Mesothelioma cancer is a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It is know to be a deadly disease and if not treated in time, it can be fatal.
The 81 years old, William J. Haines Sr., farmer and former Korean War veteran, from Philadelphia, PA, died, last Saturday from mesothelioma cancer. He has fallen as a victim of this aggressive disease called mesothelioma cancer, a disease caused by inhaling or swallowing the asbestos fibers.
William J. Haines was a lifelong farmer, who also worked after his retirement for The Upper Moreland Parks and Recreation Department. He is also a former Korean War veteran, a fighter for the United States Army.
It is well known that veterans among the occupational groups are the most at risk to be diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer. It is likely that William J. Haines was exposed to asbestos during his work as a veteran.

Asbestos mineral

Asbestos was widely used in the shipyard constructions, naval industries and many other industries. It was frequently used at the middle of the 20th Century. Asbestos is known to be a mineral, but a dangerous mineral, with great resistance to heat, fire and corrosion, and also as a very strong and resistance material. Asbestos was used as insulation for: car brakes, boilers, steam system, furnaces, electrical systems and many other locations.
The “miracle mineral”, like asbestos mineral is called, was banned in 1982, and after the studies elaborated by specialists that have shown that asbestos is very toxic and can cause different diseases like asbestosis or malignant mesothelioma.
If working with materials containing asbestos, risk to develop mesothelioma cancer is higher. Asbestos fibers released in the air, after damaging the materials containing the asbestos mineral can be inhaled or swallowed and this can cause damage to the pleura.
Asbestos is the main cause for developing pleural mesothelioma cancer. After it affects the lung the cancer continues affecting the abdominal cavity and the heart area.
People die every year of mesothelioma cancer. New cases are detected, but the patient’s stage of disease is very advanced and treatment does not respond. Symptoms of mesothelioma cancer can appear even after 40 years from the exposure, as they are nonspecific and can delay the diagnosis.