Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that affects the thin membrane known as mesothelium, which forms a protective coverage for the lungs and other internal organs of the body.
This disease is usually caused by frequent exposure to asbestos over a period of time.
Several researches had revealed that asbestos is the major cause of malignant mesothelioma, especially the blue and the brown asbestos.
These materials contain dangerous substances that are very harmful to your health.
Whenever their particles are taken in in the process of breathing, they stick within the lungs and gradually develop into cancerous cells which eventually lead to pleural mesothelioma.
In this case, the disease starts from the chest cavity and spreads to other parts of the body.
What Are The Symptoms? Mesothelioma symptoms do not show up immediately.
It can take up to 20 years and above to start manifesting after the first contact with asbestos.
However, the earlier it is diagnosed, the higher the chances of survival.
Some of the signs or symptoms include respiratory problems, difficulty in breathing, prolonged cough, weight loss, abdominal pain, fatigue or anemia and some times fever, and so on.
If you observe carefully, the symptoms are quite similar to those of several other conditions.
The implications are: 1.
It is possible to misunderstand the appearance of these symptoms at the early stage since they are similar to those of other ailments.
And as a result, most victims tend to focus on the wrong ailments, leaving the real disease untreated.
2.
The Life Expectancy of mesothelioma patients is usually very low, due to lack of early detection and effective treatments for the cancer.
The Challenges...
For medical experts, mesothelioma cancer is difficult to diagnose and it takes time as well.
This makes it very dangerous and puts the life of any victim at risk.
Again it is not right to make a diagnosis based on one form of test because; the risk of diagnostic error is very high.
Therefore, it is recommended that series of tests be carried out on patients in order to ensure effective and accurate diagnosis.
For the victims, the major challenge is usually how to afford the cost of medical treatment because it is very expensive.
However the situation, do not be discouraged.
I know at this point, you may want to ask, if these symptoms occur how do I know it is mesothelioma or not since they are similar to those of other ailments? Do not worry, that is why I chose to write on this topic.
At least to help and enlighten you on how to handle the situation i.
e, how to identify the symptoms and the necessary steps to follow when they occur.
Now go back to the symptoms I previously mentioned above and take a proper look through them again.
Whenever a combination of three or more of these symptoms appear, quickly review your past and trace back your job history if you have not done so before, to find out if you have ever at any time been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in any way.
Note! It has been suggested that washing the clothes of someone who works with asbestos can also put you at the risk of developing mesothelioma.
If your findings are positive, then rush straight to your doctor immediately and explain your condition to him/her in detail, so that necessary actions can be taken to aid early detection and avoid dangerous delay in treatment, which usually leads to severe complications in most cases.
On the other hand, if you have been diagnosed, you have the right to hire a lawyer who will help you file a case for mesothelioma injury claims.
But note again that, not all lawyers can handle this kind of case.
There are those specially trained for this purpose.