Mesothelioma Cancer
What is Mesothelioma?" That's a question oncologists often hear immediately upon delivering a diagnosis of this disease. The short answer is, mesothelioma is a cancer that is directly traceable to repeated or long-term exposure to asbestos. Usually, though, a longer explanation is needed.
With nearly 3,000 new cases diagnosed annually, mesothelioma cancer is a rare disease and most people know little about it. As defined by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), mesothelioma is a type of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the chest or abdomen lining, called the mesothelium. The disease can also affect the lining of the heart.
A mesothelioma diagnosis usually leaves a patient and their family searching for information about mesothelioma treatment options. Individuals suffering from mesothelioma symptoms primarily caused by asbestos exposure usually have a long latency period, meaning a diagnosis is not made until decades after the exposure.
The disease gets its name because cancerous tumors form in the mesothelium – the lining – of an internal organ. In the case of mesothelioma, the tumors form in the lining of the lung, the lining of the abdomen, the lining of heart or the lining of a testicle.
All four types of the cancer are aggressive. Cancer cells usually spread rapidly, and the life expectancy of someone with the disease is between eight and 18 months. Through clinical trials and experimental therapies, specialists seek more effective treatments to extend life expectancyand, they hope, to find a cure.
A primary reason the survival rates of all types of this disease are so low is that most diagnoses are made in stage III or stage IV – a direct result of mesothelioma having mild, often undetectable, symptoms in its early stages of development.
Who Gets Mesothelioma?
People believed to be in the high risk category for getting mesothelioma are those who were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis (six months or more) while on the job. Among the list of occupations closely linked to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are:
- Military veterans (especially the U.S. Navy)
- Construction workers
- Demolition or renovation crews
- Auto mechanics
- Insulators
- Shipyard workers
- Asbestos mine workers or millers
- Boiler workers
- Asbestos manufacturing plant workers
People who remember handling asbestos or asbestos-like materials, or those who recall being exposed to thick clouds of asbestos-containing dust while on the job, are at a higher risk for developing mesothelioma. Recently, rescue workers and cleanup crews involved in the removal of debris from the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks in New York City have reported asbestos-related symptoms and lung complications.
Mesothelioma Symptoms
Individuals who develop either pleural mesothelioma (which affects the lungs) or peritoneal mesothelioma (which affects the abdominal cavity) often suffer from symptoms for months before going to a doctor.
Malignant mesothelioma takes a long time to develop, so initial symptoms such as a persistent cough, chest pains, hoarseness, weight loss, loss of appetite, and difficulty breathing are felt gradually by the patient and may be mistaken for a less serious illness or cold.
Mesothelioma Treatment
Like treatments for many other forms of cancer, the mesothelioma prognosis given by doctors can help determine the best forms of treatment for a patient to pursue. Treatment options generally consist of a combination of surgical procedures, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, vaccine therapy, and/or chemotherapy, according to the National Cancer Institute.
There are also experimental treatments through clinical trials occurring at facilities around the country. Undergoing these treatments is an option for some patients who are able to meet the research criteria.
Veterans and Mesothelioma.
Asbestos was widely used by the military during the 20th century. So many of those who proudly served their country were exposed to asbestos or asbestos containing materials during their service. Many veterans have experienced high rates of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma Prognosis
Mesothelioma is an incurable form of cancer. The life expectancy of a patient after diagnosis can vary and usually depends on the type of mesothelioma, tumor location, and disease stage. With the right combination of treatments, a patient’s prognosis is not always dire. In fact, some live with the illness for years.
Mesothelioma Legal Resources and Information
Mesothelioma Help Now is a leading online resource whose goal is to provide both legal help and comprehensive information about mesothelioma law and asbestos-related diseases for patients, their families, and other visitors.
Mesothelioma Lawyers
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure, so it should be a preventable cancer. However, some companies hid the dangers of asbestos for decades while exposing their workers and others to the deadly mineral.
Bringing a lawsuit against such a company with the help of an attorney may result in a substantial settlement for you or your family. Such compensation may help to pay expensive medical bills that patients accrue as they undergo treatment.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma that may have been caused by preventable asbestos exposure, consider speaking to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. For more than 30 years, Sokolove Law has helped bring justice and compensation to thousands of mesothelioma victims — and their families.
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