This is a rare type of cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs, and it may also affect the abdomen and heart. In the United States, approximately 2,000-3,000 case of this disease is diagnosed each year, which comprise about 3% of all cancer diagnoses. This type of cancer occurs about 4 times more frequently in men than in women and all forms of mesothelioma, excluding benign mesothelioma, are terminal since there is no cure. The life expectancy for a person suffering from this disease is generally reported as less than 1 year following diagnosis. However, an individual's prognosis is affected by some factors such as how early the cancer is diagnosed and how aggressively it is treated.
Types of Mesothelioma
1. Testicular Mesothelioma - This develops in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles and is the rarest type of this disease.
2. Pleural Mesothelioma - This develops in the lining of the lungs, called the pleura. It is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, with around 75% of cases being pleural in origin.
3. Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This comprises about 20% of mesothelioma cases. This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity, called the peritoneal membrane.
4. Pericardial Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, called the pericardium. About 5% of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial.
Causes of Mesothelioma
This is caused by asbestos exposure. This happens when asbestos fibers are ingested or inhaled and become lodged in human tissue, which results to infection or inflammation. Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous substance that was once widely used in the 20th century in different industries. When everybody became aware of the danger associated with the natural mineral, immediate warnings were issued in the 1970s and use of this very product began to decline.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
These symptoms often do not appear for 20-50 years or even more, after initial exposure to asbestos. Below are some of the common symptoms patients suffering from this disease may experience.
1. Testicular Symptoms - Painful or painless testicular lumps.
2. Pleural Symptoms - Persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, lumps under the skin on the chest, and fatigue.
3. Peritoneal Symptoms - Abdominal pain and swelling, weight loss, bowel obstruction, and nausea.
4. Pericardial Symptoms - Irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and night sweats.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Usually, it starts with a review of a patient's medical history by a physical examination, and if a problem is suspected, the doctor may ask for several diagnostic tests, which include:
MRI scan
CT scan
X-ray
PET scan
Oftentimes, a combination of these tests is used to determine the size, type and location of the cancer. Biopsy procedures are also requested following an imaging scan to test samples of fluid and tissue for the presence of cancerous cells.
Treatments to Mesothelioma
After an individual begins to show symptoms of this disease and a diagnosis occurs, the next step is to explore available treatment options to create the best treatment plan possible. The most common treatments recommended by doctors for patients are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Some patients undergo multiple treatments to fight the disease, which is called multimodality therapy. This can help improve the patient's life expectancy.
There are experimental procedures like photodynamic therapy, gene therapy and immunotherapy. Since these treatments are still are being experimented on, they are typically only available through clinical trials. Patients who take part in a clinical trial contribute to the discovery of a cure for this disease through testing up and coming procedures and medications.
Legal Issues of Mesothelioma
The dangers of asbestos exposure were known long before any efforts were made to protect workers. So many workers were exposed to asbestos during the 20th century, and often unaware of the danger of exposure to asbestos. Industries that produced asbestos containing products or used these products everyday are liable for their lack of proper care to protect their workers. If you or anyone you know has developed mesothelioma or any other asbestos related disease because of asbestos exposure, you can speak with an attorney with years of experience in this type of case, to help seek compensation, so as to cover medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering.
