Mesothelioma Information

This section of the website provides a detailed overview of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The information found in these pages has been gathered from leading mesothelioma authorities such as the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. You’ll learn about:

• Types of Mesothelioma: When mesothelioma is present in the chest cavity, it is called pleural mesothelioma. Another type of mesothelioma is called peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the abdomen. Paricardial mesothelioma affects the cells in the lining of the heart. Learn more about the different types of mesothelioma.
• Mesothelioma Symptoms: Symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not appear until many years after asbestos exposure. The nature of the symptoms are generally dictated by where in the body the cancer is located. Learn more about the various mesothelioma symptoms that patients suffer before, and during, the process of diagnosing the illness.
• Causes of Mesothelioma: The American Cancer Society lists exposure to asbestos as the main risk factor for developing mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure at work is reported in70 to 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Learn more about what the primary causes of mesothelioma are and what professions are most likely to be exposed to them.
• Mesothelioma Treatments: Treatments for mesothelioma vary and depend on the location of the cancer, how advanced the cancer is, and the patient's overall health and age. Typical treatments include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Learn more about the different mesothelioma treatment options that are available to patients following a diagnosis.

Basic Mesothelioma Facts and Figures

When viewed collectively, the facts about mesothelioma are startling. Consider the following truths about this devastating illness:

• An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the U.S.
• Approximately three-quarters of these cases are pleural mesothelioma, which occurs in the chest.
• Most people who get mesothelioma have worked in professions where they dealt with asbestos exposure at some point in their lives.
• Mesothelioma can take 25 to 40 years to develop after the initial asbestos exposure.
• Mesothelioma affects men 3 to 5 times more often than women.
• Three-fourths of people with mesothelioma are over age 65.
• The disease only metastasizes, or spreads outside the initial cancer area, in 5% of cases.
• The average survival time for a mesothelioma patient is one year.
• The Environmental Workers Group (EWG) estimates that between 1979 and 2001, at least 43,000 Americans died from mesothelioma and an often-fatal non-cancer disease of the lungs called asbestosis.
• The truth about asbestos exposure has been known and mostly hidden from the American public since the early 20th Century.
• Up to 8 million Americans may have been exposed to asbestos.
• The use of asbestos has still not been banned in the United States.

Living with the day-to-day hardships of mesothelioma an emotionally - and financially - taxing ordeal for both a patient and their family. If a company or former employer may be responsible for the asbestos exposure that led to the illness, contacting a mesothelioma attorney may help a victim pursue a mesothelioma lawsuit in the hopes of receiving a settlement.