Malignant Mesothelioma Info - Mesothelioma Treatment
Malignant Mesothelioma Info -- Introduction to Mesothelioma Litigation
What is Malignant Mesothelioma?
Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused from exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring metamorphic mineral group. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious type of asbestos-related disease because it is both fatal and incurable. It is estimated that malignant mesothelioma is responsible for over 200,000 deaths worldwide.
The average post-diagnosis survival time for mesothelioma sufferers is between one and two years. There are a variety of mesothelioma treatment modalities that have been used; however, they have been unsuccessful in treating the disease. Mesothelioma research continues to push towards a better method of mesothelioma treatment; recent minor-successes have been realized in the field of chemotherapy drug development. Pemetrexed (brand name Alimta), Ranpirnase (brand name Onconase) and Veglin are a few of the drugs currently garnering a great deal of positive attention.
What are the Different Types of Malignant Mesothelioma?
There are three distinct types of malignant mesothelioma, each affecting a different section of mesothelial tissue.
Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura, mesothelial tissue lining the lung cavity. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of malignant mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma, also called diffuse malignant mesothelioma, is often misdiagnosed as viral pneumonia because of certain symptomatic similarities between the two.
The most common presenting symptom of pleural mesothelioma is the chronic chest pain that results from a buildup of fluid inside the pleural space (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma patients may suffer from additional symptoms that can include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic cough
- Weight loss
- Fever
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the peritoneum, mesothelial tissue lining the abdominal lung cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type of malignant mesothelioma.
Peritoneal mesothelioma sufferers can exhibit a variety of symptoms, some of which include:
- Swelling of the body
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Abdominal mass
- Bowel obstruction
- Blood clotting abnormalities
- Lowered red blood cell count (anemia)
- Fever
Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the pericardium, mesothelial tissue lining the heart sac. Causing cancerous growths in the tissue surrounding the heart, pericardial mesothelioma is the least common type of malignant mesothelioma.
Some of the early signs of pericardial mesothelioma can include:
- Chest pain
- Abnormal / uncomfortable breathing (dyspnea)
- Cough
- Irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
Malignant Mesothelioma Litigation
Growing media attention and the spread of information technologies have catered to the spread of mesothelioma information. Generations of people were put at risk of contracting an incredibly dangerous disease so that million-dollar companies could make even more money. Mesothelioma litigation has served as a way for malignant mesothelioma sufferers (or their families as the case may be) to receive compensation designed to make up for hospital bills, lost wages and the overall negligence of all liable parties.
Mesothelioma lawyers are mesothelioma litigation specialists. They are able to file a mesothelioma claim before the statutory deadline (several months following mesothelioma diagnosis) and track mesothelioma contraction back to the source of asbestos exposure, even under the most difficult of circumstances (such as product manufacturer bankruptcies).