Mesothelioma is a fairly rare type of cancer.  It usually affects the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen, known as the mesothelium.

There are about 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year in the US.  This comprises about three percent of all cancer diagnoses. This cancer is found about four times more frequently in men than in women.  All forms of mesothelioma are invariably fatal except for benign mesothelioma.

The prognosis of mesothelioma is not a good one with the life expectancy of patients reported as less then one year following diagnosis.  However, the prognosis is affected by several factors including what stage the cancer is in as well as how aggressively they choose to treat it.

Mesothelioma, although it takes years to manifest itself, is an aggressive cancer that affects the mesothelium.  Once infected with the asbestos fibers it causes the cells in the membrane to become cancerous and divide rapidly. This then causes the membrane to thicken and fluid to buildup after which tumors start to form.

Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, which is a naturally-occurring fibrous mineral that has been widely used since the industrial revolution when it was found to be easy to work with and highly resistant to heat and chemicals.

When the fibers of asbestos, which can be microscopic in size, are inhaled into the body they become lodged within the lining of the vital organs known as mesothelium. Once there the body tries to fight off the foreign substance by excreting acid, but because of its resistance to chemicals the fibers are able to withstand the bodies attempt to eliminate it instead causing damage to the body itself.

Although companies have known for decades the damage that asbestos can cause the public only became aware of the hazards associated with the mineral in the late 60’s and early 70’s when warnings were issued and use of the product began to decline.

More than 30 percent of those diagnosed with mesothelioma are veterans. This is due to the fact that many were exposed aboard ships or in shipyards.

Asbestosis is caused when asbestos fibers are inhaled and become trapped in the lungs.  In response to the foreign objects (asbestos fibers), the body tries to get rid of it by attempting to dissolve the particles by producing an acid. 

Unfortunately, the acid has virtually no impact on the asbestos fibers, but is detrimental to the lung tissues.  With continual acid secretions, scarring of the lung tissue will lead to pulmonary fibrosis.  The scarring can become so severe that it will reduce the functioning of the lungs thus causing asbestos poisoning.

Asbestos poisoning- This is the term typically used to signify any health problems that may be resulting from exposure to asbestos. 

Mesothelioma is a cancer of affecting the outside tissue of the lungs – the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, and vaginalis.  Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is solely attributed to asbestos poisoning.

What makes mesothelioma so deadly is that the symptoms may not appear for 10 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma, like other cancers, can be lethal if it metastasize and invade other organs.  The prognosis for mesothelioma is not good.

The most common forms of this cancer are:

Plueral mesothelioma –  is associated with the lung area and is the most common. It accounts for roughly 70% of cases.

Pericardial mesothelioma – is associated with the lining of the heart known as the pericardium

Peritoneal mesothelioma- is associated with the peritoneum or the lining of abdominal cavity.

Testicular Mesothelioma: Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles and is the rarest form of the cancer.

As stated above on of the reasons mesothelioma is so deadly is the length of time it takes for the symptoms to appear.  They typically do not appear for at least 20 years and can take as long as 50 years after the exposure to asbestos.

A second reason why it is so deadly is because often these symptoms resemble less serious conditions such as pneumonia which makes diagnosis just that much more difficult.  Below you will find a list of common symptoms someone with mesothelioma may experience..

Pleural Symptoms: Shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue, lumps under the skin on the chest.

Peritoneal Symptoms: Weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, nausea

Pericardial Symptoms: Heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, difficulty breathing, night sweats

Testicular Symptoms: Painful or painless testicular lumps. 

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

The diagnosing of mesothelioma will typically begin with a review of the medical history of the patient following an overall physical exam. 

One it’s been determined that the patience has perhaps been exposed to asbestos, the doctor may request other diagnostic tests.  These will typically include some sort of imaging scan such as:

• MRI scans
• X-rays
• CT scans
• PET scans

If any thing is found using any combination of these tests a biopsy procedure is typically required to determine if there are cancerous cells present.  Research is always coming up with new and better procedures to try to make these tests less invasive.

Once diagnosed with the disease the doctor will make his recommendations for treatment.

The most common treatments recommended by doctors for patients with mesothelioma include surgery, radiation and surgery. There are also experimental procedures, including immunotherapy and gene therapy are have also been utilized by patients. Many patients undergo multiple treatments to combat the disease.

There are also clinical trails available for those willing to try these types of experimental treatments.

Sadly, it was common knowledge to those in the industry about the effects of asbestos exposure long before the public was made aware of the dangers. Tens of thousands of US workers and military were exposed to asbestos during the 20th century, and most were unaware of the hazards of exposure to asbestos.

Because of this knowledge companies that produced products that contain asbestos or had their workers exposed to these products on a regular basis are liable for their negligence in failing to educate and protect their employees and workers.

If you or someone you know has developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease as a result of asbestos exposure, you may wish to speak with an lawyer to seek compensation to help cover medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering.

Obviously this isn’t going to undo the damage that’s been done by the mesothelioma, but perhaps just make it a bit easier to deal with on a daily basis.