Malignant Mesothelioma, Asbestos, and Your Rights

Have you been diagnosed with Malignant Mesothelioma? Are you or your doctor concerned you might be at risk for it? If you've been exposed to asbestos as part of your employment, you may have certain rights under the law which you and your family should take into account. Still, it is ALWAYS easier to a handle situation when you have the facts in front of you.

Let's start by covering the basics. Malignant Mesothelioma; what is it, and just as important, how did you get it? What are the stages and symptoms? How do you treat it? And, if you are diagnosed with it, how do you protect yourself and your family from the financial burden this life altering illness can cause?

What is it?
Malignant Mesothelioma (referred to as mesothelioma in this article) is a form of cancer. It typically affects the lining of the lungs and the abdominal cavity. There are four common types of mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma and is generally a tumor that develops in the chest cavity and areas which surround the lungs. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is the second most common type of this illness and it refers to tumors which develop in the lining of the abdominal area. Pericardial Mesothelioma is a rare type of this disease and generally presents as a tumor which affects the tissues and membrane which surround the heart. The rarest type is Testicular Mesothelioma which affects the lining of the tissues that surround the testicles.

How do you get it?
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos or asbestos containing particles. Most of us, at some point in our life, may have been exposed to asbestos at home or at work. Asbestos was widely used in many construction projects and household products for several decades. Anyone working in a factory that produced asbestos products or asbestos containing materials or a construction company using these materials or renovates buildings where these materials may have been used is at greater risk for further exposure.

However, just because you've been exposed to asbestos does not mean you will get mesothelioma. It is most commonly found in individuals who have had frequent exposure to asbestos over a long period of time.

What are the Stages and Symptoms?
There are four stages of Mesothelioma, and symptoms vary by stage and type. It can take up to 30 years before any symptoms appear, and can be hard to detect in the early stages.

Typically early symptoms include feeling tired and/or having a persistent cough or shortness of breath. You may think you have a common cold or flu virus, or are just feeling "off." While this may be true in many cases, check with your doctor if you have concerns about your symptoms, particularly if they last longer than usual.

In later stages, symptoms are usually more severe and easier to diagnose. Typically they include increased chest pain and shortness of breath, weight loss and decreased appetite.

What are the Treatment Options?
There are a number of treatment options available to individuals who have mesothelioma. They usually include chemotherapy and surgery, and medical researchers are continuing to explore alternate methods of treatment. When the condition is suspected, your doctor will utilize a process called "mesothelioma staging." This will allow your physician to determine if the cancer has spread to various internal organs or the lymph nodes. Two terms which you may hear are localized malignant mesothelioma and advanced malignant mesothelioma. Localized malignant mesothelioma is cancer which has not spread beyond the initial tumor, while advanced malignant mesothelioma is the stage in which the cancer is spreading.

Your doctor will carefully create a treatment plan just for you, based upon the stage that you are in, the location of the cancer, gender, age, and any other relevant health factors. Be sure to seek a second opinion if possible.

How do I Protect Myself and My Family?
While wading through all of the medical information you may not have thought about your rights under the law. If a diagnosis of Malignant Mesothelioma has been given, NOW is the time to make sure you and your family are protected. While many laws have been passed regulating the use of asbestos since it was linked to cancer, there are cases where employers have cut corners, exposing their employees to this harmful material. While most of us don't enjoy the idea of taking our boss to court, a lawsuit might be justified in this case. This is a serious and, quite frankly, expensive disease. If a third party has had a hand in your contracting of it, then it is important to make sure your rights have not been violated - check with a legal firm who specializes in representing individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.

In your search for a lawyer, you'll want to look carefully at your options. You'll want to find an attorney who specializes in this kind of personal injury, and in particular someone experienced in representing "plaintiffs" (the injured party). You'll want to talk to a few different attorneys, and do research on line. Ask them about their track record, how many cases have they fought, how many wins and how many losses have they had. In particular, work to find a lawyer who has had experience in dealing with cases related to asbestos exposure.

The Minnesota personal injury lawyers and attorneys of Sieben Polk in Minneapolis MN have successfully represented over 50,000 personal injury cases and are the only mesothelioma law firm in Minnesota litigating on behalf of mesothelioma victims.

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Best Mesothelioma Information

The term mesothelioma defines a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a protective membrane covering most of the internal organs. The mesothelium is named differently depending on the organ it covers: peritoneum (lining the organs inside the abdominal cavity), pleura (covering the lungs), pericardium (lining and protecting the heart), tunica vaginalis (surrounding the male internal reproductive organs) or tunica serosa uteri (lining the internal reproductive organs in women).

