Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma is an extremely rare and devastating cancer only caused by asbestos.
We want to make it easy to understand mesothelioma, its symptoms, how it's diagnosed,
what causes it, and how it's treated.
- Mesothelioma
- Mesothelioma Causes
- Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Mesothelioma Diagnosis
- Mesothelioma Treatments
- Mesothelioma FAQs
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Who Was Diagnosed With Mesothelioma?
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What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a cancer that can only be caused by exposure to asbestos. It is so rare that only three to four thousand people in the United States are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.
Airborne asbestos particles or fibers cause mesothelioma by damaging the DNA of the lining surrounding the lungs, heart, abdomen, and reproductive area (which is made of mesothelial tissue). This can happen between 10-60 yrs after exposure to asbestos.
The medical names of mesothelioma are based on their location in the body:
- Lungs - Pleural Mesothelioma
- Abdomen - Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Heart - Pericardial Mesothelioma
- Reproductive Organs - Omental, Ovarian, Testicular Mesothelioma
The name of your diagnosis also will change based on the cell type of the tumor:
- Epitheliod Mesothelioma (epithelial cells)
- Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma (sarcomatous cells)
- Biphasic Mesothelioma (mixture of both epitheliod and sarcomatoid cells)
- Well Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma (papillary cells)
What Can Cause Mesothelioma?
Asbestos was used in over ten thousand popular products used in every industry from the 1950s until the mid-1980s. It was the best insulating material to add to any product because it was strong, fireproof, and cheaper than fiberglass.
Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma.
Fibers of asbestos become dangerous when disturbed in any way: ripped, cut, torn, drilled, sanded, etc. This puts the dust-like fibers into the air, making them easy to inhale or swallow.
When asbestos dust enters the lungs or throat, it can cause cell damage leading to lung cancer or mesothelioma.
If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma but don't know how you were exposed to asbestos, you need to tell us your story. We have the knowledge and experience to figure out your sources of asbestos exposure.
Have You Been Diagnosed With Mesothelioma?
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What are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
The symptoms of mesothelioma are general and are similar to less severe breathing or abdominal problems.
In fact, mesothelioma is most often discovered incidentally (by accident) while treating other conditions.
The most common symptoms are the following:
- Shortness of Breath, Wheezing, Persistent Cough
- Fluid Around the Lungs
- Spots On or Around Lungs
- Abdominal Swelling or Fluid Buildup
- Lower Back Pain, Chest Pain
- Decreased Appetite, Weight Loss, Fatigue
If you have been around asbestos and experienced any of the symptoms,
you should tell your doctor if you've ever been exposed to asbestos,
even if it happened more than 60 years ago.
How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
An experienced doctor can diagnose mesothelioma by imaging from a high-resolution CT scan. However, the official diagnosis requires a pathologist to test a tissue sample, which can be obtained through the following methods:
- Surgical Resection (surgery)
- Needle Biopsy of Tissue
- Fluid biopsy (from lungs or abdomen)
Pathology Report
A pathology report states the results of the biopsy and can be confusing. If your doctor has given you a copy, we are available to help you interpret the report.
Dickey Law Firm has consulting physicians that can help you quickly understand your diagnosis and what your treating doctors are trying to tell you.
Early diagnosis is essential in getting proper treatment. When treated properly, the progress of the disease can be slowed down.
If you're concerned, you should consult a physician that has experience in accurately diagnosing Mesothelioma.
Find out instantly how much your potential case could be worth by filling out our Free Mesothelioma Case Calculator.
How Is Mesothelioma Treated?
There are several treatments available for Mesothelioma that can be used separately or together:
- Chemotherapy - Chemical cocktails are used to slow mesothelioma tumor growth.
- Radiation - Beams of energy are used to kill cancer cells.
- Surgery - Surgically remove the mesothelioma tumor and the surrounding tissue margins.
- Immunotherapy - New therapy that focuses your immune system on attacking cancer cells.
- Palliative Care - Also referred to as pain management, this treatment helps battle the pain associated with mesothelioma.
There is still no cure; recent medical advances in mesothelioma treatment help individual patients get better outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mesothelioma
How long does someone with mesothelioma live?
Each person is unique, and anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma faces a severe health problem with a difficult prognosis.
In the past decade, there have been significant advances in treating mesothelioma that have extended our clients' life expectancy.
Treatments like immunotherapy and targeted chemotherapy and surgery can allow people to live years beyond their diagnosis.
Can mesothelioma be cured?
No, mesothelioma does not have a cure. There are a few lucky people who appear to be in remission, but the National Institutes of Health doesn't recognize any known cure.
Most of our mesothelioma clients come to us with the strategy to buy as much time as possible. Medical treatment can increase the time they have to spend with family and friends. In the past 10 years, our clients who have sought treatment have lived many years beyond their diagnosis.
Why should I seek legal help if I'm diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
You should seek legal help if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma because there are billions of dollars set aside, but only an experienced asbestos attorney can access this resource for you and your family.
This diagnosis is not your fault, and legal action is the only way to hold the asbestos companies responsible.
What diseases are confused with mesothelioma?
People confuse other diseases with Mesothelioma because they are similarly spelled, such as melanoma, multiple myeloma, and metastatic cancer.
Other breathing conditions like COPD, Asbestosis, Pleural Plaques are confused with mesothelioma because they affect breathing.
Our law firm can only help with cases of mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.
Compensation for People Diagnosed With Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma Compensation for Family Members
Compensation for Veterans with Mesothelioma
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🔒 Our law firm will treat all your information received via phone or online communications with complete confidentiality. We will not disclose nor sell personal information.
