Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly type of cancer which results from long-term or heavy amounts of exposure to asbestos. Every year, about 2,000 mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in the United States, the prognosis for the condition is normally not good because it get diagnosed when it is more advanced.
Those who are diagnosed with mesothelioma have one of three types, depending on where the cancer first developed:

Pleural mesothelioma – This is the most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for about three-quarters of all cases. In the lining of the lungs (the pleura) is where pleural mesothelioma develops and spreads from there. Pleural mesothelioma symptoms normally includes shortness of breath, tightness or chest pain, a dry cough, sleepiness and weight loss. As with other types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma symptoms generally take 20 to 50 years to appear.

Peritoneal mesothelioma – This rarer type of mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity, where it causes such symptoms as stomach pain and swelling, vomiting, bowel obstruction, weight loss and fatigue.

Pericardial mesothelioma – The third type of mesothelioma is referred to as pericardial mesothelioma and it develops in the lining of the heart. Palpitations of the heart, pain in the chest and shortness of breath are some symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma.
The symptoms of these forms of mesothelioma are so general, this is why it is at times misdiagnosed as bronchitis, pneumonia or another benign condition. Those who have been exposed to asbestos exposure and is now experiencing weird symptoms should seek the medical attention of a doctor and advise them of your history with asbestos.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma requires not only the patient’s history, but also a battery of tests such as x-rays, biopsy, MRI and CT scan. Once the diagnosis of mesothelioma is positive, the patient and doctor can talk about the treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, alternative therapies or participating in a clinical trial.

Mesothelioma can be costly, although some people may be eligible for compensation healthcare expenses and other losses such as pain and suffering, lost wages and loss of a loved one. A mesothelioma attorney can inform you of your legal rights if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.

Contact our law firm and speak with a mesothelioma lawyer and get a free case evaluation and find out more about your legal rights.

Tags: cancer, mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, Pleural mesothelioma, types of mesothelioma

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010 at 9:34 pm and is filed under mesothelioma cancer. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.