Mesothelioma Cancer and Veterans
The Navy and other branches of the military have used asbestos in hundreds of different products. Over 22.6 million people have been exposed to asbestos during their service in the United States Armed Forces. This material can be found in every ship and military building built between 1940 and 1970. Research indicates a direct association between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. Those who have worked with asbestos containing products are now suffering from this rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Veterans and Asbestos Exposure
During the 20th century, asbestos was very popular for its heat and fire-resistant properties. The Navy used this material in ships. Asbestos can be found in cruisers, frigates, submarines, airships, battleships, destroyers, minesweepers and amphibious Ships. Millions of veterans inhaled asbestos fibers and dust from frayed materials. Even though it is classified as a human carcinogen, asbestos is still used in building materials, insulation, roofing, adhesives, bedding compounds, textile garments, gaskets, cables, boilers and hydraulic assemblies.
Thousands of Navy veterans who worked in the Washington Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Long Beach Naval Shipyard and Brooklyn Navy Yard have received financial compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos products. A large number of pipe fitters, plumbers, shipyard workers and Navy veterans who used asbestos containing products are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma.
The Navy ships built until the 1970s were loaded with asbestos. This material consists of tiny fibers that can be easily swallowed or breathed in. When this happens, they reach the chest cavity and cause a number of deadly diseases such as asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma, throat cancer, lung cancer and esophagus cancer. The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases occur decades after exposure. Navy veterans and shipyard workers who suffer from asbestos related disorders experience shortness of breath, weight loss, persistent chest pain, difficulty swallowing and blood in the sputum.
Mesothelioma in Navy Veterans
Asbestos exposure has been linked to a high risk of malignant mesothelioma. This form of cancer usually starts in the lining of the chest cavity, but it may also affect the heart or abdominal cavity. Former sailors and shipyard workers who have been exposed to asbestos during their military service have died from mesothelioma. Statistics show that more than 26 percent of shipyard workers have been diagnosed with this rare disease.
Mesothelioma is a deadly condition that causes breathing difficulties, congestive heart failure, ascites, pleural effusion, unexplained weight loss, dyspnea, severe chest pain, hemoptysis (coughing up blood) and persistent dry cough. This disease may also affect the lining of the abdomen, causing nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, sweating and abdominal pain. In rare cases, mesothelioma affects the thin membrane covering the heart. Patients may experience palpitations, difficulty breathing, fever, heart murmurs and irregular heartbeat.
If you have been exposed to asbestos during your military service, seek medical help. The first symptoms of mesothelioma appear 20 to 50 years after the initial exposure. We can help you recognize the symptoms associated with this form of cancer. Fill in the form below for more information.