Mesothelioma a New Type of Lung Cancer
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma a rare type of asbestos cancer.Mesothelioma occurs when the mesothelial cells grow out of control. These cells also lose the ability to stop producing the lubricating fluid when there is enough. This results in the unwanted encasement of organs within a thick rind of tumor tissue and excess fluid build up, ultimately causing symptoms. These cells can grow and invade other organs, or spread to other areas of the body. When the cells spread to other areas of the body, it is called metastasis.
The majority of mesotheliomas are found in the lining of the lung (65-70%). About 20-30% percent of cases are found in the abdominal cavity lining, and even more rarely, mesothelioma is found in the lining of the heart (1-2%) or testicles.
Types of Mesothelioma
Pleura
Peritoneum
Malignant
MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS
The early symptoms of mesothelioma are the volume of fluid increases, shortness of breath, known as "dyspnea", and sometimes pain, ranging from mild to stabbing, may occur. Some patients may experience a dry cough or some patients show no symptoms at all. When the doctor listens to the patient’s chest with a stethoscope, normal breath sounds are muted, and tapping on the chest will reveal dull rather than hollow sounds.A chest x-ray may show a build-up of fluid or pleural effusion. The right lung is affected 60% of the time, with involvement of both lungs being seen in approximately 5% of patients at the time of diagnosis. Less common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include fever, night sweats and weight loss. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include pain or swelling in the abdomen due to a build-up of fluid, nausea, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia or swelling of the feet.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis of pleural effusion is usually accomplished with a simple chest x-ray, although CT scans or ultrasound may also be used. A special x-ray technique, called a lateral decubitus film, may be used to detect smaller effusions or to enable the physician to estimate of the amount of fluid present. If the underlying cause of the effusion is readily apparent (such as in the case of severe congestive heart failure), sampling of the fluid may not be necessary, however, because pleural effusion may be symptomatic of a number of disease processes from benign to malignant, a fluid sample is generally taken. Diagnostic thoracentesis, in which cells are extracted from the pleural cavity, is commonly done when the possibility of mesothelioma exists, however, in up to 85% of cases, the fluid tests negative or inconclusive even though cancer is present. It is ultimately a needle biopsy of the pleura (lining of the lung) or an open surgical biopsy which confirms a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Pleural effusion caused by heart failure or infection can usually be resolved by directing treatment at the cause, however, when testing has realized no diagnosis, and fluid continues to build or recur, doctors may recommend chest tube drainage and chemical pleurodesis. Chemical pleurodesis is a technique in which a sclerosing agent is used to abrade the pleural surfaces producing an adhesion between the parietal and visceral pleurae. This will prevent further effusion by eliminating the pleural space. Talc appears to be the most effective agent for pleurodesis, with a success rate of nearly 95%. It is highly effective when administered by either poudrage or slurry. Poudrage is the most widely used method of instilling talc into the pleural space. Before spraying the talc, the medical team removes all pleural fluid to completely collapse the lung. After the talc is administered, they inspect the pleural cavity to be sure the talc has been evenly distributed over the pleural surface. Some doctors prefer to use talc mixed with saline solution which forms a wet slurry that can roll around the pleural cavity.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Find Mesothelioma Attorneys
Who Needs A Mesothelioma Lawyer?
If you have mesothelioma or suspect that you may have symptoms of mesothelioma due to asbestos expsoure, you should consult with both a mesothelioma doctor and a mesothelioma lawyer. In order to be fully aware of your rights and have your rights protected and receive maximum damages that may be awarded in your case, you should be prudent and act quickly. According to one source, 2500 new cases of mesothelioma are reported each year. Okay, that makes it rare. But then, why do so many law firms advertise for mesothelioma patients? I think the reason is that the same source says 70-80% of mesothelioma sufferers have worked with asbestos.It takes a long time for mesothelioma to appear. According to one source, mesothelioma may not reveal itself 35-40 years. That is long time to wait. That same source also suggests that as many as 300,000 new cases of mesothelioma may be diagnosed by the year 2030.
There are many resources to help you navigate the medical and financial issues you may be faced with. Information about the diagnosis and treatment of this serious cancer is available. You can get support in finding the best treatments, and coping with the effects of mesothelioma. There may be financial compensation available for mesothelioma sufferers. Learn more about your rights and possible financial assistance as well.
Prevention is Better than Cure
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