Fearing That Many Families Never Consider Mesothelioma Due to Cancer Victim's Age, The Mesothelioma Victims Center is Launching a National Awareness Initiative

WASHINGTON, May 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "We are launching a national awareness initiative for mesothelioma because we fear many individuals over a certain age aren't properly informed on the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma; as a result, they miss out on a diagnosis and compensation.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150515/216333

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150515/216334

"If a medical doctor has told an individual, or their family members that mesothelioma is a possibility they should call us immediately at 866-714-6466, if the diagnosis has not yet been confirmed." http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

The Mesothelioma Victims Center fears that the total number of victims of mesothelioma is far greater than reported in the United States. The group says, "In our opinion too many victims of mesothelioma are never properly diagnosed because of their age."

Many families don't push for a diagnosis, or correlate the connection between exposure to asbestos and the possibility of mesothelioma. For these reasons, the Mesothelioma Victims Center is launching a national initiative to increase national awareness about mesothelioma, and the best possible compensation for diagnosed victims.

While US Navy Veterans, power plant workers, manufacturing workers, or oil refinery workers may instantly come to mind, when asbestos exposure is mentioned, in reality school teachers, printers, construction workers, auto brake mechanics can also get this very rare form of cancer.

What is mesothelioma? According to the National Institute for Health, "The tissue that lines your lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs is called mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a tumor of that tissue. It usually starts in the lungs, but can also start in the abdomen. It can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer.)" http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mesothelioma.html

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but serious type of cancer. Most people who get it have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. After being initially being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes decades for this rare form of cancer to develop.

Symptoms include:

• Trouble breathing
• Pain under the rib cage
• Pain, swelling, or lumps in the abdomen
• Weight loss

The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "If a medical doctor says mesothelioma is a possibility, we want the potential victim and/or their family members to call us immediately at 866-714-6466 so we can carefully explain what tests are needed to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. At the same time, we can get them in touch with the nation's best mesothelioma lawyers to ensure that all the proper things are in place to get the best possible compensation, if the pathology report confirms mesothelioma." http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

High risk work groups for exposure to asbestos include US Navy Veterans, power plant workers, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, steel mill workers, miners, manufacturing workers, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, or construction workers. Typically the exposure to asbestos occurred in the 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, or 1980's. http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com

According to the US Center for Disease Control the average age for a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma is 72 years old.  Frequently victims of mesothelioma are initially misdiagnosed with pneumonia. This year between 2500, and 3000 US citizens will be diagnosed with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is attributable to exposure to asbestos.

According to the CDC the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon. However, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska.

For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mesothelioma.html

Media Contact:  
M. Thomas Martin 
866-714-6466

SOURCE Mesothelioma Victims Center

Related Links

http://mesotheliomavictimscenter.com