Mesothelioma Lawyers San Diego

Mesothelioma Lawyer in San Diego

A San Diego asbestos lawyer gives an overview on asbestos disease and mesothelioma litigation.

End Mesothelioma Legislation Finally Passes Senate!

amphibole asbestos fibers
Since the early 1920s, asbestos has been the heat insulation material of choice. The most widespread use of asbestos was for insulation aboard Navy ships, in commercial buildings and homes. Asbestos litigation and mesothelioma litigation has demonstrated that asbestos was used for pipe covering, roofing, wall insulation, siding, flooring and the insides of boilers. Automobile manufacturers used asbestos in brake pads and clutch plates, and NASA used in it the space shuttles. Asbestos lawsuits represented by Casey Gerry's San Diego asbestos lawyers have established that, asbestos was used for decades in the insulation of naval ships in San Diego, at the NASSCO shipyard as well as at the 32nd Street Naval Shipyard, exposing both military and civilian personnel to this highly dangerous fiber.

The straight asbestos fibers considered more hazardous that curled asbestos fibers
Asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis (a fibrotic lung condition), mesothelioma (a cancer of the surface linings of lung or abdomen tissues), and lung cancer. Symptoms of these diseases often do not appear for 15 to 40 years or more after asbestos exposure. Long before its effects are detectable, irreversible asbestos-related injury has already occurred.

Mesothelioma is a fatal cancer whose single most prevalent cause is asbestos exposure. It is a neoplasm that grows from the serosal lining of the pleural, pericardial and peritoneal cavities, and accounts for about 1% of all cancer deaths in the world. It can strike individuals who have had very limited exposures to asbestos. Actor Steve McQueen, who had spent only a single a summer working around asbestos, developed mesothelioma, and died from it. When a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, one may have a very short time to live.

Death in the air
Asbestos materials can break down into a dust of microscopic size fibers. If inhaled or swallowed, the fibers can remain in the body for many years and cause severe asbestos-related diseases. Our San Diego mesothelioma lawyers have shown that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. It remains the most widespread causes of industrial disease in history.

Asbestos fibers have been causing serious illnesses since the 1920's
An estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry still face significant risk of asbestos exposure on the job. Heaviest exposures occur in the construction industry, especially during removal of asbestos for renovation or demolition. Construction workers throughout Southern California have contracted asbestosis and mesothelioma. Through asbestos and mesothelioma litigation, Casey Gerry's San Diego asbestos attorneys have established that these fibers present a significant danger to anyone exposed, and asbestos is highly regulated by OSHA and the EPA. All new uses of asbestos have been banned in the U.S.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma Treatment Options
Depending on your diagnosis, there may be several types of treatment available to you. Be sure to talk with a mesothelioma specialist about your options.

Mesothelioma treatment can entail a number of therapies intended to kill cancerous cells, prevent the tumor from spreading or alleviate the symptoms of the disease. Each patient’s situation is unique and will shape their treatment plan. Factors such as the stage and form of mesothelioma, treatment history, patient’s location, ability to travel and financial situation are all important to consider when seeking treatment.
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Types of Mesothelioma Treatment
Main Treatment Types

    mesothelioma surgerySurgery
    mesothelioma chemotherapyChemotherapy
    mesothelioma radiationRadiation

Alternative Treatments

    Immunotherapy
    Gene Therapy
    Photodynamic Therapy
    Multimodal Therapy

If a patient’s diagnosis and health indicates that their response to curative treatment may be positive, their doctor may develop a course of treatment to remove the tumor(s) and attempt to prevent metastasis throughout the body. If the patient is dealing with a late-stage cancer, the treatment is more likely to be palliative in nature, addressing the symptoms while improving the patient’s quality of life. The following treatment options may be either palliative or curative, depending on the patient’s case:

Surgery is one of the most common treatments for mesothelioma. Patients whose cancer was diagnosed before it spread beyond the lymph nodes may be eligible for curative surgery that removes the tumors. Depending upon the patient’s diagnosis and overall health, mesothelioma surgeries can be either curative or palliative, and may fall somewhere in between if surgery efforts are effective. Mesothelioma surgery is commonly followed by other treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation in an attempt to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Chemotherapy has shown to be the most effective and least invasive form of treatment to extend life expectancy. Depending upon the location of the cancer, some patients may be eligible for heated chemotherapy, a treatment commonly used for cases of peritoneal mesothelioma. Cisplatin, the most commonly used chemotherapy drug for mesothelioma, is frequently used in conjunction with pemetrexed to achieve the most advantageous results in reducing tumors.

