What should I do if I may be at risk?

    /24-7PressRelease/ - Baltimore, MD, May 31, 2008 - Mesothelioma is a tough cancer to treat. Once doctors have diagnosed this disease, many patients have about 18 months to live. One reason for this is the advanced nature of the illness. Because symptoms can take decades to surface after exposure, the cancer is usually too advanced for successful treatment. Another reason is the lack of surgical treatment available—few surgeries are able to fully remove the tumor.

Protect your health

There are things you can do to protect the health of your lungs. Start today.

• If you are a smoker—stop smoking now. In addition to mesothelioma, research indicates that those who suffer from asbestos exposure and smoke are at a much greater risk of developing lung cancer.

• Keep yourself in good physical condition. Most doctors and health professionals recommend up to thirty minutes of activity at least three or four days a week. Physical fitness is essential for healthy lungs.

• Make healthy food choices. Filling your meals with leafy greens that are full of fiber, along with whole grains and fruits can help prevent other types of cancers. There is not direct evidence linking a good diet to a decreased risk of mesothelioma, but it is a good idea to eat healthy regardless.

If you've been exposed

If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos at all in your lifetime, you should talk to your doctor immediately. While there is no cure for mesothelioma, early detection has been proven to slow the progression of this fatal disease.

Mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer, and one of the reasons that it has such a low survival rate is because it is not typically diagnosed until it is in the advanced stages.

If you worked in an industry that has a high rate of asbestos exposure, you should consider yourself at risk of developing an asbestos related disease. Professions with a high exposure rate include:

• Ship builders
• Petroleum plant workers
• Power plant workers
• Construction workers

In your home

If there is any concern that you might have asbestos in your home, you should research the best possible remediation methods right away. You can also hire an experienced contractor to assess you home for you. Remediation is not difficult, but you must be incredibly careful and follow specific guidelines to reduce chance of becoming accidentally exposed.

Factors to consider

Several factors can help to determine how asbestos exposure could affect you. These include:
• The amount of asbestos you were exposed to
• How long you were exposed to it
• The size, shape, and chemical makeup of asbestos fibers
• The source of exposure
• Individual risk factors like smoking and pre-existing lung disease

While every form of asbestos is deemed hazardous, different types of asbestos fibers may be associated with different health risks. Some particles, for example, tend to stay in your system longer than others. But all common commercial types of asbestos have been linked to lung cancer.

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestosis, please contact the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C. for a free initial consultation.

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