Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Mesothelium is the covering structure of the most of the internal organs of the body.
Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).Cancer as we all know is excess growth of cell of the particular organ or tissue. Here the triggering factor is believed to be the asbestos and is allso called Asbestos Lung Cancer .
Most people who had an attack of mesothelioma have worked on places with asbestos particles or dust or fibre as the surroundings and inhaled the particles a lot or with family members or close friends working in that places .When asbestos is broken or crushed, the resulting dust and fibers hang in the air and land on surfaces nearby .some of the microscopic particles lodge in the lungs, throat, esophagus, pleural linings and stomach linings in the body. The tiny fibers sit there for twenty to forty years, damaging the cells and causing scarring and inflammation. Years later, the cancer attacks the cells of the mesothelium, a thin lining that encases the heart and lungs. The symptoms of mesothelioma are a result of a buildup of fluid in the area between the mesothelium and the lungs.
Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking .
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Types of Mesothelioma
There are three types of mesothelioma .
1 . Pleural mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma begins in the lining around the lungs. It usually begins in the outer membrane of one lung, and may progress to involving both lungs and other organs. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include a dry cough, chest pain and pleural effusion. Pleural effusion is the collection of fluid between the tissue covering the chest wall and the diaphragm and the tissue covering the lungs. Normally, there is a small amount of fluid in that area to make it easy for your lungs to move when breathing. In a person with mesothelioma, the cells that usually absorb the excess fluid don't work right, and the fluid builds up, causing pain, coughing and difficulty breathing.
2 . Peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma involves the lining of the abdominal and pelvic cavities, called the peritoneum. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include swollen and painful abdomen, high temperature, bowel problems, problems with urination, nausea and vomiting.
3 . Pericardial mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium , the thin tissue lining around the heart. It's the rarest of the types of mesothelioma, accounting for less than 1% of reported cases. The symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.Later-stage symptoms of all types of mesothelioma include sudden weight loss without any other explanation, spitting up blood and sputum, problems swallowing, and hoarseness.
1 . Pleural mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma begins in the lining around the lungs. It usually begins in the outer membrane of one lung, and may progress to involving both lungs and other organs. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include a dry cough, chest pain and pleural effusion. Pleural effusion is the collection of fluid between the tissue covering the chest wall and the diaphragm and the tissue covering the lungs. Normally, there is a small amount of fluid in that area to make it easy for your lungs to move when breathing. In a person with mesothelioma, the cells that usually absorb the excess fluid don't work right, and the fluid builds up, causing pain, coughing and difficulty breathing.
2 . Peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma involves the lining of the abdominal and pelvic cavities, called the peritoneum. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include swollen and painful abdomen, high temperature, bowel problems, problems with urination, nausea and vomiting.
3 . Pericardial mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium , the thin tissue lining around the heart. It's the rarest of the types of mesothelioma, accounting for less than 1% of reported cases. The symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.Later-stage symptoms of all types of mesothelioma include sudden weight loss without any other explanation, spitting up blood and sputum, problems swallowing, and hoarseness.
Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma
The signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma vary from one person to another . It can take between roughly 15-50 years to develop after exposure to asbestos , with most cases occurring 30-50 years after exposure.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites , bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the bodyhtne symptoms may also include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
The sign and symptom of Mesothelioma that affects the pleura are chest wall pain , fatigue or anemia , wheezing, hoarseness or cough , pleural effusion or fluid surrounding the lung and shortness of breath .
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. The symptom include Weight loss , Abdominal pain and swelling , Bowel obstruction ,Blood clotting abnormalities , Anemia and fever .
Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma surrounding the heart includes constant cough , Shortness of breath ,Chest pain and Palpitations .
The severe stage symptoms are jaundice or yellowing of the eyes and skin , pulmonary emboli or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs , pleural effusion , low blood sugar level and blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis .
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites , bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the bodyhtne symptoms may also include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
The sign and symptom of Mesothelioma that affects the pleura are chest wall pain , fatigue or anemia , wheezing, hoarseness or cough , pleural effusion or fluid surrounding the lung and shortness of breath .
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. The symptom include Weight loss , Abdominal pain and swelling , Bowel obstruction ,Blood clotting abnormalities , Anemia and fever .
Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma surrounding the heart includes constant cough , Shortness of breath ,Chest pain and Palpitations .
The severe stage symptoms are jaundice or yellowing of the eyes and skin , pulmonary emboli or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs , pleural effusion , low blood sugar level and blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis .
Diagnosing Mesothelioma
Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. So, it is very important to tell your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms and have ever been exposed to asbestos. Usually the doctor will use several methods to pinpoint the disease.
1 . Medical history of the patient is important inorder to know whether he is previously exposed to such disease or surroundings .
2 . Physical examination may include chest or abdominal X-rays to look for pleural scarring consistent with asbestos exposure .
3 . Blood test should be done .
4 . Examining the fluid in the pleural cavity .
5 . Biopsy and tissue samples .
1 . Medical history of the patient is important inorder to know whether he is previously exposed to such disease or surroundings .
2 . Physical examination may include chest or abdominal X-rays to look for pleural scarring consistent with asbestos exposure .
3 . Blood test should be done .
4 . Examining the fluid in the pleural cavity .
