Monday

Mesothelioma is a relatively rare cancer that affects the lining around the heart, lungs and abdominal cavities which is called the mesothelium.




Mesothelioma is primarily caused by chronic exposure to asbestos or asbestos related products.



When asbestos fibers enter the body, by either breathing in the tiny asbestos fibers or by swallowing them, they can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancer. There is currently no known cure for malignant mesothelioma.



Mesothelioma causes the cells of the mesothelium to mutate and multiply infinitely. It is this mutation which causes tumors that prevent proper lung and heart functions. Studies have shown that mesothelioma can also invade part of the immune system, including the spleen, bone marrow and lymph nodes.



The cancerous cells of mesothelioma can lie dormant for many years before a victim begins to show signs of illness. It is not uncommon for the beginning stages of mesothelioma to appear as many as 30 years after initial exposure.



It is this one key reason that prevention of asbestos exposure is of absolute importance.



Because mesothelioma is known to lay dormant for years, often by the time symptoms appear it is too late to for treatment to make a difference in survival. Currently survival rate ranges from 1 to 5 years depending on the stage of mesothelioma, when it is diagnosed, as well as the overall health condition and age of the victim.



Unfortunately, there is no cure for malignant mesothelioma. Treatment ranges from chemotherapy, radiation treatment and preventive surgery, however, none of these treatments will cure this dangerous cancer. Treatment is designed to improve quality of life and relieve symptoms.



Years ago, it was not uncommon for asbestos companies to know the risk involved with the manufacturing of their products and the resulting asbestos exposure. Many companies did little or nothing to help provide their employees with protection. Some companies were even accused of ignoring the dangers of asbestos exposure to make a profit.



If you are fearful that you have been exposed to asbestos and fear that the exposure has caused you to contract mesothelioma, then you have the right to seek restitution for your loss. Seek an experienced mesothelioma attorney for advice.



Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer. Don’t allow yourself to remain in denial.



Seek medical treatment immediately. Many treatments can help to relieve some symptoms of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma prognosis and mesothelioma treatment options depend on the size of the tumor, the stage of cancer, potential surgical removal of any tumor, amount of fluid in the chest or abdomen, overall health and age of patient, specific type of mesothelioma cancer cell and whether cancerous cells are found anywhere else in the body.




The mesothelioma prognosis is determined through physical examination and the results of a number of medical tests designed to evaluate the rare asbestos cancer. Once a mesothelioma prognosis is finally determined, then treating this aggressive and rare cancer can begin. Early diagnosis and treatment are most important in looking for a favorable mesothelioma prognosis.



Since mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, the statistics for one to five year survival are usually unreliable.



The two most common types of mesothelioma are peritoneal (abdominal) mesothelioma and pleural (lung) mesothelioma, with pleural mesothelioma being the most common. Peritoneal mesothelioma can be difficult to stage because of its rarity. The initial symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are subtle and often ignored resulting in the cancer being more advanced when it is finally diagnosed causing it to be difficult to stage. However, because it is the most common of the mesothelioma cancers, pleural mesothelioma has multiple staging systems.



Unfortunately, patients who have been diagnosed with peritoneal or pleural mesothelioma are often advised of a grim mesothelioma prognosis, one which can often be less than one year survival expectancy from the time of diagnosis. Of course every patient is so different requires a different mesothelioma treatment plan and as a result of the individuality of each patient, an accurate mesothelioma prognosis must be individualized by your physician.



The mesothelioma prognosis has several important factors such as the patient’s overall health at the time of diagnosis, exact type of mesothelioma tumor, size of the mesothelioma tumor and precise location of the mesothelioma tumor. Normally mesothelioma is located near the vital organs such as the heart and lungs which can cause severe consequences if the cancerous tumors begin to press on these vital organs. It is important to remember that the healthier a patient is going in to treatment for malignant mesothelioma then the patient generally responds better to treatment and has a greater chance of a prolonged survival.



After properly being diagnosed with mesothelioma and a mesothelioma prognosis is made, the doctor and patient will discuss treatment options. Because there is currently no known cure for mesothelioma, treatment options are designed to relieve symptoms, try to prevent metastasis and to prolong life while maintaining an acceptable quality of life.