Understanding the latency period of mesothelioma

One week after breathing in asbestos, you feel fine. Your lungs are not fine. Mesothelioma has a latency period of decades in some people – the insidious part of this disease is that you do not feel the effects until the cancer has reached its advanced stages.

One year after exposure, you still feel normal.

By five years, you have forgotten about breathing in that white dust that flaked off from the pipes in the basement. Or was it from construction in that old school in Wyoming? Was it from your service in the Navy? How many years ago? How much time has passed?

Eight years after exposure and you are playing ball in the park with your kids.

Nine years after exposure and you could run a marathon.

Ten years pass and suddenly…

“The shock is incredible. To know that your life term is probably less than 18 months…” says Ian Hall, who is currently battling mesothelioma. He describes the experience of suddenly being told he has a fatal disease.

You know the sudden shift your life takes after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. This disease’s latency period is so long that many people initially are unable to believe that their fatal illness is a result of something they did over 20 years ago.

Weitz & Luxenberg cannot begin to understand how it feels to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, but we have seen the fear and bewilderment in the eyes of people who come to us for help. Seeking legal options in this time can be overwhelming, but we are here to guide you. Whether it is your father, mother, grandfather, great aunt, husband, wife, or yourself; we have the experience and the patience to guide you through the lawsuit process properly. A lawsuit can help you maintain the best possible quality of life given the circumstances – as well as cover medical bills, travel expenses, and financial stability for you and your family.

If you are interested in filing a lawsuit against the companies responsible for making you sick, contact Weitz & Luxenberg today.

How long is the latency period?

After being exposed to asbestos, the latency period of mesothelioma can be anywhere between ten and fifty years (curemeso.org). The average latency period is between 35 and 40 years after exposure to asbestos.

Why is there a latency period?

The latency period has to do with the way that asbestos causes mesothelioma, although physicians are still not one-hundred percent sure why the time varies. What is known is that asbestos fibers are breathed into the lungs and get stuck. The fibers stick into the lining of the lungs and your body’s natural immune system tries to fight them. Asbestos fibers are too strong for the body to break down and absorb. Over time, the cells around the area of the fibers mutate and become cancerous. This process can happen over a period of decades without any symptoms or pain.

Latency period striking early

While we think of the latency period ending later in life, there are instances of younger people developing mesothelioma. In the case of Julie Gundlach, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of thirty, the shock was surreal.

“We went from having a relatively normal life…to Julie having a very rare and aggressive form of cancer,” said Dan Young about the shock of finding out that his wife was diagnosed with mesothelioma (Fox News). Julie was exposed to asbestos as a child because her father worked as an industrial electrician. Asbestos clings to the clothes and hair of those working around it, and other people around those working with it can get sick through second hand exposure. Julie was 30 years old when she was diagnosed, which means that her exposure must have been when she was around five-years old.

How can Weitz & Luxenberg help?

Weitz & Luxenberg has been handling asbestos-related cases for over 20 years. We understand the needs of someone suffering from mesothelioma. We can guide you through the process of filing a lawsuit that can compensate you for expenses such as:

• Medical procedures
• Clinical trials
• Travel expenses
• Counseling costs
• Any previous out-of-pocket expenses related to your illness
• Providing financial stability for you and your family

The first step towards financial compensation is contacting Weitz & Luxenberg. You can do so via the form on this page or by phone at: (800) 476-6070.

After submitting the form, a representative from Weitz & Luxenberg will be in touch within 24 hours.