Pittsburgh Asbestos And Mesothelioma Blog

Asbestos often seems like an antiquated word, something now obsolete, a throwback to the 1960s. You might remember certain products that manufacturers and salesmen promoted as "flame retardant" because they contained asbestos. Once people started learning how dangerous microscopic asbestos fibers can be to human health, the powers that be instituted regulations regarding its use.

For some reason, many pushed asbestos to the back burner; in fact, for a long time, people scarcely mentioned or thought about it. However, spray insulation and other things like floor tiles, cabinetry or, even, automotive parts often still contain asbestos. If you work, live or frequently visit an area that happens to have asbestos in the air, you can contract a serious, often terminal illness. Many Pennsylvania residents who have already received such diagnoses are currently involved in asbestos litigation.

There are many reasons you or your loved one might visit a Pennsylvania doctor's office. Such visits may simply be part of your regular health regimen, especially if you're a parent of young children. At other times, an unexpected health concern might prompt your need to schedule an appointment. When seeking medical attention, you have a right to reasonably expect that the doctor in question will be able to assess your situation and properly diagnosis an adverse health condition.

Even if your doctor is having trouble diagnosing a particular condition, he or she should consult a specialist or refer you to another doctor who may be better able to handle the situation. In certain circumstances, you may want to get a second opinion. This is especially true if you have received a diagnosis of terminal illness, such as various cancers or illnesses associated with asbestos injury.

Many Pennsylvania families have been devastated to learn that a member of their household has contracted a deadly disease in the workplace, school or elsewhere. Mesothelioma is a terminal affliction. If you are familiar with the term, you might be among the tens of thousands of people in Pittsburgh or other parts of the country who are trying to cope with this illness.

There is currently no cure for Mesothelioma, which you can contract if you're exposed to asbestos. Many Pennsylvania factories, shipyards, schools, churches and older homes were built long ago with materials that are laden with asbestos. There's no safe amount of exposure to the microscopic fibers that enter airspace in various ways. If you or your loved one are ill, you'll want to learn as much as you can about what treatments are available and also what type of support is available to families in your situation.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops as a result of asbestos exposure in most people. Sadly, due to the type of injuries the asbestos causes over time, scar tissues build and cancer is likely to form. Mesothelioma is rare, but it is a devastating diagnosis.

The survival rate for those with diagnosed mesothelioma is not going to be the same for all people, but averages have shown that localized mesothelioma has a five-year survival rate of around 18%, whereas regional has a survival rate of 11%. Distant SEER stage mesothelioma has a five-year survival rate of 7%. Someone who has all three SEER stages of mesothelioma has a 9% survival rate at five years.