Mesothelioma and Asbestosis

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esothelioma is a type of cancer that is malignant and has become more well-known only in recent years. It causes tumors in and around organs of the body, but is literally cancer of the mesothelium, the sac that surrounds vital organs such as the heart and lungs. It is the cells in the lining of the mesothelium that become abnormal and where the disease presents itself.

Mesothelioma is the result of asbestos exposure, and is most often the result of exposure because of working around this substance. Mining, manufacturing, and removal of this substance from buildings or other dwellings are the occupations most likely to come into contact with asbestos. Exposure as short as one month can lead to mesothelioma. Mesothelioma may not show for decades after being exposed to asbestos, which can make it difficult to diagnose and treat. In fact, by the time a diagnosis is made, it is often too late to save the patient.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are three types of mesothelioma that can be diagnosed:

Pleural mesothelioma – The most common type of mesothelioma attacks the lungs, the lining of the lungs, and the cavity of the lungs. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are caused by a buildup of fluid in the lining of the lungs and the chest cavity called pleural effusion. Difficulty in breathing or swallowing, persistent coughing, shortness of breath, fever, rasping, weight loss and coughing up blood may all be present with pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma – Cancer affects the stomach and abdomen with this rarer form of the disease. The tumors are pressed against the wall of the abdomen and can result in abdominal swelling and pain, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, chest pain and breathing problems, bowel obstruction, anaemia and other blood clotting problems, or fever. The tumors can metastasize to other parts of the body.

Pericardial mesothelioma – The rarest form of mesothelioma affects the heart and the cavity surrounding it. Chest pain, shortness of breath and trouble breathing, coughing, and palpitations are all symptoms of this manifestation.

Asbestosis

Another disease resulting from long-term exposure to asbestos is asbestosis. This chronic inflammatory condition of the parenchymal tissue of the lungs causes shortness of breath and greatly increases the risk of developing several different types of lung cancer. This is not mesothelioma, but a different disease altogether.

While the primary symptom of asbestosis is shortness of breath, caused by a scarring of the lung tissue as the result of asbestos fibers, advanced cases may lead to complete respiratory failure. Coughing is not necessarily a symptom of this disease. There is no treatment that can cure asbestosis, and home oxygen treatment may allay the shortness of breath. However, draining the lungs, vibration, or chest percussion to remove the fluid may also be necessary. Medication can be prescribed to help dilute the fluid, but is not a cure.

Please contact our experienced mesothelioma lawyers today to schedule a confidential consultation.

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McAlester Office
343 E. Carl Albert Pkwy.
McAlester, OK 74501

Phone: (918) 423-0421
or (800) 658-1596
Fax: (918) 423-0266

Oklahoma City Office
525 Central Park Dr., 101
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Phone: (405) 524-2268
or (800) 299-7299
Fax: (405) 525-3231

Tulsa Office
2417 E. Skelly Dr.
Tulsa, OK 74170

Phone: (918) 749-0749
or (800) 798-2613
Fax: (918) 747-0751

Disclaimer: The information contained throughout this site is meant to generally inform the reader about our areas of practice, including accident injury. This information is not meant to be taken as legal advice and nothing on this site establishes a lawyer / client relationship. Our accident lawyers provide legal assistance in the Tulsa area including Oklahoma City, McAlester and Norman, Oklahoma.