Here is a list of some of the chemotherapy drugs a mesothelioma patient may be prescribed:

  
These drugs may be used on their own or as part of a combination of drugs for more aggressive treatment.


Radiation therapy directly applies radiation to the cancerous locations. This is through either sealed or unsealed source radiation. Patients of all stages are eligible to receive radiation therapy, as it can be used in conjunction with other treatments to reduce tumor growth and ease symptoms.

Learn about the types of radiation therapy and how they work

In a recent study, 46% of mesothelioma patients showed a 5-year survival rate following multimodal therapy

Multimodal therapy is one of the most common approaches to treating mesothelioma, combining two or more treatments that may be completed simultaneously or in a planned sequence. A mesothelioma specialist can most adequately analyze a patient’s condition and develop a treatment regimen that will best benefit the patient.

While surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are considered the most common types of mesothelioma treatment, a number of new therapies are currently in development. Immunotherapy manipulates the patient’s immune system into attacking the tumors, while photodynamic therapy exposes cancer cells to photosensitizing drugs and specific lights. Gene therapy is another experimental treatment that attempts to correct defective genes that may lead to cancerous changes.
Clinical Trials

   
Clinical trials are used to test experimental treatments before they are approved for widespread clinical use. These trials often explore new procedures and drugs and compare them to the current standard of mesothelioma treatment.
Alternative & Complementary Treatments

   
When choosing a therapy plan, some patients consider alternative and complementary mesothelioma treatments. Alternative treatments refer to any unconventional treatment methods, and complementary treatments refer to an alternative therapy used to supplement one or more conventional treatments. A number of mesothelioma survivors credit their remission to alternative therapies.
Expenses for Treatment

Treatment for mesothelioma can be expensive. It is important for mesothelioma patients and their caregivers to prepare for the cost of care. The most common forms of mesothelioma treatment are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The cost of these treatments does not include palliative care options and any medical equipment that might be used.

Because the patient may no longer be able to work, the cost of lost wages and decreased income must also be considered. If the patient is at home and requires the care of a loved one or other caregiver, this person may also lose time from work.

Thankfully, there are options to help manage the cost, such as government programs, insurance plans and VA benefits.

Learn more about the cost of medical treatment
Doctors and Treatment Facilities
Mesothelioma Treatment Centers Map

Specialists that are experienced with mesothelioma can be difficult to find. In most cases, these doctors have made it their life’s work to study and treat this rare disease. In order to receive the best care, mesothelioma patients should look for qualified specialists in their area.

Some patients may even opt to travel to meet with a doctor that they feel comfortable with and trust. The patient-doctor relationship is very important, and mesothelioma patients should looks for doctors that they can communicate with openly.

California, New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Florida have the greatest concentration of specialists and treatment facilities in the country, though most states have local options for patients who do not wish to travel.

Selecting Mesothelioma Lawyers

Mesothelioma Lawyers - Important Information for Patients

Selecting the best mesothelioma lawyer for your situation is not easy because lawyers have different levels of experience in different areas, are licensed to practice in different jurisdictions, and charge different levels of contingency fees. One way to identify reputable lawyers is to see how they are rated by the various independent attorney rating systems. For example, are they listed in "Best Lawyers in America," "Super Lawyers" or have a high Martindale-Hubbell rating? On contingency fees, are they charging a customary fee or an exorbitant one? And what is their reputation among defense lawyers and defendants? Are they known to settle cases quickly and for modest values or do they have the reputation for holding defendants' "feet to the fire" to maximize settlement values for their clients?

