Asbestos-Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

Asbestos-Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer Your Exposure Your Health Your Rights YOU MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED ASBESTOS AND DON'T KNOW THIS. Asbestos is a mineral which was used for its heat resistant and strength qualities. It was used by many trades in numerous products and even household products. Asbestos causes Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer. Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer whose only know cause in the United States is asbestos exposure. It takes from 10 to 60 years or longer after the first exposure to asbestos for a person to develop Mesothelioma. Short term, intense exposure may cause Mesothelioma many years later. Research by the EPA has concluded that any asbestos exposure may be sufficient to cause disease. WHO IS AT RISK? People who worked directly with or around asbestos such as insulators, shipyard, refinery, maintenance, building trades, and utility workers, military personnel, auto mechanics and others are at risk for developing Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer. This is known as occupational exposure. Other people at risk are the spouses and children of those who worked with asbestos and brought asbestos home on their clothing. People, such as school teachers and office workers, who worked in buildings which contained asbestos are also at risk. These are known as household, non-occupational or indirect exposures and are similar to second-hand smoke. People who performed or were present during residential and commercial building construction, renovations and remodeling are also at risk for developing Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer. People who lived or worked near an asbestos mining or manufacturing facility are also at risk. It is important to determine how, when and where you were exposed to asbestos. WHAT ARE YOUR MEDICAL OPTIONS? MESOTHELIOMA: is a cancer of the lining of the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity or the lining of the heart. Presently, there is no known cure for Mesothelioma. However, there are treatments that may improve the quality and quantity of life for people with Mesothelioma. TREATMENTS FOR MESOTHELIOMA include: Chemotherapy Radiation Therapy Surgery Palliative Therapy Experimental Therapies Lung Cancer: is a cancer of the lung and air passages. Cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure combined to increase a person's risk of developing Lung Cancer by 50-90 times. Treatment options are similar to those for Mesothelioma. SYMPTOMS IF YOU OR SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU IS PRESENTLY EXPERIENCING OR HAS EXPERIENCED: SHORTNESS OF BREATH PAIN IN THE SHOULDERS, SIDE, BACK, CHEST OR ABDOMEN PERSISTENT COUGH OR HOARSENESS UNINTENTIONAL WEIGHT LOSS UNUSUAL FATIGUE DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING DRENCHING NIGHT SWEATS UNEXPLAINED FEVERS NAUSEA, VOMITING OR LOSS OF APPETITE REDUCED ACTIVITY TOLERANCE CONTACT A PHYSICIAN IMMEDIATELY. A CHEST X-RAY, CT SCAN, MRI OR PET SCAN CAN OFTEN DETERMINE THE PRESENCE OF MESOTHELIOMA AND LUNG CANCER LEGAL OPTIONS If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or Lung Cancer, you may have legal rights to sue the manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers of the asbestos products for your injuries. Also, you may have legal rights to sue the contractors who installed and or/removed asbestos products as well as your employer. In many situations, the family of a deceased person may bring a lawsuit for personal injuries and/or wrongful death. Be aware that each state has a time period, known as statute of limitations, within which a person or the estate of the deceased person must file a lawsuit to be entitled to monetary compensation or be forever barred from any recovery. Each state has it's own law regarding the time period to file a lawsuit and those laws are strictly enforced. Please call LT Pepper Law for a free consulation. 267.626.7546