What Does Asbestos Do to Humans?

Among other diseases, asbestos causes mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. Toxic particles, like asbestos, alter cell DNA, specifically the part of the DNA that regulates cellular life and reproduction. Cells that live too long and reproduce too quickly often form tumors. Additionally, asbestos fibers increase the overall risk of cancer in the body. So, exposure victims sometimes develop cancer in their digestive tracts and other parts of the body.

Asbestos exposure diseases are devastating in every sense of the word. In addition to their physical damage, they take a tremendous emotional toll on victims who did nothing to cause their conditions. As a result, a nationwide mesothelioma lawyer can obtain the compensation these families need and deserve to fight their illnesses, live longer, and face the future with more confidence.

Mesothelioma itself is a terrible disease. Making matters worse, this form of cancer is often almost impervious to traditional cancer treatments, such as:

• Radiation: Doctors often begin cancer treatment with radiation to shrink tumors. Mesothelioma tumors form in the mesothelium layer near the heart. As a result, radiation treatments often cause too much collateral damage to perhaps the body’s most vital organ.
• Surgery: Frequently, doctors successfully remove Stage I or other small tumors. But partially because of the tumor’s location, and partially because of mesothelioma’s long latency period, tumors are often at Stage II or III before surgery is even an option. The odds for success are a little more than a long shot at this point.
• Chemotherapy: Frequently, chemotherapy is a mop-up treatment. These drugs often kill remaining cancer cells after the first two rounds of treatment. But since the first two rounds usually are not successful in mesothelioma cases, doctors must administer high doses of powerful drugs. Most mesothelioma patients are in their 70s or older, and they cannot tolerate such treatments.

A few cutting-edge therapies, such as gene editing, may be available to mesothelioma victims in the near future. But “near future” does not help today’s victims. Financial compensation, which only a nationwide asbestos lawyer can obtain, is the next best thing.

Lifestyle choices, such as cigarette smoking, often contribute to mesothelioma and other kinds of cancer. In most states, compensation is still available if a pre-existing condition contributed to mesothelioma or another kind of cancer.

We should also mention cervical cancer in this section. Johnson & Johnson sold asbestos-laced talcum powder for decades. Women who regularly use it have developed cervical cancer at an alarming rate. The pharmaceutical giant has already set aside billions of dollars to settle what many observers believe is the first round of lawsuits.

Inhaled asbestos fibers cause several lung diseases. Like mesothelioma, these diseases are often fatal.

Pleural thickening is similar to mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers inflame the pleural layer that surrounds the lungs. In many cases, the inflammation is so bad that it almost literally crushes the victim’s lungs. A mesothelioma lawyer can obtain compensation for this lung disease as well.

Asbestosis is an asbestos exposure illness that directly affects the lungs themselves. Toxic fibers and dust burn airway linings inside the lungs, causing scar tissue buildup. Over time, the scar tissue blocks these airways. Substantial compensation is available for these victims as well.

Mesothelioma victims need and deserve significant compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced nationwide mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. Virtual, home, and after-hours visits are available.