In 1960 the first article was written that actually established mesothelioma as a disease related to the exposure of asbestos. This article highlighted more than 30 patients in South Africa who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Of these 30 patients some worked in the mines and others did not. But the important discovery was that someone had finally put the big picture together and discovered that this disease was showed a pattern… exposure to asbestos could eventually result in a malignant mesothelioma.

It was only two years later that the first case of malignant mesothelioma was diagnosed in an asbestos worker in Australia. The medical history of the patient indicated he had worked at an asbestos mine for two years, beginning fourteen years earlier. The fourteen year difference between the beginning of asbestos exposure and the development of malignant mesothelioma is a perfect indicator of the latency of this cancer.

The news became even more disturbing in 1965. An article published in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine that year established that people who lived in the neighborhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not actually work in them, had contracted mesothelioma. Tragically, in the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds, exposing countless numbers of children.

Despite the well documented proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling caused asbestos related disease, mining continued to be an increasingly booming industry. Even with the knowledge that asbestos mining and milling was causing disease, no one stepped up to demand that the workers be protected with safer work conditions. No one intervened and the incidences of malignant mesothelioma continued to rise. It is simply inconceivable that the mine and milling conditions continued unchecked and the workers continued to be exposed to the asbestos that could ultimately take their lives.

It wasn’t until 1974 in Australia’s Bulletin magazine that the first public warnings of the dangers of asbestos were published in a cover story called “Is this Killer in Your Home?” But it wasn’t for another four years, in 1978, that the Australian Government actually decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom where you will remember that asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds, exposing countless numbers of children. In no time at all, the once booming town of Wittenoom became a ghost town…a town lost because of the failure of leaders to act on the knowledge that exposure to asbestos was for many leading to the development of a cancer called, malignant mesothelioma.

The former residents of the ghost town were gone but who would help them to fight the vicious disease many were left to face? Just one year after the Australian Government decided to shut down the town, the first lawsuits were filed for negligence related to the town of Wittenoom and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims. This group is still in existence today and provides counseling, support services, economic assistance, advocacy, fund-raising for medical research, and community education.

Could it have been prevented? Could the loss of life have been less? Could a town have been saved? If changes had been made in the mining and milling industries when the early research began to show a direct correlation between the exposure to asbestos and the development of malignant mesothelioma then, yes, perhaps lives could have been spared and perhaps a town saved. We must learn from history…and work diligently so that another tragedy like Wittenoom never occurs again.

According to The National Cancer Institute malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the sac lining the chest called the pleura, in the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum or in the lining around the heart, called the pericardium. The lining of the chest, the abdominal cavity and the heart is called the mesothelium which is where the name “mesothelioma” comes from.

What is asbestos cancer?

Malignant mesothelioma is also known as “asbestos cancer” because approximately 75% of all mesothelioma patients have a known exposure to asbestos. Because tumors of the mesothelium are rarely benign or non-cancerous, malignant or cancerous mesothelioma is usually referred to by the shorter name of “mesothelioma”.

What is the correlation between asbestos and malignant mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for eventually being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products.

Can you develop mesothelioma if you’ve never worked around asbestos?

Yes. Mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In areas where asbestos producing factories are located, people in the area may have been exposed by inhaling or swallowing particles of asbestos simply floating in the air.

Even families at home may have been exposed to asbestos particles by handling the clothes of a family member who was working with asbestos and came home with microscopic particles of it on their clothing. However, it is important to remember that mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

What are some of the types of mesothelioma?

There are three main types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, the most common, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma.

What are some of the symptoms of malignant mesothelioma?

The early symptoms of mesothelioma can be varied and can mimic many other diseases. Some patients with pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of mesothelioma, may present to their personal physician with a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the neck or face, a change in the voice, such as the development of a raspy voice, fever, night sweats or perhaps something as simple as just not feeling well.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, one of the less common types of mesothelioma, may present with early symptoms such as loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, bloating or abdominal pain. The earliest symptoms of mesothelioma involving the pericardium include chest pain, palpitations or what is commonly described as feeling like the heart is racing, shortness of breath, and a persistent cough.

