Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused almost exclusively by previous prolonged exposure to asbestos. While there does exist a extremely rare benign (harmless) form of the cancer, the malignant (harmful) form is found as three different types: pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, and pericardial mesothelioma.

Anatomically, the malignant cells of the disease develop in the mesothelium, which is the protective lining of the body's internal organs, in particular the cavity of the lungs and chest cavity. In individual's with the disease, the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and begin dividing uncontrollably without purpose or order. As a result, they end up damaging adjacent tissue and organs. Most commonly, the cancerous cells spread from their original location of the pleura or peritoneum (hence pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma) and spread to other areas of the body.

Unfortunately, it is the many individuals who worked with asbestos, inhaling the fibers who get the cancer. Others many have come in contact with some asbestos-soiled material, such as the clothes of someone who worked in an asbestos-rich environment.

Asbestos used to be a very common material in construction from the late 1800s to the mid-1980s, due to its advantageous properties as a building material, such as its strength, flexibility, and flame-retardant and insulating properties. However, in light of the fact that exposure to the material now causes a serious form of cancer, its use is now banned in many countries (as it was for a time in the United States).

Those who have contracted the cancer typically die within 12 months of diagnosis. Consequently, a major international issues as of late has been compensation to those exposed to the harmful material. Many attorneys and physicians practicing in the field have since arisen.

In all forms of the disease, there is a long latency time, which is the time between the initial exposure (to asbestos) before the cancerous cells begin to manifest themselves. For mesothelioma, the time is between 30 and 50 years.

Pleural mesothelioma (of the chest and lungs)

This is the most common type of mesothelioma, affecting approximately 65-70% of those diagnosed. Affected is the lining of the pleura, the lung and body cavity. The parietal pleura (or the outer pleura) is attached to the chest wall and covers it; this area is highly sensivitive to pain. Accompanying it is the visceral pleura (or the inner pleura) also covers and attaches to the longs, but to other elements as well including nerves, blood vessels, and bronchi. Both of them together surround the lungs as two serous membranes. The thin space in between the parietal and visceral pleurae is called the pleural space, and contains a small amount (aout 15mL) of pleural fluid. Overall the pleura facilitates easy movement between the chest cavity and the lungs.

In an individual with pleural mesothelioma, the asbestos fibers manage there way into the lungs and eventually to the pleurae. Resulting is overt propagating growth of the cancerous cells. This causes an increased amount of pleural fluid. The lining of the pleural also thicking, and with less space in the chest cavity, the individual will experience shortness of breath and chest pain (due to increased pressure), both often the first sign of mesothelioma. Fortunately there are a variety of treatments available for the disease.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma (of the abdomen)

A much less prevalent form of mesothelioma, affecting only 30% of those diagnosed. Affected is the peritoneal, which is a serious memberane (like the pleurae) that lines the abdominal cavity. It is composed of the parietal peritoneum (the outer layer); this layer is attached to the abdominal wall. The visceral peritoneum (the inner layer) wraps around the internal organs contained within the cavity, such as the stomach, liver, spleen, pancreas, colon, and various smaller organs. The space in between is the peritoneal cavity, which again, contains slippery fluid (about 50mL) to lubricate the two layers.

Mesothelioma of the peritoneum causes excess production of this peritoneal fluid. Since in the more common pleural mesothelioma, the asbestos is inhale, it is debated just how it reaches the peritoneum. Either it is ingested and subsequently diffuses through the intestine into the area, or it may still be inhale, but just received by the peritoneum through the lymph node system.

Pericardial Mesothelioma (of the heart)

Finally this disease affects the heart, but so seldomly occuring that it is often overlooked. The pericardium is the bilayer sac containing the heart, as well as the roots of the major arteries. While the two layers of the pericardium are the fibruous pericardium and the serous pericardium, the more relevant one is the latter. It consists of parietal pericardium, which is inseparably fused to the fibrous pericardium, and the visceral pericardium which is actually the myocardium, or the outer surface of the heart muscle. As expected, the space between the parietal and visceral pericardium layers is the pericardium cavity, occupied by a thin film of pericardium fluid.

Mesothelioma of the pericardium causes an excess of fluid in this cavity, thereby resulting in the deleterious compression of the heart. The heart is then insufficiently able to deliver oxygen to the rest of the body. Symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack, such as shortness of breath and chest pain.

