Mesothelioma and asbestos law

asbestos attorney is a naturally occurring mineral that is made up of thin, long fibres. Workers who are exposed asbestos regularly are at risk of developing mesothelioma or other lung diseases of different types.

It can take years for symptoms to show up after exposure to asbestos. Different asbestos types can cause different symptoms.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lung's outer lining, or pleura. It is the most frequent mesothelioma type, accounting for up 70 to 79% of diagnosed cases. Patients with this disease suffer from chest pain and shortness of breath, and they may feel a sensation of heaviness in the chest.

Exposure to asbestos, a family of minerals made of microscopic fibers, typically causes this type of cancer. When inhaled, these fibers can cause irritation and DNA mutations. Pleura covers both the chest cavity as well as the lungs, so irritations can also affect the heart. Mesothelioma typically doesn't manifest until 30 to 50 year after exposure.

Chest pain and shortness breath are the most common symptoms. Patients may also feel tightness in their chest, coughing or difficulty breathing. People with this cancer often have a history of exposure to asbestos in the workplace. Construction, manufacturing and shipbuilding are the most frequent jobs which put people at risk risk of developing pleural mesothelioma. People who have served in the military may be at an especially high risk due to the widespread asbestos use in Navy vessels and army bunkers.

The TNM (tumors, lymph nodes, and metastases staging system) is the most common staging system for the pleural cancer. The stage that a patient is in at the time of diagnosis will help determine the treatment plan they should receive. Patients suffering from pleural mesothelioma who is in stage three or stage four will have a worse outlook than those in a lower stage. Mesothelioma in stage four is usually spread to the diaphragm, liver or even the heart of a patient. This makes it more difficult to treat and increases the risk of complications for the patient.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Unlike pleural mesothelioma, which is a lung-lining cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the peritoneum -- a membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and organs like the liver and intestines. Similar to pleural mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos is the reason for peritoneal msothelioma. The disease is much less prevalent than pleural mesothelioma, and only about 300-500 cases diagnosed each year.

As with pleural asbestosis symptoms can take a long time to manifest. Typically, patients suffer from abdominal pain and a mass in the abdomen. The symptoms of this kind of mesothelioma can also include nausea, weight loss and fever. Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for gastrointestinal problems and can lead to a false diagnosis.

Typically, doctors can identify mesothelioma by conducting a thorough medical history and physical exam. They can also utilize imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans and PET/CT scans to help find mesothelioma. These tests can identify tumors as well as other signs of cancer that aren't evident on X-rays.

The results of these tests allow doctors to diagnose mesothelioma, determine the stage of the disease and suggest treatment options. Staging is determined based on the type of cells and whether or whether the tumor has spread to other regions of the body.

The most important mesothelioma risk factor is exposure to asbestos. People who have been exposed to asbestos in occupations, like electrical or plumbing work, or in construction and manufacturing are more likely to develop the disease. Even if a person is not employed in any of these areas however, they may be exposed to asbestos to asbestos through family members and other sources. For this reason, anyone who suspects they may be at risk should talk to an experienced doctor. If they have an history of exposure to asbestos, a mesothelioma specialist can assist them in learning more about the risk.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor for mesothelioma, accounting for up to 80 percent of all cases. Exposure to asbestos may occur through work, military service, or by living with a person who is exposed to asbestos attorney or used to do the same. When exposed to asbestos, particles are able to be inhaled into abdomen and lungs. These particles can cause irritation to the linings, causing cancerous cells to grow in the mesothelium. Following exposure to asbestos mesothelioma can occur between 15 and 60 years old.

Other risk factors include smoking, genetics, and age. People in their 40s and 50s are more likely be diagnosed with mesothelioma compared to those who are younger or older. This is because mesothelioma usually occurs between 20 and 60 years from the first exposure to asbestos before symptoms of cancer begin to manifest. It is important to keep in mind that mesothelioma may occur in those who have been exposed to asbestos attorney without having directly worked with it. This is known as secondary or indirect asbestos case (click to find out more) exposure and can be as dangerous as direct asbestos exposure.

Smoking increases the chance of mesothelioma since it damages mesothelium. It also makes it more susceptible. Mesothelioma can also be aggravated by certain illnesses, including asbestosis and pneumonia. It is also important to remember that mesothelioma is more common for men than women. Men are more likely than women to have been exposed to asbestos for a longer time and work with it. Additionally, men are more likely to live with someone who was exposed to asbestos and bring asbestos fibers from their workplace on their clothes. Women are less likely to come into contact with asbestos and don't typically carry asbestos home on their clothes.

Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is difficult to recognize because the symptoms often resemble other conditions. Due to this, patients are often wrongly diagnosed.

The first step in identifying mesothelioma is for NYU Langone doctors to perform an examination and write note of the medical history of the patient including asbestos legal exposure. Doctors can also order a chest X-ray or CT scan to detect lumps or other abnormalities, and also to look for evidence of past asbestos exposure like pleural plaques (thickened pleura with calcium deposits) and the accumulation of fluid between the lung and chest wall (known as pleural effusion).

Other diagnostic tests include a magnetic resonance image or MRI test, which makes use of radio waves and magnets in order to create a series of detailed images of inside the body. A surgical biopsy is another method doctors use to diagnose mesothelioma. During a surgery biopsy doctors take a tiny piece of tissue from pleura or the peritoneum, to be further examined. A pathologist will then look at the tissue using a magnifying lens to determine if it contains cancerous cell.

The type of mesothelial cells involved, the malignant or benign nature of the cells, as well as the location and stage of the tumor, are used to classify the disease. Certain types of mesothelioma are at a higher chance of metastasizing or spreading therefore it is essential to determine the type of mesothelioma so that doctors can treat it prior to it becoming out-of-control.

Doctors can also run tests in the laboratory on a tumor to identify particular proteins, genes or other elements that help them understand the characteristics of the cancer and determine a treatment. These results are known as staging.

Treatment

A mesothelioma diagnosis can be terrifying. It is crucial to remember, however, that cancer can be treated especially at its early stages. Many people with mesothelioma can endure the disease for a long time, without expanding.

Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma through a variety of ways. Asbestos fibers, which are too small to see or feel by the naked eye can become airborne and cause irritation to the lung's lining (pleura). As time passes, the irritation causes the formation of scar tissue, which leads to changes in the structure of cells that can eventually grow into tumors.

The pleura covers the lungs and heart, as well as the abdomen. Mesothelium is composed of cells that react when exposed to asbestos. They inflame the tissue and cause it to scar. Overtime, these changes cause the development of malignant mesothelioma tumors.

Shortness of breath, chest discomfort or fluid buildup on the lungs are all symptoms of pleural msothelioma. In rare instances cancer can spread to the tissues around the reproductive organs and the heart.

A doctor will order biopsy if imaging scans show a potential mass in the lungs or stomach. During the procedure, doctors remove tiny amounts of fluid or tumor for lab analysis. The results will confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma and help determine the best treatment plan.

There are many types of mesothelioma treatment options, which include chemotherapy, surgery, and immunotherapy. Most doctors use a combination of these treatments. Enrolling in clinical trials of mesothelioma treatments that are new could be beneficial to patients. To learn more about the trials, patients should speak to mesothelioma specialists who have expertise in treating the condition.