Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer
If the doctor gives you a diagnosis of mesothelioma, the next step will be to find the stage or extent of the cancer.
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body’s internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. For example, washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.
The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall), chest wall pain, and weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.
Malignant mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer. Mesothelioma is a malignant neoplasm originating from pleural or peritoneal surfaces that is usually associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. It is a disease in which malignant cancer cells are found in the sac lining of the chest and lungs (Pleural Mesothelioma) or the abdomen (Peritoneal Mesothelioma) and the heart (Pericardial Mesothelioma). The stage or severity of mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose, due to the great variability in the time before diagnosis and the rate of disease progression. The first indication of mesothelioma is often by a simple chest x-ray. For more clarification or confirmation a MRI, CT scan, a biopsy or removal operation may be needed. Mesothelioma is categorized in Stages I, II, III and IV.
Mesothelioma Stages
| Stage I (localized) Disease is confined within the capsule of the parietal pleura (ipsilateral pleura, lung, pericardium, and the diaphragm). |
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| Stage II (advanced) All of Stage I with the addition of intrathoracic (N1 or N2) lymph nodes. |
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| Stage III (advanced) Local extension of the disease into the following: chest wall or mediastinum, heart or through the diaphragm, peritoneum (with or without extrathoracic or contralateral (N3) lymph node involvement). |
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| Stage IV (advanced) Distant blood-borne metastases. |
Lawsuits and Legal Remedies
Speak with a mesothelioma attorney about your legal rights in an asbestos mesothelioma cancer lawsuit. Our asbestos mesothelioma website has information concerning mesothelioma cancer treatment, mesothelioma symptoms, clinics, mesothelioma links, mesothelioma doctors, specializied mesothelioma cancer hospitals, malignant mesothelioma cancer, peritoneal, pleural and pericardial mesotheliomas, but more information is available. Talk to a mesothelioma attorney now by filling out our online form or giving us a call via our toll free telephone number. We handle cases nationwide and will be happy to discuss your legal options.
