Types of Mesotheliemo: Pleural, Peritoneal, and Pericardial
Many who suffered dangerous exposure to asbestos are now concerned about the cancer mesotheliemo. These individuals must obtain professional medical advice as soon as unusual symptoms present themselves. After extensive testing, the diagnosis will offer data regarding whether an asbestos-based disease is present, and if so, whether it is benign or malignant. Patients will be notified which asbestos disease they have acquired after extensive tests involving highly-sophisticated imaging and/or surgical methods.
The one unifying factor common to all cancerous mesotheliemo is that it originates in the mesothelium, a thin layer of flat cells. Their job is to protect the internal organs as those organs go through their tasks in the expansion and contraction of the chest and abdominal cavity. To meet these demands requires mesothelium to be lubricated; mesotheliemo disturbs this delicate balance, resulting in a host of potentially serious afflictions. After 30-40 year latency period, tiny asbestos particles start to produce symptoms which mimic those of a bad cold, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, stomach disturbances, or various other body illnesses. Should tests indicate that the patient does have mesotheliemo, he or she will be notified as to the three forms it has taken.
The most common is malignant pleural mesotheliemo. It develops in the lungs’ pleural lining.
The second most common mesotheliemo is malignant peritoneal mesotheliemo, responsible for 20% of mesotheliemo cases. It originates in the thin cell walls which surround the abdominal lining. The second, peritoneal mesotheliemo, is probably one of the most difficult to diagnose. That is because many patients live with chronic stomach, chest, or abdominal pain, and blame the cause of a wide variety of ailments. Even a diagnosed hernia may be a pleural effusion caused by peritoneal tumor growth.
The last, and most rarely seen, is malignant pericardial mesotheliemo, which is a cancer of the heart’s pericardial lining.
Currently, exposure to the natural mineral asbestos is the only known cause for mesotheliemo. Even if a patient has no recollection with working in an environment containing asbestos, they have been exposed. It could something as minor as breathing in a tiny, microscopic particle of asbestos that wafted off someone else’s clothing. During the 1940’s to 1970’s, asbestos was found in all construction, electrical, plumbing, wiring, shipbuilding, motor vehicle, shipbuilding, and renovation industries. Not only that, asbestos was used in hundreds of products unknown to most average homeowners, such as paint, potholders, ironing board covers, oven mitts, and other protective heating devices. This means that there was a great potential for individuals to have come into contact with asbestos, even if they weren’t directly using it as insulation.
Treatment usually consists of chemotherapy and radiation. Such responses offer a wealth of relief to the patient, not only be eliminating some pain and discomfort, but by possibly slowing disease advancement. Chemotherapy advancements are being made weekly, and many new combinations of drugs offer positive potential. They have been found to not only reduce the size of existing tumors, but prevent new cancer growth. Surgery is also an option; if the disease is diagnosed in its earlier stages, patients could potentially add years to their lives.
It is not uncommon for a patient to receive an original misdiagnosis, and be subjected to additional testing at a later time. All forms of mesotheliemo are difficult to diagnose. Just about every patient will receive several diagnostic imaging tests, as well as some type of biopsy, before clarification is made. That is due to the vast resources and time, not to mention cost and inconvenience, that radiation and chemotherapy demand.
Mesotheliemo patients currently have many law professionals from which to choose. Since it has become clear how much damage was caused by businesses which did comply with OSHA requirements, or did not heed workers’ complaints, there have been hundreds of high profile cases. Individuals and their families have been awarded much larger settlements with legal assistance than by pursuing the case on their own. (In most cases, the highest awards involved jury trials and professional mesotheliemo litigators.).
Centuries ago, asbestos was referred to as the “miracle” cloth since it retarded heat and flames. As long as its sealant held, it worked successfully. But once fibers escaped, the miracle mineral no longer seemed so miraculous after all.
