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Mesothelioma Symptoms

The symptoms of asbestos-related cancer can remain undetectable for up to forty years after the initial exposure. These decades of latency become marked by progressively worsening inflammation of the lungs. Initial symptoms include:

 

• Difficulty breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Chest or abdominal pain
• Lower back pains

 

Over time, mesothelioma symptoms become more severe and may include:

 

• Increasing breathing problems
• Short of breath (even while inactive)
• Difficulty and pain in swallowing
• Coughing up blood
• Severe pain in the chest
• Fever
• Chills
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Pleural effusion (an accumulation of fluid in the pleura)
• Constant raspy voice
• Abdominal swelling

 

If you or someone that you care about has experienced any of these symptoms and think you may have had asbestos exposure, consult a physician immediately.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

 

• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain and swelling (due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen)
• Bowel obstruction
• Blood clotting abnormalities
• Anemia
• Fever

 

Diagnosing Mesothelioma

This can often be a difficult process due to the fact that many symptoms of mesothelioma resemble those of other conditions. During a doctor's visit, a patient will undergo a thorough exam, with particular emphasis given to symptoms and problems commonly associated with asbestos exposure. Diagnosing the disease involves taking a chest and abdominal X-ray. The physician will look for a build up of fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion) or the abdomen. If tests show high levels of CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen), it may indicate lung cancer instead of mesothelioma.

 

The first step towards detecting a dangerous growth involve a CT scan, (a detailed picture of specific regions within the body) which visually indicates the degree to which the tumor has spread to other parts of the body. Another method involves using an MRI (a powerful magnet that also creates pictures of specific regions within the body) that can indicate the presence of mesothelioma.

Often, however, these steps do not provide enough information to give a definitive diagnosis. In these cases, the doctor may make a very small incision between the ribs and abdomen, and insert a scope into the chest cavity or abdomen (depending on the affected area). Using these scopes can help a physician to view the surface of the mesothelium and to withdraw appropriate samples that are then examined at a lab.

Prognosis of Mesothelioma

Prognosis depends on numerous factors, including:

 

• Location of cancer
• Size of the cancer
• Stage of cancer (localized or advanced)
• How cancer responds to treatment
• Age of patient
• General health condition

 

(Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, smoking in conjunction to asbestos exposure greatly heightens the risk of lung cancer.)

Contact a Mesothelioma Lawyer for more information on mesothelioma treatment and the legal rights involved with asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Treatment

The FDA has not articulated a standard mesothelioma treatment regimen. How and why the disease develops is not known. The American Cancer Society has created a list suggested for those with mesothelioma to ask their doctor. The questions include:

-What type of mesothelioma do I have?

-What is the stage of my mesothelioma (i.e. how advanced is it)?

-Has the mesothelioma spread beyond its original site?

-What meothelioma treatment options do I have? Which of these mesothelioma treatments do you recommend, and why?

-What is my prognosis?

-What risks or side effects are there to the mesothelioma treatments you suggest?

-What are the chances that my cancer will recur with these mesothelioma treatment plans?

-What should I do to be ready for mesothelioma treatment?

 

Early diagnosis allows a greater number of mesothelioma treatment options including chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, experimental therapies and drugs, complementary medicine and therapies, and lifestyle modifications.

 

The typical course of action involves utilizing a combination of mesothelioma treatments in conjunction with the removal of the malignant tumor. The complexity of the surgery to remove the mesothelioma depends on the duration of the asbestos exposure. The three most popular mesothelioma treatment therapies used with surgery includes:

 

• Chemotherapy:Chemotherapy is often offered as a mesothelioma treatment, but post patients who receive this type of treatment do not respond favorably to it. This approach uses chemicals that have specific toxic effects that try to destroy the spreading cells. Chemotherapy is also used when the disease has spread and no other treatment is an option.
  
• Radiation therapy:Radiation is offered but is seen as ineffective at increasing survival but mildly helpful in managing pain and other disease effects. It involves high-energy X-rays that treat the existence of cancerous cells.
  
• Photodynamic therapy:Utilizes a special laser light that creates a chemical reaction to remedy the affected cells.
  

 

Surgery is a mesothelioma treatment used for exploratory measures, relief, and tumor removal. Exploratory surgery of the chest can be used as a tool in early diagnosis of mesothelioma. Palliative surgery is used for relief, not as a cure. Usually this type of surgery is performed when the tumor has spread beyond the mesothelium and is hard to completely remove.

A pleurectomy removes the tumor from the surface of the lung by opening up the chest. The pleura is removed, also, which is where the majority of the tumor exists. Extrapleural pneumonectomy is the operation that has the best record for removing the maximum number of tumor cells. It involves removal of a portion of the lung called the parietal pleura, which lines the lung, the pericardium, the heart lining, and the diaphragm. Survival rate for this type of surgery is 41 months because of the intensity of this procedure.

Complementary methods like sticking to a vegetarian diet, exercise, vitamins, herbal remedies, or stress management can sometimes help a patient with mesothelioma better deal with their condition or to enhance their quality of life.

Contact a Mesothelioma Lawyer for more information on mesothelioma treatment and the legal rights involved with asbestos exposure.