Besides protecting the organs it covers, this membrane also produces a lubricating fluid, released between the two layers of the meshotelium. Mesothelioma occurs mainly in people working in toxic environments, with high concentration of asbestos. When toxic fibers of this mineral are ingested or inhaled, they become lodged in organs and cavities, leading to inflammatory processes and infections. They usually generate high cellular damage and overtime they begin to divide uncontrollably. As a consequence, the two layers of the mesothelium become thicker and the fluid between them begins to buildup.

In most of the patients it takes up to 50 years after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma symptoms to develop. Considering the fact that in early stages this form of cancer is asymptomatic, mesothelioma prognosis depends on how advanced the disease is when diagnosed. Receiving a diagnosis during the first stages of the illness improves the patient's chances of positively responding to treatment. On the other hand, if the mesothelioma is diagnosed once it reached the advanced stages, healing options are really limited and often, prognosis is compromised.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of cancer and it usually manifests through persistent dry cough, dysphagia (difficulties in swallowing), dyphnea (shortness of breath), night sweats and fever, fatigue and persistent pain in the chest area. In this type of mesothelioma, the respiratory function is the most affected.

Peritoneal mesothelioma can be recognized by symptoms like unexplained weight loss, accentuated anemia, fatigue, frequent diarrhea or constipation episodes, abdominal pain, lumps and swelling, nausea and vomiting. Less frequent than this type of mesothelioma, pericardial cancer leads to heart palpitations and chest pain, dyspnea, fever and generalized fatigue. Testicular mesothelioma is extremely rare, the reduced number of cases known making it harder to establish the typical symptoms. The only common sign reported in literature is the appearance of testicular lumps, which may be painful in some patients.

Diagnosis is usually based on the patient's medical history, a physical examination and - in case mesothelioma symptoms are present, additional tests may be required - usually, X-rays, CT, MRI or PET scans. If the result of these tests is positive and cancer is identified, the physician may also order a biopsy, in order to establish if the mesothelioma is benign or malignant.

As for the treatment, the most common alternatives are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery is used to remove the affected tissues and provide relief from typical symptoms. Radiation therapy kills the existing cancer cells and prevents the growth of new ones, while chemotherapy uses medication to target the cells responsible of mesothelioma development.

Steve Kujala is in the insurance business. He is a grandfather, a frequent article writer and operates numerous websites and blogs. If you are interested in learning more about mesothelioma, see this blog http://bestmesotheliomavideos.small-great-tips.com

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The 4 Main Types of Mesothelioma - A Closer Look at How They Are Different

Mesothelioma is the general term used for any type of cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, which is the tissue that surrounds one's vital organs. While all forms of mesothelioma are a result of exposure to asbestos, a toxic chemical found in many locations, there is more than one type of this form of cancer.

As the mesothelium tissue can be found in many parts of the body, the cancer that develops in this tissue can also be found in different areas. Accordingly, there are four types of mesothelioma currently recognized by medical professionals: testicular, pericardial, peritoneal, and pleural. These names refer to the area of the body in which the cancer is concentrated.

Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular refers to the testicles, so this form of mesothelioma affects the tissue found in this part of the male anatomy. This is the least common form of the disease, and as such, there is not a great deal of information available on prevalence statistics or common treatments. There have been less than one hundred cases of this type of mesothelioma reported at this point.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Also one of the more rare forms of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma affects the mesothelium found around the heart. The symptoms, which include a persistent cough, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, problems breathing, and chest pain, are difficult to differentiate from those of pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The peritoneum refers to the lining of the abdominal cavity, which is why the cancer that occurs in this tissue is referred to as peritoneal mesothelioma. This cancer affects the tissues surrounding the organs found in the abdomen, including the stomach and intestines. Peritoneal mesothelioma is more common than either testicular or pericardial mesothelioma, accounting for somewhere between ten and twenty percent of the total number of mesothelioma cases reported. Some symptoms of this form of cancer include pain or swelling in the abdomen, bowel issues, anemia, problems breathing, nausea, blood clotting, loss of appetite, vomiting, and chest pains.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Approximately three quarters of all mesothelioma cases are pleural mesothelioma, making this the most common type of the disease. This type of cancer is concentrated in the tissues around the lungs and those that line the cavity in which the lungs are located. Patients with pleural mesothelioma notice symptoms because fluid builds up between the wall of the chest cavity and the lungs, which makes it harder for the lungs to function properly. Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include finding it hard to breath, pains in the chest area, and a persistent cough.

Each of these four types of mesothelioma is a serious condition. If you or someone you care about may have any form of this cancer, it is important to seek qualified legal advice from mesothelioma attorneys who have experience in this complex area of the law.

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