Patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer after being exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers over a long period of time could have grounds to take legal action. Mesothelioma cancer is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, which often occurred in the patient’s work environment.

Most people who have mesothelioma cancer receive this diagnosis in their later years, but might not realize immediately that it could be linked to exposure that happened decades before.

Many people die every single year due to asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Lung cancer and mesothelioma are similar and that they can many decades to develop, but only months in which to spread to other organs and to pose a fatal risk for someone diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.

Cases of mesothelioma cancer can lead to painful medical side effects and have limited symptom relief. While mesothelioma cancer is extremely rare, a recent study published in the British Journal of Cancer indicated that asbestos killed twice as many people through lung cancer when compared with mesothelioma.

Asbestos was used in many industrial applications throughout the twentieth century. Its resistance to heat and low cost made it a useful material for products like insulation, gaskets, brake parts and fireproofing materials.

Over the past few decades, asbestos has mostly been phased out of the building materials and industrial products that initially led to the first round of mesothelioma cancer lawsuits. Yet people today continue to be diagnosed with this devastating asbestos-related illness. Asbestos disease funds containing millions of dollars may be the only way for someone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer to recover compensation and be able to pay their medical bills.

Many cases of mesothelioma cancer occur decades after the initial exposure, and plenty of people who worked in environments with exposure to asbestos products might not even realize the connection until they have been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. Exposure to asbestos has been tied to a number of different serious medical problems, including cancer in the chest cavity, cancer in the lining of the lungs, and cancer in the abdomen. It has been estimated that at least 100,000 people will die or have already died from being exposed to asbestos fibers in shipyards.

These individuals might have a diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer that occurs many decades after their original exposure and after continuous work in an environment in which asbestos fibers were present.

Thousands of mesothelioma cancer lawsuits have been filed by those who worked in buildings that contained asbestos in the paint, walls or in other areas in which office workers were frequently found. If you or someone you know has already been diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, you may benefit from having an experienced attorney investigate your grounds to pursue a case. Funds may be available to help you recover mesothelioma-related losses.