Mesothelioma Summary
Mesothelioma is a deadly, “sneaky” cancer that
doesn’t generally show its symptoms for many years after it begins. For
some people, the diagnosis of
mesothelioma is a shock that prompts a search through their past,
going back decades to determine the source of the asbestos that
initiated the mesothelioma process.
Asbestos Exposure Leads to Mesothelioma
For other individuals, their history of asbestos
work is easily identified as the culprit underlying this disease, the
onset of which can take up to 50 years after the causative
asbestos exposure. Many people who worked in asbestos mines or
processing plants or with asbestos-containing products are by now aware
of the high rate of mesothelioma in their professions, often having
heard about former co-workers diagnosed with this cancer.
Diagnosing Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is not easily diagnosed and confirmed,
however. Oftentimes an individual is mistakenly diagnosed with another
type of cancer or respiratory disease or other malady before the
mesothelioma is identified. In addition, primary care physicians and
other healthcare professionals are not familiar with mesothelioma and
thus miss or misinterpret the signs and symptoms, which may include
(dependent on the location of the cancer):
- A mass in the abdomen
- Abdominal pain and/or swelling
- Ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in
the abdomen
- Bowel problems
- Chest wall pain or pain under the rib cage
- Coughing up bloody sputum
- Fatigue, anemia
- Hoarseness, wheezing, or cough
- Pleural effusion (fluid surrounding the lung)
- Shortness of breath
- Weight loss
The mesothelioma may attack the pleura (the outer
lining of the lungs and chest cavity), the peritoneum (the lining of the
abdominal cavity), or the pericardium (a tissue sac surrounding the
heart).
The Prognosis for Mesothelioma Patients
In nearly every case, mesothelioma is malignant
(active, growing), not benign. The prognosis for a given mesothelioma
patient depends on several factors in his or her unique circumstances:
- the patient's age
- his or her health, especially lung and heart
health
- the size of the mesothelioma tumor
- its stage
- the type of mesothelioma cells
- whether the cancer is new or a recurrence
- the presence and amount of fluid in the chest
and/or abdomen
Treatment for Mesothelioma
There are three main categories of treatment for
mesothelioma: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Combinations
of two or more of these are also frequently used. For example, surgery
may be performed to excise all possible malignant tissue, then
chemotherapy or radiation is used to kill off any cancer cells that
remain. Such treatment after surgery is commonly referred to as adjuvant
therapy.
New
mesothelioma cancer treatments are under investigation, including
photodynamic therapy and biologic therapy.
More Information about Mesothelioma
There is much more to learn about mesothelioma,
including the legal rights of individuals and families impacted by this
disease. Contact a
mesothelioma lawyer in your vicinity today to get the information
you need.
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