If you would like information on how to see the published ratings for different mesothelioma lawyers and law firms, please fill-in the form below:

Deciding to pursue legal recourse and selecting an attorney to represent you in a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit are important decisions that should be made carefully. The facts of your situation and the law firm you select have a dramatic impact in the outcome of your case.

The Facts of Your Situation

Some mesothelioma patients know they worked around asbestos, but many do not know how they were exposed or how often. In fact, many people are not sure if they were ever near this carcinogen. Unfortunately, there have been thousands of products that contained asbestos - cigarette filters, hair dryers, brakes, basement and roof materials, pipes, boilers, insulation, and many other products found throughout the home and at work. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma it is more than likely that you were exposed to asbestos multiple times in your life and that this happened decades before your diagnosis.

In general, the value of your case depends on how many asbestos containing products you were exposed to, the number of identifiable defendants that still exist (many have declared bankruptcy), your age and earning capacity. And the speed of your case can depend on a number of variables including the state where you worked and lived when you were exposed to asbestos.

The Law Firm You Choose

When you have been given the news about this terrible disease, you may not feel that you have the time to deal with the legal questions - Should I talk to a lawyer? Should I file a claim? However, you should not wait too long to learn about your legal rights for at least three reasons:

    Statutes of Limitations - There are statute of limitations which means you only have a limited time to file your case after diagnosis. The statute of limitations time period is set by individual states and varies. The clock usually starts ticking on the day of diagnosis.

    Financial Pressure - A mesothelioma diagnosis can bring financial stress, less income, more expenses, and treatments that are not covered by insurance. Knowing that money may be on the way from filing a claim can bring financial relief.

    Lawyers Can be Excellent Resources - The more experienced mesothelioma lawyers and law firms can often be excellent sources of information about various doctors and treatment options available for this disease.

But, picking a lawyer is serious business and you should not use TV ads as the reason to hire an attorney. Actual credentials are what counts. For example, what type of accomplishments has the law firm achieved? How committed are they to mesothelioma/asbestos cases? Are these cases a substantial part of their practice or just a small piece? How many other cases like yours have they handled?

Also, make sure you understand the fees being charges. Contingency is the term that means that the lawyer gets paid only after they collect money for you. The amount of the contingency fee that your lawyer can charge varies and is usually between 33% and 40%. It is important to discuss fees openly, ask what services they cover, how they are calculated, and whether there will be any extra charges.

Finally, for something as important as a mesothelioma lawsuit, your attorney should not only be experienced, skilled, and dedicated, but also a trusted partner who understands that your health needs always take precedence. The best lawyers are those that are not only expert at what they do, but are also caring, supportive, thoughtful and compassionate.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Patients with mesothelioma generally do not demonstrate symptoms of this disease until 20 to 50 years after their initial exposure to asbestos. Fibers that embed in the tissue surrounding the body’s internal organs, the mesothelium, usually must be present for many decades before the development of cancer. These fibers gradually accumulate and cause scarring, which leads to inflammation and cancer. Although these fibers are most often introduced into the body through inhalation, the material can also be introduced through ingestion as well. Initially, symptoms may be mild and an individual might not find them cause for alarm. However, as the cancer spreads, these symptoms become more severe and debilitating.   
Consulting a Physician Earlydoctor with patient

As a result of this slow development and long delay between asbestos exposure and cancer growth, individuals frequently overlook initial symptoms of mesothelioma. Furthermore, these symptoms often mimic those of less serious illnesses, leading to a common delay in seeking treatment. Unfortunately, this delay can limit treatment options and effectiveness. Therefore, it remains vital for any individuals who suspect past asbestos exposure to seek medical screening for the disease, even if symptoms are not currently present. Oftentimes, a second opinion is also recommended as mesothelioma is commonly misdiagnosed. Whether it is the stage the cancer is in, or the type of cancer, misdiagnosis happens and specialists advise patients to get second opinions. Diagnosis of mesothelioma as a stage III when it really is a stage II is a big difference and treatment options as well as prognosis may differ greatly between stages.

