What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis (actual medical definition).
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (read below about asbestos and the law(mesothelioma lawyers).
The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.
Mesothelioma Lawyers - The Legal Pusuit
In many cases, beyond the treatment of Mesothelioma legal avenues may be pursued if the patient feels he or she has been clinically diagnosed with Mesothelioma as a residual long term affect of exposure to asbestos. There are many attorneys ready to fight for victims who have been diagnosed with this rare but deadly disease. Often times the victims can receive substantial settlements to include but not limited to money damages as well as paid future treatments and medical care concerning the diagnosis. Legal advice should be attained immediately if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma lawyers can be found either in the links of this page or by searching google.
Symptoms
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.
Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:
chest wall pain
leural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
shortness of breath
fatigue or anemia
wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:
abdominal pain
ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
a mass in the abdomen
problems with bowel function
weight loss
In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
low blood sugar level
pleural effusion
pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
severe ascites
Here are some case results that attorneys were able to get for patients with mesothelioma
$4,442,200.00 Received by Client after Attorney's Fees and Expenses, for a gentleman who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 37. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a mechanic in Colorado and Texas and as a construction laborer.
$3,502,850.00 Received by Client after Attorney's Fees and Expenses, for a gentleman who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 76. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a welder and mechanic in Massachusetts power plants and during his service in the Navy.
$2,794,939.00 Received by Client after Attorney's Fees and Expenses, for a gentleman who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 69. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a brake mechanic in Texas and Louisiana.
$2,781,510.00 Received by Client after Attorney's Fees and Expenses, for a gentleman who developed malignant mesothelioma at the age of 79. He was exposed to asbestos products through his work as a heating, vent and air conditioning worker in Texas and Missouri.
Click Here for more information on legal pursuits due to health conditions from work related illnesses and disease.
If you or a loved one have ever worked at shipyards, manufacturing facilities, oil refineries, powerhouses, chemical plants and nuclear power plants in the Northeast you may have been exposed to asbestos on the job. Asbestos exposure has known causal links to mesothelioma. Legal advice should be sought even if you haven't yet been diagnosed with this life threatening disease.
Sponsored Advertisment
Brought To You By PersonalHealthAnswers.com "Your Source For Personal Health Care Answers "
Comments
Menu
Health Articles
Am I Healthy?
What Is Mesothelioma?
Cancer Diet - Minerals
What Is Cancer?
What Is Lung Cancer?
Justice For Illness Due to Work Related Medical Conditions
Alternative Medicines - Cancer
Sexual Health
The Fitness Center
Visit Our Health And Medical Blog
Health Articles What Is Cancer? The Legal Definition, Diagnosis, Symptoms and Treatment.. What Is Mesothelioma? What Is Mesothelioma? Everything from the Diagnosis to Treatment and the legal pursuit.. Medical Law And Legal Advice The legal pursuit for justice for those with terminal illness due to work related medical conditions.. |
|
|
