Your loved ones at home may also be at risk for asbestosis if the microscopic fibers known as “asbestos” settle in dust on your clothing or in your hair. You return home from work, day after day, perhaps hug your family members or converse with them in close quarters. This type of secondary exposure to asbestos can make people ill, as well.
Asbestosis is a chronic health condition that affects the lungs. It occurs in people who have had exposure to high concentrations of asbestos fibers in the air. It is primarily an occupational hazard. However, as mentioned earlier, secondary exposure creates a serious health risk for many people whose loved ones have had direct exposure to asbestos on the job.
Asbestosis is a scarring of lung tissue that may occur if you have inhaled or ingested dust containing asbestos fibers. Doctors often refer to it as an “interstitial” condition, which basically means it occurs in the space between cells in tissue. In this case, that tissue would be your lungs.
Because of new laws that regulate asbestos removal and the use of asbestos in manufactured products, it is a lot less likely today that you might have exposure to asbestos on the job. However, if you work in an industry or location where the risk is high, it is possible. If you were employed in a high-risk industry years ago and contracted asbestosis, you might be experiencing symptoms now. It typically takes years, sometimes more than a decade, for symptoms to develop.
The damage asbestos does to your lungs is not reversable. If a North Carolina physician has diagnosed you or your loved one with asbestosis, he or she no doubt also informed you that it is an incurable illness. There are palliative treatments available, which can alleviate pain and discomfort and help you to enjoy as high quality a life as possible as your disease progresses.
There have been numerous class action lawsuits regarding asbestosis and other asbestos-related cancers. Such cases often stem from situations where third-party negligence was a factor in asbestos exposure that resulted in a terminal illness.
]]>However, due to the aggressive nature of this type of cancer, it is possible for someone who survived this disease to experience a recurrence. Mesothelioma is most often the effect of asbestos exposure, which is a toxic particle that can cause serious harm when breathed in. Unfortunately, people exposed to asbestos are often unaware of the consequences of it until years, even decades, later.
One of the biggest fears of a cancer patient is the return of a disease that they have already fought. While there is no way to know with certainty which patients may experience a recurrence of their disease, it may be more common for those who have more aggressive forms of cancer, such as mesothelioma. If it does come back, a person may experience symptoms that include chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing. While each patient is different, the treatment of recurrent mesothelioma may include:
The right approach for the treatment of recurrent mesothelioma depends on the individual patient, his or her medical treatment and other factors. Patients who are suffering from this disease could be victims of toxic exposure in their workplaces, which means that they could have a legal claim to financial compensation and support. A North Carolina family navigating this situation could find it helpful to have guidance as they explore their options.
]]>The science and medical industries have learned a lot about asbestos through the years. One thing that’s certain is that no amount of exposure to these microscopic fibers is safe. Learning more about asbestos can help you improve safety and can also help you navigate terminal illness if a doctor has already diagnosed you with an asbestos-related disease.
There are six naturally occurring minerals that form bundles of microscopic fibers. These fibers are what we know to be “asbestos.” They are long in shape and made of fibrous crystals. Because asbestos fibers are heat-resistant, they have, in the past, been part of various fabrics or used in insulation in the construction industry.
The problem with asbestos is that you wouldn’t necessarily know if you were standing in an area where it was floating in the air. The tiny particles often release into the atmosphere. A person might breathe asbestos into the lungs, absorb it through the skin or ingest and swallow it without knowing. Once asbestos enters your body, it can cause several types of incurable diseases.
If you inhale, ingest or absorb microscopic asbestos fibers, they can become lodged in your lungs or other areas of the body. In time, this can cause severe inflammation and irritation of the lining of your lungs, abdomen or heart. It often develops into asbestosis or mesothelioma — two terminal diseases that are slow in developing but lethal over time.
Even after a brief exposure to asbestos, you might contract a terminal illness. It could take as long as 10 to 40 years for symptoms to show. Such symptoms typically include chest or abdominal pain, a lingering cough, unexplained weight loss or lack of appetite, difficulty breathing or swallowing and extreme fatigue.
You might be at risk for an asbestos-related illness even if you did not have exposure to the fibers firsthand. Perhaps your spouse worked in a factory and would give you a hug each day upon arriving home before changing clothes or showering. If there is asbestos on his or her clothing, you face exposure to it each day.
This is especially dangerous when there are infants or young children in the house. Anyone who works in an area where there is a known asbestos risk should shower and change clothes before greeting any family members at home. Sadly, in many cases, employers were aware of asbestos problems but failed to disclose it to employees, thus placing them in harm’s way. In fact, there are numerous class-action lawsuits in North Carolina and throughout the country where people who have contracted asbestos-caused illnesses are seeking restitution from liable parties.
