There is a common misconception that smoking causes mesothelioma. In fact, smoking is NOT linked to a higher incidence of mesothelioma. A study published in American Family Physician in 2007 found that smokers were at no higher risk of contracting the disease than nonsmokers. Rather, exposure to asbestos, either directly, as a bystander or from the toxic substance lingering on clothes, more likely causes mesothelioma.

According to the National Cancer Institute, workplace asbestos exposure is linked to 70 to 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases.

A personal injury attorney in New Jersey or Pennsylvania may be able to help you uncover the cause of the exposure.

Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, affects membranes of the lung, chest and abdomen. You can be medically diagnosed with one of four types of mesothelioma:

• Pleural mesothelioma affects the lungs and has symptoms similar to lung cancer, including shortness of breath, dry coughs, difficulty swallowing, chest pain and night sweats.
• Peritoneal mesothelioma causes abdominal pain and swelling and may result in symptoms that range from constipation to diarrhea, weight loss, nausea and vomiting.
• Pericardial mesothelioma develops on the exterior lining of the heart and can result in symptoms such as chest pain and irregular heartbeat.
• Testicular mesothelioma often goes undiagnosed until tumorous lumps develop and doctors correctly identify the cause.

If you want to know more, call us.