Kentucky residents who used baby powder made by Johnson & Johnson may have been exposed to asbestos. There are roughly 13,000 plaintiffs with claims against the company, and it is also under investigation by multiple government agencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Justice Department have both issued subpoenas after juries awarded millions to plaintiffs in California and New Jersey.
Working with asbestos requires a lifetime of medical diligence
Working certain jobs means incurring different levels of risk for injuries and illnesses. People who drive all day as part of their job have an increased risk for experiencing a motor vehicle collision. Those who have worked as shingle manufacturers, roofers, insulation professionals or in pipe fitting, construction and a host of other careers, have a specific concern that they will have to be mindful of for the rest of their lives.
Risk factors and causes are not the same thing
An individual in Kentucky may have risk factors that increase the likelihood that he or she could get sick. However, these factors do not actually cause the condition itself. For instance, a man has a higher risk of getting mesothelioma, but it doesn't mean that is the reason why he will become sick. Research has shown that there is a link between exposure to asbestos and the occurrence of mesothelioma.
Stage 4 mesothelioma: symptoms, treatments
Pleural mesothelioma, caused by the inhalation of asbestos into the lungs, has four stages with stage 4 being the final and deadliest. At this stage, the malignant mesothelioma tumors have spread beyond their point of origin into the chest walls, the bones and perhaps several organs, including the liver, prostate and lining of the heart. Louisville residents should know that the median life expectancy for those with stage 4 mesothelioma is 12 months.
Possible signs of malignant mesothelioma
Feb. 4 is World Cancer day, and one of the goals is to create awareness about the signs of symptoms of this disease. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that individuals in Kentucky or any other state could be stricken with. Understanding the warning signs of mesothelioma could make it possible to seek treatment sooner and possibly improve a patient's prognosis. In most cases, the fact that it has progressed relatively far before it is diagnosed makes it a challenge to cure.
What to expect after a mesothelioma diagnosis
Individuals in Kentucky or elsewhere who have peritoneal mesothelioma could live for several years with the condition. An individual patient's prognosis depends on many factors include genetic mutations, the type of cancer cells and how advanced the condition is when a diagnosis is made. How the condition is treated can also play a role in how long a person can live with peritoneal mesothelioma. Those who can get surgery along with heated chemotherapy tend to live the longest.
