What Causes Malignant Mesothelioma?
According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are reported each year in the United States, with the death rate projected to continue to rise for the next decade. Although asbestos use has declined, symptoms of malignant mesothelioma cancer typically do not onset until twenty to thirty years after the toxic exposure, causing a rise in asbestos-related deaths in recent years.
There are three main types of malignant mesothelioma:
- Pleural mesothelioma
- Pericardial mesothelioma
- Peritoneal mesothelioma
The most common type of mesothelioma is malignant pleural mesothelioma, accounting for more than 75 percent of all reported cases. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and is believed to be contracted when asbestos fibers become inhaled and lodged in the lungs' lining. Patients who suffer from pleural mesothelioma often experience chest pain, difficulty breathing, cough, shortness of breath, weight loss and loss of appetite.
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining of the heart. Although the cause of pericardial mesothelioma is uncertain, health care professionals believe it develops after asbestos fibers are inhaled and are carried into the bloodstream, where they settle in the heart's lining. Pericardial mesothelioma is rare, affecting less than ten percent of all mesothelioma patients.
The last type of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma, a condition that is caused by the digestion of asbestos fibers. Some physicians believe that asbestos clouds settled on workers' foods, causing them to directly digest asbestos. Others believe asbestos contaminated their clothing, causing them to bring asbestos into their kitchens and homes. Peritoneal mesothelioma causes cancerous cells to develop in the lining of the stomach, and affects approximately ten to twenty percent of all mesothelioma patients.
Before developing mesothelioma, many patients first suffer from asbestosis — a type of lung disease that causes inflammation and scar tissue in the lining of the lungs. Asbestosis is not cancer; however, it often leads to pleural mesothelioma. Asbestosis can also lead to disability and death, as the scar tissue expands and causes labored breathing and dysfunction.
Asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases often could have been prevented. Many employers knowingly exposed their workers to asbestos toxic exposure for years without warning. As a result, several mesothelioma victims are filing toxic exposure lawsuits against those who are responsible for their health condition. In addition, victims who lived or worked in buildings that contained asbestos can file claims against the constructors and others who used asbestos insulation. Qualified personal injury attorneys help these patients create strong cases against faulted parties and recover compensation to victims.
The prognosis for a successful mesothelioma treatment after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis is very grim. Because cancer is a life-threatening, chronic condition, many mesothelioma victims die before their case is resolved. In these instances, the family member or heirs of the victim can receive a wrongful death settlement from the negligent party. This settlement is often used to offset the costs of funeral expenses, outstanding medical bills, lost opportunities, lost income, and pain and suffering.