Mesothelioma Symptoms and Diagnosis

Mesothelioma symptoms can take up to 30 or even 40 years to appear, making a mesothelioma diagnosis very difficult to pinpoint. Nearly all the diagnosed mesothelioma cases can be linked to asbestos, which can lodge in the lining of the lungs and abdomen. Mesothelioma cancer has a long latency period, meaning that the symptoms of mesothelioma typically do not appear until years after the asbestos exposure has occurred. 
 
If you have worked with or been exposed to asbestos in the past, and you have any unexplained medical symptoms, you should talk to your physician or health care provider right away. As with any medical condition, the sooner you get treatment the better chance you may have at recovery. We recommend reaching out to the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation if you are looking for a mesothelioma specialist.
Mesothelioma symptoms for Pleural Mesothelioma include shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness, coughing, weight loss, chest pain and pleural effusion (fluid surrounding the lung).
Mesothelioma symptoms for Peritoneal Mesothelioma (or Abdominal Mesothelioma) include weight loss, abdominal swelling, ascites (an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen), a mass in the abdomen, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, weight loss and fever.
The symptoms of mesothelioma for Pericardial Mesothelioma include tightness in the chest or chest pain, shortness of breath and weight loss.

What is Mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of asbestos cancer that most often attacks the lungs and abdomen.
Most have never heard of malignant mesothelioma. Yet when you or someone you love has received a mesothelioma diagnosis, trying to understand this medically complicated asbestos cancer can be an overwhelming process.  At the Simmons Law Firm, our lawyers have worked with thousands of patients and families affected by malignant mesothelioma.
 
On this website we try to give you as much malignant mesothelioma information as possible. However, if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or diseases linked to asbestos, we strongly recommend you consult your physician or find a mesothelioma specialist by reaching out to an organization like the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation for the most accurate mesothelioma information.
Each year, nearly 3,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Virtually all cases of malignant mesothelioma are linked to asbestos.
So what is mesothelioma? Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that most often occurs in the thin membrane lining the lungs, chest and abdomen. Malignant mesothelioma attacks the membranes, called mesothelium, that surround and protect vital organs like the lungs and heart. These cancerous mesothelioma cells can metastasize (spread) quickly to other parts of the body.
There are several types of mesothelioma, including:

• Pleural Mesothelioma
• Peritoneal Mesothelioma
• Pericardial Mesothelioma 

Malignant mesothelioma is a particularly dangerous disease because it has a very long latency period. Mesothelioma symptoms may not appear for 10, 20 or even 40 years after exposure to asbestos. In addition, once symptoms do appear mesothelioma progresses quickly. Many victims die within two years of being diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are three main types of malignant mesothelioma: Pleural Mesothelioma, Pericardial Mesothelioma, and Peritoneal Mesothelioma.  Mesothelioma is a rare, deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Though in some cases it can be benign, most commonly it is malignant (cancerous). Malignant mesothelioma can affect the lungs, heart, and abdomen.
 
The three major types of mesothelioma are:

Pleural Mesothelioma

The most common form of malignant mesothelioma, representing about 75% of the cases of the disease, is called Pleural Mesothelioma. The cancer forms in the pleura, the protective lining around the lungs. This can cause fluid to collect around the lungs and can be quite painful – which is often one of the first symptoms to appear in pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

When malignant mesothelioma appears in the abdomen, it is referred to as Peritoneal Mesothelioma. It is sometimes called Abdominal Mesothelioma. This accounts for around 20% of mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year. In rare cases, Peritoneal Mesothelioma is also found in the testicles.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial Mesothelioma attacks the heart and is by far the rarest form of the disease. The fluid that collects around the heart can cause serious heart problems, beginning with chest pain.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, representing about 75% of all diagnosed mesothelioma cases. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that forms in the pleura, the protective lining around the lungs. This can cause fluid to collect around the lungs and can be quite painful, which is often one of the first symptoms to appear prior to a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis.

 

Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

• shortness of breath
• wheezing
• hoarseness
• coughing
• weight loss
• chest pain
• pleural effusion (fluid surrounding the lung)
  

If you believe you may have pleural mesothelioma, you should contact your health care provider immediately so that a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis can be confirmed or denied. We also encourage you to contact organizations like the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation that can help you identify a pleural mesothelioma specialist.
Your doctor’s first step will be to collect a full medical and asbestos exposure history, along with a thorough physical examination. This might include a chest x-ray, which, if pleural mesothelioma is present, will reveal thickening of the mesotheleum or pleura. As a follow-up, your doctor may order a CT scan or MRI, which will identify any abnormal fluid buildup around your lungs. 
At the Simmons Law Firm, our mesothelioma lawyers have been working with pleural mesothelioma victims for many years and have become intimately familiar with the questions and concerns patients may have. Our lawyers have represented thousands of individuals from all areas of the United States. Our skill and conviction, along with our dedication to personal client service, have helped us recover over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of thousands of clients.*

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma appears in the stomach or abdomen and therefore is sometimes called "abdominal mesothelioma." This stomach cancer accounts for around 20 percent of all malignant mesothelioma cases diagnosed each year. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most prevalent form of the asbestos-related cancer.