If I develop malignant mesothelioma, do I have any resources for compensation because of exposure to asbestos at my workplace?

Because of the direct link between the exposure to asbestos and the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma, a mesothelioma attorney may be a good place to start to learn about compensation options for those exposed to asbestos through their place of employment.

A mesothelioma attorney will be the best guide for determining the potential sources of financial assistance and compensation for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Because of the potential of employer liability related to possible asbestos exposure in the work place, it is very important that mesothelioma patients contact an attorney who specifically specializes in mesothelioma cases.

A mesothelioma lawyer is the best one to advise a patient and their family about their legal rights associated with the diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer. It is not enough to simply contact a lawyer who may handle a case such as mesothelioma only once every so often, this is too important. It is important to seek an attorney who has a proven track record in asbestos litigation.

A family’s financial future can depend on compensation provided for asbestos exposure therefore hiring someone with little or no experience should not even be a consideration.

A mesothelioma lawyer with a history of success is the only choice when seeking a lawyer who will focus on the multiple legal issues involved in cases such as malignant mesothelioma.

The stress and pain of malignant mesothelioma can be very exhausting for patients and their families. It is especially difficult if the patient is the bread winner of the family and suddenly is unable to work.

The family must then deal with the loss of the primary income source as well as the cost of treatment, all of which may not be covered by insurance. Perhaps legal action is not the most popular path; however, with the knowledge that asbestos exposure is usually the culprit in the development of malignant mesothelioma, it should be a consideration for patients diagnosed with this rare cancer.

Legal issues are ones we are rarely comfortable discussing. But we are comfortable discussing our family’s future, our family’s financial well-being and our personal health. Take care of your whole body… seek out the best physician… and considering the many legal issues surrounding mesothelioma, consider contacting a mesothelioma lawyer.

Mesothelioma cancer can show up as pericardial mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma or pleural mesothelioma, meaning it can invade the mesothelium or the lining of the heart, the abdomen or the lungs.

Even though asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s, we now realize that beginning in the early 1940s that millions of American workers were routinely exposed to asbestos dust. People who worked in shipyards, in mines, in mills, in construction, and of course people who worked in factories which produced asbestos products could all be at an increased risk of developing malignant mesothelioma because of their exposure to asbestos dust and particles.

Because of this direct link between exposure and the risk of disease, a mesothelioma attorney may be a good place to start to learn about compensation options for those exposed to asbestos through their place of employment. Although I am not a proponent of a lawsuit happy culture, it is indeed heartbreaking to see the loyal worker who slaved for years in an environment that was unsafe and one that exposed them to asbestos which could ultimately cost them their life. So a mesothelioma lawyer or a law firm that specializes in mesothelioma cases may be a consideration for you.

Asbestos is defined as “any of several minerals that readily separate into long flexible fibers”. These fibers can then be separated into thin thread and woven. In the production of items containing asbestos, if minute particles float into the air and are swallowed or inhaled they can ultimately lead to very serious health problems.

It is important to remember that from the time of exposure to asbestos to the development of mesothelioma may be anywhere from 20-50 years. Not only can the exposure to asbestos lead to mesothelioma it can also lead to other cancers, such as cancer of the lung or larynx.

It could also lead to a non-cancerous disease called asbestosis, which is a chronic lung condition directly related to exposure to asbestos particles.

As mentioned earlier, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In areas where asbestos producing factories are located, people in the area may have been exposed by inhaling or swallowing particles of asbestos simply floating in the air.

Even families at home may have been exposed to asbestos particles by handling the clothes of a family member who was working with asbestos and came home with microscopic particles of it on their clothing.

The risk of developing malignant mesothelioma cancer is in the majority of cases directly related to a person’s exposure to asbestos and the exposure can occur many years before the actual development of the cancer.

Exposure to asbestos can occur by swallowing or inhaling tiny particles of asbestos which can even occur when doing the laundry and handling the clothes of a family member who has been exposed. Know the facts and know the risks… malignant mesothelioma is directly related to the exposure of asbestos… so prevention is key.