Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a very aggressive cancerous tumor that affects the lining that covers the outer surface of the body’s organs. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma which affects the pleura of the lung (the thin membrane surrounding the lungs).
The second most common form is peritoneal mesothelioma which affects the lining of the abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma can also affect the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma) and the testes (testicular mesothelioma).
What Causes
Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is often caused by the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers, which will have occurred during an individual’s working or domestic life.
One of the defining features about this cancer is that there is a very long latency period between exposure to asbestos and experiencing symptoms of the disease.
Commonly the delay can be between 10 and 50 years.
Unfortunately, due to the number of years the illness lies dormant for, by the time mesothelioma is diagnosed, the prognosis is often poor.
The Different Types of Mesothelioma
There are four main types of mesothelioma:
Pleural
This affects the lining of the lungs and is the most common form of mesothelioma.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
- Breathlessness
- Chest pain
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Back and shoulder pain
- Extreme fatigue
Peritoneal
This is a less common form of mesothelioma which affects the abdomen. Around 3% to 5% of mesothelioma diagnoses are peritoneal.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:
- Stomach pain
- Bloating
- Swelling
- Changes in bowel movements
- Extreme fatigue
Pericardial
This affects the tissue lining the heart and is a very rare form of mesothelioma.
Symptoms of Pericardial mesothelioma include:
- Chest pain
- Irregular heartbeat
- Breathing difficulties
- A persistent cough
Testicular
This affects the lining of the testicles and, like pericardial mesothelioma, is a very rare form of the disease.
Symptoms of Testicular mesothelioma include:
- Painless lumps
- Scrotal swelling
- Testicle lump or mass
Symptoms of
Mesothelioma?
The symptoms of mesothelioma can take between 10 and 50 years to develop and in many cases, by the time a diagnosis is made, the disease is already at an advanced stage. The symptoms of all forms of mesothelioma can be caused by other conditions. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms, it is important not to panic as there may be something else causing them.
Seek medical attention as soon as possible
It is still vital for you to seek medical attention as soon as possible, to allow for an asbestos-related condition to be ruled out. Make sure you advise your doctor that you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, to make them aware that you may be suffering from an asbestos-related disease.
Diagnosis of
Mesothelioma
All forms of mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose as a number of other conditions could cause the symptoms.
Imaging tests
The first step in diagnosing mesothelioma is imaging tests. An x-ray or CT scan would normally be carried out, along with blood tests which will help to rule out other conditions.
Biopsy
Once imaging has shown there is a potential tumour, if the patient is well enough, a biopsy is taken.
This involves a small sample of the tumor being taken so that it can be tested.
Currently, a biopsy is the most reliable method of diagnosing mesothelioma.
In cases where the patient is unable to undergo a biopsy, imaging and blood tests can be used to obtain a likely diagnosis, and appropriate treatment is then provided on a clinical basis.
Treatment of Mesothelioma
Sadly, there is no known cure for mesothelioma and, due to the often-late diagnosis, the prognosis for patients is generally poor.
However, advances in mesothelioma research have uncovered more effective treatments, which can allow patients to experience an improved quality of life, whilst also lengthening their lives.
Treatment options will depend on the location and progression of the disease.
Chemo & radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are common treatments for mesothelioma.
- They aim to slow the growth of tumors and increase the quality of life.
- Chemotherapy, however, is well-known to cause negative side effects which some patients feel outweigh the benefits.
Surgery
- If caught early, and the patient is otherwise in good health, they may be offered surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. This can help to alleviate symptoms.
- In pleural mesothelioma, radical surgery, where the pleura and lung are removed, may be an option. For this to be an option, the disease needs to have been diagnosed early, and the patient needs to have a strong heart and reasonable lung function.
Immunotherapy
- A relatively new treatment for mesothelioma is immunotherapy, which stimulates the patient’s immune system to target and kill the mesothelioma cells.
- Immunotherapy is not currently available on the NHS. However, we have been successful in recovering mesothelioma compensation which has covered the private costs of this treatment. This forms part of the civil compensation claim.
Prognosis For Mesothelioma
Claiming For Mesothelioma
To make a civil mesothelioma compensation claim, you need to be able to say which companies or employers exposed you to asbestos and what work you were doing that caused the exposure.
Alternatively, if you were exposed outside of work, you will need information confirming how you suffered your exposure to airborne asbestos dust.
If you have this information or wish to look into things further, our asbestos specialist can help you pursue a claim, with a view to holding a party to account for what has happened to you.
If you are unable to pinpoint where you have been exposed, your attorney can help you to consider this further.
We’re here to help and ready to take your call at 800-589-3204
