ABDOMINAL MESOTHELIOMA

The primary cause of abdominal mesothelioma is work-related asbestos exposure

November 9, 2010 – Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that affects the abdominal lining, or peritoneum, which it why it is sometimes referred to as abdominal mesothelioma.

Abdominal (peritoneal) mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer. With only 100 to 500 cases diagnosed in the United States each year, abdominal mesothelioma accounts for approximately 15 percent of all types of mesothelioma cases.

Mesothelioma cancer affects the tissue lining (the “mesothelium”) of certain internal organs. Although reported cases of mesothelioma have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer, with a total of some 3,000 individuals diagnosed in the United States annually.

Working with asbestos is the major cause of mesothelioma – including abdominal mesothelioma. There are several types of asbestos exposure that can lead to the disease, but a history of job-related asbestos exposure is reported in about 75 percent of all cases, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Abdominal mesothelioma is work-related

Since the early 1940s, when America ramped up big industry for the war effort, millions of workers were exposed to asbestos dust. Even back then, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were known to certain asbestos companies and product manufacturers. But many employers kept their workers in the dark about the cancer-causing dangers of asbestos and failed to provide safe working conditions.

In many cases, this negligence was a conscious and deliberate effort to lower expenses and boost profits – all at the expense of workers’ lives. Those most at risk included individuals in asbestos-plagued industries: construction workers, shipyard workers, automotive repairmen, miners, producers of asbestos products, and other industrial tradesmen.

Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets limits for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos, or remove asbestos-containing materials from public buildings, wear protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

Abdominal mesothelioma lawyer

In an effort to help patients understand abdominal mesothelioma, Weitz & Luxenberg offers a free copy of our asbestos sourcebook, “Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Asbestos Litigation and Your Rights.”

Hundreds of people die from abdominal mesothelioma cancer each year in the United States because they were recklessly exposed to asbestos by careless companies. If you seek professional mesothelioma legal support, please know that since 1986 Weitz & Luxenberg has successfully obtained billions of dollars in compensation awards in the form of significant verdicts and settlements for clients injured by asbestos.

If you or someone you care for has been diagnosed with abdominal mesothelioma, you should follow the treatment regimen recommended by your doctor. In addition, you should contact an experienced and successful law firm to learn about your legal rights to financial compensation.

Protect your family's financial future today by obtaining a FREE and confidential case review via the communication form on this page. There are no obligations – and what you learn for free today can make a big difference to you and your family in the future.