Mesothelioma information, answers and solutions.

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What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma, often referred to as asbestos cancer or malignant mesothelioma, is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium-a layer of specialized tissue that lines the chest, abdomen and surrounds the heart. Mesothelioma is considered an uncommon disease that is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Despite the rarity of this asbestos cancer, cases of mesothelioma are on the rise and will probably continue to increase.

Those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, or diffuse malignant pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, are usually found to have the asbestos cancer in the latter stages of its development. As with many forms of cancer, early detection helps with treatment. Unfortunately, since mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose and treat, many mesothelioma patients are given a poor prognosis.

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because its tumors and symptoms resemble other forms of lung and chest cancer. Usually symptoms of the disease surface once mesothelioma is already fairly far along. Diagnosis and treatment is further complicated in that mesothelioma can take between 25 and 50 years to show symptoms. This long latency period of this asbestos cancer makes it difficult to pinpoint or recall specific instances of asbestos exposure. A physician's knowledge of a patient's history of asbestos exposure is needed in many cases to make certain that their ailment is indeed mesothelioma.

Yet another unnerving twist mesothelioma presents is that high levels of asbestos exposure are not required for it to develop. Despite being the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases, mesothelioma asbestos cancer can develop in people who only have passing exposure to the toxic fibers. For example: the spouse or child of a person who works around asbestos can develop mesothelioma just from fibers carried on the clothes or hair of the worker. This makes a history of asbestos exposure even harder to recall. Mesothelioma is unique in that, while high-level and long duration asbestos exposure increase risks for mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases, relatively low level exposure can cause mesothelioma as well.

Asbestos, Mesothelioma and the Mesothelium

The mesothelium is comprised of two layers of specialized cells that surround organs. The mesothelium acts as a protective sheath around the body's organs, keeping them in position while still allowing them to move. This tissue secretes fluid that lubricates the two layers of the mesothelium, which allows organs in the chest and abdomen to freely slide against one another during movement and normal organ functions such as breathing, digestion and heartbeat.

When tiny asbestos fibers are taken into the body through inhalation, they typically make their way into the lungs, and can lead to scarring and a condition called asbestosis. Over time, asbestos fibers the make their way through the tiny air pathways on the outside of the lungs to the pleura where they damage mesothelial cells and lead to tumor formation in the mesothelium. Pleural mesothelioma asbestos cancer affects the mesothelium surrounding the chest and lungs, and peritoneal mesothelioma affects the mesothelium surrounding the abdomen. In pleural mesothelioma, these tumors produce fluid that can compress the lungs and eventually cause organ failure and death.

Stages of Mesothelioma

Current medical attempts at establishing clear stages for mesothelioma have been repeatedly attempted since the early 1980s. It should be noted that the medical field has not adopted a universally accepted staging system for mesothelioma asbestos cancer. This is based on reasoning that, in many instances, recognized stages do not necessarily establish criteria for variables such as treatment, degree of tumor infiltration, and mortality at various stages. Compiled below is a laymen's version of what has been used in the past for defining stages of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is broken in to four stages, based on the severity and metastases, or spread, of the disease.

• Stage 1: Mesothelioma is found in either lung, but not both, and the asbestos cancer may also be found in the diaphragm and pericardium (the sack surrounding the heart) on the same side.
• Stage 2: Once the mesothelioma has spread from the original lung to the lymph nodes on the same side, or if it has spread to nearby tissues including the other lung, the chest wall, esophagus or heart.
• Stage 3: One classification system denotes stage-three mesothelioma when the asbestos cancer has spread from the chest and lung region to the abdominal cavity. A second system defines the third stage as mesothelioma that has spread to organs in the chest on the same side as the origination of the mesothelioma.
• Stage 4: Both classifications characterized stage four mesothelioma as a spread of the disease to other parts of the body. Lymph nodes on the opposite side of origination, organs in the abdomen, the opposite side of the chest, and the neck are all affected by the fourth stage of mesothelioma.

What Can You Do?

The unfortunate reality of mesothelioma and all asbestos related diseases is that the dangers of asbestos have been known for decades. Many manufacturers and asbestos-related companies simply failed to inform their employees and consumers of their products' asbestos content or the dangers of asbestos fibers in general. This website was created to provide information about asbestos cancer and to inform those with asbestos-related diseases, and especially those with the most serious disease-mesothelioma, that they may have the right to financial restitution for their injuries.

Armed with knowledge, our firm believes victims of the asbestos industry who have developed mesothelioma will gain the courage to fight both their disease and the irresponsible corporations that led to their sickness. Experienced mesothelioma attorney David A. Shaw has extensive background knowledge of the asbestos industry and mesothelioma cases. For a mesothelioma attorney that will put forth the effort to effectively prosecute against the asbestos industry to get results, contact The Law Offices of David A. Shaw.

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