Health and Medication

The idea of a World War was something that couldn’t be imagined prior to the 20th century. Then we had two world wars in a matter of 35 years. The number of people killed in the wars was staggering. The fact that people continued to die for forty or fifty years after the end of World War II was all the more shocking until the cause was discovered.

Asbestos has long been considered a miracle material of sort. It is highly resistant to heat, which makes it a great insulator and fire wall wherever heat and electricity are found. This was a known fact for hundreds of years, but never really led to its use in a major way. Then World War II rolled around. Despite being the second of the two huge wars, it was the first that involved a really massive production of military materials. This led to the widespread use of asbestos and a resulting Mesothelioma nightmare.

Hawaii notwithstanding, the World War II battle arena was in other countries ranging from Europe to much of Asia. This necessitated the movement of resources across vast stretches of the ocean. This in turn called for the construction of a huge number of transport ships to move the resources as well as naval ships to protect them and dominate the seas. To achieve this, ships were put on the fast track in construction.

The war effort saw hundreds of thousands flow into factories and docks to help. In the case of ship building, this meant a hoard of people willing to do just about anything to speed up production. A Liberty cargo ship took only two weeks to build at Kaiser Shipyards at one point. The problem was many shortcuts were taken to make this happen, many that exposed the workers to massive health risks.

Asbestos is a cause of Mesothelioma. In the construction of the various types of ships being created, the workers used everything from rope to gloves to caulking to insulation and so on that incorporated asbestos as their key material component. The war is long over, but it is now believed as many as 100,000 died from Mesothelioma and lung cancer caused by this exposure to asbestos. As a mater of comparison, there were roughly 10,000 casualties of which 2,500 died for the Allies on D-Day.

Mesothelioma is a horrible disease and it is a bit shocking that our government would so hastily expose hundreds of thousands to its ravages. The story of asbestos use without notice is a ghastly one that has been repeated throughout history.

Mesothelioma is a unique type of cancer. It affects different parts of the mesothelium, a membrane that covers and protects most of the body’s internal organs. Depending upon the organ it covers and protects, the mesothelium has different names and the types of mesothelioma are called after those different membranes.

For instance, the mesothelial tissue, or membrane, surrounding the lungs and lining the wall of the chest cavity is named the pleura. Cancer of this membrane is called pleural mesothelioma.

Human heart is veiled by the pericardium. Cancer of that membrane is called pericardial mesothelioma.

The membrane surrounding most of the organs in the abdominal cavity is known as the peritoneum, so cancer of that membrane is named peritoneal mesothelioma.

No matter which organs of the body it covers, the mesothelium is made up of two layers of cells. The first layer closely surrounds each organ. The second layer forms a sac around it. Between these two layers, the mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid which allows the surrounded organs to move easily. This lubrication allows our lungs to expand and contract effortlessly as we breathe in and out. It also lets our heart beat smoothly.

Pleural mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is caused by malignant (cancerous) tumors which form in the lining of the membrane surrounding the lungs and the chest cavity. Fluid often builds up between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion, which often causes shortness of breath and pain.

Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most common form of malignant mesothelioma. Like all forms of mesothelioma, those who’ve been exposed to asbestos for long periods of time – generally by working with or around asbestos or by living near mines or factories where asbestos was processed – are the most likely to develop this type of asbestos mesothelioma. However, family members who inhaled dust bought home on workers’ clothes and people with brief exposures to asbestos can also develop this and other forms of malignant mesothelioma. In all types of mesothelioma, it takes anywhere from 10 to more than 50 years for symptoms to develop.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can resemble pneumonia and other less serious diseases, so it’s important to tell a doctor if you’ve been exposed to asbestos. Symptoms include shortness of breath, constant cough, or chest pain.

Although there is a form of mesothelioma in which benign (non-cancerous) tumors form in the pleura, nearly all cases of pleural mesothelioma are malignant (cancerous).

Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma, which attacks the tissue surrounding the abdominal area, is much less common than pleural mesothelioma, but it is also caused by breathing in asbestos dust and fibers.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. Just like pleural mesothelioma, the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are similar to those of other less serious conditions or different diseases, which can make it hard to detect, especially if your doctor doesn’t know that you’ve been exposed to asbestos.

