Incidence of mesothelioma expected to increase

The President's Cancer Panel has reported that a staggering 40% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. In 2009, approximately 1.5 million people in the U.S. were diagnosed with some form of cancer and about 562,000 people died from cancer. Mesothelioma cancer is a cancer that is becoming more common. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, a mineral that has been used in many products such as brakes, cement pipe and thermal insulation. The asbestos cancer mesothelioma does not have a cure and people suffering from it generally die within months of being diagnosed.
According to the President's Cancer Panel report, more than 70% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos at their jobs. Workers at risk of being exposed to asbestos include firefighters, electricians, boilermakers, sheet metal workers and mechanics. Asbestos exposure typically takes place through inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers can remain in the air for long periods of time and thus, can be inhaled. Inhaled asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs and cause the development of asbestos cancers such as malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer.
There are several types of malignant mesothelioma. Two of these types are pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs and is also known as lung mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining of the abdomen. While there is no cure for mesothelioma, there are palliative treatment techniques that have shown some degree of success. One such mesothelioma treatment technique is photodynamic therapy (PDT). Photodynamic therapy attempts to treat mesothelioma by using a specific type of light to kill mesothelioma cancer cells. A side effect of this type of mesothelioma treatment is that some patients experience increased sensitivity to light after undergoing treatment.
People suffering from mesothelioma should consider contacting a mesothelioma attorney because they may be entitled to substantial financial compensation from companies in the asbestos industry that failed to warn of the dangers of asbestos. Mesothelioma attorneys generally do not charge hourly fees. Instead, they only charge legal fees only after winning a settlement or a verdict. The legal fee is typically a fraction of the settlement or verdict won on behalf of the mesothelioma patient.
About Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma attorneys
The law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg is the leading mesothelioma law firm in the U.S. Many retired workers who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have turned to a Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma attorney for financial assistance. Weitz & Luxenberg mesothelioma attorneys have won millions of dollars in mesothelioma cancer cases. For a free mesothelioma lawsuit review, please visit http://www.weitzlux.com. For further information on jobs that involve the risk of developing mesothelioma, visit http://www.mesotheliomajobs.com.