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What is Mesothelioma ?
 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 chest cavity), but it may also occur in the
peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that
surrounds the heart). Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs
where they inhaled asbestos particles, or have been exposed to asbestos dust and
fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who
worked with asbestos, or by home renovation using asbestos cement products.
There is no association between mesothelioma and smoking.
Signs and Symptoms
 Symptoms of mesothelioma may not
appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath,
cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural
space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal
swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity).
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.
Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:
* chest wall pain
* pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
* shortness of breath
* wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may
develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or
spread, to other parts of the body.
Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they
are at a late stage. Symptoms include:
* abdominal pain
* ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
* a mass in the abdomen
* problems with bowel function
* weight loss
In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:
* blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
* disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in
many body organs
* jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
* low blood sugar level
* pleural effusion
* pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
* severe ascites
A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands.
Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.
Find a Lawyer
 The first lawsuits against
asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed
against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety
measures after the link between asbestos, asbestosis and mesothelioma became
known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). The liability
resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached
billions of dollars. The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been
the source of many court cases, and government attempts at resolution of
existing and future cases.
Other Links for assistance in
matters related to legal issues and others:
Prevention
and Expectation
What can be done to prevent the
disease? Since the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration have regulated the asbestos
industry in the U.S. In the past, asbestos was used as a fire retardant and an
insulator. Other products are now used in its place. The controversy involving
exposure to different forms of asbestos continues.
There are two major types of asbestos called chrysotile and amphibole. It is
thought that the amphibole form of asbestos is to blame for causing mesothelioma.
However, asbestos is still being removed even if it is the chrysotile variety.
Removal is taking place in schools and other public buildings throughout the
U.S. The hope is that these measures will greatly reduce the occurrence of this
cancer.
What are the long-term effects of the disease? A mesothelioma is a highly
aggressive tumor that is generally deadly. Current treatment of malignant
mesothelioma is designed to make the person with cancer comfortable. Long-term
survival cannot usually be expected.
What are the risks to others? Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be
passed from one person to another. The exposure to the asbestos that caused the
cancer occurred many years to several decades before the disease appeared.
People who live with asbestos workers have a higher risk of getting this cancer.
Mesothelioma
Online Resource
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