Pleural Mesothelioma - Prognosis, Diagnosis, Treatment, Causes, & More.
A diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma can be a life-altering event and cause uncertainty and confusion for the patient as well as for friends and family members. This disease has been studied in great detail and is linked directly to asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma is similar to certain other forms of cancer and the treatment options are varied, depending on the degree to which the condition has advanced.
Pleural Mesothelioma And Asbestos Fibers
A natural silicate compound, asbestos has been used by humans since the days of the Roman Empire. It was found to highly flame resistant and also dissipated heat quite well, therefore it could be used as a heating insulator. Two thousand years ago women fashioned asbestos fibers into tablecloths and napkins that could be cleaned merely by tossing them into an open flame. The industrial revolution resulted in the widespread use of this material as a protective coating, mixed pastes and wallboards and insulation for wires and steam pipes. What was not known until years later was the tendency for fibers to break off into microscopic particles that remained airborne, easily inhaled by those in the vicinity.
Asbestos Fibers In The Lungs
Once inhaled, asbestos fibers are caught in the pleural lining of the lungs, much like fine dust or tiny hairs. Often they cannot be exhaled and therefore these friable silicate fibers become lodged between the pleural membrane and other lung tissue. Here they remain dormant for a very long period of time. During this period of latency, which can range from 15-50 years, they slowly change their molecular structure as well as interact with the immediate surrounding tissue. Eventually they begin to act as a carcinogen, mutating the DNA of the nearby cells and starting them off on the path to becoming cancerous. The cause of pleural mesothelioma is therefore directly linked to asbestos exposure, often decades before the disease actually manifests.
Medical Scientists Make The Connection
After decades of complaints by workers employed in shipyards, naval vessels, power plants and smelting works, the statistics gathered indicated that there was a direct connection between the symptoms of mesothelioma and asbestos inhalation. The actual confirmation of these findings took many years because of the extremely long latency period before cancerous growths are detected. By the 1970s a huge number of medical reports were being released that indicated the dangers of asbestos exposure and the damage these fibers could do if there was prolonged contact with the pleural tissues of the lungs. Today the use of asbestos by industry in general has been banned by a number of countries, but the after effects of this substance continue to afflict people the world over.
If you or someone you know as been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, it is strongly advised that you check out your legal options. Learning about the treatments available, the costs that may be recovered for these treatments and other compensations you may be entitled to is just a phone call away. To learn more about pleural mesothelioma or to ask about your legal rights, fill out the handy form above or contact the number given.
