Mesothelioma: It's Deadly Effects, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Lawsuits

What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks the protective inner layer, or sac, that surrounds most of the vital organs in the body. This protective sac is called the mesothelium, which accounts for the oddly named cancer.

The most common site of mesothelioma is the lining around the lungs, although it is also common in the protective sacs around the heart and stomach. Once the cells of the mesothelium have begun to react abnormally, they often spread to nearby tissues and organs, causing further damage. This type of cancer is extremely rare, with only about two thousand new cases reported each year. Still, there have been nine famous people have died from mesothelioma, including Paul Gleason of The Breakfast Club and Bruce Vento, a United States Congressman.

Causes of Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is most often caused by exposure to asbestos. In fact, in at least eighty percent of the recorded cases of mesothelioma the patients reported previous exposure to asbestos and/or asbestos products. However, some cases have no reports of known asbestos exposure, and these cases are mysteries still to the medical world.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma: There are several symptoms of mesothelioma. The symptoms you may experience with this type of cancer will depend on where the cancer is located. Mesothelioma in the lining of the lungs is usually accompanied by chest pains and shortness of breath. Cancer in the protective sac surrounding the stomach can lead to abdominal pain, weight loss, swelling or bloating, bowel obstruction, and fever. When the cancer is advanced and spreads to other organs swelling of the face and throat may occur, as well as pain in swallowing. It is common for none of these symptoms to be present for up to thirty or fifty years after the exposure to asbestos.

Treatment for Mesothelioma: Surgery is the most common therapy for mesothelioma, because most cases are well advanced by the time they are discovered. Surgery usually entails removal of part of the protective sac surrounding the organ, as well as a portion of the organ tissue. In some cases part of the diaphragm may also be removed. Basically, it all depends on how far the cancer has spread. In some rarer cases, one entire lung must be removed. Other treatments for mesothelioma include radiation therapy and chemotherapy. These two types of cancer treatment are common, but very risky. They cause many painful side effects, and are typically only given for short periods of time to avoid complete deterioration of the overall health of the patient.

Lawsuits over Mesothelioma: There have been many lawsuits regarding cases of mesothelioma, especially in recent years. This is because the known effects of asbestos have been known for decades, and many employers and asbestos manufacturers have failed to recognize or prevent asbestos exposure. When safety measures are not taken and guidelines not met, the employer or manufacturer becomes liable for the mesothelioma in the patient. These lawsuits usually end with large settlements for the patients to help cover medical bills, loss of wages, or even loss of income for family left behind in wrongful death lawsuits.

 There are two types of mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma grows in the tissues covering the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma is much more common than the peritoneal mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma: This type of mesothelioma grows in the tissue lining the abdomen or what we fondly called "tummy". This type of mesothelioma is less common than the pleural mesothelioma.