It can literally take decades from the first point of exposure to asbestos to the actual development of malignant mesothelioma. Because of the direct correlation between asbestos and malignant mesothelioma this disease is also known as asbestos cancer. The challenge with managing this disease is that once it takes hold it quickly becomes a very aggressive disease. So the treatment of this disease must not be delayed.

Because of the rarity of this cancer, it is simply critical to locate a physician who specializes in the field of mesothelioma cancers. It is too important to the overall survival not to have a mesothelioma specialist in charge of leading the patient’s care.

Currently there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma. However, there are treatments available. Treatment of mesothelioma may include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Although there are other options also available, both traditional therapies and non-traditional therapies, for the purposes of this article we will focus on two of the mesothelioma treatments; surgery and radiation.

Surgery is very common in the treatment of mesothelioma. It may be the first type of treatment utilized after diagnosis. Surgery may include the removal of the pleura, or the lining of the chest, and may also include the removal of the peritoneum, or the lining of the abdomen. Surgery may be quite extensive depending on the spread of the disease. In some instances, an entire lung may need to be removed. Again, this is dependent on how far the cancer has spread.

Radiation therapy is a treatment in which high doses of radiation are used to target cancer cells in order to kill them and are used to target tumors in order to shrink them. External radiation therapy is defined as radiation therapy in which beams of radiation are directed at the body from a large machine. Internal radiation therapy is defined as radiation therapy in which sources of radiation are inserted into the body near the cancer.

Early diagnosis and aggressive treatment is critical. Utilizing a physician who specializes in the treatment of malignant mesothelioma is one of the important “first steps” in this journey.

So even though there is currently no cure for malignant mesothelioma, there are still options available for the treatment of mesothelioma. Seek out those treatment options and hold on to the hope for a cure.

According to The National Cancer Institute malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the sac lining the chest called the pleura, in the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum or in the lining around the heart, called the pericardium. The lining of the chest, the abdominal cavity and the heart is called the mesothelium which is where the name “mesothelioma” comes from.

What is asbestos cancer?

Malignant mesothelioma is also known as “asbestos cancer” because approximately 75% of all mesothelioma patients have a known exposure to asbestos. Because tumors of the mesothelium are rarely benign or non-cancerous, malignant or cancerous mesothelioma is usually referred to by the shorter name of “mesothelioma”.

What is the correlation between asbestos and malignant mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for eventually being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products.

Can you develop mesothelioma if you’ve never worked around asbestos?

Yes. Mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In areas where asbestos producing factories are located, people in the area may have been exposed by inhaling or swallowing particles of asbestos simply floating in the air.

Even families at home may have been exposed to asbestos particles by handling the clothes of a family member who was working with asbestos and came home with microscopic particles of it on their clothing. However, it is important to remember that mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

What are some of the types of mesothelioma?

There are three main types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, the most common, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma.

What are some of the symptoms of malignant mesothelioma?

The early symptoms of mesothelioma can be varied and can mimic many other diseases. Some patients with pleural mesothelioma, the most common type of mesothelioma, may present to their personal physician with a persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, weight loss, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the neck or face, a change in the voice, such as the development of a raspy voice, fever, night sweats or perhaps something as simple as just not feeling well.

Peritoneal mesothelioma, one of the less common types of mesothelioma, may present with early symptoms such as loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, bloating or abdominal pain. The earliest symptoms of mesothelioma involving the pericardium include chest pain, palpitations or what is commonly described as feeling like the heart is racing, shortness of breath, and a persistent cough.

If I develop malignant mesothelioma, do I have any resources for compensation because of exposure to asbestos at my workplace?

Because of the direct link between the exposure to asbestos and the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma, a mesothelioma attorney may be a good place to start to learn about compensation options for those exposed to asbestos through their place of employment.

Mesothelioma cancer can show up as pericardial mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma or pleural mesothelioma, meaning it can invade the mesothelium or the lining of the heart, the abdomen or the lungs.

Even though asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s, we now realize that beginning in the early 1940s that millions of American workers were routinely exposed to asbestos dust. People who worked in shipyards, in mines, in mills, in construction, and of course people who worked in factories which produced asbestos products could all be at an increased risk of developing malignant mesothelioma because of their exposure to asbestos dust and particles.

Because of this direct link between exposure and the risk of disease, a mesothelioma attorney may be a good place to start to learn about compensation options for those exposed to asbestos through their place of employment. Although I am not a proponent of a lawsuit happy culture, it is indeed heartbreaking to see the loyal worker who slaved for years in an environment that was unsafe and one that exposed them to asbestos which could ultimately cost them their life. So a mesothelioma lawyer or a law firm that specializes in mesothelioma cases may be a consideration for you.

Asbestos is defined as “any of several minerals that readily separate into long flexible fibers”. These fibers can then be separated into thin thread and woven. In the production of items containing asbestos, if minute particles float into the air and are swallowed or inhaled they can ultimately lead to very serious health problems.

It is important to remember that from the time of exposure to asbestos to the development of mesothelioma may be anywhere from 20-50 years. Not only can the exposure to asbestos lead to mesothelioma it can also lead to other cancers, such as cancer of the lung or larynx.

It could also lead to a non-cancerous disease called asbestosis, which is a chronic lung condition directly related to exposure to asbestos particles.

As mentioned earlier, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In areas where asbestos producing factories are located, people in the area may have been exposed by inhaling or swallowing particles of asbestos simply floating in the air.

Even families at home may have been exposed to asbestos particles by handling the clothes of a family member who was working with asbestos and came home with microscopic particles of it on their clothing.

The risk of developing malignant mesothelioma cancer is in the majority of cases directly related to a person’s exposure to asbestos and the exposure can occur many years before the actual development of the cancer.

Exposure to asbestos can occur by swallowing or inhaling tiny particles of asbestos which can even occur when doing the laundry and handling the clothes of a family member who has been exposed. Know the facts and know the risks… malignant mesothelioma is directly related to the exposure of asbestos… so prevention is key.