Asbestos Cancer and Mesothelioma San Diego Attorneys
ByThe history of asbestos
Asbestos generally refers to long threads of silicate fiber compounds. The word asbestos actually comes from the Greek word for “inextinguishable” as they are resistant to heat, fire, and chemicals as well as non-conductive. These unique properties made asbestos a useful material in many industries including the shipbuilding, automobile, and construction industries.
In America, they were first mined and used commercially during the late 1800s, gaining popularity until the 1970s. It was then that the use of asbestos was finally banned for certain uses as the health hazards came to the forefront, including manufacturers of electric hair dryers.
In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned all new uses of asbestos; previously established uses, however, were still allowed. This was intended as a way to slow and then eliminate the use of asbestos in the United States, however it was overturned in 1990. Also in 1989, regulations regarding damaged or exposed asbestos in schools are also established.
Even today asbestos can be found in many products including:
- brake pads and shoes,
- roofing tar and roof shingles,
- caulk,
- clutch plates,
- fire blankets,
- the fireproof clothing worn by firefighters, and
- thermal pipe insulation.
Linking asbestos to cancer
Asbestos poses the greatest threat to those who work with it regularly as they are most likely to inhale the fibers. When asbestos is disturbed, as may occur when it is being fitted for a particular use such as insulating a section of piping or wall, the smaller fibers break off and become airborne. In this form, the people around them can easily inhale the asbestos fibers.
Once inhaled, the asbestos lodges within the lungs and causes irritation, scarring, and possible abnormal cell growth, resulting in tumors and cancer as well as other mesothelioma symptoms. Asbestos cancer is also referred to as mesothelioma, because it affects the lining of the body’s organs which is called mesothelium.
Workers in the following trades have the greatest risk of being exposed to asbestos and developing mesothelioma:
- Asbestos mining and milling
- Shipbuilding
- Construction/building, particularly working with insulation
- Asbestos removal workers
- Automobile workers
- Firefighters
- Asbestos textiles manufacturing
Watch the video related to asbestos cancer mesothelioma
Asbestos exposure can cause Cancer and Mesothelioma in the San Diego area. These diseases often cause victims and their families pain, suffering, and medical expenses from which its difficult to recover. If you or a loved one has been exposed to Asbestos, and is at risk for cancer or Mesothelioma, we can help. Find the information you need at our website, or call today for a no cost evaluation.
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About Author
If mesothelioma has entered your life through asbestos exposure please reach out and contact experienced mesothelioma attorneys such as those at Landry & Swarr. Over the years they have developed tremendous asbestos law experience and can help protect your rights. Article by: Andre’ Savoie
9 Comments
October 9th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Try the links in http://www.hot8sites.com/lawyer/mesothelioma-lawyers-helping-the-mesothelioma-v.html
October 9th, 2009 at 7:54 am
The ONLY treatment I've ever seen work (and work often!) is the Immuno Augmentive Therapy (IAT) Clinic in Freeport Grand Bahamas. They are run by British and Bahamian medical doctors, and are in my opinion by far the best alternative cancer treatment center in the world.
For some reason, their treatment (small injections you take several times a day containing immune system proteins) works especially well with mesothelioma, and they are well known for treating it, and often get referrels from Stateside and British MD.s.
Visit their website at either…
October 9th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Shortness of breath is the main first symptom. Fatigue, weight loss, and a dry cough are also symptoms. My mom died from mesothelioma in 2006.
October 10th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Try to search for Cyberknife and Trilogy.
Cyberknife Robotic Stereotactic Radiosurgery System is an advanced, noninvasive alternative for treating benign and malignant lesions anywhere in the body.
Trilogy is an External beam radiation therapy comes from a machine that aims radiation at your cancer. The machine does not touch you, but rotates around you, sending radiation to your body from many directions. This is a local treatment, meaning that the radiation is aimed only at a specific part of your body.
October 10th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
there is a mesothelioma website they would be able to help
i can look on my map tomorrow and get back to you and maybe get some info
October 11th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Your site is very nice. Green happens to be my fav. color so that gives it a big plus from me lol
Its very informative, direct and easy to read.. very nicely layed out…. I checked the links and they all work well.