Several important steps after diagnosis exist for patients struggling with mesothelioma. These steps can be the difference between succumbing to the disease quickly and maintaining a high quality of life while fighting this illness. Even if symptoms that seem trivial arise, it is important to contact a physician immediately. This is especially vital for those who have had exposure to asbestos in the past.
Early Symptoms Stages of Mesothelioma
Early symptoms of mesothelioma are generally absent in patients, leading to the disease’s late diagnosis. However, it remains vital for those who were exposed to asbestos to seek regular imaging and diagnostic tests to help detect any latent signs of mesothelioma development. Individuals who experienced prolonged asbestos contact should be even more attentive to this risk, as length and intensity of exposure is strongly correlated with the development of mesothelioma.

Sometimes early symptoms of mesothelioma mirror those of other diseases or physical issues such as congestive heart failure, emphysema, weight gain or constipation. These symptoms may include shortness of breath, constant chest pain or cough, night sweats, weight loss but fluid gain, bowel obstruction, swelling of the feet, and a buildup of fluid on a chest x-ray. This fluid build up is known as a pleural effusion.
What is a Pleural Effusion?

Pleral Fluid Chart

One main symptom of mesothelioma is a buildup of the fluid between the parietal pleura and the visceral pleura. This buildup is called a pleural effusion. These membranes are coated with mesothelial cells that normally secrete a fluid that lubricates and protects the space between one’s chest wall and lung. In a healthy body, excess fluid would be absorbed into the bloodstream and lymph nodes to avoid fluid buildup. Conversely, for abnormal cases such as those seen in mesothelioma, when too much fluid is present in the area, a pleural effusion occurs.

There are two types of pleural effusions. The most common form is a transudative pleural effusion. This effusion is typically clear in color and occurs when there is an imbalance between fluid produced and that which is removed. This form is more common in a congestive heart failure.

An exudative effusion is likely to be a sign of mesothelioma. This effusion is cloudy in color and made up of cells, proteins and other fluids resembling that of a diseased pleura. In order to differentiate between the two types of effusions a fluid sample must be tested.

Removal of excess fluid can be done in a simple procedure requiring local anesthesia. The procedure, called pleurodesis, injects talc into the fluid in the lungs. According to the American Cancer Society, this substance causes irritation in the membranes making them swell and stick together. Once this bond is formed, space is eliminated making the area impermeable to fluid. 

Another procedure, called pleurocentesis is a simple outpatient procedure typically lasting only 30 minutes. During this procedure, a long needle is injected through the chest cavity into the lung and drains excess fluid from the lungs.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

The most common form of this disease, pleural mesothelioma, makes up approximately 75% of all mesothelioma cases. Developing in the pulmonary (lung) region, symptoms of this disease include:

    Persistent dry cough without phlegm
    Plueral effusions (typically containing blood)
    Blood in the sputum (fluid) or coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
    Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
    Inexplicable weight loss
    Fatigue
    Sweating or fever
    Persistent chest or rib area pain, painful breathing
    Inexplicable shortness of breath (dyspnea)
    Development of lumps under the skin on the chest

Mesothelioma Information

Mesothelioma Information

As with any disease or health condition, mesothelioma researchers have, over time, collected statistical information about mesothelioma. These statistics can help us learn about the proclivities of the disease and its incidence and potentially help future patients as we learn more about mesothelioma.
How Common is Mesothelioma?

New cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in between 2,500 and 3,000 Americans each year. These numbers, while significant, would indicate that mesothelioma is still a relatively rare disease, though incidence is expected to rise in the next decade according to projections.
What is the Typical Age at Diagnosis?

The first diagnosis of mesothelioma typically occurs in men and women between the ages of 50 and 70 years. Mesothelioma patients, certainly, have been diagnosed at ages younger than 50 and older than 70, but diagnoses for those age groups are considered statistical anomalies.
Does Mesothelioma Occur in a Particular Sex or Racial Demographic More than Another?

