Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that originates in the mesothelium, or protective lining covering the body’s internal organs. The most common site of mesothelioma occurs in the outer lining of the lungs as well as the internal lining of the chest cavity.
Mesothelioma Facts
- Mesothelioma is a cancer that develops from the cells lining the chest or abdominal cavities.
- Studies have proven that exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma.
- When mesothelioma is found in the chest, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope.
- When mesothelioma is found in the abdomen, the doctor may look inside the abdomen with a special tool called a peritoneoscope.
- Mesothelioma is diagnosed by a biopsy.
- The prognosis for patients with mesothelioma varies greatly and depends mainly on how early the condition is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated.
Asbestos’ Role in Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a naturally occurring set of silicates mined from the earth and reformed, primarily for commercial purposes. Many buildings and ships developed around 1900 used asbestos for electrical and structural insulation. Over time, the fibrous material can break down and is released into the air where workers can breathe it in.
As mesothelioma diagnoses and cases of related deaths grew, the direct link to asbestos exposure has led to the longest, most expensive mass tort in US history. Asbestos exposure has been medically proven to cause mesothelioma. Organizations operating in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s that may have exposed workers to these health risks include:
- Shipyards
- Chemical manufacturing facilities
- Aerospace manufacturing facilities
- Mines
- Smelters
- Coal fired power plants
- Construction work sites
- Auto repair shops
- Plumbers
- Welders
- Manufacturing/industrial plants
- US Navy
- Oil refineries
Primary Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Most patients who develop mesothelioma experience trouble breathing and/or notable shortness of breath. They also may experience chest pain or a crushing sensation. If the cancer progresses undiagnosed and untreated, a patient may experience:
- Severe shortness of breath
- Weight loss
- Decreased appetite
- Night sweats
- Changing of voice (from tumor growth)
- Impaired diaphragm function
Any person who begins experiencing difficulty or abnormalities with their breathing and who worked in any of the industries listed above between the 1950s and 1980s should see a doctor immediately to be screened for mesothelioma or other lung diseases. Beyond breathing problems, a patient who develops cancer will develop the symptoms of cancer listed in the bullets above. Any person diagnosed with mesothelioma should speak with a personal injury attorney experienced in mesothelioma claims.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Mesothelioma is diagnosed by pathological examination from a biopsy. A doctor will remove a sample of lung tissue and a pathologist twill make a definitive diagnosis. This is the end of a process that usually begins with symptoms that send most people to the doctor, such as fluid buildup around the lungs (pleural effusions), shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen.
The doctor may order an X-ray or CT scan of the chest or abdomen. The progression of the disease is further analyzed through a combination of the biopsy results and one or more chest scans. Malignant mesothelioma is simply cancer, but a specific type of cancer. Treatments involve the common medical approaches for fighting cancer of most types:
- Surgical Removal of Tumors/Cancerous Tissue
- Radiation (targeted to the chest)
- Chemotherapy (IV drugs to destroy cancer cells)
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