Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer characterized by a malignant tumor in the mesothelial tissues of the lungs and the abdomen and is thought to arise from the inhalation of asbestos. Many people die of Mesothelioma undiagnosed, although there is a growing awareness of the hazards of asbestos to health. As it is rare, many have not heard of Mesothelioma and thus, have not understood its nature, cause, signs and treatment. Even some physicians find it hard to detect Mesothelioma because its symptoms are akin to other diseases like lung cancer and pneumonia. It can take decades for a patient who was exposed to asbestos to develop Mesothelioma—fifty years, at most. Being unaware of Mesothelioma poses higher risks since it deters diagnosis and treatment.
The most common type of Mesothelioma is the pleural Mesothelioma. The pleura is a thin membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity. It provides a lubricated surface so that the lungs do not chafe against the chest walls. Thus, a pleural Mesothelioma is often referred to as a "lung" cancer.
Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Mesothelioma is a very serious disease and patients and their families should have the support and resources they need to better deal with their diagnosis. Course of treatment:
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Traditional Treatments, Surgery - a Mesothelioma treatment used either to remove the tumor or to alleviate pain. If the cancer is relatively contained, surgery can be used to remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen.
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Experimental Treatments, Gene therapy - an experimental medical intervention that involves altering the patient’s genetic material of living cells to fight or prevent disease.
What Are The Clinical Signs Of Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma symptoms can be very general and therefore they are often ignored. In most cases, symptoms for this type of cancer arise 2 to 3 months before the cancer is found. Click on the Mesothelioma types below to learn about their respective symptoms. Most common types:
Management of Mesothelioma depends largely on the staging of the tumor. Early diagnosis and surgical intervention may lengthen life expectancy. Depending on the age and physical condition of the patient, however, surgery may not be a viable option. In addition to surgical options, radiation treatment and chemotherapy may be helpful in the overall therapeutic program. Pain management and home care are typical alternatives in the later stages of the disease. Occupations Commonly Associated With Mesothelioma
Asbestos has been used in association with a number of occupations. A number of former military personnel, particularly naval, came into contact with asbestos during their service. Massive amounts of asbestos were used in shipbuilding and commercial construction prior to the mid-1970's. Anyone involved with those industries is at a higher risk for developing an asbestos-related disease, including Mesothelioma. Exposure may have been direct or indirect, lengthy or brief. The typical exposure period is lengthy, but some persons with short but intense exposures develop Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma can also occur from non-occupational exposure, as evidenced by manifestation of the disease in women whose exposure came from washing the clothing of men (father, husband, son) who worked with asbestos.
A unique feature of asbestos-related injuries is the long latency period between exposure to asbestos and the onset of the injury or disease. For Mesothelioma, the latency period is between 15 and 50 years, or more. That means that a person could have been exposed to asbestos 50 years ago, and develop Mesothelioma today. The average Mesothelioma latency period is approximately 35 - 40 years.
According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 3,000 cases per year of malignant Mesothelioma are being reported in the United States, and the incidence appears to be increasing. The disease is three times more common in men than in women. In men, the occurrence of Mesothelioma is ten times higher in men between the ages of 60-70 as compared to men between the ages of 30-40. Occupational exposure to asbestos over the past fifty years in the United States is calculated to have occurred in approximately eight million people:
- Asbestos Workers
- Firefighters
- Oil Refinery
- Auto Mechanics
- Furnace Technicians
- Power Plant
- Blacksmith
- Gas Station Attendant
- Shipyard Workers
- Teachers
- Masons
- Woodworker
Asbestos Related Lung Cancer
Lung cancer, or bronchial carcinoma, occurs in several forms. The most common causes of lung cancer are smoking and asbestos. This web site has focused on the most lethal of the lung cancers - Mesothelioma. Not every asbestos-related lung cancer, however, is a Mesothelioma. Other thoracic carcinomas, such as adenocarcinoma, are also caused by exposure to asbestos. The connection between asbestos exposure and lung cancer was noted as early as 1925, and confirmed over the next 70 years by many epidemiologic studies of asbestos-exposed workers. The four main types of commercially used asbestos, chrysotile, amosite, anthophyllite, and mixtures containing crocidolite, have all been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. About one in seven people who suffer from asbestosis, a lung disease resulting from high exposure to asbestos, eventually develop lung cancer.
There is a relationship between cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure in causing lung cancer, such is that asbestos workers who smoke face a much higher risk than asbestos workers who do not. According to the National Cancer Institute, evidence suggests that asbestos-exposed workers who quit smoking can reduce their risk of developing lung cancer by 50% within five years of quitting.
Mesothelioma Lawyer - Your Right to Compensation
Victims of asbestos injuries are entitled to compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos. The amount of compensation varies in each individual case, but it is often a significant amount of money-as much as six or seven figures. This compensation is not a windfall. If you are suffering from an asbestos disease, you are most likely doing so through no fault of your own. Asbestos companies covered up the fact that asbestos is hazardous, and made billions of dollars peddling deadly products. You, the unsuspecting user, are now paying the ultimate price.
Anyone who was injured as a result of their exposure to asbestos has a potential legal claim against the manufacturers of asbestos products. This can be significant for several reasons. The medical costs associated with treating a disease such as Mesothelioma can be staggering. Moreover, legal compensation is a means by which many victims of Mesothelioma provide enough money to support a spouse or loved one, or to leave behind a legacy (for example, to help put their grandchildren through college).
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