]]>Workers in certain types of jobs will benefit from learning about asbestos and what exposure to this substance could mean for them. If you work in certain industries, there may be a risk that you came into contact with it, and you may notice certain types of concerning symptoms. Asbestos poisoning and related health problems may be a threat to your future, and it is in your interests to know how to proceed to ensure the protection of your legal interests and health as much as possible.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring fiber found in certain types of rocks and soil, but it has uses for specific purposes in many different areas. While it is useful, there has been evidence that exposure to it is dangerous as it can lead to the development of serious health problems. Asbestos is a concern in construction, manufacturing, ship making, paper mills and many more industries. Signs of asbestos exposure include the following:
If you worked in a field that may have caused you to come into contact with asbestos, you may be at risk for various grave health concerns, including asbestosis, different types of cancer and mesothelioma. Victims of asbestos exposure often require extensive and urgent medical care as many of these symptoms are not evident until the disease has progressed to a certain point.
After exposure to asbestos at work or a diagnosis of mesothelioma, you may wonder what this could mean for the rest of your life. At this point, you will benefit from learning about the legal options available to you. Those in North Carolina who are suffering from the implications of asbestos poisoning may have grounds to pursue compensation through a civil claim.
]]>One industry less prominent than others includes clay and ceramic artists. The seemingly harmless materials they work with are often combined with talc, a mineral usually contaminated with asbestos. The clay, also known as slip, is used to create ceramics containing talc and asbestos. The kiln cones contain vermiculite contaminated with deadly asbestos.
Exposure to the loose fibers related through the air can expose artists to asbestos while playing their trades. Cases of asbestos exposure affecting clay and ceramic artists exist. Even more alarming is the same materials at schools throughout the United States.
As far back as 2007, alarm bells sounded regarding the potential dangers to students. The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) communicated with the state superintendent of schools, warning of possible asbestos contamination in art clays used by students.
Confirmation that clay was being used in schools more than 15 years ago only fuels the fear that the dangers existed long before the initial discovery. Unknowing exposure to students and professionals could have occurred.
Uncovering another industry where asbestos exposure is possible is a devasting discovery. Mesothelioma remains a disease without a cure. While more cutting-edge treatments are continually introduced, the diagnosis still represents a devastating revelation that results in an uncertain future.
]]>Asbestos, which is a term that refers to a group of naturally occurring microscopic fibers, often exists in high volumes in such locations. However, this invisible and often deadly substance is in other places, too. It’s important to know how to recognize symptoms of mesothelioma and to make sure any physician you see knows that you have worked or lived in a place where there might have been asbestos.
If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, it’s best to seek medical attention to rule out (or diagnose) mesothelioma:
There are several types of mesothelioma that can affect the lungs, heart or peritoneal area of the body. Especially if you experience more than one of the symptoms at the same time, it is best to seek medical examination.
Sadly, there is no cure for mesothelioma. Any care or treatment provided is palliative, meaning that it alleviates pain and discomfort rather than eradicates the disease. This disease, like many other types of aggressive cancer, typically progresses through stages, until, in its final stage, death becomes imminent.
There are support resources available for families who are facing a terminal illness diagnosis. It’s often helpful to talk to other patients and their families. It is also a good idea to learn more about asbestos laws, particularly those that explain an employer’s obligation to inform workers of known hazards in the workplace, as well as to provide them with proper training and safety equipment to reduce the risk for injuries on the job.
There are currently many class action lawsuits on court dockets throughout the country where mesothelioma victims are seeking restitution for damages because of asbestos-related injuries. Defendants in these cases often include companies who manufacture or use asbestos-containing products.
If a company was aware of a risk and failed to inform employees, liability may exist if those employees contract mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. In the meantime, support is available to help families provide loving care to their sick loved ones as they cope with terminal illness.
]]>Talc is a relatively common material found in many different consumer products, ranging from baby powder to pharmaceutical products. The mining of it occurs in places in which you can also find asbestos, a naturally occurring material proven to cause deadly forms of cancer after exposure. If not adequately tested, it is possible that mined talc could contain asbestos. It is the responsibility of every manufacturer to ensure that products do not contain this dangerous substance.
