Mesothelioma

Overview
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is mostly caught by people that have regularly inhale asbestos. Because it is not affected by heat, asbestos is very useful in commercial projects. Below are the types of asbestos that have been used for commercial products.

• Chrysotile, or white asbestos;
• Crocidolite, or blue asbestos;
• Amosite, which usually has brown fibers; and
• Anthophyllite, which usually has gray fibers.

About 70% of all cases of reported mesothelioma the individual has regularly inhaled asbestos.

Symptoms
The symptoms include a shortness of breath, chest pains, fever, weight loss and fever. Symptoms are not likely to to show until 20 to 30 years after the initial asbestos exposure.

Treatment
There are several treatments for this type of cancer depending on the type of mesothelioma (pleural or peritoneal). The types of treatment including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy. Surgery and follow-up treatments can cost in excess of $150,000.

Deaths
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has determined that 77 people died from asbestos in 1968, and almost 1,500 people died from it in 2000. Currently it is estimated to kill about 2,000 people a year in the United States alone.

Lawsuits
There are now over 600,000 asbestos claims for compensation are in the US courts. Recently the issue of asbestos lawsuits is a concern for Detroit's automobile companies, which have been sued by people who worked around brake parts with asbestos fibers. A number of these claims are class action because of the nature of the illness it can effect a large number of people if they are living in close proximity. As a result of the the these cases there are now a large number of law firms that specialize in asbestos related illness. If you know that you have been infected with this disease then see an attorney as quickly as possible.