Vietnam Veterans could be at risk for Asbestos Exposure

It's been 30 years since the Vietnam war. Now is the time that asbestos-related disease symptoms may appear.

If you believe you could have suffered asbestos exposure or have any symptoms such as:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain and/or persistent cough
• fever, night sweats and weight loss
• pain or swelling in the abdomen due to a build-up of fluid, nausea, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia or swelling of the feet

The firm has been helping Vietnam veterans and asbestos exposure victims since 1974. We can help guide you through the steps in discovering how and when you may have been exposed to asbestos and assist you in discovering if you may be due compensation by any company that may have been responsible for your asbestos exposure.

How much asbestos exposure does it take to get the disease?
An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or even 40 years later.

How long does it take after exposure for the disease to show up?
Those exposed in the 1960s, and 70s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases.

What is the prognosis for mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, the prognosis for this disease often depends on how early it is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated.

Is there any promising research or are there promising drugs for mesothelioma?
Research is being conducted at various cancer centers all over the United States as well as by pharmaceutical companies.

Veterans of the U.S. armed forces who served between 1940 and 1970 are at great risk of developing asbestos-related diseases due to a high rate of asbestos exposure. U.S. Navy personnel and workers employed in U.S. shipyards during World War II have the highest risk of developing lung ailments because asbestos was frequently used in the construction of navy ships. Many of these men worked in the ships' boilers rooms and engine rooms - tight-fit, poorly ventilated areas - where asbestos fibers floated freely and were inhaled.

People who lived at or worked on military bases, or were closely associated with base employees, during that time are also susceptible. There have been many cases of veterans' family members becoming sick through second-hand exposure. Secondary exposure is especially troubling for wives who might have washed their husbands' work clothes that had fibers stuck to them.

Veterans and shipyard workers face the greatest risk of developing mesothelioma or similar diseases because of the extensive use of asbestos in military equipment and products, buildings, ships, and submarines. This is especially true for veterans who served during or after World War II and before the1970s when the government began regulating use of asbestos.

Sadly, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of American veterans have suffered asbestos exposure, putting them at higher risk of developing asbestosis, mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases.

Vietnam Veterans who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma have legal rights and may be able to recover compensation for their losses and suffering. Only an experienced mesothelioma lawyer will know if you have a valid legal claim.

Navy Veterans at Risk
Asbestos-related lung cancer is a significant problem among Navy veterans, particularly because the use of asbestos was so very extensive on ships. Virtually no area on a Navy ship built before the 1970s is safe including:

• Fire and engine rooms
• Boiler rooms
• Navigation rooms
• Mess halls
• Sleeping quarters

Additionally, commonly used products such as gaskets, cables, insulation, adhesives, valves, and numerous others contained asbestos.

Navy veterans, like other veterans, were prone to carry asbestos dust home on their clothes, thereby exposing their loved ones to the dangerous fibers.

Rights of Veterans
Veterans groups across the country have started taking action to ensure their rights are protected. For instance, some veterans organizations have called on Congress to fund early lung cancer detection programs, which is especially important given the long latency period for mesothelioma, usually 30 to 50 years. Individual veterans, and, in some cases, their families, are filing legal claims to hold responsible parties accountable for the suffering caused by asbestos-related diseases.