Asbestos cancer: Mesothelioma and your legal options

Discuss your asbestos cancer: Mesothelioma lawyers are available to review your case for free via the form on this page.

For over two decades, our mesothelioma attorneys have sought justice on behalf of people diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer and lung cancer from asbestos exposure.

We have seen first-hand the anguish that people dealing with cancer--mesothelioma cancer victims and their loved ones--go through.

A diagnosis of cancer--mesothelioma in particular--can be tough for loved ones and their families. To help you get through this difficult time, we have compiled some information on mesothelioma cancer below and on other pages of this website, so you can make informed decisions as you look toward the future.

Mesothelioma cancer is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It has different names, depending on its location in the body:

The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity.

The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity.

The pericardium covers and protects the heart.

Risk factors for mesothelioma cancer
Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma cancer, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung ailment), and other cancers, such as those of the larynx and kidney. The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung.

Increased risk for developing mesothelioma cancer
Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust.

Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople.

Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers.

Many people have come forward to say their work environment led to a diagnosis of mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer from asbestos.

If this has been your experience, our asbestos lawyers may be able to help you receive compensation for your health problems.

For over two decades, Weitz & Luxenberg P.C. has handled some of the most legally complicated and groundbreaking asbestos litigation in the country, winning many millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements along the way.

People diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure or secondary exposure may be entitled to compensation from the companies responsible for their disease.

If you would like a free consultation or more information about your legal options, please complete the form on this page, and a representative of our law firm will contact you as soon as possible.