Mesothelioma is much more common in men than women, due mostly to occupational asbestos exposure being more common among men of industrial labor sites. That is not to say, however, that women cannot be diagnosed with mesothelioma. In fact, recent evidence suggests that mesothelioma incidence in women may rise in the coming years as secondary exposures to asbestos can manifest in the form of a positive mesothelioma diagnosis. Also of note is that mesothelioma is much less common among African Americans than in Caucasians, the reasons for which researchers are still investigating.
What are Typical Patient Survival Rates Following a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

As mesothelioma is often diagnosed in its advanced stages, the mesothelioma prognosis is sometimes poor with life expectancy being little more than a year following diagnosis. If diagnosed early enough however, patient prognoses increase dramatically. Patient survival rates are often contingent on the treatments available to the particular patient. In early mesothelioma stages, tumors eligible for mesothelioma surgery and will result in improved prognoses over those who are diagnosed with stage 3 mesothelioma or stage 4 mesothelioma. As new and alternative mesothelioma treatments are researched and employed in the future, it is realistic to anticipate an improvement in patient survival rates.

Mesothelioma Latency Period

Typically, there is a great deal of time between an individual's exposure to asbestos and the development of asbestos-related health complications. Mesothelioma is associated with a long-latency period (often 20-50 years) after exposure. Over a long period of time, lodged asbestos fibers slowly inflame the lung's external tissue, often serving as a pre-cursor to the development of malignant mesothelioma.
Adult Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is most common in adults. Adults who have asbestos exposure history are typically those most at risk for the development of malignant mesothelioma. It can take many years for those exposed to asbestos exposure to exhibit the effects of exposure and, as such, mesothelioma is most often diagnosed in older individuals, often up to 40 years following exposure.
Child Mesothelioma

Childhood diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma information is extremely rare, although it has been documented. Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos and takes many years following exposure to asbestos to manifest in adults. Generally speaking, childhood mesothelioma is considered to be unrelated to asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma and Women

Many women that have been diagnosed with mesothelioma had no direct exposure to asbestos from working in industrial job settings. Instead they discover that they are victims of second-hand asbestos exposure that occurred while washing their husband's clothes that came home from work with asbestos fibers on them.
Mesothelioma Prevention

Mesothelioma is known only to be caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that was used for many years as an industrial insulation component. As such, the best mesothelioma prevention is the avoidance of exposure to asbestos. However, in recent years, physicians and cancer specialists have been developing a mesothelioma vaccine that will arm the body's immune system with cancer fighting anti-bodies and antigens in those who are at risk for the development of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Vaccine

Recent studies by researchers in the Netherlands have found promising results in preventative therapies for mesothelioma. Using cancer-fighting antigens within the body's immune system, mesothelioma patients have responded positively in most cases when treated with the mesothelioma vaccine. The hope is now that this therapy can be applied to those who may be at risk of developing mesothelioma in the future, particularly those who have been exposed to asbestos but have yet to develop asbestos disease.
Medical Timeline

Historical timeline containing important facts and developments related to the manufacture and use of asbestos and documented cases of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos related diseases.
Mesothelioma Misspellings

The word “mesothelioma” is often misspelled by people searching on the internet for information about this asbestos cancer. In this section we list some of the most common misspellings that we have seen individuals use in their internet searches for mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Misconceptions

There are several common myths and misconceptions about mesothelioma. Learn more about what the true facts are about this asbestos-related disease.
Mesothelioma Disease

Mesothelioma cancer is a rare disease that attacks the cells of the tissue that lines the body cavity called the mesothelium. It’s only known cause is exposure to asbestos fibers.

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

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Mesothelioma and lung cancer are two conditions most commonly associated with asbestos exposure. Even though they affect different parts of the body, both of these cancers can reduce a patient’s respiratory function and cause a number of other internal complications.

The Department of Health and Human Services, the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have all declared asbestos to be a human carcinogen. According to these organizations decades of research, asbestos exposure can lead to the development of both lung cancer and mesothelioma.

