Mesothelioma is malignant, extremely aggressive and an incurable cancer that invades the membrane, or mesothelium, that surrounds most of the internal organs.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A mesothelioma diagnosis is a frightening one and requires immediate intervention.If you have a known previous exposure to asbestos you should alert doctor immediately to discuss your medical history. It is also beneficial to discuss any prior asbestos exposure with your doctor so that your physician knows what to look for and what test should be ordered.

Mesothelioma cancer cells lie dormant for many years and it is not uncommon for mesothelioma symptoms to appear as much as 15 to 30 years after the initial asbestos exposure. People who worked in industries such as manufacturing or construction are the ones who are at particular risk of contracting mesothelioma. With a known asbestos exposure, you should be vigilant about watching for and being familiar with mesothelioma symptoms. Routine physical exams must include a review of your medical history and a mesothelioma diagnosis must be ruled out each year that you are further removed from the asbestos exposure.

After a thorough physical exam your physician may order a procedure called thoracoscopy in order to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. With a thoracoscopy the physician makes a small incision into the chest and takes a small sample of lung tissue for biopsy. This tissue is then sent to the lab where it is studied to determine whether or not it is cancerous. Also, the doctor may use a device called peritoneoscope which looks inside the abdomen and can also be used to collect tissue samples for additional study. If these tests prove to be inconclusive, more tests will be ordered to determine if the mesothelioma symptoms are actually mesothelioma or another disease.

Mesothelioma symptoms are often ignored and can be confused with symptoms for the common cold or allergies. By the time mesothelioma symptoms manifest themselves, it is often too late; therefore if mesothelioma symptoms persist it is imperative that you seek medical treatment immediately. Mesothelioma is a deadly aggressive disease…without a current cure. It is for this reason that mesothelioma symptoms must be taken seriously.

A strong mesothelioma attorney is an important member of your multi-disciplinary team. You might wonder why it is important, at this point in your life, when you are trying to deal with the devastating diagnosis, to spend any time or energy seeking out a law firm that specializes in mesothelioma or even a mesothelioma lawyer. It is important because of the pain and suffering and the potential loss of life that you now have to deal with as a result of this diagnosis.

If you have developed malignant mesothelioma you may wish to pursue legal action against a current or former employer that could be responsible for your exposure to asbestos. History now tells us that there were many companies over the years that were well aware of the danger and impact of asbestos and yet allowed their employees to be exposed routinely to the dust and fibers of asbestos…without any thought for their health. These American workers worked hard for years to provide for their families and the real tragedy is that now that these workers are reaching retirement age their health is showing the effect of asbestos exposure decades earlier.

Selecting a law firm that deals exclusively with mesothelioma patients and their families is the best choice. These mesothelioma lawyers have the experience to provide you the strongest and most proven counsel. A mesothelioma lawsuit can provide the fair compensation you deserve for pain and suffering, especially in light of the fact that malignant mesothelioma could, in most cases, have been prevented had there been no asbestos exposure.

If you choose to seek legal counsel, then be certain that you choose an experienced mesothelioma lawyer and one that has a proven track record. Ask about the mesothelioma attorney’s experience, number of successful cases tried, and even how quickly previous cases were resolved. In the case of malignant mesothelioma, experience really counts. For you and your family, you deserve to work with a lawyer who has the experience in the field of malignant mesothelioma…someone who can do the research, quickly track down the companies and employers that may have been responsible for the exposure and make certain that you and your family receive the fair compensation you are entitled to receive. Not just any lawyer will do…a mesothelioma lawyer is the only “right” choice to handle patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.

According to The National Cancer Institute malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, in which cancer cells are found in the pleura, the sac lining the chest, in the peritoneum, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or in the pericardium, the lining around the heart.

In this section, we will discuss pleural mesothelioma. Both peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma will be discussed in subsequent articles.

Pleural mesothelioma, like peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma, can be quite difficult to diagnose. The symptoms of mesothelioma mimic other diseases, including lung cancer. So it is critical to let your physician know if you have had a historical exposure to asbestos so that your physician can review your case history and can correctly identify any mesothelioma symptoms.

