Blog
- Mesothelioma difficult to detect early
Jun 23, 2020
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer for which there are no screening tests recommended for people who are not at an increased level of risk. For people in Pennsylvania who have had exposure to asbestos, it is common for doctors to suggest undergoing imaging tests regularly. These may include computed tomography scans and chest x-rays. Such screenings examine the lungs for changes that may indicate the presence of lung cancer or mesothelioma in the...Read More - Miners file asbestos suit against workers’ comp insurer
Jun 11, 2020
Pennsylvania residents may have heard that the W.R. Grace vermiculite mine in the town of Libby, Montana, closed in the 1990s but not before hundreds of workers contracted asbestos-related diseases. The affected workers filed a lawsuit against Maryland Casualty Company, the company that provided Grace with workers’ compensation insurance from 1963 to 1973. Plaintiffs alleged that Maryland Casualty knew about the danger of asbestos exposure when mining vermiculite, a mineral that naturally occurs in asbestos-laden...Read More - Risks of developing mesothelioma
Jun 5, 2020
Mesothelioma diagnoses have been increasing in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and the rest of the U.S. The aggressiveness of this disease makes many people wonder if they or their family members are at risk for developing it. Understanding the risk factors for mesothelioma and what to do if people are diagnosed with the condition are important. What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos used to be widely...Read More - Understanding pericardial mesothelioma
Jun 5, 2020
People in Pennsylvania and West Virginia who have been exposed to asbestos might develop mesothelioma years after they were exposed. Mesothelioma is a type of terminal, aggressive cancer that is caused by asbestos fibers that people inhale. While most people are likely aware of the type of mesothelioma that affects the lungs, they might not know that mesothelioma can also affect the pericardium, which is the lining that surrounds the heart. What is pericardial mesothelioma?...Read More - Asbestos exposure continues to be a problem
Jun 5, 2020
Millions of people were exposed to asbestos from the 1940s to the 1970s. While the use of asbestos has greatly decreased in Pennsylvania, some people continue to be exposed to it at work. Asbestos exposure can cause people to develop mesothelioma, which is a type of terminal cancer that can appear years after the exposure occurred. While asbestos isn’t as widely used as it once was, around 3,000 people are diagnosed with asbestos-related mesothelioma in...Read More - Mesothelioma: the cause and its diagnosis
May 28, 2020
Workers across Pennsylvania may be exposed to asbestos without knowing it. Exposure to this mineral is linked with a cancer called mesothelioma, which usually affects the pleura, or lining, of the lungs. It may appear as a tumor on the lungs, stomach or chest. Certain workers are more likely to be around asbestos than others: construction workers and operators heavy machinery, for instance, or anyone who works in old buildings where asbestos-containing materials are still...Read More - Mesothelioma, its causes and symptoms
May 18, 2020
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that people in Pennsylvania should be aware of. It’s most often linked with exposure to asbestos, a mineral found, among other places, in old building materials like tiling, shingles and drywall. Even second-hand exposure can lead to mesothelioma; families of those who work around asbestos have been known to develop the cancer. The cancer usually begins in the tissues around the lung or abdomen, though it may sometimes...Read More - Understanding factors that contribute to mesothelioma diagnosis
May 5, 2020
Any type of cancer diagnosis will be worrisome for a person and his or her family. For Pennsylvanians and people across the nation who are diagnosed with cancer, there is inevitable fear when thinking about how to treat it. Some forms of cancer are deadlier than others, and mesothelioma is notoriously difficult to treat. Knowing how mesothelioma comes about is an essential factor in considering a potential legal filing for compensation to pay for treatment...Read More - The EPA calls asbestos exposure harmful
May 5, 2020
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), asbestos can cause an increased risk of cancer or other harm to workers and other individuals in Pennsylvania. The EPA report noted that the risk of negative health consequences could be significant for those who used aftermarket brakes or brake linings. It was also an issue for those who were exposed to oil field brake blocks and other products designed to help slow a vehicle down. It is...Read More - Mesothelioma is often a misdiagnosed disease
Apr 21, 2020
In Pennsylvania and around the country, mesothelioma is a rare enough disease that it is somewhat difficult to diagnose. Thus, the question is if the actual count of patients who are diagnosed with the condition is accurate. This is compounded by the fact that physicians often misdiagnose mesothelioma and mistake it for other conditions. This could lead to an undercount or even an overcount of cases. Asbestos usage in the United States was largely phased...Read More