The Complete Guide to Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Causes, and the Path to Justice

A mesothelioma diagnosis is a life-altering event that often raises more questions than answers. Because the disease can remain dormant for decades after asbestos exposure, recognizing the early warning signs is critical for both medical treatment and legal protection. This guide provides a comprehensive look at how asbestos affects the body, the symptoms you shouldn’t ignore, and the specific legal remedies available to Louisiana families.

Asbestos was recognized to be a toxic substance as long ago as the 1890’s although it was not linked with specific diseases until recently. A multitude of lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers since 1929 with cases even traveling up to the United States Supreme Court. Nonetheless, no Federal Laws were ever created to address compensation for those suffering as a consequence of asbestos exposure leaving many sufferers without any assistance at all. Compensation is meant to address not only medical costs but also the pain and suffering resulting from the asbestos exposure as well as loss of income.

Although asbestos exposure is often ‘on the job’ exposure, a spouse simply washing the clothes of a family member subjected to ‘on the job’ asbestos exposure is likewise subjected to inhalation of asbestos dust and fiber. Even such seemingly minimal asbestos exposure places the spouse at risk for also succumbing to asbestos induced health problems. Residents living near factories or mines utilizing asbestos are also at risk for developing asbestos inhalation health disorders.

Recognizing the Initial Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is often difficult to detect in its early stages because its symptoms mimic common respiratory issues. The most frequent early warning signs include:

• Persistent Coughing: A dry, hacking cough that doesn’t go away.
• Chest Pain: Uncomfortable pressure or sharp pain under the rib cage.
• Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing due to fluid buildup (pleural effusion) between the lung and chest wall.

Unfortunately, asbestos inhalation may trigger a multitude of health problems. For example, a condition termed asbestosis refers to an inflammatory, chronic and prolonged lung disease that may inflict permanent lung damage. Moreover, asbestos exposure places an individual at risk for developing cancer. Due to the ubiquitous nature of asbestos and the magnitude of the damage it inflicts, compensation for asbestos related injuries lies in the billion dollar range. In general, the symptoms of asbestos related diseases include, but are not limited to, shortness of breath, wheezing, hoarseness, a persistent cough and/or coughing up blood, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, fatigue, or anemia.

One form of asbestos cancer affects mesothelial cells. The associated cancer is termed mesothelioma, or more specifically, malignant mesothelioma. Asbestos was definitively linked as the causal agent of mesothelioma by observing that a group of mine workers were succumbing to mesothelioma after working in an asbestos mine during a specific time period which was the only activity all of them had in common.

Mesothelial cells form a tissue termed the mesothelium which protects organs by producing a lubricating fluid. Location within the body sometimes dictates the name given to the mesothelium. For example, the pleura lines the lungs and internal chest walls, the peritoneum lines the abdominal cavity, and the pericardium surrounds the heart. While the pleura (mesothelium lining lungs and internal chest walls) is the mesothelium most commonly affected by asbestos exposure, the other mesothelial tissues may also succumb to asbestos cancer.

Tissue changes resulting from asbestos exposure cause fluid to become trapped between the lung and the chest wall. This trapped fluid induces three symptoms which are often the initial symptoms a patient notices comprising coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. The trapped fluid creates uncomfortable pressure between the chest wall and lungs which the patient describes as chest pain under the rib cage. Coughing may accompany these symptoms which are typically the initial symptoms a patient experiences.

Advanced Symptoms and Metastasis

As the disease progresses, it can affect the abdominal cavity (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the heart (pericardial mesothelioma). Advanced symptoms often include:

• Unexplained Weight Loss: Often seen in conjunction with tumor formation.
• Abdominal Swelling: Pain and pressure caused by fluid buildup in the stomach area.
• Digestive Issues: Including bowel obstructions or difficulty swallowing if the cancer metastasizes to the neck.
• Anemia and Blood Clotting: Occurring in severe or late-stage cases.

Additional symptoms may begin developing over several decades. For instance, weight loss may occur which is a symptom often seen in conjunction with cancerous tumors. Also, anemia may result when mesothelial cells comprising the pleura (lungs) and pericardium (heart) are involved. Blood clotting abnormalities typically present only in severe mesothelioma cases.

Fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity is also problematic for several reasons. First of all, the mere fact that the fluid buildup occupies space causes the patient to experience pain and swelling. Both this fluid buildup as well as tumor formation interfere with the functioning of the digestive tract and nearby organs. Another unpleasant negative consequence is bowel obstruction and the associated difficulties.

Metastasis occurs when cancer moves from the original body part initially afflicted to another body part and thus creates even more problems. If the mesothelioma metastasizes, it may move to the head and neck area causing swelling in the area and possibly difficulty swallowing.

Mesothelioma vs. Lung Cancer: The Asbestos Connection

While both can be caused by asbestos, they are not the same. Lung cancer starts inside the lung tissue itself. Mesothelioma starts in the mesothelium—the thin protective lining that covers your internal organs. Crucially, while lung cancer has many causes (like smoking), the only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States is exposure to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium surrounding an organ), asbestos exposure may cause lung cancer wherein the tissue inside the lung itself is involved. Another distinguishing factor between the two asbestos cancers is the prevalence of lung cancer from other causes. In contrast, the only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States is exposure to asbestos.

While any physician can assist you with questions or diagnoses, it may be helpful to interact with a physician specialist. Pulmonologists specialize in lung diseases and oncologists specialize in cancers with some oncologists even focusing particularly on asbestos cancer.

Mesothelioma may have a latency period which is a period of time after the patient is exposed to asbestos but before the cancer is detected and the patient is primarily asymptomatic (without symptoms). In fact, mesothelioma may have an unusually long latency period even ranging from ten to sixty years. Over time, the patient begins developing symptoms with some symptoms taking decades to present.

Understanding the medical reality of mesothelioma is the first step toward securing your future. If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms after a history of industrial or municipal work, don’t wait for the condition to worsen. You need a medical team led by specialists and a legal team that understands the technicalities of toxic torts. Contact the Berniard Law Firm today for a free, confidential evaluation of your rights.