How Lung Cancer is Caused by Asbestos Exposure

While mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lungs (called the mesothelial lining), lung cancer occurs in the actual lungs. When asbestos is inhaled, it can become trapped within the lungs or its lining. It is difficult to expel these strong fibers from the body, and once they are inhaled or ingested, they can trigger biological changes that cause healthy cells to become cancerous.

A person’s biological response to the fibers is partially determined by a number of factors, such as the length of the fiber, chemistry of the fiber and the area in which the fibers were lodged, immune response, and genetic response to cellular damage. Typically, the higher the level of asbestos exposure, the higher the person’s risk of developing lung cancer becomes.

While smoking can increase a person’s risk for developing lung cancer, the disease can also occur in asbestos-exposed non-smokers. One study found that vermiculite miners who were exposed to tremolite and actinolite asbestos had six times the risk of developing lung cancer as the general population.
Why Pleural Mesothelioma is sometimes called Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

One common misconception about mesothelioma is that it is a cancer of the lung, when it is actually a cancer of the lungs’ mesothelial lining. As a result, pleural mesothelioma is sometimes referred to as mesothelioma lung cancer.

Differences between Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure can cause both mesothelioma and lung cancer, yet these illnesses occur in different parts of the body. Lung cancer affects the actual lung, while mesothelioma develops in the lung’s covering, known as the pleura.

In most cases of lung cancer, the cells that line the air passages become cancerous. In mesothelioma, the mesothelial cells that line vital organs become cancerous. Pleural mesothelioma typically spreads along interlobal fissures in the lungs and may invade the subpleural part of the lungs when it metastasizes.

Smoking contributes to a patient’s likelihood of contracting these diseases in different ways as well. While smoking has been shown to increase an asbestos-exposed person’s risk of developing lung cancer, smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma. Asbestos-exposed smokers’ lungs may be weakened by cigarette smoke, making them generally more susceptible to lung damage and diseases, but smoking does not increase the risk of mesothelioma.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer

Although laws have been enacted to restrict the use of asbestos and reduce the incidence of asbestos-related illnesses, patients continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma and lung cancer because of the diseases’ long latency periods. Many mesothelioma patients do not display symptoms that warrant medical attention until 20 to 50 years after they were exposed to asbestos. Similarly, most lung cancer diagnoses in asbestos workers are made at least 15 years after exposure to asbestos.

For lung cancer and mesothelioma patients, early diagnosis is crucial to improving prognosis. Patients who develop dyspnea, or shortness of breath, and have a significant history of asbestos exposure, should obtain a chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests to increase the chance of early diagnosis.
Tests used in the diagnosis of lung cancer and pleural mesothelioma may include:

    Physical examination and consideration of asbestos exposure
    Pulmonary function tests (i.e. spirometry)
    Chest X-Ray
    CT-Scan
    MRI
    Biopsy

Chest X-rays are the most commonly used diagnostic tool for revealing pleural changes that may be indicative of asbestos-related lung and pleural diseases.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and would like additional information about your diagnosis, please fill out the form on this page to receive a free packet of mesothelioma literature.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, a rare cancer that develops in the mesothelium (a membrane that lines many of the body's organs and cavities). In the case of pleural mesothelioma, the cancer develops in the lining of the lungs, called the pleura or pleural membrane.

Pleural mesothelioma is caused by the inhaling of asbestos fibers. Once these fibers have entered the lungs, they work their way to the pleural membrane, and the body has great difficulty getting rid of the fibers. Over a long period of time - typically two decades or more - asbestos fibers cause changes in the pleural cells. Those changes may cause scarring of the lungs and, long term, the formation of tumors.

When pleural cells become cancerous, they begin to divide continuously, reducing lung capacity and generating fluid buildup between pleural layers.

The prognosis for pleural mesothelioma patients is generally poor because it often is caught in its later stages. However, an early diagnosis can greatly improve a patient's prognosis and life expectancy.
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Mesothelioma of the Lung
Pleural MesotheliomaMalignant Pleural Mesothelioma Succeptablility by Country.

