Mesothelioma Patient

Photo credit: www.mesothelioma-picture.com

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals used in fire retardant coatings, concrete, bricks, pipes and fireplace cement, heat, fire, and acid resistant gaskets, pipe insulation, ceiling insulation, fireproof drywall, flooring, roofing, lawn furniture, and drywall joint compound. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura or the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall, but it may also occur in the peritoneum or the lining of the abdominal cavity, the heart, the pericardium, or tunica vaginalis.

Mesothelioma patients were mostly people who have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.

The symptoms that mesothelioma patients experience include shortness of breath due to chest wall pain and general symptoms such as weight loss.

People affected with mesothelioma can claim compensation for health damage by filing lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers and employers who neglected to implement safety measures.

Read more about mesothelioma.