Some Helpful Mesothelioma Related Terms and Their Definitions

Mesothelioma is a term used to describe a lung cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Inhalation is the most common method of exposure. The inhaled fibers cause a cancer that attacks the smooth linings of the chest, heart, and abdomen.

Mesothelioma is a lung cancer that develops after prolonged exposure to asbostos. When mesothelioma develops in the chest, the cancer attacks the pleural cavity, hence the term pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the linings of the stomach that develops after prolonged exposure to asbostos. Perotenial mesothelioma describes mesothelioma developing in the abdominal cavity, as it is attacking the peritoneal cavity.

When mesothelioma is diagnosed in the United States, its onset is typically linked to a prolonged exposure to asbestos fiber, or an extended asbestos exposure.

After diagnosis, it is important to understand your treatment options. Your doctor or oncologist will provide you with information on the treatments that are available to you.

One unique characteristic of asbestos-related injuries is the long period of time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of injury or disease. This can be anywhere between 15 and 50 years, sometimes even more. So, a person could be exposed to asbestos and not develop mesothelioma until 50 years later! The average latency period (amount of time the disease is hidden from detection) is approximately 35-40 years.

The treatment and outlook for those with mesothelioma depends a great deal on the stage of their cancer. Because the most frequently occurring type of mesothelioma is pleural and it is also the one most studied, it is the only type for which a staging system exists. The following stages are based on a system known as the Butchart system, which divides mesothelioma into four stages:

Stage I: Mesothelioma is found within the right or the left pleura and may also involve the lung, the pericardium, or the diaphragm on the same side.

Stage II: In this stage, mesothelioma has spread to the chest wall or involves the esophagus, the heart, or the pleura on both sides. The lymph nodes in the chest may be involved as well.

Stage III: Mesothelioma has gone through the diaphragm and into the lining of the abdominal cavity. Additional lymph nodes besides those in the chest may be involved.

Stage IV: There is evidence that mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to distant organs or tissues.

By the time symptoms show up and mesothelioma is diagnosed, the disease is often advanced. The average survival period after diagnosis is about one year. If the cancer is found before it has spread and it is treated aggressively, about half of the patients will live two years, and approximately 20% will survive five years.

There are treatments available for all patients with malignant mesothelioma. The three kinds of treatment used are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

An incombustible, chemical-resistant, fibrous mineral of impure magnesium silicate, used for fireproofing, electrical insulation, building materials, brake linings, and chemical filters. The mineral is comprised of long, tiny fibers that posess great tensile strength.

Asbestosis is chronic, progressive inflammation of the lung, caused by prolonged exposure to large quantities of asbestos, a material once widely used in construction, insulation, and manufacturing. When asbestos is inhaled, tiny fibers penetrate the breathing passages and irritate, fill, inflame, and scar lung tissue.

Lung cancer is a disease in which the cells of the lung tissues grow uncontrollably and form tumors. It is the leading cause of death from cancer among both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that in 1998, at least 172,000 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed, and that lung cancer accounted for 28% of all cancer deaths, or approximately 160,000 people. In 2002, the ACS reported that more than 150,000 Americans die from the disease every year. Only 15 percent of people with lung cancer will live five years.

If you have mesothelioma, or any other asbestos-related disease, chances are you were exposed to asbestos. Many of the manufacturers of asbestos insulation products knew that asbestos was hazardous, yet made a business decision not to warn people of those hazards for decades. You may have a right of recovery against those manufacturers, which can help cover the costs of cancer treatment and provide compensation for your suffering.

Our law firm handles mesothelioma cases throughout Florida and the rest of country to ensure that our clients medical bills and suffering are fairly compensated. If you have developed mesothelioma as a result of prolonged exposure to asbestos, contact the Florida mesothelioma lawyers of The Lipman Law Firm today by calling 1-800-226-2620 or using our confidential online case evaluation form.