- WHAT?
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma is not only hard to diagnose, but it is also difficult to treat
affectively with therapy once diagnosed. Malignant mesothelioma is an extremely
dangerous cancer, and is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases.
- HOW?
After asbestos fibers are breathed in, they travel to the ends
of small air passages and reach the pleura where they cause
physical damage to mesothelial cells that may result in cancer.
They also cause injury to lung cells that can result in lung cancer
and/or asbestosis (replacement of lung tissue by scar tissue).
If ingested, these fibers can travel to the abdominal cavity and
cause peritoneal mesothelioma.
While exposure to asbestos is mostly occupational, it can also
be environmental. Exposure to asbestos can also occur from being
in close contact with an asbestos worker. For example, the work
clothes of an asbestos worker can expose a family member to asbestos
fibers while doing laundry.
It is important to note that symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear
until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. The early symptoms
of malignant mesothelioma are common symptoms that are not specific
to the disease itself. People often mistake the symptoms for everyday
sicknesses and ailments such as the common cold. Many people with
mesothelioma have symptoms for only a few months before they are diagnosed.
Over half of the patients with pleural mesothelioma have pain at the side
of the chest or in the lower back. Shortness of breath is almost always a
symptom shared by patients. Some report coughing, fever, sweating, fatigue,
difficulty swallowing, and weight loss. Extreme symptoms include coughing
up blood, swelling of the face and arms, muscle weakness, and sensory loss.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal pain, weight loss,
nausea, and vomiting. Some patients also suffer from hernias, fluid in the
abdominal cavity, or the presence of a mass or bulge in the abdomen.
Anyone experiencing any of these symptoms who believes he or she has been
exposed to asbestos should see a doctor immediately for diagnosis.
- How is a person diagnosed with mesothelioma?
One reason why mesothelioma is such a dangerous form of cancer is because it
is difficult to diagnose. Mesothelioma usually progresses to a dangerous stage
by the time it is finally diagnosed. For these reasons it is incredibly important
to see a doctor as soon as you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms.
It is essential that you give your doctor a complete medical history. Be sure to
inform your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos at work or through a family member.
It is important to also tell your doctor when and for how long your exposure to asbestos occurred.
Your medical history will help your doctor assess the risk factors associated with mesothelioma,
as well as your symptoms.
A physical exam will provide your doctor with information about signs of mesothelioma and other
health problems you may be experiencing. Patients with pleural mesothelioma often have fluid in
their chest cavity, which is called pleural effusion. A physical exam can also detect the
presence of ascites (fluid in the abdominal cavity) in patients with peritoneal mesothelioma.
In patients with pericardial mesothelioma, pericardial effusion (fluid in the pericardium)
can also be detected during a physical exam by a doctor.
After your medical history and physical exam, you should expect to undergo some medical tests.
The tests performed by your doctor can range from basic imaging tests to tests of fluid and
tissue samples.
The most basic test is a chest x-ray. The x-ray will show abnormalities involving the lungs,
such as irregular thickening of the pleura, lowering of the space between the lungs, abnormal
mineral deposits, and fluid build up inside of the lungs. A doctor will either take a CT scan
(computed tomography scan) or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging scan) to try and determine the
location, size and mass of a possible cancerous growth. The CT scan uses a rotating x-ray beam
to create a series of pictures of the body from many different angles. A computer then combines
these pictures to produce cross-sectional images of a part of the body. A doctor may need to
inject a dye into a vein in order to highlight details on the CT scan. An MRI uses magnetic fields
instead of x-rays to create its images. After the magnetic fields capture the information,
a computer generates a detailed cross-sectional image.
If pleural mesothelioma is suspected, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special
instrument called a thoracoscope. A peritoneoscope can be used in a similar procedure to look at
the abdomen. In this procedure the doctor is looking for abnormal cell growths, which will
usually be referred to as tumors. The thoracoscope (telescope-like instrument connected to a video camera)
is inserted through a small incision in the chest. The doctor can see the tumor through the thoracoscope,
and can use special forceps to take a tissue biopsy.
After looking at the piece of the tumor under a microscope, the doctor may decide whether the tumor is
benign, which means that it is not cancerous, or malignant, which means that it is cancerous.
If the doctor can't tell from the biopsy if the growth is cancerous, there are several other options.
The doctor may take a sample of any fluid that has built up around the lungs, stomach or heart,
or he may take a blood sample to see if your blood cell levels are what they are supposed to be.
In patients with a pleural effusion, a sample of this fluid can be removed by inserting a needle
into the chest cavity. The fluid is then tested and its chemical make-up is then viewed under
a microscope to determine whether cancer cells are present. A similar technique can also be used
to obtain abdominal fluid and pericardial fluid.
It is often difficult to simply diagnose mesothelioma by looking at the cells from the fluid
around the lungs, abdomen or heart. It is even hard to accurately diagnose mesothelioma solely
with tissue from biopsies. Mesothelioma can look like several other types of cancer under a microscope.
Special laboratory tests are often done to help distinguish mesothelioma from some other types of cancer.
These tests often use special techniques to recognize certain markers (various types of chemicals)
known to be present in mesotheliomas.
- Claim compensation for mesothelioma?
If you are suffering from mesothelioma you may be eligible for compensation.
Mesothelioma claims and verdicts bring in big dollars for mesothelioma claimants
and also the attorneys handling the mesothelioma claims.
Attorney fees in these cases are generally based on contingency fee contracts,
meaning that the attorneys receive a percentage of the settlement or award the
mesothelioma claimant recovers if the claim or suit is successful. If the suit
is not successful, then the attorneys earn no fee.
It can be very expensive to handle a mesothelioma claim due to the cost of the
claim presentation and legal case preparations. Thousands of dollars may be
spent on initial costs associated with preparing for the trial, such as travel,
hiring expert witnesses, depositions, etc.
Mesothelioma claim expenses are ordinarily paid for by the attorney who represents
you and are sometimes treated as advances against the final settlement of your
Mesothelioma claim.
A lot is at stake financially in these lawsuits. Therefore, it is ordinarily a
good idea to interview a number of attorneys before you make a final decision
about who will represent you. Consider trying to get at least two or three
recommendations so you can make the best decision for yourself. If you are
comfortable with the first attorney that your meet stay with him. For some,
your first personal judgment can be your best.
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