Mesothelioma is a one of the serious diseases whose average survival time span is about one year. What is quite alarming about this disease is that Mesothelioma is often in an advanced stage despite the early recognition of its symptoms and its cancer diagnosis. On the lighter side, Mesothelioma is relatively rare disease. In the United States alone, there are about 2,000 to 3,000 documented new cases of the disease annually.

According to the National Cancer Institute, Mesothelioma affects men more often than women. In addition in terms of ethnicity, this disease is less observed among African Americans than among Caucasians.

How then does one acquire Mesothelioma?

Most people afflicted with this disease are people who usually work on jobs where there is exposure to asbestos particles. As this is a disease affecting workers involving asbestos, 70 to 80 percent of Mesothelioma cases belong to people who have history of asbestos exposure. Nevertheless, some people who have no history of exposure to asbestos have been reported as well.

Let us focus more on the risk of asbestos. Asbestos is a group of minerals that is commonly used in industrial products. Examples of these products are cement, textiles and brake linings. When tiny particles of asbestos are inhaled or taken in, this could lead to serious health problems. Asbestos has also been proven to aggravate the risk of other serious diseases such as asbestosis, cancer of the lungs, larynx and kidney.

What are the symptoms of Mesothelioma?

As stated above, early recognition of the symptoms of this disease does not imply that it is in its early stage. Symptoms might only appear after 30 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. Outstanding symptoms of this disease include chest pain, shortness of breath, significant weight loss and abdominal pain. In addition if it has afflicted other parts of the body, outstanding symptoms may include anemia, fever and blood clotting abnormalities.

Legal Issues of Mesothelioma

Only about a fraction of asbestos-related lawsuits in the US are connected to mesothelioma. However, if you or your loved ones are afflicted with this horrifying disease and you may have a valid cause of action against the employer for negligence, you have to find a reputable lawyer who can shed light on your rights. Getting a good lawyer who handles mesothelioma cases is important as necessary legal action must be filed before the expiration of the statute of limitations.

So before the law closes its doors on you and your loved ones make sure that mesothelioma claim is filed as this claim must be filed within a certain time period. This time period usually starts at the time when a person has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and the leading cause of it is exposure to asbestos.