The pleura is comprised of two layers, which provide support and protection for the lungs and chest cavity. The outer layer, or the parietal layer, lines the entire chest cavity and the diaphragm. The inner layer, or visceral layer, covers the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma typically develops in one layer, but can metastasize, or spread, to the other layer. If the cancer spreads to distant locations, the mesothelioma prognosis can become poorer.

Like all mesothelioma cancers, pleural mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure and develops when the toxic asbestos fibers become trapped in the spaces between the mesothelial cells.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms

Once trapped in the body, asbestos fibers cause cancerous cells to divide abnormally, resulting in the thickening of the pleural membrane. This has the potential to encourage build-up of fluid (called pleural effusion). The fluid begins to place pressure on the lungs and the respiratory system in general, preventing normal breathing. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are largely caused by these developments and may include the following:
Pleural Mesothelioma DiagramPleural mesothelioma specifically develops in the pleural lining of the lungs.

    Persistent dry or raspy cough
    Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
    Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia)
    Shortness of breath that occurs even when at rest (dyspnea)
    Persistent pain in the chest or rib area, or painful breathing
    Development of lumps under the skin on the chest
    Night sweats or fever
    Unexplained weight loss
    Fatigue

Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis

As with other types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because symptoms do not typically arise for some time after initial asbestos exposure occurs. Additionally, since the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are typical of many illnesses, the condition is often mistaken for less threatening diseases such as influenza and pneumonia.
Pleural Mesothelioma X-rayX-rays or CT-Scans are often used to diagnose pleural mesothelioma.

A pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is made partly on the basis of symptoms, but additional diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the presence of cancer. Following a medical history review and physical examination, patients typically undergo imaging tests, such as X-rays or CT scans, to confirm the location of cancer. A patient also usually undergoes fluid and tissue tests, known as biopsies, to confirm the type of cancer involved. Once tests and biopsies confirm a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma, those test results are used to develop a treatment plan.
Pleural Mesothelioma Treatments

Pleural mesothelioma is traditionally treated with either surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these options. A patient's general health and stage of their cancer must be evaluated before they are considered candidates for surgery. In most cases, only patients diagnosed with Stage I or Stage II receive surgery that attempts to cure the cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation may also be effective if tumors have not spread to other locations. Alternative treatments are also available and include photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy and gene therapy.

Treatments for pleural mesothelioma may be palliative or potentially curative depending on which stage the cancer is in. Patients who are diagnosed after potentially curative treatments are no longer effective may instead receive palliative treatments to relieve pain and improve quality of life. For pleural mesothelioma patients, early detection is key to improving prognosis and expanding treatment options.

Surgery options for pleural mesothelioma patients typically include pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy, which attempts to remove all or part of the affected lung lining. The most common chemotherapy option for pleural mesothelioma involves the drugs cisplatin and pemetrexed (Alimta). Some of the top doctors in the field of mesothelioma treatment that specialize in using these techniques include Dr. David Sugarbaker, Dr. Robert B. Cameron, Dr. Harvey Pass and Dr. Valerie Rusch.

Understanding available treatment options is very important to patients and their loved ones. If the disease is diagnosed early enough, surgery to remove localized tumors followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy can be an effective treatment. Curative surgery candidates must be in a good general state of health, and their cancer must not have spread beyond localized sections of the lungs.
Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis

When pleural mesothelioma is diagnosed before the cancer has greatly progressed, a patient is typically in the first stages of mesothelioma. Doctors typically address the seriousness of cancer in terms of stages ranging from I to IV, with the level of the cancer’s progression increasing with each stage. Patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in stage I or II generally have greater treatment options and a better prognosis.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma:

 

According to some current studies, approximately 10 percent of all pleural mesothelioma patients will survive for three to five years following diagnosis. Of that 10 percent, half the patients will survive five years or more.

Pleural mesothelioma patients who are not diagnosed early enough for curative treatment have fewer treatment options, mostly limited to palliative treatments, designed to relieve pain and discomfort to improve a patient's quality of life, rather than their prognosis. Palliative treatments include removal of built-up fluid from the pleural spaces, and surgical removal of tumors to relieve pressure on the lungs.