the lung tissue. Like other asbestos-linked conditions, asbestosis is generally caused by straighter asbestos fibers, known as amphibole fibers. This is so because these fibers are able to penetrate deeper into the lung tissue than curved (serpentine) fibers.
Asbestosis patients suffer from a variety of symptoms, but the primary symptom is slow-onset shortness of breath (dyspnea) during physical exertion. As this condition worsens it may eventually lead to total respiratory failure, or to heart failure as the circulatory system struggles to cope with insufficient oxygen saturation in the blood.
There is currently no cure for asbestosis. However, treatments to address the symptoms of asbestosis do exist. Shortness of breath and oxygen deficiency can be mitigated using oxygen therapy, wherein the patient uses an oxygen tank when breathing. Fluid secretions caused by inflammation can be thinned using prescription medications or be drained in order to make breathing easier.
Pleural plaque is a fibrosis in the tissue of the pleura, which is the mesothelial membrane surrounding the lungs and diaphragm. Fibrosis occurs when excess fibrous connective tissue builds up in an area of the body in an attempt to repair structural damage to that area. In the case of pleural plaque, this process is the body’s attempt to repair damage caused by asbestos fibers in the pleura. Often, this fibrous buildup will harden and become calcified over time.
Pleural plaque is itself benign, meaning that it is not cancerous. However, the formation of pleural plaque is frequently a precursor to asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, or another serious condition, since the levels of asbestos needed to spur the formation of pleural plaque could also cause one or more of these other conditions. Also, on their own, these calcified deposits may impact an individual’s breathing or cause general discomfort, even if no other medical condition is present.
Pleural plaque may be the most common of all asbestos-linked medical conditions. Somewhere between one third and one half of all individuals who have experienced significant asbestos exposure in the past, either occupationally or otherwise, will eventually develop pleural plaque.
As a known carcinogen, asbestos is identified as the cause of numerous lung cancer cases annually. By the numbers, asbestos causes more deaths through lung cancer than in any other way. This kind of lung cancer is distinguished from mesothelioma because it is a cancer of the actual lung tissue, rather than the pleural sac surrounding the lungs.
Respiratory symptoms, such as persistent coughing and breathing problems, are the most common identifiers for asbestos-caused lung cancer. The efficacy of treatment depends on the extent to which the cancer has spread and the specific type of lung cancer being treated (there are many varieties). Surgery to remove tumors may be effective if lung cancer is identified early enough. If the condition has spread, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the preferred methods of treatment. Prognosis for asbestos-related lung cancer patients is poor, though this varies to some extent based on the type of cancer.
A combination of asbestos exposure and tobacco significantly increases the odds of lung cancer. According to a recent study published by the American Academy of Family Physicians, asbestos workers who also smoke tobacco are many times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers who have not been exposed to asbestos.
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related medical condition such as lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaque, and mesothelioma, you likely face a series of difficult decisions and expensive medical treatment. The attorneys at the Madeksho Law Firm are dedicated to helping the victims of asbestos exposure obtain compensation for their pain and suffering. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation.
Contact us to learn more about mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaque, and other medical conditions linked to asbestos exposure.
Contact the Madeksho Law Firm, specializing in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation, to speak with our lawyers about your case. Our consultations are free, and we serve asbestos victims nationwide.