Mesothelioma is a rare in complex cancer caused exclusively by exposure to asbestos.  Because mesothelioma it is so rare, researchers believe that it is often misdiagnosed.  Sadly, mesothelioma is a rapidly moving cancer, which often kills its victims within just months of diagnosis.

Some facts related to mesothelioma:

• The United States sees about 2000 to 3000 new mesothelioma diagnoses per year
• According to the most recent research, mesothelioma is generally developed about 25 to 50 years after the victim’s initial exposure to asbestos.
• Despite an apparent peak in the number of mesothelioma diagnosis in the United States, worldwide the incidence of mesothelioma diagnoses are continuing to rise annually.
• Researchers estimate that this rare form of cancer affects between 2% to 10% of the total number of people who have had heavy and prolonged exposure to asbestos.
• Men are over four times more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma than women.
• According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), between 1940 and 1978 11 million people were exposed to asbestos.

Mesothelioma is a deadly disease which is caused exclusively by exposure to asbestos.  Scientists are still discovering exactly how process of developing mesothelioma works, but there is no doubt that its sole cause is asbestos exposure.  When a person develops this deadly disease, often times they have long since stopped being exposed to asbestos.  Hence, it may be necessary to retrace one’s history in order to accurately pinpoint the most likely source of the exposure.  The family of TV personality Ed Lauter, who developed an asbestos related disease, has now identified former TV Networks as the source of his asbestos exposure.

On October 16, 2013 Ed Lauter succumbed to mesothelioma, just five months after his diagnosis.  The wife of the prolific TV actor and standup comedian, who reportedly had roles in over 200 TV and film series before passing away just two weeks before his 75th birthday, claims that he was exposed to asbestos while working on set. She has now initiated a series of lawsuits, seeking unspecified damages.

The revelation of the lawsuit is just the latest reminder to the public of just how prevalent asbestos was, and still is, in American society. Considering mesothelioma has been shown to only be caused by asbestos exposure, it is certain that this is what killed Ed Lauter.

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