Mesothelioma specialists have two theories on how asbestos fibers enter the peritoneum and result in a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis.  The first theory is that the asbestos fibers are trapped by the mucus in the trachea or bronchi and eventually swallowed.  The second theory is that asbestos fibers stuck in the lungs eventually move into the lymphatic system and are transferred to the peritoneum.

Abdominal Mesothelioma Symptoms

Like all forms of asbestos-related cancers, peritoneal mesothelioma can be dormant for decades. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma in the stomach can include:

• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness
• Nausea
• Bowel obstruction
• Breathing difficulties

It is often quite difficult to diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma in the stomach since the symptoms associated with asbestos cancer are often similar to those of other, less serious conditions. However, if you believe you may have abdominal mesothelioma, you should contact your health care provider immediately. Your doctor’s first step will be to collect a full medical and asbestos exposure history. Then, he may perform a laproscopy, which involves making a small opening in your abdomen and taking tissue samples.
Learn more about how doctors make a mesothelioma diagnosis.
At the Simmons Law Firm, our mesothelioma lawyers have been working with clients suffering from a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis for nearly a decade. In that time, our team of lawyers has represented thousands of individuals from all areas of the United States and recovered over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of thousands of clients.*

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is a form of mesothelioma that attacks the heart. It is by far the rarest form of mesothelioma - a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Pericardial mesothelioma attacks the lining that surrounds the heart, known as the pericardium.
Pericardial mesothelioma is thought to be one of the most painful forms of the disease. Symptoms can include:

• Chest pain
• Heart palpitations
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent coughing

If you believe you may have peritoneal mesothelioma, consult your doctor immediately. His first step will be to collect a full medical and asbestos exposure history, along with a thorough physical examination. As a follow-up, your doctor may order a CT scan or MRI, which will identify any abnormal fluid buildup around your organs.
Like most forms of the disease, pericardial mesothelioma is associated with long-term exposure to asbestos.  Workers who worked in asbestos-related occupations or with asbestos products are often the victims of this deadly cancer.
At the Simmons Law Firm, our mesothelioma lawyers have been working with pericardial mesothelioma victims for many years and have become intimately familiar with the questions and concerns patients may have.Our team of lawyers has represented thousands of individuals from all areas of the United States. Our skill and conviction, along with our dedication to personal client service, have helped us recover over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of thousands of clients.*

Massachusetts Mesothelioma Attorneys

The mesothelioma attorneys at the Simmons Law Firm represent victims of mesothelioma cancer throughout the United States including the state of Massachusetts. We have represented thousands of families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer and have seen the suffering it causes firsthand. The Simmons Law Firm is dedicated to giving our clients the respect and attention they deserve, no matter where they live.

If you or someone you love has mesothelioma, we will come to you. Over the past decade, our asbestos attorneys have represented many clients throughout Massachusetts, including families from the following locations:

• Attleboro
• Bedford
• Boston
• Cambridge
• Lincoln
• Millbury
• Reading
• Springfield
• Worcester

As a nationwide firm, our asbestos attorneys have the resources and experience necessary to represent individuals and families against large companies in this complex area of litigation.  Our firm has recovered over $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for thousands of families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.  Our asbestos lawyers have recovered $60 million on behalf of mesothelioma and asbestos disease victims located in the state of Massachusetts alone.*
_{* Please note that recovery results vary per client. The recovery amounts in each case reflect the specific facts of that case. Further, recovery amounts in past cases are not a guarantee of future results}

You should know that Massachusetts has a unique set of laws that could impact your ability to file a claim. For example, Massachusetts has statute of limitation laws that restrict the time frame in which mesothelioma victims and family members can file a lawsuit. Rest assured our mesothelioma lawyers are prepared to help you understand the process for filing an asbestos lawsuit and guide you through the legal system. If you'd like to talk to a Massachusetts mesothelioma lawyer about a potential case, contact one of the nationwide asbestos attorneys at the Simmons Law Firm today.
If you have mesothelioma or lung cancer due to asbestos exposure, please contact our mesothelioma lawyers for a free case evaluation.

An Introduction to Asbestos and Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a deadly mineral that has been used in thousands of products. When microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can cause a number of diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Of the diseases caused by asbestos, mesothelioma is the most aggressive, attacking the internal lining of the lungs and abdomen. Mesothelioma typically does not develop until decades after the asbestos exposure occurred.
A number of work sites throughout Massachusetts are linked to asbestos exposure including:
Boston
U.S. Naval Shipyard
Bethlehem Steel Shipyard
Gillette Safety Razor Plant
Edison Powerhouse
Boston Naval Shipyard fka Boston Navy Yard fka Charlestown Navy Yard
Freetown
Algonquin Gas Company Generating Plant
Peabody
A.C. Lawrence Factory
Eastman Gellatin
Quincy
General Dynamics Shipyard
Proctor & Gamble Plant
Bethlehem Steel Shipyard
Springfield
Monsanto Plant
Worchester
Norton Grinding

Many buildings and homes throughout Massachusetts carry a high risk of asbestos exposure, because they were constructed and modified long before builders started worrying about asbestos exposure. The state's larger population areas are centered on cities that are among the oldest in the country. These cities are filled homes, schools, government buildings, factories and businesses that are well over a hundred years old. Many of these buildings feature asbestos insulation throughout that poses a significant risk to their inhabitants.
If you or a loved one has suffered from an asbestos-related disease, please contact us today for a free legal consultation.