Blood Clotting Disorder0

The rise of malignant mesothelioma diagnoses recently is staggering, and is expected to peak in the coming years. This growing epidemic results from the widespread use of asbestos related products in industrial countries. In the United States, asbestos products were common and often used in building materials and shipbuilding.
During the height of asbestos manufacturing, many workers were exposed to airborne asbestos particles. This occupational exposure is the most common cause of later mesothelioma diagnoses. However, environmental or secondary exposure can also cause mesothelioma.
After prolonged and unintentional exposure, asbestos particles become attached to the mesothelium of organs, including the lungs, abdomen or heart. Pleural mesothelioma is the most prevalent mesothelioma cancer, where the pleura or lining around the lungs is affected. Though not as common, peritoneal and pericardial mesothelioma affects the abdomen and heart, respectively.
Many symptoms of mesothelioma are universal among the different classes of the cancer. Blood-clotting disorder is one of the secondary symptoms of mesothelioma cancer, though it is regularly present in peritoneal mesothelioma.
Blood-clotting disorder is a common symptom of peritoneal mesothelioma. As the cancerous cells affect the mesothelium surrounding the abdominal cavity, pressure on the stomach and other organs may cause difficulty in blood flow. If blood cannot flow through the body, clots may form, resulting in either abnormalities in the body’s clotting ability or cause uncontrolled bleeding.
For pericardial mesothelioma, where the protective sac surrounding the heart is affected, blood-clotting disorder may be present. As the cells of the sac become cancerous, the heart struggles to beat, preventing adequate blood flow through the body. If that occurs, blood remains in the heart and surrounding blood vessels, which may lead to a blood clot. If blood is not adequately pumped out of the heart, pain may result along with a severe depletion of oxygen in the blood.
In addition, with pleural mesothelioma, shortness of breath may result from clots forming in the lungs due to the expanding mesothelium. If an individual experience shortness of breath, subsequent coughing may cause small tears in the blood vessels in the lungs, which may lead to a blood clot. Bloodied sputum may also be expectorated.
Blood clots in the lungs are a very serious condition and should be treated immediately. Further blood clots in the lungs may exacerbate breathing difficulties and can cause chest pain. The pain may be localized to the region where the clot is or pain may be general, radiating throughout the chest. Acute pain, along with wheezing and bloodied sputum may signal a blood clot.
If untreated, a blood clotting disorder can lead to anemia, where the number of red blood cells or hemoglobin decreases in the body. Anemia is another common symptom of mesothelioma cancer, and it may result from blood clotting disorder or may present alone.
As with other presenting symptoms, a medical professional must rule out other conditions. A detailed history of an individual along with a thorough physical examination should be performed to determine the source and cause of the blood clotting disorder. If an individual presents other symptoms common with mesothelioma cancer, the subsequent blood clotting abnormality may be a secondary symptom.
Early detection is paramount with blood clotting disorder, and if it remains untreated, can be devastating. Lasting complications of a blood clotting disorder may further impair an individual from recovering from mesothelioma. Through rapid medical research and advancements, the prognosis for mesothelioma cancer constantly improves. As generations of asbestos workers age, it is important to have innovative treatments available.
Blood clotting disorder or coagulopathy is a serious condition that may further exacerbate other symptoms of mesothelioma cancers. If a blood clotting disorder is suspected, seek immediate medical attention.

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Anemia0

Mesothelioma, typically caused by asbestos exposure, is a cancer of the mesothelium or the protective lining surrounding the lungs, abdomen or heart. Though advancements towards a comprehensive cure for mesothelioma are progressing, it remains one of the rarest forms of cancer for which there is still no cure.
Symptoms of mesothelioma range from localized pain in the chest, weight loss, unexplained growths in the abdomen and difficulty breathing. Anemia is a common symptom of mesothelioma, though it can remain undetected because it does not present outward or painful symptoms. Tiredness, dull aches or an overall feeling of sluggishness are anemia symptoms and may not be as pronounced as other symptoms of mesothelioma. However, if untreated, anemia can cause serious damage.
When anemia presents with other mesothelioma cancer symptoms, it is commonly normocytic anemia. Typically, anemia is the decrease of red blood cells or hemoglobin, and is a relatively common symptom of many underlying conditions. It is critical that the underlying cause of anemia is examined.
Red blood cells comprise of the majority of blood cells in the body, and are responsible for transporting oxygen and originate in the bone marrow. Hemoglobin, however, transports carbon dioxide back to the lungs for exhalation. Depletion of red blood cells can decrease the amount of oxygen carried through the body. Without proper oxygen circulation, an individual may feel sluggish, slow and suffer from headaches. It is critical that enough oxygen reaches the brain, and if anemia is present, less oxygen is carried.
Anemia is not a cause or disease but results from a dysfunction in the body. In some cases, anemia results from extreme blood loss, but in conjunction with mesothelioma cancer, it usually results from a decrease in red blood cells or hemoglobin. With mesothelioma, the risk factors of untreated anemia are serious including a decrease of bone marrow.
Anemia symptoms are varying and often vague. Fatigue, weakness or drowsiness are some symptoms of anemia, though they could also be attributed to the metastasizing mesothelioma cells. Further, weight loss and chest pain, both symptoms of pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma also may present due to a low red blood cell count. Sallow skin and extreme fatigue are external, visible symptoms of anemia.
In addition, if an individual is receiving treatment for mesothelioma such chemotherapy or other palliative drugs, anemia may also develop.
With pleural mesothelioma, where dysphagia or difficulty swallowing is a common symptom, individuals may suffer dehydration and vitamin deficiencies. If an individual has trouble ingesting food or liquid, anemia can result. Adequate vitamin intake from food is critical to a healthy individual, but crucial to battle mesothelioma.
Further, in pleural, pericardial and peritoneal mesotheliomas, pain from growing tumors on the mesothelium can be extreme. Gastrointestinal pain also presents with anemia, which is also a common symptom of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Anemia is a serious condition that may further exacerbate other symptoms of mesothelioma cancers. If an individual presents classic signs of anemia, seek immediate medical attention.

