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Mesothelioma
and Other Diseases
Asbestos Exposure
Medical Options
Legal Options
Asbestos
is a fibrous mineral which had many uses in the past.
Asbestos fibers are resistant to heat and chemicals
and do not conduct electricity.
Asbestos
has been used in North America since the late 1800's.
Its use increased dramatically during World War II.
For decades, asbestos products have been widely used
at many worksites by many trades in industries such
as shipbuilding, construction, steelmaking, oil, chemical
and power plant operation and many others.
 Malignant
Mesothelioma
Malignant Mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor. There are
two areas where malignant Mesothelioma develops: in
the pleura, including the lining of the chest wall,
lung and diaphragm; and in the peritoneum, the lining
of the abdominal cavity. The majority of the medical
community agrees that mesothelioma is caused only by
asbestos exposure. What are the medical
options for malignant mesothelioma?
Lung
Cancer
Lung Cancer is a cancer of the lung and air passages.
Asbestos exposure causes lung cancer. Cigarette smoking,
together with asbestos exposure, increases a person's
risk of developing lung cancer by 50-90 times.
Other
Asbestos Caused Cancers
Evidence has shown a connection between asbestos exposure
and the development of colon/rectal cancer, laryngeal
cancer, esophageal cancer and other forms of cancer.
Many
of these cancers, if detected early, are treatable.
If you are not under the care of an oncologist (cancer
doctor), we may be able to help you find a doctor experienced
in the treatment of asbestos-related cancers.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a non-cancerous scarring of the lung tissue
as a result of inhaling asbestos dust and fibers. Once
an asbestos fiber is inhaled and trapped in the lung,
it cannot be removed. The body reacts with the formation
of scar tissue which may impair lung function and eventually
cause death. Symptoms are shortness of breath, coughing,
wheezing and clubbing of the fingers. There is no cure
for this disease which is also known as interstitial
fibrosis.
Pleural
Plaques and Pleural Thickening
Pleural Plaques and Pleural Thickening is a non-cancerous
scarring of the pleura (the lining of the lung) which
may impair lung function. This condition is also known
as pleural fibrosis.
For
more information about mesothelioma, lung cancer and
other asbestos diseases or the names, addresses and
telephone numbers of doctors experienced in treating
cancer in your area, please contact
us.
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 Asbestos
is a fibrous mineral which had many uses in the past.
Asbestos fibers are resistant to heat and chemicals
and do not conduct electricity.
Asbestos
has been used in North America since the late 1800's.
Its use increased dramatically during World War II.
For decades, asbestos products have been widely used
at many worksites by many trades in industries such
as shipbuilding, construction, steelmaking, oil, chemical
and power plant operation and many others.
Also,
asbestos products such as floor, wall and ceiling materials
have been used in many commercial buildings including
schools, hospitals and office buildings.
Who
is at Risk?
It
takes from 10 - 50 years after first exposure to asbestos
for a person to develop mesothelioma, lung cancer or
other asbestos diseases. People who worked directly
with asbestos such as insulators, shipyard, refinery,
construction and utility workers, military personnel
and other trades are at risk.
Other
people at risk are housewives and children of people
who work with or around asbestos, school teachers and
others who were indirectly exposed. Short term, intense
exposure may cause mesothelioma many years later. It
is important to determine if and how you or a family
member were exposed to asbestos in a trade or at a worksite.
For
more information about asbestos exposure, worksites,
trades and products, contact
us.
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 Presently,
there is no known cure for malignant mesothelioma. However,
there are treatments that may improve the quality and
quantity of life for people with mesothelioma.
Some
of the treatments are:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
Therapy
- Surgery
Pleurectomy (removal of the pleura) and extrapleural
pneumonectomy (removal of the pleura, lung, pericardium
and diaphragm).
- Palliative
Therapy
Treatment of symptoms such as shortness of breath
and pain.
- Experimental
Therapies
Treatments such as photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy
and gene therapy.
Hospitals and Medical Centers
The following hospitals and medical centers in Pennsylvania
and New Jersey have experience in diagnosing, treating
and caring for people with mesothelioma, lung cancer
and other asbestos related diseases.
You
can also contact us for names, addresses and telephone
numbers of hospitals and medical centers in other regions
with experience in treating people with malignant mesothelioma.
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Pennsylvania
Crozer-Chester Medical Center
One Medical Center Boulevard
Upland, PA 19013
(610) 447-2000
Fox
Chase Cancer Center
7701 Burholme Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19111
(215) 728-6900
1-888-FOXCHASE
Frankford
Hospital – Torresdale Division
Red Lion and Knights Road
Philadelphia, PA 19114
(215) 612-3500
Hershey
Medical Center/Penn State
Geisinger Health Systems
500 University Drive
Hershey, PA 17033
(717) 531-7555
Lehigh
Valley Hospital
1200 South Cedar Crest Boulevard
Allentown, PA 18103
(610) 776-8000
Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital
111 South 11th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 955-6000
University
of Pennsylvania Medical Center
3400 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 662-3500
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New
Jersey
Cooper Health Systems
One Cooper Plaza
Camden, New Jersey 08103
(856) 342-2000
Deborah
Heart and Lung Center
200 Trenton Road
Browns Mills, New Jersey 08015
(609) 893-6611
Kennedy
Memorial Hospital – Cherry Hill Division
2201 Chapel Avenue West
Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08002
(856) 488-6500
Kennedy
Memorial Hospital – Stratford Division
18 West Laurel Road
Stratford, New Jersey 08084
(856) 346-6000
Our
Lady of Lourdes Medical Center
1600 Haddon Avenue
Camden, New Jersey 08103
(835) 757-3500
Robert
Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Plaza
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901
(908) 823-3000
Underwood
Memorial Hospital
509 North Broad Street
P.O. Box 349
Woodbury, New Jersey 08096
(856) 845-0100
Virtua
- West Jersey Hospital Marlton
Rte. 73 & Brick Road
Marlton, New Jersey 08053
(856) 596-3500
Virtua
– West Jersey Hospital Voorhees
101 Carnie Blvd.
Voorhees, New Jersey 08043
(856) 325-3000
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 If
you have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma,
lung cancer or any other disease caused by asbestos
exposure, you may have legal rights to sue the manufacturers,
distributors, and suppliers of the asbestos products
for your injuries or the death of your loved ones. Also,
you may have legal rights to sue the contractors who
installed and/or removed asbestos products as well as
your employer. In many situations, the estate of a deceased
person may bring a lawsuit for personal injuries and/or
wrongful death.
Be
aware that each state has a time period, known as the
statute of limitations, within which a person or the
estate of the deceased person must file a lawsuit to
be entitled to monetary compensation or be forever barred
from receiving compensation. Each state has its own
law regarding the time period to file a lawsuit and
those laws are strictly enforced.
To
protect your legal rights: contact
us. We can also help you find lawyers in other regions.
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