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Why are Textile Workers at Risk for Mesothelioma?


Mesothelioma

In the textile industry, fibers are produced to create materials, such as yarn. These materials are then used to create a variety of products, including clothing, household products, and industrial products. In the 20th century, the employees in the textile industry often came in contact with asbestos. Asbestos is a natural fiber that is carcinogenic. Due to its popularity, the textile industry workers often handled asbestos fibers. The frequent exposure led to many of them developing asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

A textile mill worker who is facing an asbestos diagnosis should contact a mesothelioma lawyer. A mesothelioma diagnosis can take both a financial and emotional toll on an individual and their family. A lawyer can help a client obtain their entitled compensation for expenses related to the cancer, including medical bills, lost wages, and funeral costs. They can also obtain compensation for emotional losses, like pain and suffering. A lawyer can hold guilty parties accountable for the diagnosis, including asbestos manufacturers, employers, or any other individuals who contributed to the asbestos exposure and subsequent diagnosis.

What is Mesothelioma?

Asbestos is a natural fiber that is a known carcinogen. Asbestos fibers can get stuck in the lining of an individual’s abdomen, lungs, heart, or testes. When it gets caught in the lining of the tissue, it begins to irritate and scar the affected area. The irritated tissue leads to a variety of asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. There are several different types of mesothelioma, including pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, and testicular mesothelioma. The most common type of mesothelioma reported is pleural mesothelioma, which is the type that affects the lining of the lungs. The second most common type is peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdomen; this is because most individuals breathe or ingest the asbestos fibers when exposed.

What are Common Symptoms of Mesothelioma?

Since each type of mesothelioma affects a different part of the body, each has its own symptoms. After experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma, one should immediately contact a doctor to perform testing.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

  • Pain in the chest
  • Frequent, painful coughing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Lumps in the tissue near the chest
  • Fatigue

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Swelling in the abdomen
  • Nausea
  • Unexplained weight loss

Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include:

  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Frequent coughing
  • Heart murmurs or palpitations
  • Pain in the chest
  • Fatigue

Symptoms of testicular mesothelioma include:

  • Fluid buildup in the scrotum
  • Swollen testicle
  • Tissue buildup in the testicle
  • Fatigue

Latency Period

Mesothelioma also often has a latency period. This latency period means that an individual may not experience symptoms for decades after their exposure. This means that many of those who worked in the textile industry in the 20th century are just now experiencing symptoms. This latency period can also make it difficult to determine who is at fault, especially if the patient switched employers often.

There are several different treatment options for mesothelioma, however, there is currently no cure. Treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, or a multimodal therapy that combines two or more treatment options. One of the best options for those who receive an early diagnosis is surgery. However, very few patients receive an early diagnosis because of how rare mesothelioma is and how often the symptoms are misinterpreted for other more common diseases.

Why Do Textile Workers Have a High Risk of Asbestos Exposure?

The textile industry focuses on handling both artificial and natural fibers to create materials. These materials are then used to create a variety of products, including clothing, household products, and industrial products. Asbestos is a natural fiber that was frequently used in the 20th century because of its durability and fireproofing abilities. Since it was often used during that time period, it was nearly impossible for textile workers to avoid facing asbestos exposure.

Many of the textile mill employees had to handle the asbestos directly. Asbestos is a very fragile fiber, and any disruption could cause the fibers to travel in the air. This ultimately makes it easier to ingest or inhale it. It can also sit on a worker’s clothes, making it a hazard for those who live in the same home, including a spouse or child. Those who handled the textile worker’s clothing are at risk for exposure.

Multiple studies prove the significance of asbestos exposure in the textile mill industry. In fact, a study published in Cancer Medicine revealed that there have been 108 deaths attributed to mesothelioma among textile workers. However, some experts believe that many cases went unreported because of the large latency period from the time of the exposure to the time of the patient’s diagnosis. Therefore, more cases likely have occurred.

Although health risks related to asbestos are known, asbestos still resides in a variety of infrastructures in the United States. These infrastructures include old school buildings, barns, and other structures. Even though asbestos lives in these buildings, it is only dangerous if it is disrupted. The disruption of the fibers makes it easier to inhale or ingest.

What Happens if I am Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?

Textile workers who later developed mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure are entitled to compensation. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that often has a poor prognosis and a lot of expenses, including medical bills, lost wages, therapy, and funeral costs. Patients and their families should not have to worry about these expenses on top of the severity of the illness. A lawyer can help alleviate the financial stress.

In order for a patient to obtain their entitled compensation, they first need to contact a lawyer. A lawyer can help a patient identify who is at fault for their diagnosis, including former employers or asbestos manufacturers. Since mesothelioma often has a latency period that can last several decades, it can be difficult to determine who is at fault for the diagnosis. Finding who is at fault helps a client and their lawyer build a case that can lead to compensation. Lawyers have access to databases that can help patients to determine at-fault parties.

Since many of the asbestos manufacturers are bankrupt from all of the lawsuits throughout the years, lawyers can access databases that connect patients suffering from mesothelioma to different asbestos trust funds. These trust funds can help patients suffering from mesothelioma get the financial help that they need.

Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler Help Textile Workers Obtain Compensation for Mesothelioma

If you are suffering from mesothelioma, you should contact the Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown & Sandler. We understand that textile workers and other employees were often exposed to asbestos, and we can help you with your case. Contact us online or call us at 215-569-4000 for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, we proudly serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Delaware County, Chester County, and Philadelphia County.