Over two-thirds of all cases of mesothelioma cancer have been identified as malignant pleural mesothelioma, making it the most common of all types of mesothelioma. This cancer attacks the area called the pleura or simply put…the lining of the lungs and the chest cavity. Pleural mesothelioma invades those cells that make up the lining inside the rib cage and the lining outside of the lungs.

Pleural mesothelioma can either be diffuse or wide spread and cancerous or it could also be localized and benign. Usually not related to asbestos exposure, benign mesothelioma is generally not life-threatening and can often be removed surgically. However, malignant mesothelioma is quite serious and requires immediate and aggressive treatment.

With asbestos exposure being the primary culprit in the later development of particular types of mesothelioma, it is important to know your prior exposure history. Years ago, many factories and industrial plants exposed their workers to asbestos particles that the employees either inhaled or swallowed while working.

Because of the employers’ failure to provide their employees with a safe work environment, many of these employees are now seeking legal compensation and are working with mesothelioma lawyers to make certain they are financially provided for as they battle the diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Once the workers inhaled or swallowed the asbestos dust, small particles of asbestos worked their way into the passages of the lungs and ultimately into the lining of the lungs. Once in the small passages of the lungs, these particles eventually developed into cancerous cells.

With the presence of cancerous cells, the lining of the lung or the pleura begins to thicken and excess fluid begins to gather as the cancerous cells continue to proliferate. As the pleura continues to thicken it gradually contracts the lungs resulting in shortness of breath.

This can often be the first symptom of pleural mesothelioma. But as you are well aware, shortness of breath could also indicate many other types of diseases, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma or even lung cancer. As the pleural thickening continues and as the excess fluid, pleural effusion, continues to build shortness of breath can continue to worsen.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common of all types of mesothelioma. It is usually malignant and requires aggressive treatment. So know your history…if you have a known prior exposure to asbestos, please see your physician today and ask to be screened for mesothelioma.

Asbestos symptoms consist of shortness of breath increasing over a period of time, extreme weight loss, coughing, chest pain, pneumonia, headaches, hoarseness, coughing up blood and extreme fatigue. It is easy to see that these symptoms are general enough that they could also be related to a host of illnesses. Some easily treated and others, such as cancer, which could prove to be fatal. It is critical to see your healthcare provider for a complete work out to determine the cause of your symptoms.

Asbestos Signs Symptoms

After your medical provider has confirmed your symptoms, they will most likely run a battery of mesothelioma tests to determine the exact cause of your symptoms. These medical tests can help to rule out some diseases and help to confirm others.

As you go through the process to determine the cause of your symptoms, your doctor may order specific tests to determine if you have mesothelioma. Medical test ordered by your physician may consist of x-rays, MRI, and CT scans to view the various internal organs especially the lungs, heart and abdomen. The most invasive diagnostic test used to determine if your asbestos symptoms are a result of mesothelioma is a thoracoscopy or peritoneoscopy. With these tests a small camera is inserted through a small incision in the chest or abdomen to search for potential damage and to take a small tissue sample for biopsy.

As other causes are ruled out, your healthcare provider may begin to ask you about what kind of occupation you have had in the past in order to confirm asbestos symptoms. It is these questions that could begin to open the investigation into the relating asbestos symptoms directly to asbestos exposure. If you are one of the many people exposed to asbestos, it will be important to know how long ago you believe you were exposed to asbestos and how long you believe that you worked with exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer and is a direct result of individuals who have been exposed to asbestos. Currently there is no known cure of malignant mesothelioma.

Asbestos symptoms related to lung disease, such as shortness of breath, may take years to show up because malignant mesothelioma can lie dormant in the body for 20 to 30 years. Some victims may not even realize they have been exposed to asbestos until they develop mesothelioma decades later.

Asbestos symptoms are serious and because they mimic many other diseases and conditions, those symptoms must be evaluated by your physician in order to determine the root cause of the symptoms. Time is of the essence as mesothelioma is a disease that cannot be cured; however medical intervention can help to improve a mesothelioma patient’s quality of life and in some cases life expectancy.

Be proactive not reactive…do not ignore asbestos symptoms… you owe it to your health!

