WHAT IS MESOTHELIOMA?

The first question that most people ask when diagnosed with mesothelioma is: "What is Mesothelioma?" Quite simply, it is a cancer in the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), or the lining of the abdominal cavity, known as the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma). Less frequently, mesothelioma can also develop in other locations including the lining of the heart, or pericardium (pericardial mesothelioma), and in the lining of the ovaries and scrotum. Unfortunatley most traditional treatments for cancer are less effective in treating mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is often used as short-hand for Diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma. The word "diffuse" refers to the spread-out quality of mesothelioma which presents as "sheets" of malignant cells.

While Mesothelioma is a rare malignancy in the general population, it is commonly found in individuals who have had asbestos exposure in the workplace. In fact, in the United States, asbestos is the only confirmed cause of mesothelioma. There are approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States each year. By comparison, approximately 160,000 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed each year. Traditional mesothelioma treatments and experimental ones, may work to slow the effects of the lung cancer, but there is no known cure at this time.

Mesothelioma began to be identified among asbestos workers and associated with asbestos exposure in the workplace in the 1940s. By this time, there were large volumes of information establishing that asbestos caused scarring in the lungs known as "asbestosis" and information already linking asbestos to lung cancer. Epidemiology studies conducted in the 1960s definitively established asbestos as the cause of mesothelioma. Traditionally, treatment for the disease involved segregation of the sheets of diseased cells, but new mesothelioma treatments are centered around less obtrusive methods. When answering the question: "What is Mesothelioma?" most doctors will tell you that the disease is caused by asbestos and there is no known cure. However, mesothelioma doctors are able to use traditional mesothelioma treatments and may suggest enrollment in mesothelioma clinical trials. For more information, on traditional mesothelioma treatments click here. As a legal matter, an answer to the question: "What is Mesothelioma?" is that it is a preventable disease; it is a disease caused by asbestos; and it has been caused by corporations that failed to warn of the dangers of asbestos. Had workers been warned about the hazards of asbestos, by the companies that manufactured asbestos products, then workers could have taken steps to protect themselves. A mesothelioma lawsuit affords victims of this disease the opportunity to obtain financial compensation for damages including pain and suffereing, and money spent on both experimental and traditional mesothelioma treatments. A mesothelioma lawsuit also serves to hold accountable the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure - in the workplace or home environment.

For more information on Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma call 1.800.MESOLAW, 24 hours, 7 days a week, or complete the email form.