If you or a loved one develops mesothelioma, it’s likely due to asbestos exposure. Tiny particles get trapped in your body after they’re inhaled, and cancer is just one possible issue that can develop in the future. This is an often fatal type of cancer, so it’s important to know as much as possible about it if you suspect any issues.
One thing you may be wondering is how aggressive it is. There are two main things that you need to consider.
The latency period
First of all, there is often a long latency period, during which you do not have mesothelioma at all — or, at least, it has not yet been identified. Often, people who develop the disease are older, in their 60s or 70s. They may have been exposed as a young worker twenty or thirty years before. It is still that exposure that caused the cancer, but the delay makes everything a bit harder to track. If you’re exposed to asbestos tomorrow, you’re not going to come down with mesothelioma in the next year. It can take decades.
An aggressive cancer
That said, once you have mesothelioma, it is a very aggressive type of cancer. While people do sometimes live for a few years with it, it can work quickly. Part of the reason is that it impacts older individuals who already may be in poor health, but even younger people who have it will see it progress rapidly.
In fact, when considering legal cases, many take so long that it is the surviving family members who have to take on the case after a loved one passes away. You may have been left without any income and with high medical bills and other costs. You can still proceed with your case.
Moving forward
The first thing to do to, of course, is to seek high-level medical care for this advanced disease. The next, though, is to look into your legal options when necessary. Working with a caring, experienced firm can help.