Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that we are hearing more and more about every year as many people are being diagnosed with the disease. This type of cancer has developed in many people that worked with asbestos or have been exposed to asbestos frequently in their homes or apartments growing up.

There is more than one type of mesothelioma and the one type that is not as commonly seen is malignant mesothelioma. This form of the disease causes malignant cancer cells to form in the sac lining the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity, and also the lining around the heart.

In recent years many people have been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to the high amounts of asbestos that was in use in the forties, fifties, sixties, and seventies. Usually the disease will develop after a lengthy period of time, and usually this happens around twenty-five to forty years, this is why it is becoming so common in the last decade or two. Mesothelium is the protective lining that protects most of the body's organs and this is where mesothelioma occurs.

Often times mesothelioma is misdiagnosed at first because some of the symptoms of this asbestos disease are similar to other conditions that could affect your health. If you have ever worked with asbestos or lived in a place with asbestos then you need to be sure to let the doctor know so they consider mesothelioma right away. With an x-ray the doctors can see if there is pleural thickening around the lungs and they will also do various lung tests and breathing tests. Tuberculosis and heart failure can sometimes show similar symptoms so they will do tests to check for these as well.

Mesothelioma is a very dangerous cancer and even if it is caught early on there is still at this point only a very slim chance of beating it. So if you have ever been exposed to asbestos be sure to see your doctor and there are also many mesothelioma lawyers that can help you with any legal issues involving asbestos and mesothelioma.