3 posts tagged “diagnosis malignant mesothelioma”
Exposure to asbestos is the main risk factor for developing mesothelioma injury. The mesothelioma injury normally develops in to full fledged mesothelioma lung cancer.
Asbestos is a family of fibrous minerals made of silicate. Asbestos Fibers was once used in many products such as thermal asbestos insulation, pipes, asbestos tiles, door gaskets, asbestos siding, soundproofing, roofing, asbestos flooring, guttering, ceilings, patching compounds, fireproof gloves and ironing board covers, brake pads, paints, crayons and even portable hair dryers.
When asbestos fibers processed and separated, it forms a microscopic dust that can be easily inhaled. If inhaled and not excreted by the body, it can collect in the lungs and stomach and eventually lead to the development of serious, life threatening diseases.
Industrial environments with high risk of asbestos exposure
Asbestos is classified as a toxic substance. It use is regulated by asbestos mesothelioma law. Despite global asbestos control measures, many workers are however, still at risk of asbestos exposure. Below is a discussion of the main industrial environments where high levels of the toxic asbestos fibers may be found.
Asbestos mining, asbestos processing and other underground mining
Asbestos exposure of miners can come from either naturally occurring asbestos in the ore or host rock or from asbestos contained in manufactured products.
Metal and Nonmetal Mines: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, other research organizations like the EPA and scientists have noted the occurrence of cancers and asbestosis among miners involved in the mining and milling of commodities that contain asbestos.
Their mesothelioma research proves the existence of industrial asbestos risk. Construction or demolition sites
Asbestos used to be the preferred material for the production of building materials for many decades. Because of its strength and durability, asbestos products were generally used between 1950 and 1975. Asbestos was also the building material of choice close to the sea.
Click here to view pictures of asbestos in a seaside holiday destination.
Construction workers and builders who tear down and alter old buildings will encounter any of these products. These include:
- asbestos Tile- asbestos flooring
- asbestos pipe
- asbestos insulation
- asbestos shingles
- asbestos siding (external asbestos clapping & internal dry walls),
- asbestos ceilings,
- asbestos roofing and
- asbestos pots, cloth, etc.
Power plants and mobile generators and welders
Asbestos fibers are highly heat resistant. It is also well known for its poor heat conductivity. Asbestos insulation used to be the material of choice for the thermal insulation of power plants and mobile generators.
Therefore many of the broilers and generators in power plants are lined with various forms of asbestos. People who do maintenance work on power plants, mobile generators and welders work under high asbestos exposure risk. They are prone to asbestos exposure.
Safety protocols should be followed as a part their employers’ standing asbestos management plan, as required by law. If such a plan had not been previously implemented by the employer, they should discuss the relevant laws with their employers.
Shipyards
The shipbuilding industry employed hundreds of asbestos-containing products as components of the ships they were building. Because of this practice during the 1930s, 40s and 50s, thousands of shipyard workers worked with asbestos in various applications. They received high levels of asbestos exposure over prolonged periods.
Therefore shipyard workers are considered a very high risk group of industrial asbestos risk, and therefore potential asbestos exposure. They were regularly exposed to asbestos-containing product when the ships were built.
During the maintenance phase when they replaced or repaired items such as a plumbing isolation, a steam pipe or broiler on a ship.
They are still at risk today, when performing other maintenance or cleaning operations on older ships. The asbestos content of such ships are normally aged and deteriorated.
Automotive mechanic shops
Asbestos materials are known for its properties of hardness, durability and heat resistance. For decades, many older manufacturing plants used asbestos to manufacture breaks and clutch linings. There is evidence that mechanics working on older vehicles may be at risk of asbestos exposure. Their work environment is therefore considered to have a high industrial asbestos risk.
Steel mills
Asbestos insulation is used during the construction of steel mills, because of its properties of heat resistance and poor heat conductivity.
Steel mill workers work in an environment of high industrial asbestos risk.
Buildings built before the 1980s
Most commercial-, government- and school buildings from this period contain asbestos products of some kind. Because people work in these buildings we aslo classify them as high asbestos exposure risk. The same with homes built during that period.
The danger occurs as the asbestos building materials begin to age and deteriorate. Natural disasters may damage such buildings, as seen globally recently.
All people should become knowledgeable about asbestos, where and in what forms it was used. They will then be enabled to manage their own safety.
Geography of Asbestos Industry
Statistically, it was proven that individuals living near asbestos manufacturing plants live under high industrial asbestos risk.
Asbestos fibers leaking into the surrounding air and water find its way into their bodies and leads to high diagnosis malignant mesothelioma figures.
Mesothelioma claims
If you or one of your loved ones have ever worked in a job with high industrial asbestos risk, you could save much trouble by already keeping careful note of the products, suppliers, manufacturers, equipment, buildings etc, relevant to asbestos exposure at your work place.
