Key Takeaways: Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer. The most common risk factor for a
mesothelioma diagnosis is asbestos exposure. An attorney can help someone diagnosed with mesothelioma and/or their families by securing money from a trust fund or filing a lawsuit against the company that is responsible for asbestos exposure.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a tissue that lines the body’s internal cavities, and has been found to provide both mechanical (movement, fluidity) and immune (supports the growth of certain immune cells and responses) functions. Because the mesothelium lines the heart, the lungs, and the abdominal organs, mesothelioma can manifest in any or all of these tissues. The most common site of malignant mesothelioma is around the lungs; this is called “pleural mesothelioma.” However, mesothelioma can also develop in the abdominal mesothelium (in a manifestation called “peritoneal mesothelioma”), in the tissues surrounding the heart (“pericardial mesothelioma”), and in other cases, a combination of the aforementioned.
What Are the Symptoms of Mesothelioma?
Depending on the area of mesothelium that’s been impacted, patients will experience different symptoms. Because the most common form of mesothelioma is pleural (around the lungs), we’ll explore the symptoms that accompany a diagnosis:● Pain in the chest
● Blood clots
● Difficulty breathing
● Shortness of breath
● Fever
● Fatigue
● Loss of appetite
