Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that develops in the lining around the lungs, called the pleura, and can also develop in the lining of the abdomen and heart. Mesothelioma lung cancer is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Because mesothelioma can take up to 30 years to develop, many people who are infec ted by the disease do not discover the illness until it is too late for treatment.
Most people with mesothelioma lung cancer and other asbestos diseases are exposed to the chemical through their jobs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asserts that there is no known level of safe exposure to asbestos, and the following groups are thought have the highest exposure and the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma:

• Workers at a shipyard
• Janitors
• Plumbers
• Electricians
• Firefighters
• Telephone repair workers
• Mechanics
• Maintenance personnel
• Insulation installers
• Workers at an asbestos mine and mill
• Producers of asbestos products
• Workers in the heating and construction industries
• Trades people
• Friends and family of the above-lis ted workers and
• People who live or work near a facility that uses asbestos.

Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, trouble swallowing, swelling of the neck or face, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura.
Treatment for mesothelioma lung cancer depends on the stage of the disease and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined:

Surgery

A doctor may surgically remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue surrounding it. A lung may also be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy, and sometimes the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing is removed.

Radiation therapy

Also called radiotherapy, radiation therapy involves the use of high-energy rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The radiation may come from a machine (external radiation) or from putting materials that produce radiation through thin plastic tubes into the area where the cancer cells are found (internal radiation therapy).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Most drugs used to treat mesothelioma are given by injection into a vein (intravenous, or IV).

If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma lung cancer, you are not alone. Experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area are ready and available to assist you with your mesothelioma lawsuit claim. Contact a LawInfo Lead Counsel qualified mesothelioma attorney today for more information.