It is never good to live in fear. However, it would be prudent to keep this log. If you or any of your close relatives do receive the diagnosis malignant mesothelioma at any later stage, these records could expedite a successful asbestos settlement in your favour. It may prove your occupation of a place with high industrial asbestos risk.
Asbestos lawyers use such information to prepare for mesothelioma lawsuits in cases with a history of industrial asbestos risk. Asbestos cancer attorneys normally handle mesothelioma cases, filing mesothelioma claims without requiring any advance payment from your side.
For more information, visit Mesothelioma-Junction.Com
Also view the popular photo albums titled:
A Silent Killer Stalking Your Favorite Beach Destination?
Labour MP John MacDougall died of Malignant Mesothlioma, caused by asbestos exposure, had again highlighted the poor prognosis of mesothelioma victims. All ex-shipyard workers are cautioned by Mesothelioma-Junction.Com to immediately consult their specialist at the first sign of what may be symptoms of mesothelioma.
Labour MP John MacDougall, Labour MP and close friend of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, sadly died at the age of 60, on 13 August 2008, within 24 months of receiving the diagnosis malignant mesothelioma. He passed away at the Victoria Hospital, in Kilkaldy and his funeral is set for Monday 18 August 2008. He revealed in May 2007 that he had serious health problems.
After being diagnosed with asbestosis he had one lung removed at the Guy's Hospital in London.
Labour MP John MacDougall blamed his asbestos disease on his work in the shipyards in 1960’s. That was before asbestos regulations were implemented globally by developed nations. The average asbestos mesothelioma victim normally lives for only 6 to 24 months after being diagnosed.
Many mesothelioma treatment options are currently available but they are yet unable to affectively heal asbestosis mesothelioma patients. This well loved politician had vowed to beat the disease and return to work, after undergoing a trial procedure to try and beat the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.
Labour MP John MacDougall contributed his education to the excellent technical training that Rosyth Naval Dockyard gave to its apprentices. A boilermaker by trade, he was employed for a period as an engineer in the dockyard and then in the mines. From 1964 John worked at the RGC oil rig construction yard in Methil.
His political career commenced in 1982 when he was elected to the Fife County Council.
Even though society at large has known about the dangers of asbestos exposure and asbestos poisoning for decades, industrial tycoons and government departments continued to use or produce asbestos products to sustain their profits, employment figures and/or economic growth.
However, lobbyists for asbestos toxin health concerns and regulation, eventually succeeded. So varying efficiencies of asbestos mesothelioma law was written and implemented globally.
Ship yards, boilermakers, dock yards, mining are all terms that are statistically stacked with a high level of occupational asbestos risk. The mesothelioma death of labour MP John MacDougall serves as yet another example in this regard.
Even a very brief asbestos exposure can lead to a range of chronic and fatal medical dispositions known as asbestos poisoning diseases.
For many years, asbestos insulation was a preferred thermal component of boilers due to its heat resistant properties.
What is asbestos and what does asbestos look like? All forms of asbestos are composed of fibers with widths less than 1 micrometer, that occur in bundles and have very long lengths. This is called fibrillar. Asbestos identify with particularly fine fibers and is sometimes also called amianthus.
So asbestos is a classification of minerals with a unique, crystalline fiber texture. The main groups are: Chrysotile (“white asbestos”), Amosite (“brown asbestos”), Crocodolite (“blue asbestos”), Tremolite (Amhibole), Anthrophyllite and Actinolite. View asbestos pictures asbestos pictures here
Why are asbestos fibers dangerous? The microscopic fibers become easily airborne. The asbestos fibers are then easily breathed in through the nose and mouth. It becomes lodged forever in the lungs or other parts of the body.
The body’s immune system targets these fibers to break it down, but the body acids excreted to dissolve the asbestos always fail. The lesion caused by the asbestos fibres, is called asbestos injury.
Asbestos symptoms begin slowly and unnoticed. Since the asbestos particles are indestructible, connective scar tissue builds up around them.
It may take between 5 to 50 years for the first symptoms to appear, gradually developing into asbestosis mesothelioma (asbestos disease mesothelioma.) For Labour MP John MacDougall it took 40 years. Shortness of breath with an absence of coughing is one of the first asbestos poisoning symptoms.
If the scar tissue is allowed to develop undiagnosed, the presence of body acids causes some cells to mutate into malignant mesothelioma cancer cells.
Once asbestosis mesothelioma cancer had advanced, other organs begin to weaken from the lack of oxygen. The heart is especially vulnerable.
Occupational asbestos risk, even in modern day industry, can not be over emphasized. This matter is once again being brought to the attention of environment and health concious groups, by the sad loss of Labour MP John MacDougall.
