Mesothelioma is described as a cancerous thickening of the lining of the lungs, heart or other organs. As cancerous cells develop in the sensitive linings of the organs they become heavier and filled with fluid. 

Many cases of Mesothelioma can be traced back to exposure to asbestos. The fine particles that are inhaled become embedded in the lungs and organs, and become carcinogenic. The particles are so tiny that victims are often unaware that they have even been exposed. This leads to treatment being delayed to when it is no longer helpful.

Mesothelioma can be very difficult to diagnose and treat. It can take decades for the exposure to asbestos to turn into cancer, so the symptoms are often misdiagnosed. Although the numbers of Mesothelioma diagnoses are fairly low, that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been many cases that were never properly diagnosed. 

The symptoms themselves are common to many other ailments and can take years to become a problem. In most cases, by the time symptoms begin to appear, the disease has progressed beyond the point of effective treatment.

If you have worked in an industry that has put you at risk for exposure to asbestos you may want to get tested before it’s too late. Companies ignored the danger to their workers for many years and now more and more cases are diagnosed every day. 

If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure you should be talking to Mesothelioma experts lawyers like Bergman Legal about your rights to compensation.

If you have worked in any of these industries in the past or you are in the field today, you may have had asbestos exposure:

  • Aircraft Mechanic or Engineer
  • Insulation manufacturing or installation
  • Construction
  • Papermill
  • Heavy equipment
  • Appliance manufacturing or repair
  • Pipefitter
  • Power plant worker
  • Firefighter
  • Plumber
  • Heavy equipment mechanic or operator

Types of Mesothelioma

Pleural  —  Lung and chest lining. Over ⅔ of cases.

Peritoneal  —  Thickening of the abdominal lining. Approximately 30% of cases

Pericardial  —  Thickening of the heart tissue. Approximately 5% of cases

Testicular  —  Bumps under the skin of the testicles. Very rare – less than 100 cases

Symptoms

The general symptoms are often misdiagnosed as they can be common to many illnesses. Each type of Mesothelioma has very different symptoms, so let’s break them down.

Pleural

  • Lower back pain
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Dry persistent cough
  • Pain while breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle weakness
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Lumps under the skin of the chest

Peritoneal

  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Night sweats
  • Swelling of the abdomen
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Anemia
  • Bowel changes

Pericardial

  • Heart palpitations
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Night sweats
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Fever
  • Fatigue

Testicular

  • Bumps under the skin of the testicles and scrotum

If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to asbestos in the past and are experiencing any of these listed symptoms, you should see your doctor. Ask for a blood test along with a chest scan. Symptoms can take decades to develop and are tough to diagnose quickly. If you are at risk, it’s important to get checked today.

Your treatment options increase the sooner you have the right diagnosis. Chemotherapy, radiation, and natural treatments have all been successful at slowing the progression of this disease. At this time, there is no permanent cure for Mesothelioma, so you need to act now if you are at risk.