These refer to the tissue from which the cancerous mesothelioma cells originated. There are three types:

• epithelial malignant mesothelioma

  refers to mesothelioma that occurs originally in the epithelium, which is membrane that lines the lungs, abdomen, or heart

• sarcomatus malignant mesothelioma
  refers to mesothelioma which originates in connective tissue

• biphasic malignant mesothelioma
  refers to mesothelioma which originates if two different types of tissue (hence the prefix "bi-")

Asbestos is a group of minerals which became renowned in the late 19th century for its favorable building qualities. More specifically, it became popular because of its tensile strength and sound absorption, its flexibility and its resistivitiy to electrical and chemical damage, its insulating properties, and its use as a flame-retardant. It was especially unique because it could be separate into fibers and then rewoven together as desire, such as in mats or fabric. Additionally, in construction, its fibers were often incorporated into cement.

The six elements that make up the asbestos group are chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. All naturally-occuring minerals, asbestos was mined in mass quantities; as much as 2.2 million tons was mined in 2005 alone. Russia produces about 40% of the world's total, with China and Kazakhstan following.

Historically though, asbestos has been used in its fiber form, even though the ancient Greeks and Romans noticed its detrimental health effects on slaves who wore asbestos-made clothing. The first Holy Roman Emperor, Charlemagne, is alleged to have asbestos in the form of a tablecloth.

However its prevalence became truly widespread during the Industrial Revolution, after which it was used for a plethora of purposes: from concrete to pipe insulation, and from lawn furniture to fireproof drywall. Even throughout World War II, asbestos was increasingly used extensively in a variety of items.

The shipbuilding industry also has relied heavily on the material, for use in steampipes and hot water pipes, and to insulate boilers.

However, throughout the 1900s, it became more and more evident that despite all of the materialistic advantages that came with asbestos, the recurring health issues that resulted were not worth those benefits.

The health hazards of asbestos was arguably first recognized by Dr. H. Montague Murray, who investigated into the death of a young asbestos factory worker in 1899. He concluded that the asbestos was the cause.

And logically so, because as we now know, asbestos is primarily contracted through inhalation and its microscopic fibers can be 0.01 micrometers in diameter, compared to the approximate 100 micrometer diameter of a human hair.

With asbestos-related health concerns mounting, the Merewether report, a large scale public health investigation, followed in the late 1920s, finding incriminating evidence. And in 1927, the first U.S. claim for worker's compensation for an asbestos-related disease was filed.

In the subsequent decades, companies conducted research into asbestos, but severely omitted much information of mesothelioma resulting from exposure to it. Asbestosis is another severe disease resulting from occupational exposure to asbestos. Also contracted by inhalation, this condition is the scarring on lung tissue by acids naturally produced in attempt to destroy the fibers. For more on asbestosis, visit here.

Back in 1982, the crusade against mesothelioma companies reached a peak with the abundance of lawsuits filed against the John-Manville Corporation. Even though it was ranked 181st on the Fortune 500, it still ending up filing for bankruptcy after 16,500 lawsuits were filed. At the time it was the largest and richest company to go bankrupt, recognized by Ronald Motley to be "the greatest corporate mass murder in history."

But the company was not without fault; it was discovered that the corportation had a long history of concealing information of the deleterious effects from the public. A particular memo exchanged within the company read as follows: "The fibrosis of this disease is irreversible and permanent so that eventually compensation will be paid to each of these men. But, as long as the man is not disabled it is felt that he should not be told of his condition so that he can live and work in peace and the company can benefit by his many years of experience."

Currently, there are 60 nations which have a full or partial ban on the use of asbestos. In July 1989, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued the "Asbestos Ban and Phase Out" rule. This banned the use of asbestos in most products. However, this was soon overruled by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, in the legal case Corrosion Proof Fittings v. U.S. EPA. Currently, the "new uses" of asbestos are permissible, i.e. uses that were not historically existing.

By the early 1990s, "more than half of the 25 largest asbestos manufacturers in the US, including Amatex, Carey-Canada, Celotex, Eagle-Picher Industries, Forty-Eight Insulations, Manville Corporation, National Gypsum, Standard Insulation, Unarco, and UNR Industries had declared bankruptcy. Filing for bankruptcy protects a company from its creditors" (as found in the Asbestos Hazards Handbook, found here).

