Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is usually caused by asbestos fibers that are ingested into the body and don’t go away. The fibers linger, and because the body can’t dispose of them, cancer develops. It is estimated that over 80 percent of mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos exposure. The more exposure to asbestos in one’s lifetime, the greater one’s risk of getting mesothelioma. There are a number of ways that asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma.

Where Does Asbestos Exposure Occur?

Most asbestos-related cases of mesothelioma occur when people are exposed to asbestos products through work or their home environment. However, it could be 40 years before cancer begins after asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure occurs in a number of different ways.

Rates of mesothelioma tend to be higher in areas where asbestos occurs naturally. Situations like this might be a mine or road construction.

Some forms of construction in certain parts of the world may have more asbestos-related products involved. The roofs in Greece for example are made with plaster that contains asbestos. In Metsovo, Greece, the mesothelioma incidence is approximately 300 times more than the rates in asbestos-free areas. It’s a problem that has earned the nickname “Metsovo lung.”

In other areas, asbestos is found in the soil, and exposure could occur that way.

How Common is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is diagnosed in America in approximately 3,000 Americans annually. Different areas of the world have different rates of it, as with the cases in Greece.

In 2015, it was estimated that approximately 60,800 people in the world had mesothelioma, and 32,000 died from it.

If you are in the process of a mesothelioma diagnosis, you will be asked a lot of questions by your doctors about asbestos exposure.  They will want to know where you’ve lived, where you’ve traveled, and where you’ve worked so that they can get closer to pinning down your diagnosis. Every expert that you work with during this time will ask you the same questions, but for different reasons.

You may consider filing a legal claim to recover losses incurred by mesothelioma because you didn’t choose this problem. A lot of mesothelioma patients consider this because it helps to alleviate some stress of the uncertainty that lies ahead.

Work With Experts

When you are going through a mesothelioma diagnosis, you will be very worried about what is next. Trust the experts that are fighting for you in every way, whether they are legal, medical, or family, or social support. Experts like the team at Simmons, Hanly, & Conroy are among the many willing to fight for you to make those days of uncertainty a thing of the past.