Mesothelioma Attorney

Mesothelioma is a rather rare cancer, sometimes called malignant mesothelioma. This cancer develops in the protective lining of internal organs of the body. This lining is also called the mesothelium. Often, mesothelioma is found in the outer lining of the lungs and also in the chest wall, usually the internal chest wall. However, it can also be found in the lining of one’s abdominal cavity, the sac that surrounds the heart, the heart itself, or the covering of the testes.

Although similar to traditional lung cancer in many ways, mesothelioma is actually not associated with smoking, although smoking does increase the chance of asbestos related cancers like mesothelioma. Mesothelioma actually generally develops in people that have had jobs where they were exposed to asbestos, glass particles, or asbestos dust and fibers. In the United States, most cases of mesothelioma are caused from asbestos exposure.

There are cases where no exposure to asbestos is found, and in very rare cases, this cancer has also been linked to irradiation and inhaling fibrous silicates. In populations that live close to areas where asbestos naturally occur, there are also more cases found, such as in Turkey. Additionally, those that live with asbestos exposed workers are also at a high risk for developing mesothelioma, since they may come in contact with asbestos dust carried in on clothing or in hair. Some believe that even washing the clothes of asbestos exposed workers can lead to mesothelioma.

There have also been many cases where mesothelioma develops in those who have lived or worked in buildings that have asbestos. Buildings containing asbestos have now been banned, but those who perform renovations or do other “DIY” projects in these buildings could be exposed to asbestos.

Often symptoms of mesothelioma do not even appear in a person until twenty to fifty years after being exposed to asbestos. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain. Weight loss, swelling of the abdominal area, and abdominal pain due to bowel obstruction is also experienced. Occasionally, anemia and blood clotting abnormalities may develop. Commonly there will be blood in the fluid that is coughed up.

In extremely severe cases of this cancer, tumor masses sometimes form and the cancer metastasizes, spreading to other areas of the body. If mesothelioma spreads to other parts of the body, other symptoms may appear, such as pain or swelling in the face or neck. Generally, this cancer doesn’t spread to the brain, bones, or adrenal glands, and the tumors are typically only found on one lung, not both.

Although mesothelioma is rare, its a very aggressive type of cancer and is usually fatal. The life expectancy of those diagnosed with mesothelioma isn’t very long. Most studies have concluded that only about ten percent of people with this cancer will live past five years after being diagnosed. An even more grim statistic is that only forty percent of people with mesothelioma will live past the first year. Other survival rates include that twenty-two percent of people will live past two years, and twelve percent will survive beyond three years. Approximately eleven percent of mesothelioma patients will live past four years.

The most alarming fact is that the majority of those with this type of cancer die about ten to eleven months after they receive diagnosis. Unfortunately, many cases are not discovered until the cancer is at Stage three or four and has progressed drastically, meaning that treatment options are limited and less likely to be effective. Tools that provide early detection are just now beginning to be used. Nonetheless, the overall survival rate can greatly depend on the individual’s overall health, age, and the type of mesothelioma developed.

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported each year in the United States alone, and an estimated 80 percent of those diagnosed have worked in a job where they were exposed to asbestos. Even those who are only exposed to asbestos for a short time have a high chance of developing mesothelioma, such as emergency workers who worked at the World Trade Centers attacks.

Many case studies are being conducted on mesothelioma, and tools to help detect the cancer early are being used and improved upon.