Mesothelioma

Asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma when they cause irritation or damage to the cells that line lungs (pleura) and abdominal cavities (peritoneum). These abnormal cells eventually develop into tumors.

The symptoms of mesothelioma could take between 10 and 50 years to manifest, and are often mistaken for other illnesses. The only risk factor that is known is a history of asbestos exposure.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the chest wall and lungs. The mesothelioma type is distinguished by symptoms such as chest pain, coughing, and breathing problems. In addition there are some patients who experience a buildup of fluid in the space between the lung and chest wall, which is known as a the pleural effusion. Pleural mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers inflame the lung's lining and chest cavity. As time passes the lining that has been irritated forms tumors that develop into the pleura. The tumors can expand to the peritoneum or bones, as well as to the liver.

After asbestos exposure it can take between 20 and 50 years for a person to develop pleural mesothelioma. People who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace are at greatest risk of developing this disease. Shipyard workers and those on ships as well as veterans, are at risk.

It can take a few weeks for a doctor to diagnose the condition as pleural asbestosis. Symptoms include chest pain, fatigue and a dry cough. A person with this condition may also have an unusually low temperature and weight loss. A physician can diagnose mesothelioma after getting a patient's medical background on asbestos law exposure and performing an examination. Chest X-rays or CT scans are usually performed. These tests can reveal fluid within the chest cavity, or a tumor near one of the lungs.

The first step to treating pleural mesothelioma is draining excess fluid. This can be done by doctors through the procedure called thoracentesis. It involves insertion of a thin flexible tube between two ribs within the chest cavity. The tube lets doctors examine the area and collect a sample of the fluid in the pleural cavity. The fluid can be examined by doctors to determine if it is cancerous.

The prognosis of a patient with mesothelioma pleural depends on a variety of factors, including the stage of the tumor and the extent of the cancer. A patient's age and smoking habits can influence the prognosis. A person's survival rate is also affected by their overall health and the speed at which they seek treatment following a diagnosis. Asbestos patients who receive treatment early and with a high degree of urgency have the greatest chance of a good outcome.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer that develops along abdomen's lining, also known as the peritoneum. This kind of mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma, but it is still fatal. Peritoneal mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos at work. This is because ingested or inhaled asbestos fibers are absorbed by the digestive tract and then move through the lymphatic system and into the peritoneal tissue. Once inside, they irritate cells and damage DNA. Over time, the resulting inflammation causes scar tissue and tumors to develop.

Like other mesothelioma types the peritoneal mesothelioma may take years to develop. It is also a difficult cancer to diagnose because its symptoms resemble many other abdominal issues. Therefore, patients with peritoneal msothelioma are often not diagnosed correctly and are delayed in treatment.

People with peritoneal asbestosis experience extreme abdominal pain and fever, as well as weight loss. They may have trouble digesting food due to the buildup 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 diagnose the presence of peritoneal cancer by taking an examination. The purpose of this procedure is to take an insignificant portion of the affected area to be examined under the microscope of mesothelioma specialists. These tests can identify the types of cancerous cells (epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or biphasic) and determine the degree of aggressiveness of the tumors.

Doctors assign a peritoneal stage to mesothelioma according to its location, extent of tumor growth, and the rate of spread to other tissues. The more extensive the tumors and the more aggressive the cell type and the more advanced stage of the mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma sufferers should seek out a mesothelioma physician who has been trained specifically for this rare condition. Without such a physician patients are at risk of being misdiagnosed as an abdomen issue that is more common and receiving delayed treatment. This can be a problem because mesothelioma is a cancer with a long latent period. It requires a careful diagnostic process to ensure the appropriate treatment.

Cardiac Mesothelioma

Patients may be diagnosed with pericardial cancer in addition to peritoneal or pleural asbestos-related cancer. This rare form of disease develops when asbestos litigation fibers are found in the heart's lining. It can be difficult to identify the condition because the symptoms are similar to other diseases. Patients with pericardial mesothelioma should disclose the history of exposure to asbestos to their medical professionals and discuss any new symptoms with them.

Like pleural mesothelioma, the pericardial mesothelioma usually affects men more often than women. However, researchers aren't sure of the cause for this distinction. It could be that different asbestos exposures cause mesothelioma pericardial, or the chance of developing the disease increases with the age of one.

After a physical examination and asking the patient about their asbestos exposure, a doctor may suspect pericardial cancer. The doctor can request a CT scan and chest x-ray to determine 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 serious and interfere with the patient's ability a normal life. The symptoms include chest discomfort breathing difficulties, shortness or breath. In some instances the fluid may build up and pressure on the heart can cause cardiac tamponade.

Mesothelioma lawyers are able to help families and patients get the compensation they deserve if they are diagnosed with mesothelioma. Attorneys who specialize in asbestos-related illnesses can look over the patient's exposure history and connect them to a mesothelioma expert.

Asbestos patients living in New York City or anywhere else should consult a mesothelioma attorney to discuss their case. The lawyers at Madeksho Law Firm are available to assist patients when filing an action for compensation. Contact us for a free consultation. No charge is made in the event that we are unable to recover compensation for you.

Reproductive Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma can affect the linings of the organs in the chest, abdomen, or the heart. It may also affect the lining of the eyes (periocular) and testicles. Other parts of the human body like the heart valves, kidneys stomach or kidneys are very rare instances where mesothelioma is a possibility. Mesothelioma typically develops in the chest wall and lungs. However, mesothelioma can occur in the abdominal cavity and the lining of the heart (pericardium).

Exposure to asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. Workers in blue-collar industries and the military were exposed to huge amounts of asbestos in the United States. Asbestos manufacturers knew asbestos was hazardous, but they didn't warn their employees or disclose risks. Asbestos was extensively used in shipbuilding, construction, power plants and the military from the 1930s to the 1980s. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma or lung cancer.

The majority of mesothelioma cases do not manifest until years after exposure. The disease is often not properly diagnosed. It could take between 20 to 60 years for symptoms to show after exposure to asbestos.

The symptoms of mesothelioma may include a shortness of breath and chest pain, as well as persistent cough, or fluid in the lung. Mesothelioma is often difficult to identify because the disease is so rare and because its symptoms are similar to those of many other ailments, including lung cancer and pneumonia.

A doctor will collect an examination of your medical history to check for mesothelioma-related symptoms and other health issues. The doctor will inquire about your work history and whether you've been exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma is more frequent among those who worked in industries that handled or shipped asbestos.

Mesothelioma treatment options vary based on the type and stage of the disease. In most cases, chemotherapy and surgery are the standard treatment options. In some cases there is radiation treatment. Immunotherapy is an alternative method for treating mesothelioma. The research is in its very early stages.