Mesothelioma that affects the lining of the lungs and chest wall called pleural mesothelioma can spread to, or metastasize, to other parts of the body, according to the American Cancer Society, including:
- The bones
- Lymph nodes
- Lining of the abdomen
- Pleura on the other side of the body
Cancer that has spread is more difficult to treat.
Causes of Mesothelioma
Most people who have mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos years or decades before they were diagnosed, according to the Mayo Clinic. Asbestos was mined and used in a wide range of products, including building materials, vehicle parts, fireproof gear, appliances, cigarette filters, cosmetics, and holiday decorations.
People who were exposed to asbestos at work often were unaware of the danger and were not given protective equipment. They may have been exposed to the carcinogen on a daily basis over a period of years.
Some workers brought asbestos fibers home on their bodies and clothes and exposed their family members to it, causing their relatives to later develop mesothelioma. In addition, many people who used consumer products containing asbestos developed mesothelioma long after they were exposed to the carcinogen.
How Mesothelioma Spreads
Mesothelioma can metastasize if cancer cells grow to other parts of the body and crowd other cells. Then, the mesothelioma can spread to the organs and other tissue in the body. Typically, the farther that the cancer has spread, the later the cancer stage the patient is.
Once mesothelioma has spread, a patient may have a lower chance of curing it and few treatment options.
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Where Mesothelioma Spreads To
When mesothelioma is diagnosed, a doctor will use information from a series of tests to determine the stage of the cancer. The stage indicates whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body.
In stages 1 and 2, mesothelioma is mostly limited to the site of the initial tumor. In stage 3, mesothelioma begins to spread, or metastasize. Surgery may be an option for some stage 3 patients. At stage 4, the cancer has spread throughout the body and may be affecting vital organs far from the site of the initial tumor.
How Mesothelioma Can Be Treated
If mesothelioma is caught early, surgery may be able to remove the tumor. Radiation and chemotherapy may prevent more cells from forming and stop the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body.
Mesothelioma has a latency period of years or decades, and symptoms may not show until later stages. When mesothelioma is finally diagnosed, it is often at an advanced stage, leaving patients with few treatment options. In those situations, doctors focus on relieving pain and making patients as comfortable as possible. Often, people with mesothelioma die from the disease relatively quickly after being diagnosed.
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Seek Financial Compensation for Your Mesothelioma
If you have pleural mesothelioma that has spread to other parts of your body, you may be suffering from chronic pain that leaves you unable to work and care for yourself and your family. You may have been told that your cancer cannot be cured. Your family may be struggling to make ends meet, and you may be worried about your loved ones’ long-term financial security.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may be able to help you seek justice. For more than three decades, we have been assisting victims of personal injuries. Our firm has represented clients all over the United States. A member of our team can travel to meet with you at your home or in the hospital to discuss your case.
We can help clients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma figure out how they were exposed to asbestos. We have compiled information on companies that used asbestos in their products. We may be able to use that information to identify the source of your exposure.
Our firm may file a personal injury lawsuit against the business that was responsible for your asbestos exposure. If the company has declared bankruptcy, we may be able to seek a financial award from a trust fund set up to compensate mesothelioma victims.
Pintas & Mullins Law Firm works on contingency. That means that you will not have to pay us any money up front. We will only receive a fee if we obtain a financial award for you. Call our office at (800) 307-3113 to discuss your case with a member of our staff.
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