Very nice job!!
October 12th, 2009 at 7:43 am
I'm so sorry. It's a terrible and scary disease and just so hopeless at every turn.
I lost my dad to Mesothelioma back in 2003. His brother died from it a few years earlier, but progress is being made against the disease all the time. It claimed my uncle in only 9 months, but my dad made it almost 3 years – and was on medicines that weren't even invented when my uncle was battling it. I imagine that's the case now too.
We were lucky because he was able to be treated by Dr. Jablons at UCSF who is one of the big researchers in the field. My dad had chemo, followed by an experimental surgery, then radiation, more chemo and finally some compassion release chemo drugs that were part of a clinical trial.
My dad was a active and physically fit, so he was able to monitor his health quite well (he'd actually go for 5 mile walks after having his daily radiation). He could really monitor his breathing and getting his chest drained would make an short-term improvement. As he got sicker he complained a lot of the big "gorilla" that felt like it was compressing his chest all the time. He also had a lot of pain that got worse as his disease progressed – all of the pain was situated in his chest and lungs. He lost quite a bit of weight as he got sicker, and eventually was on oxygen and couldn't walk across the room without having to sit down and catch his breath.
Some of the odd chemo side effects were that all of his black hair fell out but he kept his gray hair – so he looked older almost over night. It was weird. And everything tasted like metal to him when he was on the chemo (he had Cisplatin and I forget what the other one was)…everything that is but hot dogs.
I think some of the best advice we had was to really make each day meaningful and be close as a family.
The other thing that was a great piece of advice from Dr. Jablons that probably isn't so obvious was to not be afraid of young doctors. I remember the second oncologist my dad had was so young we thought she had to be 17. But, young doctors are usually very willing to work really hard and research anything and everything to try and find a way to help you buy some time, while the older, more experienced oncologists tend to accept meso as a death sentence. The younger doctors tend to ask for a lot of advice from the experienced oncologists rather than relying on their knowledge, and they may have open options to participate in clinical trials where more seasoned veterans have used up all their trials. I guess the way a lot of research studies work is that each doctor is allowed 1-2 patients into the trial, so sometimes doctors have used up all their trials. It typically takes a lot of paperwork and effort to get a patient into some of the trials too, but having a doctor who has the tenacity to make sure everything gets done to ensure their patient is included is a relief.
Sorry, this is long winded but I hope some if it is helpful.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I understand where you are coming from. You just want the facts not someone to try to make you feel better (as if that is possible at this point). Although I deal with cancer everyday I really don’t know the answer to your question and honestly his oncologist would know the answer specifically to your grandfather better than anyone. However, I am on my way to a tumor board now and will ask one of the oncologist when I’m there and edit my answer when I return.
EDIT: According to one of my oncologists most often death is due to heart failure.
Now for the rest of your question., there is a small chance the new chemo may help pull him out of this for awhile, but it is more likely this is the beginning of the end. You will know when he loses weight, sleeps more, tires easily, coloring changes, gets confused and he doesn’t want to eat or drink much.
You may want to look into hospice so that when you and your family are ready, you have a plan. They help the entire family not just the patient and they are wonderful people. I am very sorry you and your grandfather have to go through this. May God bless both of you.
October 12th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Hello, the most likely character you could use in your play is a plumber, as plumbers are more likely to come into contact with the more deadlier types of materials, For example – lagging used on a water pipe can contain up to 100% asbestos fibers! and is likely to be made up of blue or brown asbestos. Blue and brown asbestos fibers are the deadliest types, whereas white asbestos fibres are the least harmful of the three.
There is a higher incidence of mesothelioma among plumbers, carpenters, builders, and shipyard workers. Therefore one of these workers would be a perfect character role for highlighting the dangers of asbestos and mesothelioma.
You can visit my site for more information on asbestos and mesothelioma below.
Play sounds really interesting! If you want any help re writing youe play then I would love to help. Email me if you like.
Kind regards,
Ann.