What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer usually caused by asbestos. It may affect many parts of the body, but pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas are the most common. The symptoms vary depending on the cancer’s location and how advanced it is.

Satterley & Kelley PLLC helps people with mesothelioma and their families throughout Kentucky. We advise them of their rights to compensation, counsel them on how the legal system works, and represent them in legal actions against those responsible for causing their disease. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, call our office at 855-385-9532 today.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a very rare cancer that develops in the mesothelium, tissue making up the lining of cavities that surround and protect specific organs. This tissue forms:

The pleura, which encases your lungs.
The peritoneum, which surrounds organs in your abdomen and pelvic area

Most mesothelioma cases are of the pleura.

Who Normally Gets Mesothelioma?

It’s associated with asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral fiber that was widely used in many industries. It’s now strictly regulated in the US and outlawed in many other countries. The greater your asbestos exposure, the more the chance you’ll develop mesothelioma, though there’s a risk of contracting it even with minimal asbestos exposure. The delay between exposure and developing mesothelioma could take decades.

Those who worked in the following occupations are more at risk because they likely were exposed to asbestos on the job:

Power Plant workers
Automobile Mechanics-particularly those who removed and installed brakes and clutches
Tile manufacturing plants
Plastic molding plants
Pipefitters
Electricians
Construction, especially those who worked with insulation
Demolition
Shipbuilding
Mining
Milling
Aircraft mechanics
Military veterans who served on ships that used asbestos insulation

What Causes Mesothelioma?

The most common cause of mesothelioma in adults is past asbestos fiber and dust exposure. In fact, asbestos exposure is the only widely accepted cause of mesothelioma. It’s estimated that 70% to 80% of people with mesothelioma had asbestos exposure, primarily due to their jobs. Many cases involve family members of workers who brought asbestos fibers home on their work clothing unknowingly exposing their spouse and children. Mesothelioma may take more than 20 years to develop.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a light, strong, durable mineral fiber that was used in thousands of products over centuries because it’s resistant to the following:

Heat
Fire
Chemicals
Electricity

If fibers are airborne, people can inhale or swallow them. Asbestos fibers may never leave the body or be destroyed by its immune response.

Why is Asbestos Dangerous?

Asbestos’ microscopic fibers, when released into the air and inhaled or swallowed, can pose serious health risks. The primary reasons why include:

Easily Inhaled or Swallowed: Asbestos fibers are tiny and lightweight, so they’re easily airborne. When people breathe in these fibers, they can become trapped in the lungs and other parts of the respiratory system. When the fibers get into the mouth and are ingested, they threaten the digestive system, abdominal organs, and the abdomen’s lining
Health Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to various severe health conditions, including asbestos (a chronic lung disease causing breathing difficulties, coughing, and reduced lung function), lung cancer (those who smoked have a particularly high risk), mesothelioma (a rare and aggressive cancer that primarily affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) or the abdominal cavity (peritoneum)), and other cancers
Long Latency Period: Asbestos’ health effects often take years or decades to develop
Fiber Durability: Asbestos fibers in the body can remain for a long time, possibly for a person’s lifetime, causing continued health risks after initial exposure ceases
There’s No Safe Exposure Threshold: There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. Even small amounts over time can potentially lead to health issues
Secondary Exposure: People who come into contact with asbestos-exposed individuals or environments (such as asbestos workers’ family members) can also be at risk, as fibers can be carried on clothing, skin, and hair

Compared to the period of asbestos’ peak use (Industrial Revolution through the 1970s), few new products contain asbestos for sale. Current exposure to asbestos-containing block insulation is most likely if you’re in an older industrial or commercial building where abatement hasn’t occurred.

How Many People Get Mesothelioma?

There are roughly 3,000 to 4,000 new diagnoses in the US annually, 2,500 of which are malignant pleural mesothelioma cases.

What are Mesothelioma’s Symptoms?

You may have the disease but no symptoms, which vary from person to person and the type of mesothelioma. Early symptoms include:

Fevers
Malaise or generally feeling unwell and without energy
Night sweats
Unexpected weight loss
Blood clots
Weakness

People with Pleural Mesothelioma experience the following symptoms:

Shortness of breath that develops slowly and worsens over time
Hoarse voice
Difficulty swallowing
Chest and back pain
Coughing
Fluid in the lungs
Lumps in the chest

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include

Anemia
Abdominal pain
Fluid in the abdomen and swelling
Diarrhea or constipation
Loss of appetite and weight
Intestinal blockage
Vomiting and nausea

What Should I Do If I Have These Symptoms?

The chances are slim you have mesothelioma, but you should find out if you do. Set an appointment with your physician, tell them about your past asbestos exposure, and that you think you’re showing signs of the disease. That should start the process of further testing to reveal what’s causing your problems.

Why You Should Hire Satterley & Kelley, PLLC for Your Mesothelioma Case

If you’re diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation for what you’ve endured. This includes physical and mental pain and suffering, financial costs, medical bills, and how the disease impacts your relationships.

You need a law firm with experience representing victims taking legal action against the asbestos industry. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys have helped asbestos victims for more than 20 years.

We have relationships with the best experts in the world to help us prove that asbestos caused your injury and the physical, emotional, psychological, and financial harm you suffered.

Get Legal Help from Attorneys You Can Trust

If you’re diagnosed with mesothelioma, call Satterley & Kelley PLLC in Louisville at 502-589-5600, or toll-free at 855-385-9532. You’re dealing with a lot, and we want to lighten your load by seeking compensation that can help you and your family. We will deal with the legal claims so you can focus on your family and treatment.