Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that grows within the Mesothelium. The Mesothelium is a membrane that surrounds certain organs of the body to provide protection. More specifically, Mesothelioma affects tissue lining the lungs, the heart and the abdominal cavity.
The Cause of Mesothelioma
There seems to be no disagreement that exposure to Asbestos is the most common and likely cause of Mesothelioma. This disease is usually considered to be a work related illness as most patients are exposed to Asbestos at the work place. It is very rare for patients to develop Mesothelioma as a result of Asbestos exposure outside of their job environments. Smoking by itself apparently does not cause Mesothelioma, however smoking after a Mesothelioma diagnosis is risky and counterproductive to treatment.
Typical Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma symptoms can show up at any time after asbestos exposure and up to 50 years thereafter.
These symptoms can include the following:
1. Shortness of breath
2. Coughing, including coughing blood
3. Chest Pain and abdomen pain as a result of fluid buildup
4. Weight loss which is abnormal
5. Notable changes voice pitch. Sometimes described as a husky voice
6. Swallowing difficulty, referred to as Dysphasia
7. Fever and chills
8. Low red blood cell count or Anemia
9. Obstruction in the bowel and constipation
10. Difficulty sleeping
11. Loss of appetite
Mesothelioma symptoms are sometimes mistaken for different medical conditions. This is due to the fact that they often resemble symptoms related to cardiovascular disease, allergies, pneumonia, asthma and other health afflictions.
Available Mesothelioma treatment options
Patients should discuss the available treatment options with their physician and/or oncologist. Most of the time, Mesothelioma treatment will include one of the following categories: Chemotherapy, Surgery and Radiation Therapy. Of course, the stage of the cancer and location will ultimately determine what treatment options are best for each individual patient.
Patients should also consider enrollment in clinical trials. Available clinical trials are usually listed at well-know cancer hospitals and research centers throughout the world. Doctors can assist their patients in finding relevant clinical trials and will be able to provide additional Mesothelioma information. Patients who have Internet access should utilize search engines to learn as much about their disease as possible.
Understanding the Mesothelioma Prognosis
There are many factors that directly affect the prognosis for those diagnosed with Mesothelioma. Some of these factors are as follows:
1. Has the disease spread and how far?
2. What type of Mesothelioma does the patient have?
3. Was the disease detected early or at a later stage?
4. How healthy is the patient in general?
The patients physicians will use the above factors and their experience to come up with a prognosis. However, it is important to note that no two patients are the same. Therefore, any prognosis given is not cut in stone.
Considerations for Mesothelioma Legal Action
Many people struggle with the decision of whether or not to seek legal action against the parties responsible for their Asbestos exposure. However, it is important to remember that these patients were usually exposed without their knowledge or consent. In addition, depending on a patient's health insurance coverage, Mesothelioma treatment can be very expensive. Patients should not feel bad about pursuing their legal rights.
Hopefully this article has provided useful Mesothelioma information. There is an excellent blog which dives into more detail about the disease, treatment options, finding a lawyer, etc...
The Cause of Mesothelioma
There seems to be no disagreement that exposure to Asbestos is the most common and likely cause of Mesothelioma. This disease is usually considered to be a work related illness as most patients are exposed to Asbestos at the work place. It is very rare for patients to develop Mesothelioma as a result of Asbestos exposure outside of their job environments. Smoking by itself apparently does not cause Mesothelioma, however smoking after a Mesothelioma diagnosis is risky and counterproductive to treatment.
Typical Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma symptoms can show up at any time after asbestos exposure and up to 50 years thereafter.
These symptoms can include the following:
1. Shortness of breath
2. Coughing, including coughing blood
3. Chest Pain and abdomen pain as a result of fluid buildup
4. Weight loss which is abnormal
5. Notable changes voice pitch. Sometimes described as a husky voice
6. Swallowing difficulty, referred to as Dysphasia
7. Fever and chills
8. Low red blood cell count or Anemia
9. Obstruction in the bowel and constipation
10. Difficulty sleeping
11. Loss of appetite
Mesothelioma symptoms are sometimes mistaken for different medical conditions. This is due to the fact that they often resemble symptoms related to cardiovascular disease, allergies, pneumonia, asthma and other health afflictions.
Available Mesothelioma treatment options
Patients should discuss the available treatment options with their physician and/or oncologist. Most of the time, Mesothelioma treatment will include one of the following categories: Chemotherapy, Surgery and Radiation Therapy. Of course, the stage of the cancer and location will ultimately determine what treatment options are best for each individual patient.
Patients should also consider enrollment in clinical trials. Available clinical trials are usually listed at well-know cancer hospitals and research centers throughout the world. Doctors can assist their patients in finding relevant clinical trials and will be able to provide additional Mesothelioma information. Patients who have Internet access should utilize search engines to learn as much about their disease as possible.
Understanding the Mesothelioma Prognosis
There are many factors that directly affect the prognosis for those diagnosed with Mesothelioma. Some of these factors are as follows:
1. Has the disease spread and how far?
2. What type of Mesothelioma does the patient have?
3. Was the disease detected early or at a later stage?
4. How healthy is the patient in general?
The patients physicians will use the above factors and their experience to come up with a prognosis. However, it is important to note that no two patients are the same. Therefore, any prognosis given is not cut in stone.
Considerations for Mesothelioma Legal Action
Many people struggle with the decision of whether or not to seek legal action against the parties responsible for their Asbestos exposure. However, it is important to remember that these patients were usually exposed without their knowledge or consent. In addition, depending on a patient's health insurance coverage, Mesothelioma treatment can be very expensive. Patients should not feel bad about pursuing their legal rights.
Hopefully this article has provided useful Mesothelioma information. There is an excellent blog which dives into more detail about the disease, treatment options, finding a lawyer, etc...
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