What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare and extremely aggressive form of cancer. What makes this disease heartbreaking is that it’s often linked to accidental exposure to asbestos. This was a material once widely used in construction and manufacturing as a type of insulation. For decades, people worked around asbestos without knowing it could put their health and their lives at serious risk.
Mesothelioma tends to be difficult to diagnose early. Because of this reality, victims are often diagnosed after the cancer has progressed. It is a serious and often life-threatening condition.
Let’s look at what mesothelioma is and the possible prognosis for those diagnosed with this disease.
The Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is not a one-size-fits-all diagnosis. It can affect different areas of the body. Where it develops will make a big difference in symptoms, treatment, and prognosis.
Pleural Mesothelioma
This is the most common type of mesothelioma. One estimate, based on data collected by the Mayo Clinic, suggests that pleural mesothelioma accounts for about three-quarters of all cases. This type affects the lining of the lungs (the pleura) and is caused by inhaling tiny asbestos fibers that get stuck in the lung tissue.
Over time, these fibers cause inflammation and scarring. In some cases, it will lead to cancer. People with pleural mesothelioma often notice chest pain, shortness of breath, and a persistent cough. Fluid buildup around the lungs, called pleural effusion, is another issue.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma targets the lining of the abdomen, accounting for about 10-15% of cases. This can develop if someone swallows asbestos fibers, and they travel to the abdomen. Individuals with peritoneal mesothelioma might experience swelling, abdominal pain, and problems with digestion or bowel movements.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
This is a much rarer type of mesothelioma that affects the lining around the heart, called the pericardium. While it only accounts for a tiny fraction of cases, it is very serious. Some symptoms can include chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and difficulty breathing.
Testicular Mesothelioma
As the rarest form of mesothelioma, it develops in the lining around the testicles. It is so uncommon that there is not much information about it other than the symptoms usually involve swelling or lumps in the scrotum.
The tricky thing about mesothelioma is that it can take 20-50 years after asbestos exposure for symptoms to appear. By then, the disease is often too advanced for any type of treatment to reverse course.
Getting a Diagnosis
If mesothelioma is suspected, doctors will usually start with imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans to look for abnormalities. If something looks concerning, the next step is a biopsy. This involves taking a small sample of tissue or fluid from the affected area and examining it under a microscope. This is the only way to get a definitive diagnosis.
Once mesothelioma is confirmed, doctors use staging to determine how advanced it is. Early-stage mesothelioma is still confined to the lining where it started, while later stages may have spread to nearby tissues, lymph nodes, or even other parts of the body.
What Are Treatment Options?
Finding out that you have mesothelioma can be life-changing, but there are treatments available. These plans are tailored to the individual, depending on the type and stage of the disease.
Surgery
For some patients, surgery can help remove as much of the cancer as possible. In the early stages, this might even mean removing the tumor entirely.
Chemotherapy
This treatment can shrink tumors and slow the spread of the disease. It’s often used in combination with surgery or as a standalone option for more advanced cases. The drawbacks with chemotherapy are its severe side effects that include fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal distress, and hair loss.
Radiation Therapy
The therapy targets and destroys cancer cells in a specific area. It can be a great option for managing pain or preventing the cancer from spreading throughout the body. Radiation therapy also presents the same range of potential side effects as chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy
This newer treatment amplifies the patient’s own immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells more effectively.
Palliative Care
When a cure is not possible, palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life by managing symptoms like pain, fatigue, and breathing difficulties.
How Does This Cancer Happen?
The biggest culprit behind mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Asbestos was once hailed as a “miracle material.” It was cheap, fire-resistant, and durable. This material was used in everything from building insulation to brake pads. Unfortunately, those tiny fibers can stay in the body for decades if inhaled or swallowed. Over time, the fibers metastasize as it slowly causes damage.
People who worked in construction, shipbuilding, manufacturing, or even served in the military came into contact with asbestos. In some cases, they brought the fibers home on their clothes or in their hair, exposing their families.
In some situations, mesothelioma has even been linked to environmental exposure in places where asbestos naturally occurs in the soil. While it is much less common, there are instances where radiation exposure or certain genetic factors play a role in developing this form of cancer.
Facing Mesothelioma Together
A mesothelioma diagnosis doesn’t just affect the patient. It impacts families, friends, and caregivers. While the prognosis can be tough to hear, you have support. In many cases, you or your family can take legal action against those who failed to protect others from these known dangers of asbestos.
At Schweickert Ganassin Krzak Rundio, LLP, we help many victims of asbestos exposure and their families. We offer guidance to explore options to seek a remedy that can help cover the cost of medical care and lost wages. You don’t have to face this diagnosis alone.
