MESOTHELIOMA

Defining Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma generally manifests in the pleura (which is defined as the outer lining of the lungs and the internal chest-wall); however, Mesothelioma can also appear within the peritoneum (which is the abdominal cavity lining), the heart, and the pericardium (which is a sac that surrounds the heart).

Mesothelioma And Employment

The overwhelming majority of all patients who have been affected by – and who continue to be affected by - Mesothelioma were employed in jobs and industries in which they unknowingly inhaled potentially deadly asbestos particles, fibers and dust.

Chemical-plant employees, construction-workers, ship-builders, vehicular mechanics, plumbers, steam-fitters, and pipe-fitters have all been identified as being particularly at risk of developing Mesothelioma.

And to additionally demonstrate the potentially deadly nature of asbestos, even loved ones who may have handled, washed and come into contact with the clothes of those affected by the disease may be at varying degrees of risk, too.

It is very typical for the distressing signs and symptoms of Mesothelioma to not manifest until around 20 to 50 years after the patient’s initial exposure to asbestos has occurred.

A distinct shortness of breath, a persistent cough (that may also lead to the coughing-up of blood), wheezing, and noticeable pain in the chest area (the latter resulting from a build-up of fluid in the patient’s pleural-space) are very often indicators of Pleural Mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is often characterized by a significant and noticeable loss of weight, distention in the abdomen that results directly from fluid build-up, and associated abdominal pain.

In some patients with Peritoneal Mesothelioma, fever, anemia and bowel blockages may also be experienced in varying degrees of severity.

In severe cases, where Mesothelioma becomes more aggressive and/or begins to spread throughout the patient’s body, the resultant effect may include a lung-collapse (known as a pneumothorax), and/or the development of malignant tumors.

Mesothelioma & Diagnosis

Securing a firm and accurate diagnosis of Mesothelioma may not always be an easy or straightforward task – one chief reason being that many of the symptoms present in the disease can also be caused by other, unrelated diseases and medical conditions.

For that particular reason, if Mesothelioma is suspected, a patient’s medical and work history may be intensively reviewed, to determine if there may have been some form of exposure to asbestos in the patient’s past.

A physical examination is vital with respect to accurately diagnosing Mesothelioma, and generally includes x-raying the patient’s chest, and performing a variety of lung-function tests and procedures. A CT-Scan, CAT-Scan or an MRI are generally undertaken, too.

Mesothelioma Statistics

Between the years 1940 and 1979, nearly 28-million Americans were exposed to asbestos, as a specific result of the nature of their employment.

The period from 1973 to 1984 saw a significant three-fold increase in the diagnosis of men affected by Pleural Mesothelioma.

From 1980 up until the latter part of the 1990s, the death-rate from Mesothelioma in the U.S. rose from approximately 2,000 per year to around 3,000 per year - with men estimated to be approximately four times more likely than women to develop the disease.