Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant or cancerous cells are found in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is mostly caused to people who work or stay at places with large asbestos particles and these asbestos particles enter their body through respiration.

What are the risk factors with Mesothelioma?

As mentioned above, people working with asbestos or living in the surrounding areas are more likely to suffer Mesothelioma. Around 75% of people suffering from Mesothelioma are exposed to asbestos at some or the other point of time. There have been few cases where people suffered from Mesothelioma without any exposure to asbestos and these cases are still a subject of study and research.

What are the symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms of Mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years.

Symptoms include:

* Shortness of breath and pain in the chest.
* Weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling in the abdomen.
* Bowel (small and large intestines) 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 some other illness. It is advised to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis and confirm if it is Mesothelioma or not.

Because the symptoms of Mesothelioma are very similar to those of few other diseases, diagnosing Mesothelioma is often difficult. A complete physical examination (CT Scan, X-rays of chest, abdomen, lungs, MRI) of the patient is done.

1. Pleural Mesothelioma: A type of lung cancer which attacks the pleura surrounding the lungs, this is the most common type of Mesothelioma, affecting approximately two-thirds of all Mesothelioma patients. Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma include horseness, fever, blood in sputum, swollen arms and face, coughing, loss of weight, difficulty breathing, chest pain, weak muscles, and reduced tactile sensitivity.

2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma: A cancer of the abdomen which attacks the peritoneum lining the abdominal cavity. This affects approximately one-third of all Mesothelioma patients. Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma include abdominal bloating, impaired bowl function, fever, swollen feet, and nausea.

3. Pericardial Mesothelioma: This form of Mesothelioma which attacks the pericardium surrounding the heart is extremely rare. Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma include chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and palpitations.

Stage 1 of Mesothelioma: The early stage of Mesothelioma is called stage 1. In this stage, the malignant Mesothelioma cells start to grow and multiply only one layer of the pleura.

Stage 2 of Mesothelioma: In the 2nd stage, the two layers of the pleura are already affected by Mesothelioma. During this stage of Mesothelioma, fluid starts to build up between the membrane of the lungs and the membrane of the chest wall, resulting to pleural effusion. The increase in the volume of fluid produced causes shortness of breath and chest pain. Other Mesothelioma cancer patients experience dry and persistent cough. Diagnosis of the pleural effusion is achieved through a chest x-ray.

Stage 3 of Mesothelioma: This stage of Mesothelioma means that the malignant cells have already spread to the chest wall, esophagus and the lymph nodes on one part of the chest. The patient may suffer severe pain near the parts affected. If not treated immediately, the cancer may advance to the fourth stage.

Stage 4 of Mesothelioma: The 4th stage Mesothelioma is formidable since at this stage the Mesothelioma cells have penetrated into the bloodstream and other organs in the body like the liver, the bones and the brain. The lymph nodes on the other side of the chest may also be affected by Mesothelioma in this stage.

The treatment options for Mesothelioma depends on many factors: the stage of the cancer, where the cancer is, how far the cancer has spread, how the cancer cells look under the microscope and the patient’s age and desires.

Treatment options for Mesothelioma:

There are three traditional kinds of treatment options for patients with malignant mesothelioma: Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Radiation Therapy. Often two or more of these are combined in the course of treatment.

It is important to be aware of Mesothelioma Law if you are considering pursuing a Mesothelioma Law Suit. Several Mesothelioma Cancer sufferers have received thousands and even millions of dollars in compensation for their diagnosis of Mesothelioma Cancer, due to exposure to Asbestos.

In order to begin a Mesothelioma Law suit you will need to find an experienced Mesothelioma Attorney, or Lawyer, that can usually be found at a reputable Mesothelioma Law Firm. It is important that you disclose all information surrounding your Mesothelioma Cancer, including your diagnosis and prognosis, to your Mesothelioma Attorney, or Lawyer, as this will help them to form a solid Mesothelioma Law suit for your case.

You should provide your Mesothelioma Attorney, or Lawyer with all the details pertaining to the period in which your exposure occurred, who you where working for at the time and any other detail. All information related to your Mesothelioma Cancer is important and will ensure that your Mesothelioma Attorney, or Lawyer, will be successful in your Mesothelioma Law suit.