Mesothelioma

Asbestos: Was I Exposed?

Asbestos is a fibrous, fire-resistant mineral that has been widely used in many industrial products including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.

Millions of people may have been exposed to asbestos, especially in the workplace, including miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers and installers, railroad and automotive works, shipbuilders, plumbers, construction workers, and veterans. Those exposed include people who worked in critical manufacturing facilities, people that helped build America’s great buildings and cities, or who were the mechanics that kept people in their cars and on the road.

Most people affected by mesothelioma were just doing their jobs and were never warned that the asbestos-containing materials they were handling and working around were exposing them to life-threatening dangers.

About a third of the 2,500 malignant mesothelioma diagnoses each year affect Veterans. This rare but deadly disease is so prevalent among service members because asbestos was widely used in almost all branches of the military including Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, and Coast Guard from the 1930s to the 1980s for shipbuilding and other construction projects, as insulation, in auto products like brakes and for other uses.

Family members of people who work or worked in environments where they are exposed to asbestos also can be at risk for secondary asbestos exposure because the fibers can adhere to workers’ clothes and be carried home. For example, washing the clothes of someone who works around asbestos increases that person’s risk of developing mesothelioma.

Consumers also can be at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos was used for years in building products like insulation, floor tiles and roof tiles for its strength and fire-resistant properties. As a result, people doing home renovation projects or clearing debris after a storm might be exposed to asbestos without realizing it when they break or remove materials. Some consumer products also have been found to be contaminated with asbestos. It can be found in talc, including talcum powders used for personal hygiene, baby powders, and talc-containing cosmetics.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Early mesothelioma symptoms are often mistaken for common, minor ailments and, as a result, most people with the disease have symptoms for at least a few months before they are diagnosed.

Symptoms vary depending on where the cancer originates and can include pain in the side of the chest, lower back, or abdomen; swelling in the abdomen, face, or arms; shortness of breath; coughing; fever; difficulty swallowing; fatigue; nausea and vomiting; excessive sweating; and unexplained weight loss.

These symptoms can be caused by other conditions. If you have experienced these symptoms – especially if you have been exposed to asbestos – you should talk to your doctor right away so that the cause can be identified and the condition treated.