Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.
The main cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Most men and women who develop mesothelioma have experienced some level of significant exposure to asbestos during their lifetimes.
When a person breathes in dust that contains microscopic asbestos fibers, the asbestos can travel into the smallest airways and, over the course of many years, may damage the lining of the lungs or other organs and cause mesothelioma to develop.
The most common symptoms from pleural mesothelioma include fatigue, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, and difficulty swallowing. Often mesothelioma causes a pleural effusion, which is when fluid builds up in the pleural space between the lung and chest wall causing shortness of breath and chest pain.
It is important to understand that there is a long latency period from the time a person is initially exposed to asbestos to his or her development of mesothelioma. It typically takes 20 to 40 or more years from the asbestos exposure to develop mesothelioma.
The following list of occupations are among the many jobs with a greater likelihood of experiencing levels of exposure to asbestos that increase the risk of developing mesothelioma:
- Boiler Workers
- Oil Burner Technicians
- Plumbers
- HVAC Technicians
- Brake Mechanics
- Carpenters
- Construction Workers
- DIY Home Improvement
- Electricians
- Elevator Installers, Inspectors, and Mechanics
- Crane, Forklift, and Heavy Equipment Operators
- General Contractors
- Insulators
- Laborers
- Machinists
- Machine Operators
- Maintenance Mechanics
- U.S. Navy Boiler Tenders, Machinists, and Other Navy Veterans
- Painters
- Papermill Workers
- Pipefitters
- Pipecoverers
- Plasterers
- Refractory Workers
- Roofers
- Sheetmetal Workers
- Shipyard Workers
- Tile Installers
- Welders
- U.S. Air Force Veterans
Workers are not the only ones who are exposed to asbestos due to its use in their workplace. When workers who were exposed to asbestos returned home to their families, asbestos fibers often contaminated their clothing. Consequently, the spouse, children, and other family members living with the affected worker may also have been exposed to asbestos during their lifetimes.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, Duffy Law can help you pursue significant compensation. For more than 20 years, Attorney Duffy has successfully represented hundreds of mesothelioma clients throughout Greater Boston, Boston’s North Shore, and all of Massachusetts in asbestos litigation. He has obtained millions of dollars in settlements for his mesothelioma clients from manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products. Email us at [email protected], call us at (978) 414-5714, or complete the form to request your free consultation today.