Mesothelioma is a serious medical condition that develops in patients who have been exposed to asbestos. Patients who have been diagnosed with lung mesothelioma will likely suffer significant pain and may consider bringing lawsuits against employers and manufacturers who could have exposed them to these dangerous asbestos fibers.

Does Mesothelioma Have a Cure?

There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, but outcomes and treatment options are expanded and more successful if mesothelioma is caught in its early stages.

Typically, the diagnosis of lung mesothelioma occurs between 20 and 50 years after the first exposure to asbestos. This means that mesothelioma is often detected by doctors only after it is quite advanced.

Unfortunately, the lifespan of a person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma only gives that person months. The typical mesothelioma patient will live anywhere from 12 to 20 months after getting a formal diagnosis. The medical bills and pain during this time can be significant.

How to Diagnose Mesothelioma: What Are the Symptoms?

Many of the symptoms associated with mesothelioma are similar to those and other more common conditions; meaning that patients who begin to experience early symptoms of the disease are unlikely to report them to the doctor as problems due to asbestos exposure.

No symptoms should ever be ignored when it comes to mesothelioma. Many of the treatment options center upon making the patient as comfortable as possible and minimizing their pain.

Who Is Most Likely to Get Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is very rare, but it is still a serious form of cancer. Every single year, only around 2,000 new cases are diagnosed and 4 out of 5 of these cases are linked to asbestos exposure.

According to Everyday Health, asbestos is found in textiles, brake materials in cars, cement, and insulation. As a result of the fact that men tend to work in conditions and facilities more frequently with these items, they are also more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma.

What Are the Health Hazards of Asbestos Exposure?

People can be exposed to asbestos in their communities, their homes or their workplace. Secondhand asbestos exposure can also occur if you live in the same home as a person who interacts with asbestos fibers on the job and wears the same clothing home.

Many employers provide separate shower facilities and laundry to decrease the risk of possible exposure of asbestos fibers. While many people think of asbestos fibers as only occurring in industrial situations or shipyards, renovations of older homes can also disturb asbestos fibers and can cause asbestos related diseases.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency have classified as asbestos as a known human carcinogen.

A victim’s lifespan could be cut quite short by this diagnosis. Since there is no cure for mesothelioma, anyone who has been diagnosed with this disease likely has substantial medical bills as well. Scheduling a consultation with an attorney might be the only opportunity to recover compensation for injuries.