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Mesothelioma Symptoms0

What are the most common warning signs of mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the early signs and symptoms of the disease can be subtle or mistaken. Symptoms are all too frequently ignored or dismissed by people who are inclined to attribute them to common every day ailments. Sometimes patients live with symptoms for up to 6 months before being diagnosed but usually the symptoms are present for two to three months prior to a mesothelioma diagnosis.
About 60% of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma experience lower back pain or side chest pain and there are frequent reports of shortness of breath. Lower numbers of people may experience difficulty swallowing, or have a persistent cough, fever, weight loss or fatigue. Additional symptoms that some patients experience are muscle weakness, loss of sensory capability, coughing up blood, facial and arm swelling and hoarseness.
Peritoneal mesothelioma originates in the abdomen and as a result, symptoms often include abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea, and vomiting. In the event that there is a hernia present, fluid buildup may occur in the abdomen as well.
Asbestos exposure is considered the primary risk factor for the development of the cancer. Anyone previously exposed to asbestos displaying any of these symptoms should seek medical attention from a doctor who specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of mesothelioma and thoracic oncology.

How long does it take for mesothelioma symptoms to appear?

One of the most unique facts about mesothelioma is that the disease is characterized by a long latency period that is very often associated with the disease. The latency period is the amount of time that elapses from the first point of asbestos exposure to the point where symptoms begin to appear so that a diagnosis can be made. In some mesothelioma cases the latency period is reported to be 10 years but the average latency for the majority of cases is between 35 and 40 years. As a result, the cancer often progresses to later stages before a diagnosis is made. When diagnosed in the later stages, mesothelioma treatment options become more limited and are less effective.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Provided below is a list of symptoms that mesothelioma patients may experience. Please click on a symptom to learn more about it.

Anemia

Mesothelioma patients diagnosed with anemia have a lower than normal red blood cell count or hemoglobin in the blood which can cause fatigue and if left untreated, result in a loss of bone marrow.

Blood Clotting Disorder

A symptom experienced by many mesothelioma patients that can lead to anemia and other serious complications if not given appropriate medical attention.

Bowel Obstruction

A very painful symptom that can sometimes develop in peritoneal mesothelioma patients due to fluid buildup in the abdomen.

Chest Pain

Often experienced in pleural mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma patients, chest pain can develop as the tumor grows and places strain on the lungs and heart.

Dysphagia

Pleural mesothelioma patients often develop difficulty swallowing (esophageal dyphagia) as the mesothelium continues to grow on the lungs.

Fluid Effusion

An effusion can occur in mesothelioma patients when there is fluid buildup affecting either the pleura or pericardium.

Hemoptysis

Hemoptysis, or the symptom of coughing up blood, can have its origins in the lungs, bronchi or trachea of mesothelioma patients.

Nausea

Nausea is experienced in a number of cancer patients as it is often a side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Those diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma may also experience nausea as a result of increasing abdominal pressure.

Peritoneal Effusion

Peritoneal mesothelioma patients may experience a buildup of fluid in the peritoneum as the tumor continues to grow. This can result in an effusion which can inhibit the function of abdominal organs.

Pleural Effusion

In pleural mesothelioma patients, pleural effusion may develop when there is a large amount of fluid present in the pleura, the lining between the lungs and chest cavity.

Weight Loss

Weight loss can occur in mesothelioma patients as a side effect from cancer treatment or as the result of other symptoms that may also be present such as difficulty swallowing or nausea.

