A terrible but true fact about malignant mesothelioma - one of the deadliest cancers - is that it takes so long to develop. Medical studies have shown that this tragic situation is one of the reasons that that this cancer is practically untreatable.
Malignant mesothelioma is overwhelmingly caused by exposure to asbestos. Be it at a shipyard, construction site, military installation or assembly line millions of Americans and workers around the world have been exposed to the dangers of this cancer-causing material. For centuries asbestos has been widely used because of its versatility and fire-resistant qualities but beneath its commercial adaptability has been a hidden danger that has claimed the lives of thousands of innocent victims. Mesothelioma lawyers have won millions of dollars in awards and settlements on behalf of these victims in court proceedings.
Here's what happens in the majority of cases: Employees at workplaces where asbestos exposure was common usually unknowingly inhale tiny, invisible particles of asbestos. These particles work their way into the linings of vital body parts such as the heart, lungs and abdominal organs and successfully fight off the body's immune system. Over a period that can last for three to five decades these particles generate cancer cells and tumors.
This incredibly long period of development usually goes on without causing any outward symptoms as the victim ages. Then, decades later, when the cancer cells are so far advanced and the tumors so large symptoms such as chest or abdominal pains and difficulty in breathing develop. Making things more complicated, when victims do seek medical attention many physicians misdiagnose the illness and are unaware it is cancer, according to many official medical reports.
This means that when most of these victims are finally diagnosed the cancer has spread to the extent that traditional treatments such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are completely ineffective in eradicating the cancer. The most that modern medicine can do is to try to make these victims as comfortable as possible for the short remaining time they have to live. That is usually not a lengthy period of time. According to U.S. health officials most malignant mesothelioma victims have less than 18 months to live after they have been diagnosed with this deadly, aggressive cancer.
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