Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog
National Mesothelioma Awareness Day is Sept. 26, according to The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance, which is a good reminder to make sure people know the facts about mesothelioma in New England and beyond.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, yet claims the lives of many people who were once exposed to asbestos, either on Navy ships, in shipyards, in old factories or buildings or while working in the construction of older homes and offices. Boston Mesothelioma Lawyers have seen the many people who were exposed to asbestos and now are dying because their companies exposed them to undue risks.
The cancer develops slowly and can take 30 to 40 years before symptoms lead to a diagnosis of mesothelioma.
The day Sept. 26 is designed to help raise awareness for this cancer, which gets much less exposure than other forms of cancer, such as breast cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer, for instance.
The day was selected by Congress to single out this form of cancer, which affects nearly 3,000 Americans each year. It is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos, The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance says.
Though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has imposed regulations, about 1.3 million construction workers and other professionals are still exposed to asbestos every day. Traditionally, factory workers, mechanics and electricians were most likely to be exposed to asbestos. But older buildings that collapse in tornadoes, such as the one that ran through parts of Western Massachusetts this year, earthquakes and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that downed the World Trade Center towers, have left many others exposed to the toxic chemicals.
Despite the many buildings and old parts that contain asbestos and put many people at risk, including children who attend schools that still contain asbestos, there is no cure for mesothelioma.
Once diagnosed, even thought it can take years and even decades after asbestos exposure for that to happen, the average person only lives 12 months.
Mesothelioma causes tumors in the lining of major organs, such as the heart, lungs and stomach lining. Some cancers start in non-vital places and become deadly when they travel to vital organs. For mesothelioma patients, the cancer is already in a very bad spot to begin with.
So, on Sept. 26, think about those who may have unknowingly been exposed to asbestos and now, decades later, are suffering the consequences. Our veterans and our hard-working Americans who sacrificed to make great products or service buildings are now facing this difficult diagnosis in retirement.
Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers provide representation of victims exposed to asbestos who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Boston and throughout Massachusetts and New England. Call (617) 777-7777 for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights.
More Blog Entries:
Forensic Sculptor Dies of Pleural Mesothelioma at 70: August 17, 2011
Norwood 21-Year-Old Diagnosed With Mesothelioma: August 15, 2011