Asbestos exposure has affected millions of people across the United States and caused devastating diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Asbestos was once thought only to affect those working in shipyards, railroads, mines, and other common industries. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. Workers brought home the asbestos fibers on their clothes and shoes, exposing their families. Children and women have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.

Mesothelioma From Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer and is only caused by asbestos fibers. Asbestos is one of the only carcinogens in the world that is known to have a cancer it causes explicitly. This makes asbestos that much more dangerous. Mesothelioma often occurs decades after the initial exposure to asbestos. People do not even know they have been exposed and wake up one day are diagnosed with mesothelioma. The fact that asbestos fibers stay dormant for so long in our bodies makes it hard to find and harder to predict. Asbestos is truly the silent killer. You cannot see the fibers and won’t know for decades if you will be affected by the exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects different areas of your body. Your lungs, heart, and stomach can also be affected by mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. If you have any of the symptoms listed below, it is vital that you see a doctor immediately.

  • Wheezing or a Crackling Cough
  • Respiratory Issues
  • Pain or Fluid in the Chest or Abdomen
  • Fevers or Night Sweats
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Pleural Effusions
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Fatigue

Asbestos exposure always causes some type of respiratory illnesses, and those illnesses can worsen and become cancer. If you have any of the above symptoms and think you have been exposed to asbestos, let your doctor know, so that they can run specific tests.