Lung Cancer Asbestos Exposure

Almost 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States each year. Occurring more often in men and increasing in incidences with advancing age, mesothelioma is still a rare cancer.

Three-fourths of all cases of mesothelioma report a prior asbestos exposure. It is a well documented fact that working with asbestos is a major mesothelioma risk factor for mesothelioma. However, it is important to note that there are some cases of mesothelioma that report no known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos has been used commercially since the late 1800s. We now know that since the 1940s millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos. Although the harm caused by asbestos is not originally apparent, asbestos exposure often leads to serious, debilitating, and often fatal diseases, such as mesothelioma.

Initially the effects of asbestos exposure were not well known, however, it eventually became clear that shipyard workers, heating and air conditioning workers, asbestos mine workers and many others were developing mesothelioma at an alarming rate when compared to the standard population. Asbestos exposure turned out to be the common factor among all of these patients.

It is not just in the workplace, but asbestos exposure can also occur at schools, homes and even public buildings if asbestos products have fallen into disrepair or become damaged. The development of malignant mesothelioma is related to a variety of asbestos risk factors such as the amount of asbestos to which you were exposed and the total length of your exposure. There is no safe amount of asbestos exposure…don’t take the chance…avoid asbestos!

It is the knowledge that asbestos exposure can ultimately lead to the development of mesothelioma that first led to mesothelioma lawsuits. Because of the correlation between asbestos exposure and the failure of some employers to protect their workers from that exposure, many mesothelioma patients and their families working along with mesothelioma lawyers filed lawsuits for compensation based on the diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Asbestos is found in countless factories and industrial products. Items such as shingles, insulation, brake linings, cement, and flooring products are all manufactured using asbestos. Asbestos is a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers and can be separated into thin threads and woven.

Once these threads are woven, they can be used to develop many industrial products. There are literally thousands of commercial products that contain asbestos. It is a widely chosen material because of its strength, flexibility, and resistance to heat and chemicals. Asbestos also has a low electrical conductivity which also makes it a suitable choice of materials.

Lung cancer, asbestosis, mesothelioma and other cancers can also be related to asbestos exposure. Although workers are now more protected in the workplace by organizations such as the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA), asbestos exposure will always be a serious health hazard.

Mesothelioma is an unusual type of lung cancer, in which cancer cells are found on the sac lining of the chest medically termed as pleura, the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum or in the lining around the heart referred to as pericardium. When the cancerous cells begin to occupy the body and mass out the healthy cells, then many symptoms of mesothelioma begin to appear in an early stage. But because of the long period of time between the asbestos exposures and the development of its symptoms, it can be very complicated for a physician to diagnose mesothelioma, since early mesothelioma symptoms are not specific that may lead to a delay in diagnosis and that it could be ascribed to various common diseases.

Signs Symptoms of Mesothelioma

• Chronic chest pain
• Fever
• Breathing shortage
• Fluid build up that surround the heart
• Palpitations
• Bowel obstruction
• Anemia
• Hoarseness and swelling of the face

You should know that mesothelioma symptoms tend to develop gradually, and earlier indications are often confused for illnesses that are more agreeable to treatment. Like for instance, coughing, breathing difficulties and chest pain are often seen in lung infection such as pneumonia. In general, once symptoms are more evident, the cancer is quite complex and treatment becomes less effective already. Surgery or radiotherapy may reduce, if not all, some of the obstructive symptoms, and pain may be reduced as well. Look for a competent physician, the one who will pay attention to your history.

Symptoms of mesothelioma or other signs that you are sick are to be taken seriously because these are the body’s way of telling you that something bad is going on and you should already act immediately.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, after non-melanoma skin cancer, lung cancer is the second most common cancer for all men in the United States. In the year 2002, over 100,000 men and over 80,000 women were diagnosed with lung cancer. This disease can be quite aggressive and can progress rapidly. Roughly one-fourth of the patients diagnosed with lung cancer exhibit no symptoms of cancer even when they are diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

Some lung cancer patients are victims of asbestos exposure. The majority of these patients were exposed to asbestos decades earlier, most in their place of employment. Mesothelioma, a direct result of exposure to asbestos, is an aggressive cancer which most often settles in the lungs. Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer and unfortunately there is currently no cure for this aggressive lung cancer.

Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

As the disease progresses many patients find themselves seeking more and more information and wonder about what happens in the final stages of lung cancer? Patients begin to wonder what should they look for, what symptoms will they see, what will tell them that something has changed… what will tell them they have entered the final stage of lung cancer. These are difficult conversations for both the patient and their family as well as the physician.

It is often when patients present to their healthcare provider with complaints of pneumonia, rib or shoulder pain, facial swelling, headaches and constant cough and their physician orders a chest x-ray that often a mass or tumor is found in the lungs.

A patient can be in the final stage of lung cancer before they ever seek medical treatment because the symptoms are so subtle and look so much like “something else”. Further medical testing will be performed to confirm the patient has lung cancer and to determine the exact stage of the cancer.

Small-cell lung cancer is the most aggressive form of the disease; it is also called oat-cell cancer because, its cells resemble oat grains. Like squamous cell carcinoma, this cancer usually originates in the large, central bronchi. The cancer frequently spreads (metastasizes) to the liver, bone, and brain. Although responsive to chemotherapy, small-cell lung cancer is rarely ever cured because it usually is not even discovered before it has metastasized or spread to other areas of the body.

Stage four is the final stage of lung cancer and it is the most advanced form of lung cancer. It is in this final stage of lung cancer that the cancer metastasized or invaded other areas of the body. Surgery at this stage is not likely recommended, unless it is for a relief of symptoms. However, massive quantities of chemotherapy and different combination of cancer fighting drugs are recommended to relieve some of the pain from the cancer and to possibly prolong the patient’s life span.

Many cancer patients will ask what happens during the final stages of lung cancer and it is the responsibility of the medical provider to educate the patient and their family on exactly what to expect in the final stage of lung cancer.

Symptoms such as extreme fatigue, dry mouth, shortness of breath, joint pain and often pneumonia are just a few of the symptoms which may be seen in the final stages of lung cancer. When the patient is in the final stages of lung cancer it is best to do everything possible to make the patient as comfortable as possible.

Be an advocate for the patient, ask for what you need, and work closely with the physician to find out what works best to help relieve or lessen symptoms… quality of life is an important marker of success in the final stages of lung cancer.

Although a rare cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive. It can lie dormant for decades but once pleural mesothelioma takes hold it moves quickly and aggressively. Although mesothelioma can be defined as both cancerous (malignant) or benign (non-cancerous), and can be further defined by its location…pleural, pericardial or peritoneal, for the purposes of this article we will be discussing only malignant pleural mesothelioma. Both pericardial mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma will be discussed in additional articles.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma affects the mesothelium lining between the lungs and the ribs. This cancer is found in the cells of the pleura or lining surrounding the outside of the lungs and the inside of the ribs. Workers exposed to asbestos are most at risk for the development of malignant mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure that occurred over twenty or thirty years ago is a primary factor in the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma. It is actually the exposure to the asbestos fibers that are either inhaled or swallowed that ultimately cause the problem. The asbestos fibers work their way into the smaller parts of the lungs where they lie dormant until they begin to cause problems.

Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma might include shortness of breath, persistent cough, and even chest pain. Other symptoms such as weight loss, general fatigue and weakness may also be experienced. Diagnosing mesothelioma is a difficult task because it often mimics other diseases. Your primary physician will conduct a thorough physical exam, obtain blood work, a chest x-ray, and perhaps a CT scan or MRI scan in order to gather the most information to determine the true cause of your symptoms.

Once a definitive diagnosis has been made it is important to seek aggressive and immediate treatment. A physician that specializes in the treatment of mesothelioma is the best option. Treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma might include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. A combination of treatment options is generally the most common plan of care for mesothelioma patients.

Bottom line, if you have been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma it is of utmost importance that you seek early and aggressive treatment by a physician with experience in treating this rare and complex cancer.

