Mesothelioma, What is it?

For months now I have been seeing late night TV commercials about Mesothelioma. All the commercials talk about getting in on a civil lawsuit if you have Mesothelioma or have a family member who died from it. My problem is I have no clue what Mesothelioma is. Today I saw that commercial again and decided to do a little research. Here is what I found out.

Mesothelioma is a highly-aggressive type of cancer that develops in the tissue that lines and protects the lungs, stomach, heart and other organs. That protective tissue lining is called the mesothelium.

The vast majority of the time, Mesothelioma develops as a result of an individual having been exposed to asbestos. Most of the people who are diagnosed with Mesothelioma have inhaled it or were exposed to asbestos dust or fibers through contact with clothing made out of asbestos. The majority of prognoses are the result of individuals who worked in asbestos factories or other facilities that utilized asbestos. Mesothelioma diagnoses are more common in men than women, but can affect both. The symptoms can lay dormant for up to 50 years which makes a diagnoses even harder.

When cancer cells are present in the mesothelium, the membrane will start to break down and the cancer will spread from the origin spot to other areas of the body. Symptoms include coughing, chest pain, weight loss and abdominal swelling. However, diagnosing Mesothelioma can often times prove difficult because its symptoms resemble those of several other types of illnesses. Alerting a physician to having a previous history of asbestos exposure is very helpful in making a prognosis. Depending on the stage of the disease, treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

The commercials about the civil law suits are real and not a scam. There are trust funds paying out compensation to people suffering with or the family of those that have passed away due to Mesothelioma. Even if the company responsible for the asbestos exposure is no longer in business, there have been funds set aside to pay damages.