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Mesothelioma Causes0

What Causes Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, a thin membrane encompassing the body’s internal organs and cavities. Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers that are inhaled through the mouth and nose may eventually become embedded in the lining of the lungs, causing harmful inflammation of the pleura and resulting in mesothelioma or asbestosis (scar tissue formation in the lungs). It has also been found that swallowing asbestos fibers could contribute to a form of the malignancy originating in the abdomen known as peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma generally results from occupational asbestos exposure but there are instances of environmental exposure that can also cause the disease. Oftentimes a family member can be affected indirectly by second hand exposure from an asbestos worker’s soiled work clothes.
Asbestos was an effective insulation material. It was used liberally in commercial and industrial products in the United States until being regulated in a joint effort between the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency in 1989. Occupational exposure was common among workers who encountered these products in many industries including shipbuilding, power plants, and other industrial settings.
Asbestos insulation workers appear to have the highest rate of asbestos related disease. One study reports that almost six percent of asbestos workers fall victim to mesothelioma or experience respiratory symptoms. Asbestos insulation workers are over 300 times more likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma than those with no exposure history.

How does exposure to asbestos cause mesothelioma?

Asbestos fibers are microscopic, though they are also quite durable. For this reason, asbestos was used in a number of different industrial compounds to enhance strength and resistance to temperature extremes- two properties at which the mineral is highly adept. Asbestos exposure most often occurred among individuals who worked extensively with asbestos or asbestos-containing materials. Friable asbestos (meaning loose or airborne fibers) is easily inhaled- often without the exposed person realizing.

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When inhaled, asbestos lodges easily in the outer lung tissue and within the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane of cells which produces a lubricating fluid on the surface of the organs. This lubricant allows the lung and other internal structures to expand, contract, and move freely without friction in the body cavity. There is a great deal of latency associated with mesothelioma between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms. Over time (often 40 or 50 years) asbestos irritates this tissue, causing inflammation and malignant scar tissue plaques on the surface of the mesothelium. These plaques are the foundation of the mesothelioma tumor.
Pleural mesothelioma is the most common variety of the disease and forms on the pleural membrane, which surrounds the lung and chest cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is less common and forms on the surface of the peritoneum, a thin membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity. Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common variety of the disease and forms in the cardiac cavity that envelops the heart, a mesothelial membrane known as the pericardium.
Inhaled asbestos fibers are known to be the cause of pleural mesothelioma, whereas ingested asbestos fibers are the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. While the exact causal nature between asbestos and pericardial mesothelioma is not known, physicians and cancer researchers surmise asbestos fibers in the blood stream lodge in the outer layers of the heart’s ventricles and lodge in the pericardium. Once asbestos fibers reach the surface of the peritoneum or pericardium, the inflammation process is essentially the same as it is on the surface of the pleura.
Primary workplace exposure to the mineral was common in naval shipyards, power plants, railroad infrastructure, and other industrial jobsites. However, asbestos-related mesotheliomas have also been diagnosed in spouses or children of those exposed to asbestos. Workers often brought home dangerous asbestos fibers on their clothing, hair, or person. Those who came into contact with these fibers on the person or their clothing have developed mesothelioma as a result.

Other Contributing Factors

Mesothelioma is also causally associated with a few other factors, but many of these are attributed to the development of mesothelioma in conjunction with exposure to asbestos.

Smoking

Those who smoke are at a higher risk of mesothelioma, though smoking is more commonly associated with traditional lung carcinomas. Smoking tends to enhance risk even further in those who were also exposed to asbestos.

Radiation Exposure

While extremely rare, some mesothelioma patients attribute their diagnosis to exposure to radiation rather than exposure to asbestos. Radiation tends to transform and mutate cell growth patterns and is more commonly associated with brain and blood cancers.

Carbon Nanotubes

Research is extremely preliminary in this study, but some laboratory studies indicate a molecular similarity between asbestos mineral fibers and carbon nanotubes. Tests indicate a pronounced risk of mesothelioma in some laboratory animals implanted with carbon nanotubes.

What Should I do if I have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma?

Many of those diagnosed with mesothelioma wonder if asbestos exposure is to be blamed for their illness. Asbestos was used in thousands of commercial and industrial products. These include, but are not limited to roofing material, insulation compounds, joint compounds, cements, siding, floor and ceiling, tiles, glue, and any other product designed specifically to withstand heat and temperature extremes.
If you worked with one of these products and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is highly likely asbestos is the cause of your illness. To help you in recovering costs for mesothelioma treatment as well as damages to assist your family, you should speak with a well-versed asbestos attorney to determine if you’re eligible for compensation. Court documents now indicate many of these product manufacturers were well aware of the hazards which asbestos posed but continued to endanger employees and the public by exposure to the mineral. To learn more about the relationship between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma, or to find out if you’re eligible for financial compensation for your illness, please fill out the brief form on this page.

