Asbestos & Mesothelioma Cases
Presented by Sara Salger
On behalf of
Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C.,
Edwardsville, IL
What you know about Asbestos
& Mesothelioma
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Definition of “Asbestos”:
• Term given to a group of six different,
naturally occurring mineral fibers.
• One of the most widely used commercial
substances of the 20th Century due to the
natural resistance of the fibers to heat and
fire, and their reluctance to conduct
electricity.
Asbestos Exposure:
• In the United States, asbestos was most widely used during the 1950’s,
1960’s and 1970’s.
• Common commercial and industrial asbestos-containing products include:
• Cement & Cement Products
• Bricks & Block Mortar
• Building Insulation
• Ceiling Tiles
• Roofing Shingles
• Flooring Tiles
• Vinyl Flooring
• Plaster on Drywall Jointing Materials
• Boiler Insulation
• Pipe Insulation
•Gasket & Packing Materials
• Fireproofing Spray
• Brake Shoes & Clutches
• Welding Blankets & Screens
• Adhesives & Bonding Agents
Asbestos Exposure:
• Asbestos products that may be found in the household include:
• Hair Dryers
• Coffee Makers
• Electric Blankets
• Heat Guns
• Molding Clay
• Dry Wall Patch
• Spray Insulation
• Pipe Insulation
• Fake Fireplace Logs
High Risk Exposure Occupations:
• Construction Workers
• Electricians
• Plumbers & Pipefitters
•Shipyard Employees
• Railroad Employees
• Automotive & Aviation Mechanics
• Boilermakers
• Insulation Installers
• Military Personnel & Defense Contractors
• Refinery Workers
• Chemical Plant Employees
• Power Plant Workers
* Equally at risk include the families of these
workers who brought asbestos fibers home on their
clothing and in the family car.
Mesothelioma:
• A rare form of cancer that affects the thin
membrane lining of the chest and/or
abdomen.
• Most common site is the pleural (outer
lining of the lungs and internal chest wall);
may also occur in the peritoneum
(abdominal), pericardium (a sac that
surrounds the heart), or testicular lining.
• Asbestos exposure is the only cause that has been definitively
linked to the disease as of yet.
Affect of Asbestos on the Human Body:
• When asbestos fibers are inhaled, ingested
or in rare cases, absorbed through the skin,
they can become lodged in air ways, lung
tissue or the mesothelium membrane.
• Overtime – anywhere from 20-50 years after
exposure occurred – these asbestos fibers can
cause lung cancer and/or pleural
mesothelioma among other medical conditions
and forms of cancer.
Mesothelioma Symptoms:
• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing normally
• Severe coughing, coughing up blood
• Chest pains
• Rapid weight loss
• Impaired weight loss
• Impaired bowel functions
• Abdominal bloating
•Persistent tiredness, fatigue with minimal exertion
Diagnosis & Treatment of Mesothelioma:
Diagnosis
• X-rays of the chest or abdomen
• Lung function or breathing tests
• A Complete Blood Recount (CBC)
• Computed Tomography (CT) scans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Biopsies of affected tissues
Treatment:
• Because mesothelioma is usually not diagnosed until the disease is already wellestablished, treatment options may be limited.
• However, treatment options may include:
•Surgery
•Radiation Therapy
•Chemotherapy
•Gene Therapy and Alternative Medicine Approaches.
AFTER
BEFORE
The Faces of Mesothelioma & Other Asbestos-Related
Cancers:
AFTER
BEFORE
The Faces of Mesothelioma & Other Asbestos-Related
Cancers:
AFTER
BEFORE
The Faces of Mesothelioma & Other Asbestos-Related
Cancers:
Proud Accomplishments:
At Gori, Julian & Associates, P.C., we have helped thousands of people recover
compensation for devastating personal losses resulting from exposure to asbestos.
As proud as we are of what we have accomplished – there is
still more work to do. We are committed to fighting for justice
on behalf of the people and families who continue to be
harmed by asbestos negligence.