KNOW THE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH MESOTHELIOMA, A RARE AND DEADLY CANCER
Exposure to Asbestos Can Cause Mesothelioma but Symptoms May Not Show for 25-40 Years
August 11, 2010, Wellesley, MA – Every year, thousands of people are diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Most people who suffer from mesothelioma have been exposed on a regular basis to asbestos, usually as a result of their occupation and work history. Jobs in the mechanical, construction and shipbuilding industries are most often linked to asbestos exposure. These individuals may have handled asbestos directly or were in an environment with a high concentration of asbestos fibers in the air. People can even develop mesothelioma as a result of secondhand asbestos exposure, which occurs when a person is indirectly exposed to the material through either a household member or the environment.
“You have to know what you’re dealing with in order to protect yourself when it comes to mesothelioma’s risk factors. This particular cancer will creep up on you because its latency period can run anywhere from 25-40 years,” says Kathy McGinn, Senior Legal Nurse at Sokolove Law, one of the nation’s largest marketers of legal services. “Early on, this cancer may exhibit some symptoms or none at all which is usually why this cancer is typically at an advanced stage by the time they see a doctor. Victims will usually mistake their mesothelioma symptoms for a common ailment and may not seek treatment for several months.”
Common Symptoms of Mesothelioma
There are two predominant types of mesothelioma: Pleural Mesothelioma and Peritoneal Mesothelioma. The underlying symptoms with Pleural Mesothelioma include fluid in the chest cavity. As the fluid in the chest increases, it puts pressure on the lungs causing fatigue, shortness of breath, and intense pain. Other Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include one or a combination of the following: chest pain, fever, weight loss, coughing up or spitting up blood, hoarseness, and / or difficulty swallowing.
The other type of mesothelioma is Peritoneal Mesothelioma which is caused by fluid buildup in the abdomen. Additional peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms can include the following: increased abdominal girth, abdominal pain, elevated white blood count, weight loss, digestive disturbances and fever.
Making A Diagnosis
If an individual exhibits any of these symptoms and sees a doctor, he/she can expect the following to be a part of the visit:
- A thorough physical examination;
- A complete medical history review to assess any risk factors such as exposure to asbestos;
- Imaging studies such as chest x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to detect if there is cancer in one’s body;
- Blood tests;
- Fluid testing if fluid has built up in the chest or abdomen area;
- And finally a biopsy may be done in order to test samples of tissue for cancer.
For more information on asbestos, visit http://www.MesoRC.com, a resource site that is continually expanding to better provide information to those currently living with or caring for a victim of mesothelioma.
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For more information contact:
Teleia Farrell
Sokolove Law
# 781-489-7867
tfarrell@sokolovelaw.com
About Sokolove Law
For nearly 30 years, Sokolove Law has reinvented how people obtain legal services. Our mission is to provide equal access to the civil justice system while ensuring superior quality legal representation. As a pioneer in legal advertising, Sokolove Law has grown to be the largest marketer of legal services in the country. Our proven business model matches particular client needs to the more than 400 law firms that we work with. The result is success for our clients and co-counsel. Sokolove Law operates as a limited liability company in all states except Virginia, California, Michigan, and Tennessee, where it operates as a limited liability partnership. Learn more about Sokolove Law at www.sokolovelaw.com.
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