Military veterans comprise about 30 percent of all mesothelioma victims. The majority of those exposed to asbestos in the military are U.S. Navy personnel. Although the Navy surgeon general issued a report in 1939 explaining the hazards of asbestos, North Carolina residents may be surprised to hear that the Navy shipbuilding industry continued to use asbestos for at least another 40 years.
Time between mesothelioma surgeries indicative of longer survival
North Carolina residents may be interested to hear that recently, cancer researchers analyzed patients with peritoneal surface cancers to determine if the interval between cytoreductive surgeries with heated hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy is a marker for survival. Fourteen percent of patients in the study had peritoneal mesothelioma, a form of malignant mesothelioma initially affecting the lining of the abdomen. The other patients had peritoneal appendiceal, colorectal or ovarian cancer-related tumors. The study concludes that patients who live longer between surgeries have a greater chance of longer survival overall.
Wrongful death suits for survivors of asbestos victims
Exposure to asbestos-containing products may have devastating consequences. If exposed for long periods of time, asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma can develop. With no known cure and a lengthy latency period, mesothelioma may claim the lives of those in North Carolina suffering without warning. In those situations, family members of the deceased may file a wrongful death suit to hold responsible parties accountable and receive compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, loss of income and loss of parental guidance or love and companionship.
How should house flippers and remodelers handle asbestos?
Many people in North Carolina own older homes and decide that the time has come to remodel. Others flip houses, a usually profitable endeavor that involves purchasing a house, remodeling it and putting it back on the market within a short period of time. These older houses may present potential improvement or profit, but they may also contain unique hazards like asbestos if they were built before asbestos bans and regulations were enacted.
New requirement for asbestos lawsuits passes House
Residents of North Carolina who have been made ill due to asbestos exposure may be concerned to hear that a bill imposing additional requirements on victims suing for asbestos exposure has just passed the North Carolina House Judiciary Committee. This proposed legislation raises concerns for asbestos victims, who may have a more difficult time obtaining compensation if the bill becomes law.
