Attorney and Ban on Asbestos

Attorney and Ban on Asbestos levlaw.com

Attorney and Ban on Asbestos

Mesothelioma is generally regarded as one of the diseases caused by work that occurs as exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Several pathways for environmental asbestos exposure have been described & are very likely related to asbestos related diseases, including mesothelioma. Taking asbestos workers, or para-occupational exposure, has been well documented & is the most frequently reported pathway for asbestos exposure among mesothelioma cases that do not have occupational exposure to asbestos. Observational studies have evaluated several communities with high incidence of mesothelioma and environmental exposure associated with local asbestos-related industries. Potential, but uncertain, the risk of mesothelioma can also be associated with asbestos exposure to the general population through contact with commercial products containing asbestos, especially housing materials that can be easily disrupted through normal activities. Finally, studies have also described the incidence of mesothelioma which is increasing in some areas where the population exposed to asbestos material occurs naturally. The various pathways of exposure to asbestos environment are poorly understood, and further research must be pursued to evaluate their respective interests in the risk of mesothelioma populations.

Comparing Asbestos Related Diseases Vs Mesothelioma Asbestosis

Although mesothelioma & asbestosis are both diseases related to asbestos, it is not the same disease. The main difference is that asbestosis is not a cancer, whereas mesothelioma. Those affected by good disease may want to know what the similarities and differences of these two diseases are.

Difference Between Mesothelioma and Asbestosis

Symptoms

Patients with mesothelioma & asbestosis sufferers experience many of the same symptoms, such as shortness of breath, especially early. Both diseases also have a long latency period, after years of exposure to symptoms.

Treatment

Treatment options are very varied for this disease, especially because one of them is cancer and the other. They, however, share similar palliative care to improve quality of life.

Prognosis

Unlike mesothelioma, the prognosis associated with asbestosis is far more beneficial. Patients with asbestosis can live for decades with this disease, but need careful medical treatment. However, asbestosis is also still a deadly disease and these patients can develop mesothelioma in the future.

What is Asbestosis?

To compare mesothelioma with asbestosis, it is important for us also to have a basic understanding of what is asbestosis. Asbestosis is a chronic respiratory disease caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos. Inhaled asbestos fibers cause lung scarring and lung stiffness, which prevents patients from taking full deep breaths.

This has similarities with mesothelioma as an asbestos-related disease, but has a more significant difference in severity and treatment. Patients can get a summary of the differences between mesothelioma and asbestosis in our free Mesothelioma Guide.

Asbestosis is also very similar to pulmonary fibrosis & is often diagnosed as such. The difference between this disease is that pulmonary fibrosis is not caused by asbestos exposure.

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Is Asbestosis Cancer?

Asbestosis is not cancer, but studies have shown that having a disease can make patients more likely to develop lung cancer in the future. Patients with asbestosis can even develop mesothelioma in the future.

Although asbestosis is not cancer, unfortunately there are long-term complications involved with the disease & there is currently no cure.

How Mesothelioma and Asbestosis Evolve

Mesothelioma & asbestosis have the same causes as asbestos exposure. Therefore, those who are most at risk for mesothelioma (miners, electricians, veterans, etc.) are the same group of people who are at risk for asbestosis.

Another similarity between these diseases is because of the latent period between the time of exposure and the appearance of disease. It takes 10 to 40 years for mesothelioma and asbestosis to develop.

Asbestosis develops due to scarring of asbestos fibers in the alveoli. Alveoli is a small air sac in the lungs where oxygen exchange & carbon dioxide occur. Asbestosis continues over time, and the lungs become more stiff because scarring continues.

The other main difference, in both diseases, is how you smoke affects them. Although smoking has a definite impact on the development of asbestosis, studies have not shown a correlation between smoking and mesothelioma.

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Comparing Mesothelioma and Asbestosis

Symptoms

Asbestosis and mesothelioma have the same symptoms. However, the main similarity in symptoms usually does not specifically indicate cancer. These symptoms occur most often:

-  Hard to breathe

- Coughing continuously

-  Chest pain

-  Weight loss

Mesothelioma patients experience far more severe symptoms as their disease develops.

More specific symptoms for asbestosis are those that occur in the fingers and toenails. This phenomenon is often an indication of underlying lung or heart problems. Nails become wider, rounder and softer. Often this is the result of a lack of oxygen in the body. Scarring makes it difficult to breathe, thereby reducing oxygen in the blood. This lack of oxygen can cause clubbing. Patients with mesothelioma can develop beaten fingers, but that is less common.

Asbestosis can also contribute to heart problems because the lungs and heart work together. High blood pressure and heart disease are not uncommon in patients with asbestosis. Heart problems, therefore, can be an indicator of asbestosis.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma & asbestosis starts at the same step: imaging tests. The first step is done by X-ray or CT scan. Doctors can identify differences in scanning the patient's lungs, marked by excessive vaginal discharge on the results of imaging tests. Different stages of each disease look different in the results of the scan.

If a doctor suspects a patient can experience mesothelioma, further biopsy & blood tests will be performed to determine the presence of cancer cells. A biopsy can even be taken if the patient is diagnosed with asbestosis, just to be sure.

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Prognosis

While mesothelioma patients are generally given a prognosis of approximately 4 to 12 months throughout the board, asbestosis has far better results. Asbestosis affects each patient differently, and patients often live decades with disease.

The main disadvantage for asbestosis patients, as a result of their diagnosis, is a decrease in quality of life as the disease progresses. But this disease can still be deadly. The American Lung Association estimates there were approximately 3,211 deaths from asbestosis between 1999 and 2004 in the United States.

Care Differences

Those with asbestosis can receive pain relief treatments that are also used as mesothelioma patients, but in general, there are many treatment options for asbestosis that are not used for patients with mesothelioma. Treatment for asbestosis is far less aggressive and focuses on alleviating symptoms and slowing the progression of the disease. Some of the most common treatments are:

- Bronchodilators (inhalers)

- Lung medicine

- Antibiotics

- The tank is breathing

- Medication for pain

Surgery for Asbestosis?

Thoracentesis is used for mesothelioma & asbestosis patients. This is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to drain fluid from the lungs to increase the patient's ability to breathe more comfortably. In very severe cases, however, asbestosis patients may be candidates for lung transplants. This is usually only a case in the presence of lung cancer and not a treatment option for mesothelioma patients.

Resources for Asbestosis

Similar to mesothelioma patients, asbestosis patients are victims of asbestos exposure. It may be more difficult to connect asbestosis back to specific asbestos exposure. Therefore, a detailed work history is often needed.