Mesothelioma Suits: You Deserve Justice 

By: Dan Lockland

What in the world is Mesothelioma Cancer

Caused by asbestos, mesothelioma is a cancer that has become increasingly prevalent in the United States over the past 20 years. Perhaps the scariest aspect of this condition is its stealth: symptoms sometimes take up to 50 years to appear after exposure. Though asbestos is no longer used in new construction, some buildings built before the 1980's contain significant amounts of the material. For the greater part of this century, asbestos was used in numerous building materials, including shingles, cement, and insulation. Asbestos can become airborne, and once it reaches that state, can be inhaled into the human body.

Mesothelioma leads to the development of malignant cells in the mesothelium. This is a protective lining that protects the internal organs of the body. Most commonly, mesothelioma occurs in the pleura, which covers the lungs and chest. It can also be found in other places in the body, however.

The majority of the people who suffer from mesothelioma previously worked in the construction industry, or may have been exposed in other ways to asbestos. While the incidence of mesothelioma is relatively rare at one case per 1,000,000, the rate has been steadily rising over the last 20 years. From the 1940 to 1980, an estimated 27.5 million Americans were exposed to asbestos, and between 1973 and 1984 there was a a threefold increase in the number of cases of pleural mesothelioma in white males.

Unfortunately, there isn't an effective way to treat mesothelioma. While surgery has traditionally been the most popular method of treatment, the median survival time is still less than a year. Chemotherapy is another treatment, but has seen limited success.

Due to the diseases direct link to asbestos exposure, a significant number of law suits have been filed in the past 20 years. The first case was actually brought in 1929. By the 1990's, lawsuits had forced nearly half of the 25 largest asbestos manufacturers out of business. Today, asbestos lawsuits constitute the largest mass tort in the history of the United States, and it has been estimated that in the next 10 years, damages awarded could run as high as 200 billion dollars.

Asbestos and mesothelioma are clearly two issues that will stay at the forefront of the news for the foreseeable future. With thousands of people suffering from this sadly unnecessary disease, it's not surprising that the court system expects an increasing number of cases in the near future.