A recent Duke University study published in The American Journal of Surgical Pathology examined hundreds of women diagnosed with diffuse mesothelioma, looking to an analyzing trends among the group which could eventually shed light on new treatment and detection methods. One of the key findings in the mesothelioma cancer study found that women with objective markers were diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma and that their average age of diagnosis was older compared to those diagnosed with another common type of the cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma.
The mesothelioma cancer study, which was a continuation study of an ongoing study by Duke University, examined 354 female mesothelioma patients of which the overwhelmingly majority were known to have been exposed to asbestos. The authors state that this exposure came from household contact, primarily from a family member who would have been exposed to asbestos fibers in an industrial setting. Of those studied, 275 patients had a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis which corresponds to linings of tissue surrounding the lungs and 79 cases were those of peritoneal mesothelioma which affects tissue linings around the abdominal cavity.
The researchers found that survival rates were longer for those with epithelial subtypes of peritoneal mesothelioma, though their average age of diagnosis was younger at 52 years of age compared to 62 years of age for those diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Further, researchers found that tremolite asbestos was a common form of the mineral which the patients were exposed to, followed by amphibole asbestos – considered one of the most deadly forms of the mineral. Some of these types of asbestos are found in cosmetics products such as talcum powder.
Asbestos was once commonly used in a variety of commercial, military, and industrial applications for its use as an insulation material and ability to be molded to fit a multitude of applications. While it was used for decades in various roles, hundreds of thousands of innocent workers and their families were exposed to the deadly carcinogen. All the while, companies using asbestos in their products and industrial settings were well aware of the minerals’s debilitating health effects but chose not to provide warning.
Although we would expect wrongdoers in our society to take responsibility for their negligent actions and compensate victims accordingly, the truth is that many of the companies which exposed workers to asbestos would rather deny, delay, and defend otherwise meritorious claims. Fortunately, the law allows mesothelioma victims and their families to retain experienced legal counsel to represent them in lawsuits against asbestos companies or to file claims with mesothelioma cancer trusts created by insolvent entities during bankruptcy proceedings to ensure victims receive their due compensation.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.