5 . Biopsy and tissue samples .
Treatments for Mesothelioma
Like most cancers, the treatment options for mesothelioma vary depending on the stage of the disease and the patient's overall health. They include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Mesothelioma is incurable. The goal of treatment is to prolong life and improve the quality of life by treating the symptoms.
1 . Pleurectomy - surgery to remove the tumor and the surrounding tissue. It may involve removing a small section of the lung, an entire lobe or even the entire lung.
2 . Phototherapy - a newer treatment for cancer in general and mesothelioma in particular. Cancer cells are stained with a radioactive dye that makes them more susceptible to light, then targeted with a low-intensity laser to kill them.
3 . Pleurodesis - a special absorptive powder is inserted into the pleural cavity to absorb excess fluid and make it easier to breathe without pain.
4 . Peritoneal surgery - used when the tumors are in the peritoneum or abdomen. The goal is to remove small tumors and make the patient more comfortable.
5 . Chemotherapy - giving drugs that kill or slow the growth of cancer-causing cells.
6 . Radiotherapy - the use of X-rays to kill cancer cells in tumors with radiation.
1 . Pleurectomy - surgery to remove the tumor and the surrounding tissue. It may involve removing a small section of the lung, an entire lobe or even the entire lung.
2 . Phototherapy - a newer treatment for cancer in general and mesothelioma in particular. Cancer cells are stained with a radioactive dye that makes them more susceptible to light, then targeted with a low-intensity laser to kill them.
3 . Pleurodesis - a special absorptive powder is inserted into the pleural cavity to absorb excess fluid and make it easier to breathe without pain.
4 . Peritoneal surgery - used when the tumors are in the peritoneum or abdomen. The goal is to remove small tumors and make the patient more comfortable.
5 . Chemotherapy - giving drugs that kill or slow the growth of cancer-causing cells.
6 . Radiotherapy - the use of X-rays to kill cancer cells in tumors with radiation.
Risk and Danger of Mesothelioma
There are lots risk and danger factors related to Mesothelioma . The asbestos exposure is the major risk factor. Mesothelioma cancer can show up anywhere from about 15 to more than 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Most often, it shows up 30 to 50 years after exposure, so it is seldom seen in young people.
This doesn’t imply that the person who are not at all exposed to asbestos are not be bothered by this dangerous disease condition. There are reports of mesothelioma in those who were not at all having any connection to asbestos either directly and indirectly.
Mesothelioma can also be triggered by other substances such as irradiation, erionite and thorium dioxide but the incidences are very rare.
The incidence of Mesothelioma is one in ten lakh persons. As far as western countries are concerned the incidence is slightly high. The incidence of this disease is 7 – 40 in ten lakhs persons. The reason for the increased incidence in western countries is nothing but the industrialization.
This doesn’t imply that the person who are not at all exposed to asbestos are not be bothered by this dangerous disease condition. There are reports of mesothelioma in those who were not at all having any connection to asbestos either directly and indirectly.
Mesothelioma can also be triggered by other substances such as irradiation, erionite and thorium dioxide but the incidences are very rare.
The incidence of Mesothelioma is one in ten lakh persons. As far as western countries are concerned the incidence is slightly high. The incidence of this disease is 7 – 40 in ten lakhs persons. The reason for the increased incidence in western countries is nothing but the industrialization.
Legal issues related to Mesothelioma
The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known .
The services of a Mesothelioma Attorney are needed if you are to file a case against a company seeking compensation for exposure to asbestos.A mesothelioma attorney has more experience in filing cases against these companies and to get compensation for the individual and can be asked for his help to file case for an individual or to file case for a group of persons who are affected by the same company. Such group filing is called class action lawsuits. Such lawsuits get more publicity due to the large number of people filing a case against a company.
The compensation got needs to be shared among the members of the group that filed the case. Individual lawsuits get more money since there is no sharing of money.
Usually mesothelioma attorney fees are large. They do not charge you a fee if they lose the case. They take fees only if they win your case. Hence you need not worry about the mesothelioma attorney fees to file a lawsuit. Control of the process is easier in case of individual cases and the cases conclude faster. Class actions take a lot of time for the case to finish.
The compensation that you get for your case depends on lost income, the extent of the injury, the parties responsible, the credibility of the injured party, laws in your state, how the case is presented and the reputation of the attorney you have selected.
The services of a Mesothelioma Attorney are needed if you are to file a case against a company seeking compensation for exposure to asbestos.A mesothelioma attorney has more experience in filing cases against these companies and to get compensation for the individual and can be asked for his help to file case for an individual or to file case for a group of persons who are affected by the same company. Such group filing is called class action lawsuits. Such lawsuits get more publicity due to the large number of people filing a case against a company.
The compensation got needs to be shared among the members of the group that filed the case. Individual lawsuits get more money since there is no sharing of money.
Usually mesothelioma attorney fees are large. They do not charge you a fee if they lose the case. They take fees only if they win your case. Hence you need not worry about the mesothelioma attorney fees to file a lawsuit. Control of the process is easier in case of individual cases and the cases conclude faster. Class actions take a lot of time for the case to finish.
The compensation that you get for your case depends on lost income, the extent of the injury, the parties responsible, the credibility of the injured party, laws in your state, how the case is presented and the reputation of the attorney you have selected.