Asbestos is a group of six naturally occurring minerals that were once widely used in industrial applications. It was commonly used as insulation for homes, in shipbuilding, for car parts and a host of other uses.
While asbestos is a natural substance, it was discovered that when fibers are breathed in they can get stuck in the lungs. Eventually, scar tissue and inflammation can cause catastrophic health issues for the person. One important note is you don’t have to be directly exposed to asbestos to end up with mesothelioma. Instead, secondary and even tertiary exposure can lead to mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma isn’t the only condition asbestos can cause
While many people think about pleural mesothelioma as the only condition that can stem from asbestos exposure, there are other conditions. Ovarian, larynx, stomach, colorectum and pharynx cancers can also stem from asbestos exposure. Another condition, asbestosis, can also occur. This is a permanent inflammation of the lungs.
The health risks that come with exposure to asbestos are life-threatening. Mesothelioma, for example, is a terminal cancer. Currently, there isn’t a cure for it, but there’s considerable research being done to try to find a suitable treatment that does more than just prolong life.
One problematic factor that makes these conditions so hard to treat is that they usually don’t become evident until they’re advanced. Mesothelioma can take decades to appear after the exposure to asbestos. This means that precious time is wasted because treatment wasn’t started while the condition was mild.
Individuals who have mesothelioma are facing a difficult journey with all the medical care and life changes. They should seek compensation to help them cover the costs of everything they’re paying for because of the mesothelioma.
