The Many Faces of Mesothelioma
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that attacks the mesothelium and is caused by exposure to asbestos. The disease generally does not present itself for 20 to 50 years after exposure. Deadly and aggressive, some strides have been made over recent years in the treatment of mesothelioma. However, the survival rate is low. Those who are diagnosed early on with the pleural form of the disease have a 36 to 48 percent chance of surviving for two years. A 5-percent survival rate is found in 10 to 16 percent. Those with an advanced form of this type of cancer have a much lower survival rate.
What Is the Mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that lines the sac containing the heart, the abdominal cavity, and the organs in the chest. Most cases of mesothelioma are found in the pleural or thoracic cavity, which surrounds the lungs, heart, diaphragm, and trachea. Malignant mesothelioma can also occur in the pericardial mesothelium. This surrounds the heart. It also occurs in the lining surrounding the abdomen, commonly called peritoneal mesothelioma, or in the testicles.
Treatment for Mesothelioma
New therapies are being introduced to treat mesothelioma and to increase the lifespan of those who suffer from the disease. Early detection is important, and knowing what to do after being diagnosed can improve the odds. Stem cell therapy, combination drugs and those designed to target the disease may be options to treat mesothelioma. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent Sacramento area hospitals where treatment can be sought such as UC Davis Medical Center and Sutter Medical Center.
Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
This is the most common form of mesothelioma and can be difficult to detect because symptoms may not appear until the disease has already progressed to stage 3 or 4. Symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Body ache
- Harsh or faint breathing
- Fluid buildup around the lungs
- Wheezing or dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Reduction in chest expansion
- Coughing up of blood
- Problems with blood clotting
Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Although peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common form, it may be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms can mimic a number of other diseases. Symptoms include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Abdominal swelling
- Bowel pain
- Bowel obstruction
Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma causes a thickening of the lining around the heart and is one of the rarest forms of this cancer. Symptoms can include:
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Heart murmur
- Night sweats
- Fever
- Problems breathing
- Heart palpitations
Symptoms of Testicular Mesothelioma
This type of cancer occurs in less than 1 percent of those who have contracted mesothelioma. The symptoms of testicular mesothelioma are:
- Lump in the scrotum
- Pain in the testicles
- Fluid collecting in the scrotum
- Swelling in the testicles
Who Is Most Likely to Contract Mesothelioma?
Workers in certain industries who have been exposed to asbestos are most likely to develop this type of cancer. However, asbestos has been found even in cosmetics. A recall by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration removed a children’s makeup product in 2017 when it was found to contain asbestos. The jobs commonly associated with asbestos exposure include:
- Factory workers
- Auto mechanics who work on brakes
- Shipbuilding
- Workers in the construction industry
- Workers in the insulation industry
- Veterans
Sacramento Personal Injury Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento personal injury lawyer. Suffering from mesothelioma is a challenging and frightening experience. Innovative treatments to battle this cancer caused by asbestos are being found, which gives new promise to sufferers. If you or your loved one has mesothelioma or your loved one was lost because of it, I would like to offer you my compassionate, free and friendly advice. I can be reached at (916) 921-6400 in the Sacramento area and also have a toll-free line at (800) 404-5400. If it is more convenient, you can also reach me through our online contact form at AutoAccident.com.
For more than 36 years, it has been my honor to have represented many of the good people of Sacramento in all types of car accidents and other kinds of personal injuries, including wrongful death.
I am a member of the milliondollaradvocates.com. This is a group composed of trial attorneys in the United States who have won either a settlement or a verdict in excess of $1 million for a client.
Learning about a law firm is a good way to help decide who to call when help or advice is needed. Please go to the following links to see what our former clients have had to say, and look over a synopsis of some of our cases and how they concluded:
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/diagnosis-xray-chest-lungs-ribs-1476620/
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