HEALTH
AND FITNESS: Mesothelioma-Lung Cancer in the Lawsuits.
By Jorge Jefferds September
19, 2014
Lung cancer has been a very common disease in the latest decades. On average,
200,000 people get this diagnosis in the United States a year.
About 159,000
patients died due to the catastrophic consequences.
Since a couple of years ago, we have heard in the media people talking
about mesothelioma and how asbestos has influenced in the development of tumors
in the lungs.
Many of us, however, do not understand the announcements clearly. Patients struggle
to survive litigations against the companies, where they exposed their lives to
the aforementioned poisoned mineral. In the
end, mesothelioma has become a lucrative business for lawyers and courthouses,
even though we are not familiar with this uncommon form of cancer.
Mesothelioma is a lung cancer that affects primarily the mesothelium-a
protective membrane. This organ lines the chest cavity, other inner body parts,
and produces a fluid. This way, it lubricates them and causes their easy
movement.
Researchers found one main cause of the fatal condition-exposure to
asbestos. Workers, who are exposed to asbestos, have up to
a 10% lifetime risk of developing the disease, with an average latency of 30
years. Risk is independent of smoking.
In spite that manufacturers stopped implementing the use of asbestos, new
cases continue to arise. High affected professions are construction, factory
workers, shipyard employees, some miners, and mechanics. Suffice it to say that
the workers’ direct family members can also develop mesothelioma from asbestos
fibers carried home in their clothing.
Mesothelioma is somewhat an occupational disease brought to our homes.
Several companies have gone bankrupt by providing source of recovery for
moral, and health damages in asbestos litigations. We shouldn’t quit filing
lawsuits if our lives are in danger, because of those millions dollars
manufacturers make with our lungs.
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