Pericardial mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of asbestos mesothelioma. Many of the symptoms are similar to those of pleural mesothelioma: a constant cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Palpitations are another symptom. As with the other forms of mesothelioma, these symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, so tell your doctor if you’ve been exposed to asbestos.

In all types of mesothelioma, as with other forms of cancer, the cancer cells can metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body, leading to other types of cancer.

Even with treatment, the outlook for most people diagnosed with mesothelioma is about 18 months after diagnosis, although some patients have lived for four or more years after diagnosis and treatment. Untreated, the prognosis is often as little as four months.

Until recently, treatment options have been limited, but awareness of the disease and continued research, including clinical trials of new treatments, mean that the outlook for survival is starting to look better.

Diagnosis of mesothelioma is often hard, because symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to the symptoms of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis mesothelioma starts with the patient’s medical history review. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma.

An examination on physical aspects is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually done. If there is a large amount of fluid, abnormal cells may be detected by cytology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid this is done by a pleural tap or chest drain, in ascites with an paracentesis or ascitic drain and in a pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure).

If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be performed in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

One of the initial questions that people may ask when their doctor tells them that they have mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques or one of the other conditions caused by asbestos exposure is, “How did I get this?” This is an important question, because pinpointing how and where you were exposed to asbestos can be the key to a successful lawsuit. That compensation can pay for your medical bills and ensure that your family isn’t burdened with them.

Unfortunately, it is not always an easy question to answer. Many employees have handled asbestos over the years without even being told what it was, or that it was a dangerous substance. Additionally, many people have been exposed to asbestos in more than one location as they moved from one place to another.

Finding the Source

If you worked around asbestos, you may not have been told that you were bringing home asbestos dust on your clothing, shoes, hair and skin to poison your family. You may have breathed in asbestos dust in the air because a company nearby was mining, milling or making things with asbestos. In addition, there were nearly 3000 products containing or made with asbestos that were used by consumers in one way or another.

Just being around something that was made with asbestos doesn’t necessarily mean that you were exposed to asbestos fibers. As long as the asbestos is intact, it presents no danger. When it’s broken, however, it releases fibers into the air that can be inhaled or swallowed. At that point it becomes friable, meaning that it may be releasing asbestos dust into the air. Workers in many industries were exposed to friable asbestos in the course of their jobs. If you worked in any job where you handled or removed products with asbestos, you may have been exposed to asbestos dust, often without knowing it.

If you suspect that you may have been exposed to asbestos dust, you should consult a doctor. While a chest X-ray won’t show fibers of asbestos in your lungs, it may show the early signs of damage from those fibers.

Determining Responsibility for Your Illness

Plaintiffs in asbestos exposure lawsuits have at least one advantage: asbestosis and mesothelioma have only been linked to the ingestion of asbestos. This makes it very difficult for defendants to argue that another environmental factor may have caused plaintiffs’ illnesses.

However, establishing that you were exposed to asbestos in a particular location, and that it caused your injuries, is almost never a simple process. It takes an experienced asbestos exposure attorney to narrow a plaintiff’s illness down to a specific source and effectively present this evidence in court.

Symptoms of mesothelioma might not be felt till 20-50 years after exposure to asbestos. Cough, shortness of breath, and chest pain due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity) are symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:

* Chest wall pain
* Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
* Shortness of breath
* Fatigue or anemia
* Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
* Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:

* Abdominal pain
* Ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
* A mass in the abdomen
* Problems with bowel function
* Weight loss

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:

* Blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
* Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
* Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
* Low blood sugar level
* Pleural effusion
* Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
* Severe ascites

A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is mostly generated by exposure to asbestos. When people have this cancer, their malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the human body’s internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it can occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis as well.

People with mesothelioma have usually worked on jobs and sites where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a person who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. There is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases risk of other asbestos-induced cancer. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma.

The mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis mesothelioma may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be applied to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.