The history of mesothelioma is connected with the history of asbestos since mesothelioma is almost always linked to asbestos exposure.
The use of asbestos, termed a “wonder” ingredient in many products due to its durability, resistance & its ability to withstand heat, dates back to 4,000 B.C.
In fact, the Ancient Greeks were aware of this mineral & assigned the name “asbestos” to it which means “indestructible.”
However it wasn’t until the Industrial Revolution that asbestos became a very important and common material in numerous products.
As manufacturing boomed in the 1890’s, the use of asbestos soared. Many workers were unwittingly exposed to asbestos particles for the first time. The modern history mesothelioma starts here.
However, since diseases due to asbestos exposure often do not emerge for decades after exposure, disorders were not diagnosed until the early 1900s.
Prudential Life Insurance refused to insure asbestos workers because of the emerging facts about asbestos exposure.
The first lawsuit connected to asbestos exposure was initiated in 1929.
By the 1930s, asbestos companies, aware of the asbestos - mesothelioma info showing a connection, tried to hush up news & paid off several complainants. Company executives often showed a much greater concern for immediate profits than for their workers’ health.
By the 1950s, asbestos companies, well aware of the heightened risks attached to working with asbestos, resisted efforts to attach warning labels to products.
In 1964, Dr. Irving Selikoff presented a study of asbestos workers showing that they suffer from a much greater incidence of asbestosis & cancers, including mesothelioma, than the general population.
The 1970s saw some standards issued by government agencies to safeguard workers. More lawsuits followed with companies often settling to avoid further negative publicity.
Much of the same dynamics played out in the 1980s with a resulting ban on asbestos products followed by a reversal of the ban.
In the 1990s, many companies in the asbestos industry were hammered by courts & media for their willful withholding of info about the effects of asbestos exposure.
The new millennium saw legislative efforts to compensate victims while protecting companies with monetary caps on lawsuits & restrictions on filing of lawsuits.
Currently, regardless of the direction that manufacturers & litigants take, many citizens will still have to deal with exposure to products & materials containing asbestos. Certainly, products made with asbestos are present in numerous materials that citizens are in contact with.
Subsequently, serious health effects will continue to emerge as a result of this exposure & so a new history mesothelioma will be recorded.
Unfortunately, the picture is grim for persons who are not aware of this particular issue & do not safeguard selves & loved ones.
Exercise for mesothelioma
The benefits of exercise extend to all disorders.
So, it would be wise to discuss exercise for mesothelioma with your doctor.
If diagnosed with mesothelioma, especially during early stage, exercise can improve prognosis & quality of life.
Getting aerobically fit & keeping muscles toned should help one deal with the treatment & may even enhance the therapy.
Exercise also has a tremendously positive effect on mood which is understandably dismal for many cancer patients.
This could lead to prolonging life if not curing mesothelioma.