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What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases known;
the average life span of an inflicted person is less than 24 months.
It’s a disease that may strike 3,000 United States citizens every
year.
Mesothelioma is a
disease that is almost 100% preventable; the only known cause is
exposure to the deadly mineral Asbestos. It comes from inhaling the
particles of dust as asbestos degrades; eating away the lining of your
lungs and developing into deadly cancer. Dust that was inhaled in
clouds of white powder, dust that was carried home on the clothes of
the men who built this country, dust that was cleaned from the clothes
by the wives and children who supported their sole provider at home,
dust that was packed around the heating systems in houses and offices
and schools, dust that carried a deadly price; and dust made a fortune
in blood money for the companies that produced it.
The effects of asbestos on the human
body were known to be deadly for years by the companies who employed
the ‘greatest generation’ and made hundreds of millions, if not
billions, of dollars off of their work. But instead of taking simple
steps to alleviate the problem and save the lives of thousands of
their workers, they choose to do nothing and continue to make a
profit. Some even went so far as to hide the truth from their workers
and their families. And because the normal latency period for
Mesothelioma is 20 to 30 years, many got away with this for years. We
are only now beginning to see the full effects of Mesothelioma, and
feel the terrible cry of the people against those who put profits
before human lives. |
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Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a
disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide
without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues
and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their
original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma
begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
Mesothelioma is a benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor
affecting the lining of the chest or abdomen. Exposure to asbestos
particles in the air increases the risk of developing malignant
mesothelioma. The Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that involves
the mesothelium, or cells that line an organ, abdominal organs,
usually the lungs, and heart. The most common form of mesothelioma is
pleural mesothelioma, where the malignant tumors form on the pleura,
the sac that lines the chest cavity and protects the lungs. Other
forms of mesothelioma affect the peritoneum (abdominal cavity lining)
and the pericardium (which is lining around the heart). |
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