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Malignant Mesothelioma0

Malignant Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the thin cell wall lining of the body's internal organs and structures. This lining is known as the mesothelium. Malignant mesothelioma has three known varieties. They are malignant pleural mesothelioma, malignant pericardial mesothelioma, and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleura, the lung's lining. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the peritoneum, the abdominal cavity wall. And pericardial mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the hearth, known as the pericardium.

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What Causes Malignant Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a nature, yet toxic mineral that was used commonly in heavy industry. Microscopic asbestos fibers enter the body through the lung or ingestion. Once inside, the durable fibers are unable to be broken down or expelled by the body, causing a harmful inflammation and scarring of the mesothelium. This scarring lays the groundwork for malignant mesothelioma and other respiratory conditions, such as asbestosis.
There is a great deal of latency associated with asbestos exposure and the onset of mesothelioma. Often patients will not encounter mesothelioma symptoms until 30-50 years following exposure to asbestos. In many cases, those diagnosed with mesothelioma are not those who were directly exposed to asbestos in a jobsite setting. Spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos who frequently came into contact with the fibers on the clothing or person of those exposed have also developed malignant mesothelioma as a result.

How is Malignant Mesothelioma Treated?

Malignant mesothelioma prognosis is poor, as often the disease will be diagnosed in its later stages after symptoms have appeared. However, there are several treatment options for the management of the cancer. Among these are mesothelioma chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgical resection. Chemotherapeutic and radiation therapy methods are more likely but surgery is often an option for those whose disease is diagnosed early enough.
More aggressive therapies are now possible for patients with mesothelioma diagnosed in its earlier stages. For instance, extrapleural pneumonectomy is now possible in many pleural mesothelioma patients who are deemed eligible for aggressive surgery. Extrapleural pneumonectomy involves the removal of the entire affected lung, the pericardium, the pleura, and the diaphragm. This aggressive surgery is performed frequently in early stage mesothelioma patients by Dr. David Sugarbaker at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA.
Patient's who are eligible to receive an aggressive surgery, like an extrapleural pneumonectomy, will have a far more favorable prognosis than those diagnosed with advanced stage inoperable disease. However, there are treatment options for nearly all mesothelioma patients. Chemotherapy cocktails such as the use of Alimta® in conjunction with Cisplatin, as well as numerous other clinical trial being carried out give mesothelioma patients the ability to slow the advance of the disease and extend survival rates.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma and occurs in the mesothelial membrane surrounding the chest cavity and lungs. Pleural mesothelioma, because it is more common than other varieties of the malignancy, has had more research invested in it. Pleural mesothelioma represents approximately 70% of all mesothelioma diagnoses.

Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is less common than pleural mesothelioma and represents approximately 15-20% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity in the membrane surrounding the organs of this region. Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos.

Malignant Pericardial Mesothelioma

Malignant pericardial mesothelioma is among the rarest of all known malignancies, and represents less than 10% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. Pericardial mesotheliomas occur within the mesothelial lining of the heart. Pericardial mesotheliomas, like those of pleural and peritoneal varieties, are associated with asbestos exposure. Pericardial mesotheliomas differ from the pleural variant in that they are known to occur in younger individuals. While surgery is seen as the preferred method of treatment, mobidity and mortality are almost certain given the region in which the tumor is located.

How is Malignant Mesothelioma diagnosed?

Malignant Mesothelioma will typically be suspected if the patient complains of chest pain, difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, chronic cough, or difficulty swallowing. While any of these could indicate mesothelioma, they are also associated with many other respiratory conditions so further diagnostic procedures are typically warranted before an accurate malignant mesothelioma diagnosis can be made. These may include imaging scans, such as computer topography or magnetic resonance imaging. A diagnostic biopsy is also required for cancer specialist to examine the behavior of these cells before a diagnosis is determined.
Misdiagnosis is not uncommon in patients of the malignant mesothelioma, because the disease's symptoms so closely resemble those of other related conditions, including lung cancer, and other respiratory ailments. For this reason those who are at high-risk of mesothelioma (including those with asbestos history) should consult with physicians and cancer centers well versed in the treatment and diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.

What options do patients of Malignant Mesothelioma have?

Unfortunately, many of those diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have incurred illness as a result of a negligent exposure to asbestos. It is now clear that many asbestos manufacturers were well aware of the hazards of asbestos and asbestos exposure. Hundreds of thousands of laborers and workers have been exposed in shipyards, power plants, factories, and other jobsites- thousands of which develop malignant mesothelioma each year.
Patients of malignant mesothelioma or any other asbestos related health complications should consult their physician regarding the many mesothelioma treatment options that are available.  Also, patients may be eligible for compensation if they were wrongfully exposed. All those seeking further information should fill out the brief contact form on this page to receive a mesothelioma and asbestos information packet detailing treatment and legal options.

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