He was a pillar in society, member of Scottish Constitutional Convention Vice-President and Treasurer of the Assembly of European Regions. He was also asked if he would act as liaison officer between the AER and the Conference of Periphereal Maritime Regions
For more information about the diagnosis malignant mesothelioma and to browse asbestos pictures, visit http://www.mesothelioma-Junction.Com
Also view our picture study of asbestos at a popular seaside holiday town titled, "A Silent Killer Stalking Your Favorite Beach Destination?" at our Asbestos Pictures Page.
Early symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific in nature. Years may pass with no symptoms at all. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to respiratory distress, a lasting cough, pneumonia, low energy levels and night-time sweating.
The “generalness” of asbestos cancer symptoms may lead to a delay in diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after asbestos exposure - when least expected. Those affected often do not receive the proper mesothelioma diagnosis until the cancer is far advanced. Shortness of breath, pain in the chest, shoulder blades or lower back and weight loss, may also be indicative symptoms of mesothelioma. mesothelioma.
Asbestos cancer symptoms may also appear in the form of a bowel obstruction, blood clotting, lung or bowel abnormalities, anemia, fever or trouble swallowing.
Some patients complain of pain in the shoulder blade or lower back. These symptoms most often occur 2-3 months prior to a confirmed diagnosis.
Pleural mesothelioma is normally indicated by shortness of breath, chest pain and persistent cough. As mesothelioma progresses, pleural effusion (fluid build up between the two pleural layers) occurs in 95% of patients.
Patients normally visit their GP to diagnose this symptom. The doctor will us a chest X-ray to confirm the effusion. A thickening of the pleura may also be noted at this time.
If the GP finds symptoms of mesothelioma and suspects cancer is a possibility, referral may be made to a hospital consultant who specializes in lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is normally indicated by a change in normal bowel movements such as frequent diarrhoea or constipation, abdominal pain and swelling, nausea or vomiting, bowel obstruction and weight loss.
Diagnostic tests will show abdominal swelling due to thickening of the lining membranes of the gut, and accumulation of large amounts of fluid in the abdomen and normally also lumps of tissue in the abdominal.
Self diagnosis of asbestos cancer is not advised, as specialist diagnostic tests are required for diagnosis malignant mesothelioma. The symptoms above are not unique to mesothelioma, and may be symptoms of other health dispositions. Evaluation by a qualified physician is always suggested.
Tests that may show mesothelioma include the following:
• Chest x-ray
• CT scan of the chest
• Open lung biopsy
Further complicating mesothelioma treatment is the malignant nature of the cancer, for at the stage when symptoms of mesothelioma appear, current therapeutic treatments are usually no longer effective.
Asbestos cancer mesothelioma post-diagnosis survival rates typically range from 6 months to 2 years. It is important to see a doctor about any of these dispositions that may be the symptoms of mesothelioma. When your GP refer you to a specialist mesothelioma doctor or oncologist, he should provide you with the following information:
• Date and time of your appointment.
• The name of the mesothelioma center or clinic.
• The Contact person or specialist’s name.
• The mesothelioma testing procedures that you can expect.
• Time frames e.g. test result waiting period, treatment periods.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has developed the following, effective June, 2005. The guidelines implemented by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in 2005 may not apply to every individual.
It is important that you discuss the details of your individual mesothelioma case with your close family, supporting friends and your personal health care team. You have to be at peace with the proactive role that you and your mesothelioma support group are going to play in your treatment and care.
The general referral guidelines for suspected cancer requires an assessment of urgency by your GP. His asbestos cancer assessment will be based on the following criteria:
• Immediate referral: The patient needs to be seen within a few hours.
• Urgent referral: The patient will be seen within two weeks.
• Non-urgent: All other referrals.
After completing your urgency assessment, your GP will send all relevant information about your mesothelioma case to your mesothelioma doctor or your specialist for evaluation.
The prognosis associated with the diagnosis malignant mesothelioma is very poor. Any individual who experience symptoms of mesothelioma, or suspect asbestos cancer (associated with asbestos exposure in previous jobs with asbestos risk ) should urgently seek medical advice.
As in all cancers, when the first symptoms of mesothelioma appear, early diagnosis and treatment offer the best hope for a favorable outcome in a patient with malignant asbestos mesothelioma lung cancer.
However, taking advantage of your legal rights can create the necessary funds to finance aggressive treatment, pay off huge medical bills incurred during diagnosis, and provide financial security for your family for years to come.
For more information about the diagnosis malignant mesothelioma and to browse asbestos pictures, visit http://www.mesothelioma-Junction.Com View our picture study of asbestos at a popular seaside holiday town titled, "A Silent Killer Stalking Your Favorite Beach Destination?" at our Asbestos Pictures Page.
