Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Most people who create mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
If you or a loved two has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos related cancer, you may need to seek legal advice. Typical legal settelements can reach five million dollars.
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers & protects most of the internal organs of the body. it is composed of five layers of cells: two layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating liquid that’s released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart & the expanding & contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
What is mesothelioma?
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs & lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers & protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal & divide without control or order. they can invade & damage nearby tissues & organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women & risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.
what are the risk factors for mesothelioma?
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated in to narrow threads & woven. Asbestos has been widely used in plenty of industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, & insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing routine, they may be inhaled or swallowed, & can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), & other cancers, such as those of the larynx & kidney.
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking & asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.