There seem to be a lot of television and radio ads these days talking about mesothelioma. But what exactly is it? It is a rare kind of cancer the forms on the mesothelium, the protective lining of body organs. The most common area is the lining of the lungs. Other affected linings are the peritoneum, pericardium (heart) and the testicles. It may form around the heart.
Research indicates that the leading cause is exposure to asbestos. Patients generally have at one time had jobs where they breathed in asbestos or were exposed in another way. Studies have also linked the cancer to coming into contact with the clothes of somebody who was exposed to asbestos.
Perhaps you are wondering about the symptoms. A person may not develop any symptoms for more than 20 years after their exposure to the asbestos. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain and fatigue. Peritoneal mesothelioma sufferers might experience fever, pain in the abdomen, weight loss, and obstruction of bowels.
After time, symptoms can get worse. In severe cases a person may develop jaundice, blood clotting in the lungs, low blood sugar and tumors or a collapsed lung. The cancer could spread although it is rare for it to spread to the adrenal glands, bone or brain.
Treatment outlook is not so good at the present although some types of chemotherapies in recent years have been more encouraging. There are different surgery options like removing the chest lining. Radiation treatment is a consideration as a means to attempt to keep tumors from growing along the chest wall. Immunotherapy has had mixed results and some side effects have been more severe in some cases.
Mesothelioma has been in the press for a long time. The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers came in 1929 and there have been many since. If you suspect you have been exposed to asbestos, mention it to your doctor and get checked for this deadly disease.
If you think you have a case for a mesothelioma claim and would like more information, then EAD have conducted many mesothelioma compensation cases, and can answer any questions you may have.