Mesothelioma Misconceptions

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About 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are being diagnosed each year. That’s not surprising in light of how long mesothelioma takes to manifest itself. Mesothelioma has been a mysterious disease because it was so rare, but many cases that got their start in the 1950s and 60s are just being diagnosed, now. Test your knowledge of mesothelioma by deciding if the statements below are true or false.

Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer.

False. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, which is a membrane that surrounds the lungs. Left untreated mesothelioma can spread its cancer cells to the lungs because lung tissue is in contact with the mesothelium. The abdomen and heart are also lined with mesothelial membranes. When mesothelioma grows in those membranes it is called peritoneal mesothelioma or pericardial mesothelioma, respectively.

Mesothelioma is only found in people who have worked with asbestos.

False. Any exposure to asbestos creates a risk. While increased exposure from working with asbestos increases the risk of developing mesothelioma, that doesn’t assure protection for those who have had minimal exposure. It only takes a few asbestos fibers to lodge in the mesothelium to cause mesothelioma. Family members can be exposed to the fibers from the worker’s clothing and hair. Though rare, some do develop mesothelioma from this second-hand contact. We are all exposed to asbestos through water systems, construction sites, demolition sites, old buildings and insulation, and even the winds that blow loose fibers from exposed natural asbestos.

There doesn’t seem to be any help for mesothelioma victims and their families.

False. A number of mesothelioma assistance resources exist to help both victims and their families. These range from information resources, to assistance getting to treatment centers, to enrollment in clinical trials, and more. Ultimately, employers are responsible to for ensuring safety for employees who are exposed to asbestos. They are often held liable for damages caused by their negligence. You may be entitled to a settlement.

Mesothelioma only affects the lungs.

False. Mesothelioma is a specific cancer caused by asbestos fibers, and which can grow in any of the mesothelial membranes that line the lungs (about 75% of cases,) the heart (very rare,) or the organs in the abdomen (about 10-20% of cases.) While mesothelioma doesn’t cause lung cancer directly, if the tumor is in the lining of the lungs, it can spread cancer cells to adjacent lung tissue, becoming a secondary lung cancer.

There is no cure for mesothelioma.

Partly False. Mesothelioma can be malignant or benign. While there is no known “cure” for mesothelioma, early detection may make it possible for a successful surgical removal of the entire tumor, leaving the patient free of mesothelioma, in that specific location. Mesothelioma is diagnosed by stages. If detected in a later stage, radiation and chemotherapy are options. If in a yet, later stage, you may qualify for clinical trials. Clinical trials are research efforts to try out new treatments that have scientific probability of being successful, but are not, yet proven. The cure may lie in one of these trials.

Non-Smokers are not susceptible to mesothelioma.

False. It is the exposure to asbestos that causes the risk of developing mesothelioma. While smoking is not a cause, it does cause enough damage to the lung tissue and resistance to disease to make the smoker more susceptible to both lung cancer and mesothelioma. The huge dent smoking causes to a person’s resistance to disease lowers his ability to defend against all disease. But non-smokers, even with good health and resistance are still susceptible to mesothelioma if those fibers lodge in any of the mesothelial linings.

Learn more about mesothelioma myths.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma you may be entitled to a settlement. Please contact the lawyers experienced in mesothelioma claims in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., Parker, Dumler & Kiely, LLP.

Learn more about our firm of mesothelioma lawyers.

Learn how the mesothelioma lawyers at PDK can help you obtain a settlement for your asbestos lawsuit.