Medical providers begin the diagnostic process for mesothelioma with a review of your medical history and family medical history including any record of asbestos exposure. It is important to remember that there are accounts of family members of asbestos workers who have been diagnoses with malignant mesothelioma. It is thought that the family members contracted mesothelioma through the handling of clothing contaminated with harmful asbestos fibers.

Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

Once your physician has ruled out other diagnosis and has confirmed a history of asbestos exposure then additional mesothelioma tests will be ordered to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. The first stage of diagnosis is a chest or abdominal x-ray. These simple tests can help your physician to see any abnormal masses and can also show a buildup of fluid in the lining surrounding the lungs and the heart. For further testing a CT or CAT scan (computed axial tomography) or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may also be ordered.

Once these mesothelioma tests have been completed your physician can evaluate any abnormal findings, and the size, location and level of any swelling or lump in the chest or abdomen. Once the initial mesothelioma tests are completed and if anything appears to be abnormal, a biopsy is then ordered to confirm the stage of mesothelioma. To view the inside of the abdomen the medical provider will order a test known as peritonescopy.

During a peritoneoscopy an incision is made into the abdomen and a small sample of tissue is taken to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. This test is more invasive and routinely requires the test to be done in the hospital under local anesthesia. The tissue removed during the exam is examined by a pathologist for abnormalities.

Also, thoracoscopy is another diagnostic test that is ordered to look at the chest cavity to determine if the mesothelioma is in the chest wall or cavity. During this mesothelioma test, your physician will make a tiny incision into the chest wall. Through this incision, he will insert an endoscope, which is a small narrow tube which holds a camera or in some cases a small mirror and he will inspect the lungs and entire chest cavity looking for abnormalities.

The thoracoscopy also allows your physician to take a biopsy of any abnormal tissue found and send it to the lab for further study. This test is similar to the peritonescopy and tissue sample is taking to confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. It is important to remember that there is no one test that can confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. It takes a battery of mesothelioma tests to rule out other diseases and to confirm a final diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure can result in mesothelioma decades after the initial exposure to the harmful fibers of asbestos. Mesothelioma is known to be a rare yet aggressive cancer and requires expert treatment for a positive mesothelioma prognosis and to prolong life. If you are experiencing mesothelioma symptoms, then seek medical attention right away. Talk with your physician. He is the best resource for scheduling mesothelioma tests and is the best resource to design a treatment plan for your best outcome.

Mesothelioma Malignant Cancer

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is defined as the cancer that invades the lining of the abdomen. Many of the organs in the abdomen are covered by a thin membrane called the peritoneum. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of this membrane. Caused by asbestos exposure this type of mesothelioma attacks the peritoneum, or the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen.

Because of the correlation between peritoneal mesothelioma and asbestos exposure, it is advisable to seek legal counsel from an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to determine your options for compensation should you have been exposed to asbestos at your place of employment. An experienced asbestos attorney can best advise you to your legal rights.

It is not quite clear how the fibers from asbestos exposure migrate into the peritoneal cavity. Mesothelioma can develop years after asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed. With malignant peritoneal mesothelioma it is thought that as these asbestos fibers enter the body, they make their way into the intestinal tract where they can eventually move through the walls of the intestine and into the peritoneal cavity. It is also thought that perhaps the asbestos fibers that initially lodge in the lungs are carried to the peritoneal cavity by the lymphatic system.

The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain or swelling. If the peritoneal mesothelioma begins to press upward into the chest, you may also experience shortness of breath, chest pain. If the tumor begins to press on the intestines then you can develop a bowel obstruction. If the expanding tumor presses against abdominal areas with multiple nerve fibers, and the bowel expands, the amount of pain you experience can increase.

As with other types of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma is treated with surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of all three. Your physician may elect to perform surgery to remove the cancer from the abdomen. The extent of cancer will determine the extent of the surgery…the peritoneal lining, lung or other tissue may be removed in order to attempt to manage the disease. Your general health, age, other health conditions and the extent of the disease will also help to determine the course of treatment.

Regardless of the early symptoms, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma requires aggressive treatment to improve your outcome. Although there is currently no cure for peritoneal mesothelioma, treatment options have certainly improved and a strong multi-disciplinary team is the best choice for leading your care.