Mesothelioma Law

Correctly diagnosing mesothelioma in the early stages has proven to be very difficult and in most cases, by the time mesothelioma has been diagnosed, it is already in an advanced stage where treatment options are limited. Further complicating the situation is the fact that symptoms of mesothelioma may not develop until decades after exposure to asbestos particles.

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms vary somewhat depending on the cancer’s location in the body but are often disregarded as symptoms of more common ailments such as cold, flu, and general aches and pains. Symptoms for the three main types of mesothelioma are:

• Pleural Mesothelioma – symptoms include fatigue, weight loss, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, dry cough, excessive sweating, and chest pain.
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma – symptoms include fever, bloating, weight loss, anemia, abdominal pressure, fatigue, and irregularity.
• Pericardial Mesothelioma – symptoms include irregular heartbeat, fever, night sweats, difficulty breathing, heart palpitations, and chest pains.

Medical History & Physical Exam

Those who have experienced these symptoms and might have a history of asbestos exposure should consult a physician as soon as possible. The first thing that a doctor will do is run a medical history, which is much like an interview of questions aimed at finding if the patient meets any of the risk factors or symptoms of mesothelioma. Questions include inquiries about any possible contact the patient may have had with asbestos.

The medical history will be followed by a physical exam that checks for the effects of mesothelioma. If the examination finds fluid in the chest cavity, then there is good reason to suspect pleural mesothelioma. Fluid collection is the key sign for mesothelioma’s presence in the abdomen and pericardium as well.