Malignant Mesothelioma and Its Symptoms

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Malignant Mesothelioma is a rare cancer and has a distinctive cause: asbestos. This cancer grows out of the cells that line some of the major organs like stomach and lungs. Malignant Mesothelioma is of several types out of which Pleural mesothelioma is the most common. Pleural mesothelioma begins either in the abdominal region or in the chest.

Mesothelioma Cause and Signs

The only thing that is common in all types of malignant mesothelioma is the source. Mesothelioma is generally caused when a person breathes asbestos fumes. Because of this, the disease is commonly found in those people who are involved in working with asbestos.

Although, asbestos is a mineral that is found naturally, it is toxic in nature and commonly used in construction industry. Microscopic fibers from asbestos may easily enter body through ingestion or lungs. Because these fibers are highly durable, the body is unable to either break it down or expel it from the body. These fibers cause harmful inflammation inside the body and may even lead to scarring of the mesothelium. It is this scarring that leads to malignant mesothelioma. There can also be some side effects such as serious respiratory conditions.

There is a great deal of time difference between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma onset. In most of the cases, patients do not even encounter any symptoms until 35-50 years after asbestos exposure. In many cases, not only those who are directly associated with asbestos exposure are at high risk of getting the disease, children and spouses of those exposed to asbestos may also come in contact with the fibers causing the disease.

With almost all types of malignant mesothelioma, signs of the disease start from the chest region. Furthermore, most of the people either ignore these symptoms or are misdiagnosed in the early stages. This is because asbestos exposure may take years to show its first signs as a disease in the human body. Some symptoms of mesothelioma include coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain.

Mesothelioma Legal Rights

Did you know that people exposed to asbestos may be eligible for collecting financial compensation that can help them deal with not only the medical expenses but also the emotional trauma? As a matter of fact, a number of people diagnosed with mesothelioma have been able to claim and collect million dollars on the grounds that they were wrongfully exposed to the disease causing mineral -- asbestos.

Until late 1970s, asbestos had not been banned by the federal statute. This means that there would have been many that would have encountered asbestos on daily basis while doing their jobs. The danger does not limit only to those who worked in an environment that contained large quantities of asbestos dust, but also to their family members. Because of this, a large number of people have been diagnosed with mesothelioma quite later in life. A number of people all across the country have filed lawsuits against the shipyards that used to employ workers and also against the asbestos manufacturers.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Malignant mesothelioma is generally diagnosed very late in patients, usually when they have only a year or a little more to live. However, if the disease is diagnosed at the right time, the usual cancer treatment can be used to treat malignant mesothelioma. This may include radiation therapy, removing the tumor with help of surgery, chemotherapy and use of drugs to shrink the infected cells.