It is impossible to predict the likelihood of developing cancer after exposure to talc contaminated with asbestos. The American Cancer Society states that there is no clear link with the development of cancer and talcum powder use. Some studies have found, however, that women who have used products containing talc have an elevated risk of developing ovarian cancer, as well as cancer of the fallopian tubes and uterus. If there is any suspicion about the danger of a consumer product, the manufacturer could initiate a recall.
Typically, consumers who developed certain types of cancers due to asbestos did so after a significant period of exposure. In any form, asbestos is a carcinogenic substance when inhaled over a long period of time, and the consequences of that exposure are not always immediately known. In fact, those with exposure to asbestos may not learn until years later that they have developed cancer as a result.
If you are suffering the consequences of long-term exposure to contaminated talc products, you do not have to suffer in silence. It is possible there are legal options available to you through the form of a civil claim. It is in your interests to learn about the legal options available to you as a North Carolina victim as soon as possible, starting with an assessment of your case.
]]>Recently, researchers made a breakthrough regardinghow this disease develops in the lungsand other organs. This is a positive step as a better understanding of the cancer can provide insight regarding how to fight it. Any additional understanding into mesothelioma is a step toward a cure and hope for those who are currently dealing with this diagnosis.
Mesothelioma is a very difficult disease to fight as traditional cancer treatments are not as effective to slow and stop its spread. However, there has been a recent breakthrough centered around the body’s immune response and how other cells around mesothelioma cells sense the cancer. The researchers suggest that the size and shape of the contaminant particles, such as the asbestos fibers, have an impact on the immune response of the body. Researchers suggest that the actual mineral composition of the fiber is not as important as the size and shape of it.
They found that long, thin fibers are particularly dangerous as they may prevent immune cells from going to other parts of the body where they are necessary, such as pre-cancerous lesions. This might lead to a faster development of cancer as asbestos fibers of certain shapes essentially hijack the body’s natural immune response. Knowing this may lead to more effective treatments that can slow the growth of mesothelioma.
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is devastating, butyou do not have to face it on your own. Your illness may be the result of toxic exposure at your place of work. While it cannot reverse what happened to you, pursuing a civil claim may be a reasonable course of action for you. This option provides you with the opportunity to secure the financial resources you and your North Carolina family need for medical care, long-term assistance and more.
]]>Every person responds to a terminal diagnosis in a unique way. In addition to providing loving care and encouragement to the patient, you can also help the rest of your family come to terms with the current circumstances. Keeping several things in mind as you help your loved one prepare for what lies ahead will enable everyone to make the best of the time you have left together.
When you’re sure that the diagnosis your loved one has received is correct, there’s no way to change it. Learning that there’s no cure for mesothelioma — and that your loved one has contracted the disease — may evoke multiple emotions, including shock, anger, fear, worry and sorrow. You can help your family cope by encouraging each member to talk about their feelings and allow themselves time and space to process their emotions.
Some people would rather be quiet than talk about how they feel, and that’s okay. Every person (including the patient) will have a different coping style.
A person suffering from mesothelioma benefits from the loving care that family members provide. It’s important to remember, however, that every member of the family will have needs during this uncertain and often turbulent time. Each of you will need time to rest and can encourage one another to take practical steps to stay in good health, like staying hydrated, eating healthy foods and trying to get some rest whenever possible.
As you do your best to provide care and comfort to your loved one with a terminal illness, there are times when you may need added support from outside resources. Such support might include North Carolina or South Carolina medical professionals, faith ministers, counselors or legal advocates. The latter is especially relevant in situations where mesothelioma was the result of employer negligence. Tapping into all available resources can help your family come to terms with a mesothelioma diagnosis and provide end-of-life care for your loved one.
]]>In fact, there are several types of mesothelioma. It’s classified by the location in your body where the disease has settled. Symptoms may vary, depending on which part of your body is being most affected. Mesothelioma typically progresses through several stages with symptoms worsening with each phase of the disease, until the final stage when death is imminent.
The following list provides a basic overview of each type of mesothelioma, including its location in the body, along with some additional facts:
If you’re not feeling well and are experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s best to seek a medical examination, especially if you have ever worked or lived in a place where asbestos exposure was possible, such as a shipyard, factory, old school building, a home built before 1978, an auto mechanics shop or on a railway.
Some forms of mesothelioma, especially those that include a cellular subtype known as “sarcomatoid,” are quite aggressive and often non-responsive to treatments. Preserving as much quality of life as possible often becomes a central focus for those diagnosed with this form of the disease.
Many patients in North Carolina and throughout the country who are suffering from mesothelioma have sought accountability against those whose negligence resulted in asbestos exposure. Patients file thousands of claims each year and have received millions of dollars in settlements.
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