Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the outer surface of some of the body's organs (mesothelium).
It is usually related to exposure to a material used in construction called asbestos.
Workers in virtually all branches may have been exposed to asbestos fibers during work
Drywall plasterers, electricians, firefighters, auto mechanics, and many other occupations may be at risk.
Mesothelioma treatments are available, but for many people with mesothelioma, there is no cure.
Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types depending on what part of the mesothelium is affected.
Mesothelioma most often affects the tissue surrounding the lungs (pleura). This type is called pleural mesothelioma.
Other less common types of mesothelioma affect the tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), around the heart and around the testicles.
Causes of mesothelioma
We know that asbestos also known as asbestos causes most cases of pleural mesothelioma.
Asbestos has been used in a wide variety of products, mainly in construction materials (tiles for roofing, tiles and tiles, paper products and cement products with asbestos).
Other materials that contain asbestos include: friction products (automobile clutch, brakes, transmission components), thermo-resistant textiles, packaging, packaging and coatings, personal protective equipment, paints, vermiculite or talc products, etc. .
It has also been detected as a contaminant in some foods.
The small fibers of the asbestos lodge easily in the lungs, where they get stuck, damaging the lungs with time.
It usually takes a while for this to cause particular problems, mesothelioma typically develops more than 20 years after exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma symptoms
The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs.
Pleural mesothelioma , which affects the tissue surrounding the lungs, causes signs and symptoms that may include:
Chest pain below the rib cage
Painful cough
Difficulty breathing
Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on the chest
Unexplained weight loss
Peritoneal mesothelioma , produced in the tissue in the abdomen, causes signs and symptoms that may include
Abdominal pain
Abdominal swelling
Tissue protrusions in the abdomen
Unexplained weight loss
Other forms of mesothelioma
The signs and symptoms of other types of mesothelioma are unclear, as these forms of the disease are very rare.
Pericardial mesothelioma , which affects the tissue surrounding the heart, can cause signs and symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain.
Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis , which affects the tissue surrounding the testicles, can be detected for the first time as a swelling or mass in a testicle.
Diagnosis of mesothelioma
Diagnosing cancer in its early stages is compatible with treatment possibilities which could extend your life expectancy
It is important to get tested if you think you may have been exposed to asbestos at some point in your life.
Because this is a rare form of cancer, it is also important that patients see a doctor who specializes in mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma cancer specialists use a series of diagnostic tools to accurately confirm mesothelioma:
Blood tests such as MESOMARK and SOMAMER
Imaging tests such as MRI, CT scans, PET scans, X-rays
Biopsies to investigate the presence of cancer in tissue samples.
There is no single procedure for the diagnosis of mesothelioma for each patient.
Because the disease is rare and has common symptoms, doctors sometimes confuse it with a less serious illness or a different type of cancer.
Anyone with a history of asbestos exposure (asbestos) at work should remain alert for their symptoms and inform a doctor immediately.
Most people get their diagnosis within two or three months from the time they notice their symptoms.
Mesothelioma treatments
Unfortunately, mesothelioma is often an aggressive disease and for most people a cure is not possible.
Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage - when it is not possible to remove the cancer through an operation.
The treatment usually focuses on controlling the symptoms and prolonging life for as long as possible.
This is known as palliative or supportive care.
Possible treatments include:
Chemotherapy - this is the main treatment for mesothelioma and involves the use of drugs to help reduce cancer
Radiation therapy - this involves the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and can be used to slow the cancer and keep it under control
Surgery - an operation to remove the cancerous area can be done if mesothelioma is detected at a very early stage, although it is not clear whether the surgery is useful
You will also likely have to continue treating your individual symptoms to help you feel as comfortable as possible.
For example, regularly draining the fluid from your chest can help your breathing and strong pain killers can help relieve your pain.
Your doctors should discuss these treatments with you.
Perspectives for the recovery of mesothelioma
Unfortunately, the hope of recovery for mesothelioma tends to be poor.
This is because it usually does not cause obvious symptoms until the final stages and can progress very quickly once this stage is reached.
In general:
About half (50%) of people with mesothelioma will live at least one year after diagnosis.
About one in 10 people (10%) with mesothelioma will live at least five years after diagnosis.
Legal claims for compensation for mesothelioma
Since the diseases related to asbestos are caused by the negligence of others and could have been avoided, the victims have the right to file a claim for mesothelioma and be compensated.
Although the laws and regulations of asbestos in the US and in many other countries around the world began more than 35 years ago, many people continue to file compensation claims for mesothelioma.
Almost all of these victims, and new victims who are diagnosed, have worked somewhere that has exposed them to asbestos daily.
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, or lung cancer related to asbestos or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation.
