10 Quick Tips For Asbestos Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers inflame and harm the cells that line the lung (pleura) or abdominal cavity (peritoneum). The abnormal cells then grow into tumors.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can take anywhere from 10 to 50 years to show up and are often confused with other ailments. A history of asbestos exposure is the sole known risk factor.
Pleural Mesothelioma
The lungs and the chest wall are affected by pleural mesothelioma. Patients diagnosed with this form of mesothelioma usually suffer from symptoms like breathing difficulty, chest pain and coughing. In addition there are some patients who experience the formation of fluid in the lung's space and chest wall, which is known as a pleural effusion. Pleural mesothelioma happens when asbestos fibers inflame the lung's lining and the chest cavity. As time passes, the irritated tissue forms tumors which grow into the pleura. The tumors can spread to the peritoneum and bones, and to the liver.
It can take between 20 and 50 years for someone to develop pleural mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos. People who were exposed in the workplace to asbestos are at the highest risk of developing the disease. Workers in shipyards and on ships, as well as veterans are at risk.
It may take several weeks for a doctor to recognize the condition as pleural asbestosis. The symptoms include chest pain, fatigue and dry cough. A person with this condition may also have a low fever and unexplained weight loss. A physician can identify mesothelioma after taking a medical history of the patient's asbestos exposure and conducting a physical exam. Chest X-rays or CT scans are possible. These tests can reveal fluid in the chest cavity, or a tumor near one of the lung's.
The first step in treating pleural msothelioma is draining the excess fluid. This can be accomplished by doctors through a procedure called thoracentesis. It involves inserting a thin, flexible tube between two ribs in the chest cavity. The tube lets doctors examine the area and then take a sample of the fluid from the pleural. Doctors can then analyze the fluid to determine whether it is cancerous or not.
The prognosis for pleural tumors is based on a variety of factors, including the stage and size of the cancer. The prognosis can be affected by patient's age and whether or not they smoke. A person's survival rate is also affected by their overall health and how quickly they seek treatment following the diagnosis. Asbestos sufferers who seek treatment early and aggressively have the greatest chance of a good outcome.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that develops along lining of the abdomen known as the peritoneum. Although this mesothelioma type has a lower incidence than the most common form called pleural mesothelioma is still a deadly disease. Peritoneal mesothelioma is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos at work. This is because ingested or inhaled asbestos fibers are absorbed by the digestive tract and then travel through the lymphatic system and into the peritoneal tissue. Once inside they cause DNA damage and irritation to the cells. As time passes the inflammation that follows can cause scar tissue and tumors to develop.
Like other mesothelioma types Peritoneal mesothelioma is a form that can take years to manifest. It's also a challenging cancer to detect because its symptoms are similar to other abdominal disorders. As a result, patients suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma often are wrongly diagnosed or delay treatment.
People suffering from peritoneal asbestosis suffer extreme abdominal discomfort as well as fever and weight loss. They may have difficulty digesting food due to the accumulation of fluid in their abdomen and are at a higher risk of developing anemia or low levels of albumin in their blood.
As with other types, doctors identify the presence of peritoneal cancer with a biopsy. The aim of this procedure is to remove only a small portion of the affected tissue to be examined under the microscope of a mesothelioma specialist. These tests will reveal if the tumors are aggressive or not, and the type of cancerous cells present (epithelioid sarcomatoid).
Doctors assign a peritoneal stage for mesothelioma depending on its location, amount of growth and the rate of spread to other tissues. The larger the tumors and the more aggressive cell type and the more advanced mesothelioma's stage.
Mesothelioma sufferers should consult a mesothelioma specialist who has been trained specifically for this rare condition. Without a specialist patients are at risk of being misdiagnosed as a more common abdomen problem and receiving delayed treatment. This could be a serious issue because mesothelioma has a long latency period and requires a thorough diagnosis to ensure the proper treatment.
Cardiac Mesothelioma
Patients may be diagnosed with pericardial tumors in addition to pleural or peritoneal asbestos-related cancer. This rare form of disease develops when asbestos fibers infiltrate the lining of the heart. It can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms are similar to those of other diseases. Patients with mesothelioma pericardial should report the history of exposure to asbestos to their physicians and discuss any new symptoms with them.
Like pleural mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma typically affects men more often than women. Researchers are unsure of the cause of this disparity. It could be that different asbestos exposures trigger mesothelioma of the pericardium, or that the likelihood of developing the disease increases with the advancing years.
After an examination of the body and asking the patient about their exposure to asbestos, a doctor may suspect pericardial carcinoma. The physician can request a CT scan and chest x-rays to find out if there are signs of fluid accumulation around your heart (known as the pericardial effusion).
Pericardial Mesothelioma occurs most often in the membrane that surrounds the heart. These symptoms can be very severe and may affect a patient's quality of life. These symptoms could include chest discomfort breathing difficulties, shortness or breath. In some instances the fluid may accumulate and cause pressure on the heart, which can result in cardiac tamponade.
Lawyers who specialize in asbestos-related diseases can help patients and families receive the financial compensation they need when diagnosed with mesothelioma. Lawyers who specialize in asbestos lawyer-related illnesses can review a patient's history of exposure and connect them with a mesothelioma specialist.
Asbestos patients in New York City or anywhere else should contact a mesothelioma attorney to discuss their case. The lawyers at Madeksho Law Firm can assist patients in filing claims for compensation. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation. No fee is charged in the event that we are unable to get compensation for you.
Reproductive Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma can affect the linings of the organs of the chest, abdomen, or the heart. It can also be found in the eye's lining (periocular mesothelioma) and testicles (testicular mesothelioma). Other organs of the human body like the kidneys, heart valves, stomach or kidneys, are very rare instances where mesothelioma may occur. Mesothelioma most commonly develops in the lungs and chest wall. Mesothelioma is also found in the tissue of your heart and abdominal cavity.
Mesothelioma's main cause is Asbestos legal exposure. Blue-collar workers and the military in the United States were exposed to asbestos claim in large quantities. Asbestos producers knew asbestos attorney was hazardous, but they did not inform employees or make clear the dangers. From the 1930s until the 1980s, asbestos lawsuit was extensively used in shipbuilding, construction and power plants. Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma as well as lung cancer.
Most cases of mesothelioma don't manifest until several years after exposure. The disease is often incorrectly diagnosed. The symptoms can develop between 20 and 60 year after exposure to asbestos.
Shortness of breath or chest discomfort, or persistent cough, or fluid in the lungs can be symptoms of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize due to its rarity and the fact that it can mimic many other illnesses such as lung cancer and pneumonia.
A doctor will examine your medical history to detect mesothelioma and other health issues. He or she will ask you about your work background, as well as whether or not you were exposed to asbestos. Workers in industries that handled or shipped asbestos are more at risk of developing mesothelioma compared to those who did not.
Mesothelioma treatment options depend on the type and stage of the disease. In most cases, surgery and chemotherapy are the most common treatments. In certain instances radiation therapy is also used. Immunotherapy is an alternative method for treating mesothelioma. The research is still in its very early stages.