RichardHammond.net

About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.

How common is mesothelioma?

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 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. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face. These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

The early symptoms of mesothelioma are often ignored, because they may be caused by a variety of ailments. These symptoms include:

pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest

shortness of breath

difficulty swallowing

cough

fever

fatigue

abdominal pain, weight loss, and nausea and vomiting (symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma)

Causes of Mesothelioma -

The primary risk factor for developing mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. In the past, asbestos was used as a very effective type of insulation. The use of this material, however, has been declining since the link between asbestos and mesothelioma has become known. It is thought that when the fibers of asbestos are inhaled, some of them reach the ends of the small airways and penetrate into the pleural lining. There the fibers may directly harm mesothelial cells and eventually cause mesothelioma. If the fibers are swallowed, they can reach the abdominal cavity, where they can contribute to the formation of peritoneal mesothelioma. Exposure to certain types of radiation as well as to a chemical related to asbestos known as zeolite has also been related to incidences of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatment -

Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined. Surgery is a common treatment for mesothelioma. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed.

see more at http://mesotheliomapills.blogspot.com  and http://www.mesotheliomalawyersoh.co.cc

Each year 3,000 cases of Mesothelioma are diagnosed and most of the people who are diagnosed with this deadly cancer have never heard of it. The unfortunate nature of the disease is that if the symptoms were diagnosed properly the treatment could have had an impact.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura (the lining of the lungs), around the lining of the heart or the lining of the abdominal cavity. While Mesothelioma cancer is rare, most people die after a year or two of diagnosis.

The majority of Mesothelioma cases are traced back to exposure to asbestos – and no other cause for this cancer has ever been found. Exposure to asbestos happens primarily through jobs that were held by people working with asbestos as well as some military service. Until 20 years ago, many materials and products that were used in manufacturing and construction used asbestos until it was found that exposure to the product caused Mesothelioma and other health problems.

During World War II when naval ship yards were producing many ships for the war effort, asbestos was in high use and demand. Asbestos was also being used for construction in all types of buildings, as well as the manufacturing and automobiles. Until recently, the processes and products that used asbestos were unregulated, however the risks of asbestos exposure were still well known, however the companies that use the product still continued to use asbestos freely in their practices.

One of the unfortunate truths is that many of the companies who made use of asbestos provided little in the way of education or protection of the risks of asbestos exposure to their workers. This does however leave the companies on the hook for compensating the victims of Mesothelioma.

Unfortunately, it is not only the workers who are contracting Mesothelioma, it is also their families, spouses and children, of workers who worked with asbestos are also at risk of contacting this deadly cancer. Asbestos is a nearly indestructible, very fine fiber that is easily inhaled and is then lodged in the lining of the lungs primarily, which then causes inflammation and then Mesothelioma. These fibers are easily brought home attached to skin, hair, shoes or clothing and then dislodged at home, exposing more people to the asbestos, and thusly, Mesothelioma.

If someone you love or yourself has Mesothelioma, you need to contact a Mesothelioma attorney to find out if you have a case for a Mesothelioma lawsuit. The largest difficulty with exposure to asbestos and Mesothelioma symptoms beginnings is the long time between the exposure and diagnosis. Mesothelioma doesn’t usually begin to present symptoms until about 20 years after exposure to asbestos. This makes it quite difficult to diagnose the cancer and track the asbestos exposure, the cause or companies that are responsible.

The symptoms of Mesothelioma include fluid in the chest, chest pains, difficulty breathing, and coughing. Because of the nature of these symptoms and the fact that they are so similar to other medical problems, they are easily mistaken for other conditions, which can delay the diagnosis of Mesothelioma cancer. Unfortunately, by the time people are diagnosed with Mesothelioma it is too late – most people pass away within one or two years of diagnosis and conventional cancer treatments like radiation and chemotherapy have little effect on the disease.

Most of the cases of Mesothelioma can blame the companies and supervisors for whom they worked in the past dealing with asbestos. Most people and companies knew of the dangers of working with asbestos and failed to take any safety precautions for the material handlers. This cancer is devastating to those who have it and to their families, physically, emotionally and financially.

A Texas Mesothelioma lawyer can help you build a case for yourself or a loved one who has Mesothelioma. A Texas Mesothelioma attorney is the only one who is capable of tracking down the companies who are responsible for the asbestos exposure. A good Mesothelioma lawyer in Texas can help with a Mesothelioma lawsuit for financial compensation for you and your family.

A Mesothelioma lawyer can link your cancer with asbestos exposure that you had when you worked before as well as fighting for your rights and compensation for the Mesothelioma cancer you’ve contracted due to the exposure. While compensation won’t replace a life lost to Mesothelioma cancer, it can help cover the lost wages, pain and suffering, funeral expenses and medical costs that were caused by the cancer.