Mesothelima Information, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Table of contents

1) What is mesothelioma? 2) What is the cause of mesothelioma? 3) What is pleural mesothelioma or malignant pleural mesothelioma? Are there different types of mesothelioma? 4) What are typical mesothelioma symptoms? 5) What is the usual timeframe for mesothelioma diagnosis? 6) How is a mesothelioma diagnosis made? 7) What does the “stage” of the disease mean for me? 8) What are the treatment options for mesothelioma? 9) Can I join a mesothelioma lawsuit? How can I find a good mesothelioma attorney?

What is mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease that strikes approximately 3,000 U.S. citizens each year. In this rare form of cancer, malignant (cancer) cells are found in the sac lining the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the lining around the heart.

What is the cause of mesothelioma?

Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos. Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, sometimes without knowing it. Common occupations for victims of mesothelioma include workers in factories, shipyards, mines, the US military, engineers, pipe fitters, steel workers, and auto mechanics. A smaller percentage of victims lived with a person who worked near asbestos.

What is pleural mesothelioma or malignant pleural mesothelioma? Are there different types of mesothelioma?

There are three types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium).

The structural appearance of cells under the microscope determine the cell or sub-type of mesothelioma. Epithelioid is the least aggressive; sarcomatoid, the most aggressive. The biphasic or mixed cell type shows structural elements of both of the other two.

What are typical mesothelioma symptoms?

Regardless of the type, sufferers typically don’t have any effects until many years or decades after they have actually contracted mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. The early symptoms are generally non-specific, and may lead to a delay in diagnosis.

Sometimes resembling viral pneumonia, pleural mesothelioma patients may present with may experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, shortness of breath, pain under the rib cage, persistent coughing, weight loss, fever, coughing up of blood, and rasping. Some patients show no symptoms at all. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma result from pleural effusion, a build up of fluid between the lung lining and the chest cavity. A chest x-ray may show this build-up of fluid.

Peritoneal mesothelioma tumors and associated fluid build-up can press against the wall of the abdomen can cause abdominal pain, abdominal and/or foot swelling, nausea, loss of appetite, lumps in the abdomen vomiting, breathing problems, chest pain, bowel obstruction, anemia, fever, and blood clotting.

The tumors affecting pericardial mesothelioma patients can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chronic coughing, and heart palpitations.

What is the usual timeframe for mesothelioma diagnosis?

An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 20 to 40 years later because of the long latency period of the disease. The symptoms of all types of mesothelioma do not generally manifest for several decades after contraction. This can make the disease difficult to diagnose and all too often is too late to save the patient by the time a diagnosis is made. Unfortunately, the average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is less than 24 months.

How is a mesothelioma diagnosis made?

Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. Because of this, a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made after careful assessment of clinical and radiological findings in addition to a confirming tissue biopsy. A review of the patient’s medical history, including history of asbestos exposure is taken, followed by a complete physical examination, x-rays of the chest or abdomen, blood tests and lung function tests. A CT scan or MRI may also be done at this time.

Diagnostic thoracentesis, in which cells are extracted from the pleural cavity is commonly done, however, in up to 85 percent of cases, the fluid tests negative or inconclusive even though cancer is present. Ultimately, a needle biopsy of the pleura or an open surgical biopsy is required to confirm and determine the stage of the disease. A biopsy is the removal of cells or tissues so they can be viewed under a microscope to check for signs of cancer.

What does the “stage” of the disease mean for me?

The stage of the cancer is how the medical community designates the extent of a cancer in the body. Staging is usually based on the size of the tumor, whether lymph nodes contain cancer, and whether the cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body. Knowing the stage helps the doctor form a treatment plan.

Mesothelioma is considered localized if the cancer is confined to the pleura, or advanced if it has spread beyond the pleura to other parts of the body such as the lungs, chest wall, abdominal cavity, or lymph nodes.

Localized malignant mesothelioma, considered Stage I, is found in the lining of the chest wall and may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of the diaphragm, or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest.

Advanced malignant mesothelioma includes Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV.

In Stage II, cancer is found in the lining of the chest wall and the lymph nodes on the same side of the chest. Cancer may also be found in the lining of the lung, the lining of the diaphragm, or the lining of the sac that covers the heart on the same side of the chest.

In Stage III, cancer has spread to any of the following areas:

• The chest wall
• The mediastinum
• The heart
• Beyond the diaphragm
• The peritoneum
• The lymph nodes on the other side of the chest or outside the chest

In Stage IV, cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues What is my prognosis if I am diagnosed with mesothelioma? The prognosis, or chance of recovery, and treatment options depend on:

• The Stage of the cancer
• The size of the tumor
• If the tumor can be removed completely by surgery
• The amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen
• The patient's age and general health, including lung and heart health
• The type of mesothelioma cancer cells and how they look under a microscope

Whether the cancer has just been diagnosed or has recurred, people diagnosed with this disease are often told the expected survival rate is only eight to twelve months. However, specialists in treating malignant mesothelioma at the leading cancer centers often have a bit better statistics, typically because they are focused on early stage patients and experimental treatments.

What are the treatment options for mesothelioma?

There are three traditional kinds of treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma. Often two or more of these are combined in the course of treatment.

• Surgery to physically remove the cancer
• Chemotherapy drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping the cells from dividing
• Radiation Therapy, using high-dose x-rays or other high-energy rays to kill cancer cells

Before starting treatment, patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for patients with cancer. Patients that participate in clinical trials have access to new treatments that may bring benefits not available to through standard accepted treatments and/or negative side effects that are just being documented.

Can I join a mesothelioma lawsuit? How can I find a good mesothelioma attorney?

Many employers and the manufacturers of asbestos may have known about its dangers when they exposed employees to this material. Many lawyers and firms specialize in mesothelioma lawsuits to attempt to get victims and their families’ compensation. These lawyers may have better resources and contacts to deal with your case quickly and efficiently. Most mesothelioma lawyers work on a contingency fee, which is a percentage of the money awarded. If they are unsuccessful, then you do not have to pay anything.

If you are considering filing suit, you should act quickly following a diagnosis. Many states have placed a time limit on filing a mesothelioma lawsuit, and further investigations into your exposure may be required, which can take time. For the families and loved ones of mesothelioma patients who have already passed away, the regulations are slightly different. Whether you are a sufferer of mesothelioma, a family member who suffers from a related disorder, or a family member who is claiming on behalf of a deceased loved one, it is important that you look into filing your lawsuit as soon as possible to increase your chances of a successful settlement.