Unfortunately still 1.2 million U.S. workers are still occupationally exposed, particularly those in the construction industry, and for building repair and maintenance.

In the recent decades, there has internationally been a plethora of litigation involving mesothelioma claims. But today, mesothelioma claims have become most expensive and common legal litigation issues today. To date there have been about 8,400 defendants and 730,000 claimants. Asbestos litigation is estimated to amount to $250 billion. As a result, the popularity of mesothelioma lawyers is astounding.

Due to the staggering numbers of claims though, the government has imposed regulations on what is required before one my file a claim. THis is due to the fact that many would file claims without having (and perhaps never having) the disease, and delaying the claims of those who are seriously affected. So according to the American Bar Association (ABA), the prerequisites:

1. a clear standard of impairment be implemented

2. the statute of limitations not start ticking until a person actually becomes ill

In 1999 alone though, there were astoundingly 200,000 cases pending for the U.S. Federal court system. In this year though, Fairness in Asbestos Compensation Act was introduced. It was used to determine which individuals have legitimate health issues as a result, and actually deserve to file a claim. The thousands of false claims have been costing billions of dollars to companies, so this was a necessary measure. Fortunately, this act has effectively helped save time, money and aggravation for both sides of every asbestos case, and there have been fewer cases of bankruptcy and fewer cases of fraudulent medical concerns.

One must be careful and cautious when selecting a mesothelioma attorney. But you must also keep in mind that an lawyer cannot provide you with medical information. Preferably, ensure with a physican that you do in fact have the cancer, before seeking legal assistance.

With the average mesothelioma case being worth $1 million, there are many attorneys that will be seeking to represent you, since they will typically receive about half of that amount... per case. And if the case actually goes to trial, the actual amount of the compensation is about $6 million, triple from three years ago. You must ensure that your attorney is qualified in the field.

It is useful to ensure some of the following when selecting a mesothelioma attorney:

• that your attorney is qualified and has competently handed mesothelioma cases in the past
• that your attorney has in the past been successful in his/her cases to advance it to actually going to trial
• that the lawyer him/herself actually intend to handle the case, and not just pass it off to other members of the law firm
• what the details into expense are; getting up to a trial can take several months and sometimes even years, and you will have to pay thousands of dollars in initial and preliminary costs

• that your mesothelioma attorney can comprehensive outline what the process entails and what your part in it is

Since so much is at stake financially with such types of cases, if you are able to, it would be best to contact several lawyers before you ultimately decide on one to represent you. Remember: attorneys, as qualified as they may be, are not medical experts. Ideally you should consult a lawyer and a doctor.

The following is simply a general outline of common symptoms of the disease and by no means are to be used for self-diagnostic purposes. Please always consult a doctor, particularly if you believe you may have mesothelioma cancer.

As briefly stated earlier, the earliest and most common symptoms are shortness of breath and chest pain, as well as coughing.

Symptoms Exclusive to Pleural Mesothelioma

• pain the rib cage
• hoarseness
• coughing up blood
• swelling of the face and arms
• muscle weakness
• paralysis and sensory loss

Symptoms Exclusive to Peritonial Mesothelioma

• stomach pain
• weight loss
• nausea
• vomiting
• hernia
• a mass in the abdomen (excess fluid)

Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma

Primarily shortness of breath and chest pain

Differing methods are used to diagnose the different forms of mesothelioma. The most common methods for each are listed below.

Diagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma

For the most comprehensive outline of diagnosis methods for malignant pleural mesothelioma, you may visit here here.

To be added soon.

• about 2,500 to 3,000 new incidents each year in the United States, despite restrictions on asbestos usage in the country
• worldwide, about 10,000 yearly with the disease
• prevalence expected to increase in the United States for at least another 20 years
• over 500,000 asbestos- or mesothelioma-related claims have been filed to date
• approximately 8 million Americans have been exposed to critically high levels of asbestos
• over 110,000 schools in the U.S. still contain some traces of asbestos
• the various forms of treatment for an individual can cost in excess of $500,000
• only 25% of those diagnosed will survive for more than the next five years
• the majority of incidents are detected between the ages of 50 and 70
• those occupationally exposed to asbestos are 300 times more likely to contract mesothelioma than the general public