Cancer Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that most often starts in the covering of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but can also start in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).

Here is information on symptoms and causes (including asbestos), tests and scans to diagnose mesothelioma, treatment including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and current research. Information on living with mesothelioma includes coping with your diagnosis, and managing when you have advanced disease mcl, ebay, lawyers.

Cancer Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Disease

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the cells of the mesothelium, a thin membrane that lines the thoracic and abdominal cavities as well as the heart sac. It has been determined that the cause of mesothelioma is almost always exposure to asbestos. This disease is one of the most aggressive forms of cancer and there is no known mesothelioma cure. Unfortunately, most patients die within just a few years of a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Mesothelioma cancer was first described and recognized as a pathologic entity in the 1870s by E. Wagner, who found two cases during a study of some 3,000 autopsies. However, this form of cancer was not recognized as a separate form of lung cancer until almost 100 years later. In 1960, a report by Wagner et al finally established asbestos as a definitive cause of the disease, citing a study of 30 cases of mesothelioma in South Africa, including those who were exposed on their jobs as miners and others with simply passing exposure. By just a few years later, the British Journal of Industrial Medicine confirmed that miners as well as those who lived near asbestos mines but didn’t work in mining were both developing the disease. Many similar reports followed ebay.

Mesothelioma Disease

What is Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma, more precisely known as malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the mesothelial cells, most commonly those in the lining that covers the lungs (pleura). Mesothelial cells exist in the lining (membrane) that covers the outer surface of our body organs. The majority of people with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos at some time during their life.

Doctors usually divide mesothelioma into three types:

1. Pleural mesothelioma - affects the pleura, the lining surrounding the lungs. This is the most common form.
2. Peritoneal mesothelioma - the cancer attacks the lining of the abdomen, the peritoneum. This is the second most common form.
3. Pericardial mesothelioma - the cancer attacks the protective layer covering the heart. This is the rarest form mcl, ebay, lawyers.

All three forms of mesothelioma are nearly always caused by asbestos exposure.

What is Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer often diagnosed in people who have been exposed to high levels of asbestos. The malignancy affects the pleura, a thin membrane of lubricating cells that lines the lungs and chest wall. It sometimes takes ten years or more for changes to appear that are indicative of pleural disease, and even longer for symptoms to manifest. These differences can include a thickening or calcification of the pleural lining—a condition commonly diagnosed as pleural plaques. Conditions like pleural calcification or the development of pleural plaques often serve as precursors to mesothelioma.

In most instances, pleural disease is not considered fatal but it can cause diminished lung function and may confirm that a person has sustained significant asbestos exposure. Patients diagnosed with pleural conditions are generally considered to be at a higher risk for developing the more severe pleural mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Attorney

Mesothelioma is a serious cancer that occurs in people who have been exposed to asbestos. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have either swallowed or inhaled asbestos fibers, and we would like to talk with you. If you have been exposed to asbestos and you feel sick, we can provide advice before you go to the doctor to see about a diagnosis of the illness.

At Brown & Crouppen, we know that people with mesothelioma have been harmed by the negligence of companies who manufactured, sold and installed asbestos products — oftentimes with extensive knowledge of the hazards asbestos contains. Some corporations had knowledge of this correlation since 1920, and yet, warnings were rarely provided to workers and to the general public.

Mesothelioma Attorney

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is one of the four primary types of malignant mesothelioma. The name stems from the area where the cancer develops, along the peritoneum, also known as the lining of the abdomen. Roughly 250 to 500 new cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year, making it the second-most common mesothelioma type.

All mesotheliomas, including peritoneal, stem from extended exposure to asbestos, usually at work. People diagnosed with the disease often can pinpoint a time in their lives when they were around asbestos dust, fibers or products for a sustained period. This exposure leads to ingestion or inhalation of microscopic asbestos particles, which can produce cancerous cells and then tumors.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Malignant Mesothelioma

Did you know that doctors diagnose an estimated 3,000 cases of mesothelioma annually in the U.S.? The majority of those are traced to job-related exposures to asbestos. Most people have the pleural type, which forms on the lining of the lungs, but the cancer can also form around the lining of the abdomen or heart.

Although asbestos use in this country has dropped in recent decades, a steady number of people are still getting mesothelioma. That's because this cancer can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after asbestos exposure before symptoms appear, and an oncologist can make a definitive diagnosis.

