Mesothelioma

Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, when they damage or irritate the cells that line lungs (pleura) and abdominal cavities (peritoneum). These abnormal cells can grow into tumors.

The symptoms of mesothelioma can take anywhere from 10 - 50 years for symptoms to show up and are often confused with other diseases. The only known risk factor is a history of asbestos exposure.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma affects the lung and chest wall. The mesothelioma type is characterized by symptoms like chest pain, coughing, and breathing problems. In addition some patients experience a buildup of fluid in the space between the lung and chest wall, known as an the pleural effusion. Asbestos fibers may cause irritation to the linings of the chest and lung. Over time the irritated lining develops tumors that grow into the pleura. The tumors may spread to the peritoneum, bones and the liver.

It typically takes 20 to 50 years for someone to develop pleural cancer following exposure to asbestos. People who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace are at highest risk of developing this disease. Blue-collar workers as well as veterans working on ships and in shipyards are particularly at risk.

A person may experience symptoms for several weeks before doctors diagnose pleural mesothelioma. The symptoms can include breathing difficulties or coughing, dry chest pain, and fatigue. This condition may also result in a low temperature and unexplained loss of weight. A doctor can diagnose mesothelioma after taking a history of the patient's asbestos exposure and performing a physical exam. Chest X-rays or CT scans are possible. These tests can reveal accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity or a tumor around one of the lungs.

The first step to treat pleural mesothelioma is draining excess fluid. This can be accomplished by a doctor using a procedure called thoracentesis. It involves insertion of a thin flexible tube between two ribs inside the chest cavity. This tube allows doctors to look into the area and then collect the pleural fluid sample. The fluid can be tested by doctors to determine if it is cancerous.

The prognosis of a patient with mesothelioma of the pleural is based on several factors, including the stage of the tumor and the extent of the cancer. A patient's age and whether they smoke can affect the prognosis. The rate of survival for a person is also influenced by their general health and how quickly they seek treatment following a diagnosis. Asbestos victims who are treated early and aggressively have the greatest chance of a successful outcome.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal Mesothelioma can be found in the lining of the abdomen, also known as the peritoneum. Although this mesothelioma type has a lower incidence than the most prevalent form, pleural mesothelioma, it is still a fatal illness. The exposure to asbestos in the workplace is the primary cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers that are breathed in or consumed enter the digestive system, and then travel through the lymphatic system to the tissue of the peritoneal area. Once there, they irritate cells and cause DNA damage. As time passes, the resulting inflammation causes scar tissue to form and tumors to form.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that can take years to develop. It can also be a difficult cancer to detect because its symptoms resemble many other abdominal problems. Thus, patients with peritoneal Msothelioma are often misdiagnosed and delayed in their treatment.

Those suffering from peritoneal asbestosis suffer extreme abdominal pain and fever, as well as weight loss. They may experience difficulty digesting food due to the accumulation of abdominal fluid and are at a greater risk of developing anemia or low levels of albumin in their blood.

As with other forms of mesothelioma, doctors diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma through the use of a biopsy. The aim of this procedure is to remove a small sample of the affected tissue for examination under the microscope of mesothelioma specialists. These tests can reveal whether the tumors are active or not, as well as the kind of cancerous cells that are present (epithelioid sarcomatoid).

Doctors assign a peritoneal stage for mesothelioma based on its location, amount of tumor growth, and the rate of spread to other tissues. The larger the tumors and the more aggressive the cell type, the more advanced the mesothelioma stage.

Patients with mesothelioma should consult a specialist doctor trained in this rare disease. Patients risk misdiagnosing their symptoms as an abdominal problem and receiving treatment later. This could be a serious issue because mesothelioma has a lengthy latency time and requires a precise diagnosis to ensure that the right treatment is given.

Cardiac Mesothelioma

Although peritoneal and pleural mesothelioma represent the most prevalent types of asbestos-related cancers, patients may be diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma. This rare form of cancer develops when asbestos fibers infiltrate the lining of your heart. It can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of other conditions. Patients who suffer from mesothelioma pericardial should report their past exposure to asbestos case to their physicians and discuss any symptoms that have occurred recently with them.

Pericardial mesothelioma occurs more frequently for men than women. However, researchers are not sure of the cause for this distinction. It could be that different asbestos exposures trigger pericardial mesothelioma, or the chance of developing the disease increases with age.

After an examination of the body and asking the patient about their exposure to asbestos, a physician may suspect pericardial carcinoma. The doctor can request a CT scan and chest x-ray to find out if there are indications of a build-up of fluid around your heart (known as the pericardial effusion).

Pericardial Mesothelioma develops typically in the membrane that surrounds the heart. These symptoms can be very serious and can interfere with the quality of life of a patient. The symptoms include chest pain breathing problems, shortness or breath. In certain cases the fluid may build up and put pressure on the heart can result in cardiac tamponade.

Mesothelioma lawyers can help families and patients get the amount they deserve if they are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Attorneys who specialize in asbestos-related diseases can examine the history of exposure for a patient and refer them to a mesothelioma expert.

Asbestos patients living in New York City or anywhere else should contact an attorney with mesothelioma for their case. The attorneys at Madeksho Law Firm can assist patients in submitting claims for compensation. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation. No charge is made unless we are able to recover compensation for you.

Reproductive Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Law can affect the linings of organs of the chest, abdomen, or the heart. It may also affect the lining of the eyes (periocular) and testicles. Rarely, mesothelioma is found in other parts of the body, like the kidneys, stomach, or heart valves. Mesothelioma most commonly develops in the chest wall and lungs. However, mesothelioma can occur in the abdominal cavity and the interior of the heart (pericardium).

Mesothelioma is mostly caused by asbestos compensation exposure. Workers in blue-collar industries and the military were exposed to large amounts of asbestos claim in the United States. Asbestos manufacturers were aware asbestos was hazardous, however they failed to warn their employees or inform them of the dangers. Asbestos was extensively used in construction, shipbuilding power plants, shipbuilding and in the military from the 1930s through the 1980s. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma as well as lung cancer.

Most of the time mesothelioma is not diagnosed until years after exposure. Most often, the disease is incorrectly diagnosed. It can take between 20 to 60 years for symptoms to show after exposure to asbestos settlement.

Shortness of breath, chest discomfort, persistent cough, or fluid in the lungs are symptoms of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can be difficult to identify because it is so uncommon and its symptoms are similar to those of other ailments, including lung cancer and pneumonia.

A doctor will take an medical history to look for mesothelioma symptoms and other health issues. He or she will inquire about your employment background, as well as whether you were exposed to asbestos. People who worked in industries that handled asbestos or shipped asbestos are more at risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who did not.

Mesothelioma treatment options vary based on the stage and type of the disease. In the majority of cases, chemotherapy and surgery are the most common treatment options. Sometimes, radiation is used. Immunotherapy is an alternative method for treating mesothelioma. However, the research is still in its infancy.