Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma refers to the type of cancer that has gained notoriety as “asbestos cancer.” It is a cancer of the mesothelium – a protective membrane, or lining, that surrounds the lungs, heart, and some abdominal organs. The only well-documented cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. There is no consensus on other possible causes.

When asbestos fibers are ingested or inhaled, they can work their way through organ walls and become imbedded in the mesothelium. This triggers the secretion of fluid and the development of malignant cells.

Mesothelioma Cancer

There are two major types of mesothelioma, both of which are malignant: pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining around the lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdominal membrane. The signs and symptoms of both types do not usually manifest themselves until 10 to 60 years after the exposure to asbestos.

The body’s responds to the presence of asbestos fibers in the lungs by secreting a fluid intended to loosen and ultimately expel the dangerous fibers. Instead of helping, however, this natural response usually ends up of having the opposite of the intended effect. The fluid tends to accumulate in the pleural cavity – the space between the two membranes surrounding the lungs – causing the classic pleural mesothelioma symptoms, namely shortness of breath, pain in the chest wall, and persistent wheezing, coughing, and/or hoarseness.

When asbestos fibers are ingested and imbedded in the lining of the abdominal cavity, the symptoms usually remain latent until disease has reached an advanced stage. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss, bowel function irregularities, swelling in the abdomen, and abdominal pain.

Mesothelioma may spread to other parts of the body or cause a variety of other problems including tumors, collapsed lungs, blood clots, jaundice, low blood sugar, and internal bleeding.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is sometimes problematic because its symptoms do not present themselves for decades after the initial asbestos exposure, and when they do, they are similar to those of numerous other ailments. Consequently, many experts suspect that cases of mesothelioma may go undiagnosed or be underreported.

Mesothelioma diagnosis  usually begins with an examination of the patient’s medical history, as well as an assessment of the likelihood that the patient was exposed to asbestos. This is typically followed by a physical examination, chest x-rays, a CT scan or MRI, and finally a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

Unfortunately, by the time mesothelioma is usually diagnosed, not much can be done to save the patient. Since it’s impossible to cure the disease, most treatment options are aimed primarily at improving the patient’s quality of life. The cancer can be removed surgically in some cases, but chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the preferred treatments. Other treatments may also be employed to help mitigate the patient’s pain and suffering.

Mesothelioma Law

Asbestos was very widely used in many industries for its heat and fire resistant properties. However, its widespread use led to widespread exposure. The first lawsuit was filed over asbestos exposure in 1929, but the link between asbestos and mesothelioma was not documented and well known by the public until the 1960’s.

Since that time, thousands of people have died or suffered serious injury because of the harmful effects of asbestos exposure, particularly mesothelioma. This has led to an explosion of mesothelioma lawsuits filed by people who were exposed to asbestos, usually through their work.

In many of these lawsuits, it is found that the defendant company used asbestos despite knowledge of its dangers and without warning workers or advising them on how to safely handle the hazardous substance.

Mesothelioma lawyers have won thousands of lawsuits, forcing asbestos-using companies to pay hundreds of billions of dollars in damages to mesothelioma patients and their families.

This arena of litigation has become so vast that many lawyers have become highly skilled in handling mesothelioma lawsuits. They frequently have an established network of investigators, medical experts, and other professionals who are very knowledgeable about the disease and who can help them investigate claims, gather evidence, and build strong cases.

These lawyers are often able to recover compensation for their clients’ past and future medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, and in some cases, compensation for the pains and costs associated with the loss of a loved one