Mesothelioma Alert

If you, or someone you love, have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to file a legal claim against an asbestos manufacturer and collect significant financial compensation.

This Article Includes:

Types of mesothelioma
Symptoms of mesothelioma
Diagnosis of mesothelioma
Treatments of mesothelioma
What you should do
Types of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos related diseases. It is a rare cancer that has been conclusively linked to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is almost always found in patients with a history of asbestos exposure, and, like all asbestos related diseases, the latent period between exposure and the onset of symptoms can be 20 to 40 years. Men are more frequently affected by mesothelioma than women, although anyone with direct or indirect exposure to asbestos is vulnerable to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects about 7% of asbestos workers, and most symptoms begin to appear by the time the patient is 70.

Types of mesothelioma

There are two types of mesothelioma: pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the pleura, or the lining around the outside of the lungs and the inside of the ribs. Pleural mesothelioma is believed to be caused by inhalation of asbestos or asbestos containing materials. The vast majority of mesothelioma cases (about 80%) are pleural in nature. Pleural mesothelioma can be either benign, which is localized and non-cancerous, or malignant, which is diffuse and cancerous.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the membrane surrounding the abdomen. This type of cancer can also be benign or malignant. It is believed that peritoneal mesothelioma is a result of ingesting asbestos fibers in the mucus, the protective layer of saliva that works to expel foreign agents from the body. Peritoneal mesothelioma is extremely rare, occurring in only one-fifth of diagnosed cases.

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Symptoms of mesothelioma
Common symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, especially during exertion; a frequent cough; coughing up blood; tightness in the chest; wheezing; and general chest pain. Excessive sweating and weight loss are also signs of mesothelioma.

If you, or someone you love, have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to file a legal claim against an asbestos manufacturer and collect significant financial compensation.

Mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos related diseases. It is a rare cancer that has been conclusively linked to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is almost always found in patients with a history of asbestos exposure, and, like all asbestos related diseases, the latent period between exposure and the onset of symptoms can be 20 to 40 years. Men are more frequently affected by mesothelioma than women, although anyone with direct or indirect exposure to asbestos is vulnerable to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects about 7% of asbestos workers, and most symptoms begin to appear by the time the patient is 70.

There are two types of mesothelioma: pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the pleura, or the lining around the outside of the lungs and the inside of the ribs. Pleural mesothelioma is believed to be caused by inhalation of asbestos or asbestos containing materials. The vast majority of mesothelioma cases (about 80%) are pleural in nature. Pleural mesothelioma can be either benign, which is localized and non-cancerous, or malignant, which is diffuse and cancerous.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the membrane surrounding the abdomen. This type of cancer can also be benign or malignant. It is believed that peritoneal mesothelioma is a result of ingesting asbestos fibers in the mucus, the protective layer of saliva that works to expel foreign agents from the body. Peritoneal mesothelioma is extremely rare, occurring in only one-fifth of diagnosed cases.

Call a Client Relations Representative today at 1 (888) 411-LAWS and find out more about the Weitz & Luxenberg advantage!

Symptoms of mesothelioma
Common symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, especially during exertion; a frequent cough; coughing up blood; tightness in the chest; wheezing; and general chest pain. Excessive sweating and weight loss are also signs of mesothelioma.


Diagnosis of mesothelioma

The sooner mesothelioma is diagnosed, the better the prognosis tends to be. This is because, as in all cancers, mesothelioma progresses through stages. In its early stages, mesothelioma is found in the lining of the chest cavity or the abdominal cavity. In later stages, the cancer has a tendency to spread into the lymph nodes, chest wall, heart, and other organs and tissues.

An x-ray is usually the first step in diagnosing mesothelioma. While mesothelioma itself can not usually be seen in an x-ray, the pleural effusion (fluid collecting between the lung and chest wall) that the tumor causes is visible. Two views will probably be taken, one where the x-ray passes through the back (posterior-anterior view) and one where the x-ray passes from one side to the other (lateral view.)

A thoracic CT might be performed to examine the structures inside the chest. A CT scanner emits x-rays all around you, photographing an area in ‘slices’ which are compiled to give a doctor a detailed three dimensional image. This is a non invasive procedure.

A thoracoscopy may be administered so your doctor can examine your chest cavity. In this procedure, an instrument called a thoracoscope will be put into the chest wall between two ribs while the patient is under local anesthetic.

A peritoneoscopy might be performed so your doctor can examine the interior of the abdomen. A peritoneoscope is put into an opening made in the abdomen while the patient is under local anesthetic.

If abnormal tissues are detected in any of these tests, a doctor will elect to perform a biopsy, where a small piece of tissue will be removed for examination under a microscope. The biopsy will probably occur during the thoracoscopy or the peritoneoscopy.

Once mesothelioma has been diagnosed, the doctor’s next step is to determine the size, location, and progress of the cancer. They will want to take into consideration how the cancer appears on the microscopic level, how well it responds to treatment, and the age of the patient.


Treatments of mesothelioma

There are many treatments of mesothelioma, using both conventional and non-conventional methods. The following are some common conventional treatments:

Surgery may be an option for some patients. If the tumor is small and localized, and has not spread much, a surgeon might remove the lining of the lungs or abdomen to prevent it from spreading further. If the tumor has progressed, a surgeon might choose to remove the lining of the lungs or abdomen and other affected tissue, such as the lung or a portion of the diaphragm.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation can come from external or internal sources. In external radiation therapy, a machine produces the radiation. In internal radiation therapy, radioisotopes are inserted into an area affected by cancer. Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with another therapy, such as chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is a form of treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. These drugs are usually given intravenously or in pill form. For maximum effectiveness, chemotherapy can be applied directly to the site affected by cancer.

The following treatments are still in their experimental stages, but have shown promise in helping people with mesothelioma to improve their prognoses.

Angiogenesis inhibitor therapy prevents cancer cells from getting a supply of oxygen rich blood, which they need to survive. If cancer cells are deprived of oxygenated blood, they can shrink, causing a tumor to disappear.

Cytokines are proteins that act as messengers between cells. One cytokine, interleukin-2 (L2) stimulates immune system cell growth. Immune system cells, or T-cells, can kill cancerous cells. Scientists speculate that if IL2 is injected in the pleura of the lung, it will be able to target and kill cancerous cells.

Gene therapy uses a specially created virus to act as a delivery device for a gene that destroys cancer cells while leaving healthy cells alone. Gene therapy is usually used directly at the site of a tumor.

Photodynamic therapy uses light to kill cancer cells. A patient is given a drug called a photosensitizer that makes cancer cells sensitive to light at specific wavelengths. Surgeons then insert fiberoptic cables into the body. These cables allow light to be focused on the tumor at a frequency that causes the photosensitizer drug to produce toxic oxygen molecules which kill cancerous cells.

What you should do

If you feel you have been exhibiting symptoms of mesothelioma, it is imperative that you see your physician immediately. The sooner mesothelioma is caught, the better your prognosis will be. If you have already been diagnosed with mesothelioma, stay positive and keep yourself informed of medical developments as they happen.

If you do have mesothelioma, a law firm can help you.