Malignant Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Cancer

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the body's internal organs, known as the mesothelium. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease, accounting for roughly 70% of cases, and occurs in the lining of the lung known as the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum and pericardial mesothelioma originates in the pericardium, which lines the heart.

An individual may be at risk to develop mesothelioma if he or she was exposed to asbestos in the workplace or at home. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos and the inhalation of asbestos particles. In most cases, mesothelioma symptoms will not appear in an individual exposed to asbestos until many years after the exposure has occurred. Those with a past asbestos exposure history experiencing symptoms should consult a physician with experience in accurately diagnosing mesothelioma. The earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be caught at an early stage. At earlier stages of mesothelioma progression, more treatment options are available and oftentimes a better prognosis is given. Additional mesothelioma information and statistics can be found in this section. Read stories of hope from mesothelioma surviviors as well.

Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma Symptoms

The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, a type of mesothelioma that originates in the two layers that make up the lining of the lungs and chest wall (known as the pleura), are most often caused by the tumors that form within these layers. These tumors form, over time, after asbestos inhalation has occurred. When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they make their way through the trachea or bronchi and eventually penetrate the pleural lining. These asbestos fibers may then damage the DNA of mesothelial cells, causing uncontrolled cell growth and the development of mesothelioma, which leads to the symptoms below.

Roughly 60% of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma report lower back or side chest pain. There are also frequent instances of shortness of breath. Some people may experience difficulty swallowing, a persistent cough, fever, weight loss, or fatigue. Additional symptoms include muscle weakness, loss of sensory capability, hemoptysis or coughing up blood, facial and arm swelling, and hoarseness.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma Law Firm

Although several materials can possibly cause this disease, mesothelioma is primarily attributed to exposure to asbestos as reported by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry of the CDC. Furthermore, Asbestos has been classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a human carcinogen.

According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention), exposure to asbestos increases the risk of developing malignant Mesothelioma. The latency period for the disease is reported to be around 20 to 40 years. So exposure to asbestos can go unnoticed for decades. Hence, mesothelioma cases are diagnosed years after the first exposure to asbestos occurs. In a study conducted by the CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), annual multiple-cause-of-death records were analyzed for the period from 1999 to 2005. It was found that a total of 18,068 deaths were reported because of malignant Mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Law Firm

Mesothelioma Attorneys

As one of the nation’s leading mesothelioma law firms, Simmons Hanly Conroy has a proven track record. Every mesothelioma lawyer at the firm is committed to helping families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.

Our mesothelioma lawyers have been working with people diagnosed with mesothelioma since 1999. Since then, our asbestos attorneys have represented thousands of individuals from all areas of the United States.

Mesothelioma Attorneys

Mesothelioma Information

Management of mesothelioma depends largely on the staging of the tumor. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention may lengthen life expectancy. Depending on the age and physical condition of the patient, however, surgery may not be a viable option. In addition to surgical options, radiation treatment and chemotherapy may be helpful in the overall therapeutic program. Pain management and home care are typical alternatives in the later stages of the disease.

See below to learn about the respective symptoms of each type of mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma symtoms include:

- Wight loss
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Belly pain

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include:

- Trouble swallowing
- Tireness
- Weight loss
- Progressive loss of appetite’
- Fluid in the ches cavity called “Pleural effusions”
- Pain at the side of the chest or the lower back
- Fever
- Difficulty sleeping
- Cough

Where Do I Go From Here?

After diagnosis, it is important to understand your treatment options. Your doctor or oncologist will provide you with information on the treatments that are available to you.

It is also important to know about your legal rights. If you have mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related disease, you were most likely exposed to asbestos. Many of the manufacturers of asbestos insulation products knew for decades that asbestos was hazardous, yet made a business decision not to warn people of those hazards. As a result, you may have a right of recovery against those manufacturers, which can help defray the costs of treatment and provide compensation for your pain and suffering.

Mesothelioma Information

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you believe that you may have mesothelioma, a qualified medical professional will use a variety of diagnostic tests and methods to confirm the presence of the disease.

The first step that mesothelioma doctors will take in evaluating an asbestos related disease is to obtain a full medical history to determine the level and severity of mesothelioma risk factors and presenting mesothelioma symptoms. This interview will consider among other things, where asbestos exposure occurred, the length of exposure and the amount of asbestos that you were exposed to.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis