ad for dollars----WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA?

WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks cells, called mesothelial cells, which make up membrane lining in the chest and abdominal cavity. The tissue called mesothelium, which is formed by the mesothelial cells, help protects the organs by producing a lubricating fluid that allows the organs to move without irritating nerves.

TYPES OF MESOTHELIOMA

Abdominal mesothelioma
Chrysotile Peritoneal mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma

Chrysotile Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma is an asbestos-related cancer that attacks the lining of the abdominal cavity. Chrysotile causes peritoneal mesothelioma when the small fibers are inhaled or swallowed and become lodged in the tissue. Chrysotile linked peritoneal mesothelioma has a long latency period, often diagnosed more than 40 years after exposure.

Victims of chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma suffer from pain in the abdomen, caused by pressure on internal organs. Symptoms of chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma also include nausea, vomiting, bowel blockage, and swelling of the abdomen. When a diagnosis of chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma has been made, the patient is often already in very advanced stages of the disease, and most chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma victims live less than a year after onset of the symptoms. Because the disease involves high concentrations of asbestos, chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma usually occurs in persons who were exposed to chrysotile through their occupation. Many of the individuals diagnosed with chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma worked on shipyards or in other areas where asbestos was used for fireproofing or insulation. Individuals may also contract chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma through prolonged exposure to asbestos in their homes, schools, or places of employment.

If you or a loved one is suffering from chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma, you may be entitled to financial reparations. Victims of chrysotile peritoneal mesothelioma who were exposed to chrysotile asbestos through

Malignant Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma originates in the tissues that surround various internal organs or parts of the body. Most malignant mesothelioma cases involve men in their 50s to 70s; women make up only one in five cases of malignant mesothelioma.

Based upon the cancer’s location, physicians have identified three different types of malignant mesothelioma: pericardial (heart), pleural (lung), and peritoneal (abdomen). The majority (about three-quarters) of cases of malignant mesothelioma start in the chest cavity, around ten percent begin in the abdomen, while cases of malignant mesothelioma originating in the tissue surrounding the heart are extremely rare. In all three cases, malignant mesothelioma generally is not identified until late in the process, as the early symptoms of malignant mesothelioma are notoriously difficult to identify, resembling the symptoms for pneumonia or flu. Often, malignant mesothelioma patients have no early indications of the disease. The average survival time for malignant mesothelioma patients is one year after diagnosis, although around half of all individuals diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma will survive for two years.

Contact with asbestos is the number one contributing factor to developing malignant mesothelioma. A period of twenty to fifty years usually exists between asbestos exposure and diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, and there have been cases where individuals with less than a month of exposure developed malignant mesothelioma. Individuals who worked in industries where asbestos was frequently used are at the highest risk. Malignant mesothelioma appears disproportionately in plumbers, shipyard workers, steel workers, and others whose jobs involved asbestos exposure. Malignant mesothelioma victims and their families may be entitled to financial compensation for the costs associated with malignant mesothelioma, including medical costs, lost wages, and punitive damages from the party responsible for asbestos exposure.

Malignant mesothelioma victims who wish to learn more should Contact a Mesothleioma Attorney familiar with malignant mesothelioma litigation to find out if they are legally entitled to recover lost funds.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is the most infrequent form of this rare asbestos-linked cancer. Individuals with pericardial mesothelioma have cancerous growths in tissues surrounding the heart. Due to the rarity of this cancer, pericardial mesothelioma has not been definitely associated with asbestos exposure, although strong links between asbestos and pericardial mesothelioma have been made.

The early symptoms indicating pericardial mesothelioma include chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and palpitations. Patients displaying the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are usually given either an X-Ray or a CT scan to look for evidence of pericardial mesothelioma. Growths or abnormalities in the tissue around the heart lead to an attempt to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma through biopsy surgery. Once a thorough assessment of the situation has been made, the pericardial mesothelioma patient and the doctor will discuss possible treatment options; including whether to attempt to defeat the pericardial mesothelioma or just to improve the patient’s quality of life for the time remaining. Decisions about pericardial mesothelioma usually involve consideration of the patient’s age and condition, the stage to which the pericardial mesothelioma has advanced, and tumor size and location. Most patients are in advanced stages of pericardial mesothelioma at the time of diagnosis and therefore opt for surgery to address the discomfort.

While pericardial mesothelioma has not been definitively linked to asbestos exposure, the indications are strong that pericardial mesothelioma is related to asbestos, as are the other forms of mesothelioma. Patients with pericardial mesothelioma may be eligible to recover medical fees and other costs associated with pericardial mesothelioma from parties proven responsible for asbestos exposure. Contact an Asbestos Attorney experienced in cases related to pericardial mesothelioma may be able to help you determine your legal options.