Mesothelioma is cancer of the pleura, the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall. Most Individuals who develop this terrible disease have been exposed to airborne asbestos fibers at work. Asbestos has been used in a variety of products, including brake shoes, gaskets, insulation, boilers, shingles, flooring, and pipes.
However, since even small exposures can cause mesothelioma, many victims were exposed at home or at school. Washing the clothes of family members who worked with asbestos can cause a significant mesothelioma risk. Development of mesothelioma also has a significant latency period, sometimes as long as 40 years after exposure.
Initial symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, coughing, and wheezing. X-rays can detect pleural thickening but a biopsy is necessary to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. Conventional treatments for cancer have not proved effective for mesothelioma. However, recently specialists at hospitals such as Brigham and Women’s in Boston have developed new treatment techniques that have substantially extended survival.
Attorney Robert Naumes has spent a significant portion of his legal career representing asbestos victims. If you or a family member are suffering from mesothelioma, contact the Naumes Law Group for individualized, responsive representation. Bob Naumes is proud to have help found and sponsor the Thornton and Naumes House at Brigham and Woman’s Hospital.