Asbestos is a Group of Minerals

Asbestos is a group of minerals with long, thin fibrous crystals. The word "Asbestos" is derived from a Greek adjective meaning inextinguishable. It is a strong and incombustible fibre widely used in the past for fireproofing and insulation. The small, buoyant fibres are easily inhaled or swallowed, causing a number of serious diseases including asbestosis, a chronic disease of the lungs that makes breathing more and more difficult.
Mesothelioma, which is a rare type of cancer that develops in the mesothelial cells that lines many organs and body cavities. Before getting deep into the cause of Mesothelioma, let us look at what exactly it means. It is a form of cancer where the primary tumor is on the mesothelium; the internal lining of body cavities. Mesothelioma is a carcinoma. It is called pleural mesothelioma when the plural cavity is affected and peritoneal mesothelioma when the tumor is in the abdominal cavity. Most mesothelioma cases can be traced to inhalation of asbestos fibers.
After hearing so much about the disease it is common for people to look for the symptoms of Mesothelioma. The early symptoms of mesothelioma are generally non-specific, and may lead to a delay in diagnosis. Sometimes resembling viral pneumonia, pleural mesothelioma patients may present with shortness of breath, chest pain and or persistent cough; some patients show no symptoms at all. As soon as you see these symptoms it is always advisable to see your physician and get a chest X-ray taken.
Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States, comprising around 3 percent of all cancer diagnoses. This cancer occurs about four times more frequently in men than in women. All forms of mesothelioma, except for benign mesothelioma, are invariably fatal.
To protect themselves from being sued by employees, asbestos and insurance companies requested workers' compensation laws be passed to include diseases caused by asbestos exposure. By the late-1930s, many states across the nation had established compensation laws for victims coping with asbestos-induced diseases. Individuals dealing with an illness caused by occupational asbestos exposure have a better opportunity to receive fair asbestos compensation through a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit, filed on behalf of a family member if the victim has passed away. The Lawsuit is filed against the manufacturers of asbestos products, which are completely liable due to full awareness of the health hazards their products caused.