MesotheliomaOver the last 20 years there has been a significant and noticeable increase in the levels of asbestos abatement work taking place in many countries. Since it was discovered that inhalation of asbestos can cause a rare form of cancer, called mesothelioma, asbestos is being removed from public buildings such as schools, hospitals, college buildings and residential properties.The cost of this abestos removal can be almost as painful as the cancer itself. Anyone who works with asbestos is at major risk of contracting mesothelioma and lawyers around the world are being inundated with requests to file law suits on behalf of victims who have been exposed to asbestos and have subsequently contracted mesothelioma. The cost of these law suits, lawyers and attorneys can be financially crippling. However, as the compensation payout for a successful mesothelioma law suit can run into the millions of dollars, the interest shown by the legal profession is intense. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also spread from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum. Appoximately 75% of people who develop mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. |