Mesothelioma Cancer and Other Occupational Disease

Mesothelioma is a rare, devastating cancer affecting the protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Mesothelioma most commonly develops in the outer lining of the lungs or internal chest wall, but it also develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity and the lining of the pericardium, the sac that contains the heart and the roots of the great vessels. The only established cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers are inhaled into the lungs, become trapped, and begin to irritate the surrounding tissues. In susceptible people, this irritation can lead to the development of cancer cells. Some people can be exposed to asbestos for years and never develop mesothelioma. Others can acquire the disease after brief exposure. It can sometimes take up to 50 years for mesothelioma to develop.

Working with a mesothelioma lawyer in North Carolina can ensure that you do not have to face the complexities of asbestos law alone. Without proper legal representation, navigating our current judicial system can be overwhelming and complicated process. Our attorneys at Ward Black Law offer information about the various aspects of asbestos law and mesothelioma cancer in North Carolina and urge any individuals who are exhibiting symptoms, have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or an asbestos related disease or are receiving treatment for such illnesses, to contact us today.

Symptoms

The initial symptoms of mesothelioma resemble those of other lung diseases and illnesses. Because the disease is rare, it is more likely that a person exhibiting similar symptoms has a different illness. If you have had asbestos exposure, however, it is imperative that you let your doctor know. Mesothelioma symptoms often include the following:

Pain when breathing or coughing
Persistent, dry cough
Shortness of breath
Difficulty swallowing
Chest pain
Palpable lumps under the skin of the chest
Unintentional weight loss

As mesothelioma spreads, its symptoms worsen, often leading to death from heart failure, lung failure, or stroke.

Diagnosis

If your doctor suspects that you are at risk for mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, he or she will likely conduct a detailed physical examination, including a chest x-ray and a lung function test. Although the chest x-ray cannot detect asbestos fibers, it can identify the early signs of lung disease. Your doctor may also order more detailed imaging tests, such as a CT scan or an MRI. Although these tests are useful to detect lung damage and scarring, a biopsy is actually required to confirm the presence of mesothelioma. During a biopsy, samples of lung tissue and fluid are examined for the presence of cancer cells. Once the diagnosis is made, the doctors will attempt to assign one of the following stages of mesothelioma cancer:

Stage I mesothelioma is limited to one section of the lining of the lungs.
Stage II mesothelioma may have spread to the diaphragm or a lung.
Stage III mesothelioma may have spread to other parts of the chest and to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage IV mesothelioma has spread or metastasized to other parts of the body, most commonly the lymph nodes, the brain, or to distant portions of the lungs.

Treatment

Unfortunately, mesothelioma is usually not diagnosed until it is in an advanced stage. Regardless of the stage, mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is rarely curable. It may be possible in very early stages to remove the cancer through surgery. Otherwise, treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may be chosen to reduce the signs and symptoms of the cancer and to slow its progression.

Peritoneal & Pericardial Mesothelioma and Other Cancers

In addition to increasing your risk for mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos also increases your risk for other types of cancer. Many studies of workers exposed to asbestos during the past 70 years have proven a link between inhaling asbestos fibers and contracting lung cancer. The greater your asbestos exposure, the greater your risk for developing lung cancer. About one in seven people who have asbestosis go on to develop lung cancer. Recent scientific studies prove that asbestos exposure also increases your risk for cancer of the larynx. Evidence suggests that exposure to asbestos subjects you to an increased risk of stomach, pharyngeal, and colorectal cancer as well.

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