Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure. When the asbestos fibers get in your body, it may stick to the tissue membranes that cover your internal organs. How mesothelioma affects the body largely depends on how much asbestos you inhaled or ingested throughout the years. Mesothelioma commonly occurs in the lung, heart, and abdominal linings. Like many other cancers, it is highly destructive and has a low survival rate. Many cases do not reach a year unless the patient gets aggressive treatments. For many people with mesothelioma, a cure is not possible, according to Mayo Clinic.
Knowing mesothelioma’s symptoms will give you or your loved ones a better shot of spotting them early. Here is what you should know about this disease.
The Main Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma’s effects on your body depend on the type that you have. Its most familiar forms are pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma can happen when you inhale asbestos. This type starts on the lining of your lungs, so your symptoms will mainly target the respiratory system and chest cavity. Some initial signs include wheezing and constant coughing or running out of breath. You may also feel pain or pressure on your chest. Your esophagus may also get affected, making it painful to swallow.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
On rare occasions, asbestos inhalation may result in pericardial mesothelioma. This type targets the membrane around your heart. As such, you can have cardiac problems such as palpitations. Blood may not circulate as efficiently, which could make some of your limbs swell. Your chest may also hurt when you breathe. In more severe cases, you might experience heart failure.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is also rare, but not as much as pericardial is. It affects the lining surrounding your abdomen after ingesting asbestos. You might feel intense pain and swelling in your midsection or feel full all the time. You could also get frequent episodes of vomiting or diarrhea.
Once any mesothelioma starts spreading throughout the body, other organs will start failing. Lymph nodes will no longer fight off viruses as effectively, making you more susceptible to infections. Cancer that reaches your skeletal system will create lesions that make your bones more fragile. You may also have seizures, nausea, and weakness if the growths reach your brain.
It can be easy to mistake your symptoms for an entirely different disease. However, you might want to play it safe and check with your doctor as soon as possible. Mesothelioma stays dormant for decades, and its more dangerous signs do not show until it progresses far enough.
By having yourself diagnosed immediately, you can start with your treatments and prevent your cancer from growing.
How Your Risk of Having Mesothelioma Can Increase
The more asbestos in your system, the more likely you are to develop this particular cancer.
Your job or home’s location could also be a significant factor in your exposure problem. Living near or working in industries that use or make products with asbestos, such as construction, increases your chances of getting its fibers in your system. However, companies do have a responsibility to keep their employees protected and handle asbestos with care. Improper asbestos handling and a lack of protection can make them liable in a mesothelioma lawsuit.
Aside from asbestos exposure, a family history of mesothelioma can increase your chances of having this disease as well. Smoking tobacco products also worsen your respiratory symptoms, although not your mesothelioma itself. However, the carcinogens in tobacco smoke put you at risk of lung cancer. Having both diseases growing can deal severe damage to your body.
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Filing a Mesothelioma Claim
Symptoms can make treating cancer more expensive than you might expect. You have to buy more medications or hire a caregiver to help you. Take, for instance, if you had a heart attack because of pericardial mesothelioma. This might mean an unplanned trip to the hospital and more bills to pay.
If you plan on filing a claim against the parties responsible, you might want to keep a close watch on all your medical treatments and medications, not just the ones for your cancer itself. By specifying them in your lawsuit, the defendant will also have to repay you for the expenses they accrued.
We Help You Get Compensated
Many people will research how mesothelioma affects the body and overlook how it impacts other aspects of life. For instance, you and your family could face financial troubles that you never recover from. If your sickness is due to someone else’s negligence, however, you can sue to get compensation for the expenses you incur.
Get in touch with us at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm if you need legal support and representation at court. Our mesothelioma attorneys do not charge any fees unless we win the case for you. For free case evaluations, you may call us at (800) 307-3113. Our team is available 24/7 to accommodate your concerns.
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