Mesothelioma Blog

2006-11-21T03:03:00.000-08:00

Finding the right mesothelioma attorney

What are the steps in filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit and how do you find the right mesothelioma attorney?

In order to get compensation for mesothelioma, filing a lawsuit is quite imperative. However the process is quite long drawn and tedious. The most important step pertaining to the same is selecting the correct mesothelioma attorney or law firm.

It is important to find a good, decent and experienced mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after one has been diagnosed with the disease. In most places there is a set time limit within which one can file a lawsuit, and it is very important that the victim party does not miss that deadline. Otherwise it may land you up as an ineligible claimant. So, the earlier you get to a mesothelioma lawyer, the better are your chances of success.

Apart from that the firm should be trustworthy one and the victim party should build up an excellent relationship cum rapport with the same. If one is considering about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit, then the victim party should meet up with several law firms before making the final decision. There are a large number of law firms who are specialized in filing mesothelioma lawsuits.

In order to choose the correct law firm for filing your lawsuit, the following steps can be followed: o Start the Search: You can look for a qualified mesothelioma attorney in various bar associations, Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory that is found in most public libraries, Yellow Pages, and of course the Internet. Law firms normally have their own sites.

o Narrow down the Field: After compiling a list of some mesothelioma law firms in your area, try to make establish contact with them either by mail, email or telephone for further information. It is important to provide the law firms with details of your legal issue and find out if they can handle your situation.

Also enquire about their fees for an initial consultation and an estimate of the total costs involved in handling a mesotheliomalawsuit. It is recommended that the victim party make schedule appointments with two or three different law firms before coming to the final decision.

o Meet the Prospective Attorneys: During the initial consultation, it is important that you and your lawyer get to know each other. There has to be a free flow of exchange words between both of you. After carefully reviewing your case, the lawyer must be in a position to inform you of your rights and suggest alternative courses of action, if any.

Moreover, it is during this initial consultation period that a mesothelioma attorney can explain what he or she can do for you and how much will be the cost factor. Also it is important for you to know about the attorney's experience in handling previous mesothelioma lawsuits. If you are totally satisfied with the details, you may request a written fee agreement before proceeding and a list of references that you may contact.

Making your Decision: After each initial consultation, it is important to consider the following questions about the mesothelioma attorney you just met:

o Did I got a firm understanding of my alternative courses of action from the attorney?

o Was the attorney knowledgeable about asbestos law?

o Was I given enough time and did the person listened to me

carefully? o Did the attorney seem trustworthy?

o Am I understanding the range of possible results, which might spill out during each course of action?

Fees: It is important to consider this aspect with due diligence. To lower costs, you can ask your asbestos lawyer to employ a junior lawyer to perform a certain part of the entire process. You can also do some tasks by yourself to save time and money (Provided your attorney allows you to do the same). An asbestos lawyer may charge a flat fee for a specific task or offer other methods of payment.

Also you can go for contingent fee arrangement process. A contingent fee arrangement is that your lawyer gets a percentage of the compensation money you receive as resolution of your asbestos lawsuit. If you do not receive compensation for the lawsuit then your lawyer collects no fees. A contingency fee is a good option for those people who cannot do away with hourly legal fees.

Also you may incur charges on other fronts like; court fees, copying, hiring expert witnesses etc.

Mesothelioma lawsuit records: Keep copies of all the documents that you hand over to your lawyer relating to your lawsuit.

2006-11-21T02:58:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma Research: Search For Hope

Mesothelioma research refers to the studies for discovering new facts or information about mesothelioma cancers. Mesothelioma is a life threatening cancerous disease. It affects the lining of abdominal organs and lungs. Only known reason of this disease is exposure to asbestos particles. Diagnosis of mesothelioma is a difficult process. This is mainly because asbestos particles may lie dormant in the body for up to 50 years before appearance of symptoms. Average survival time of mesothelioma patients is 1-2 years. Mesothelioma research is important considering the increasing number of mesothelioma patients every year.

Key Points of Mesothelioma Research

Most of the mesothelioma research going on today is focused towards the effects of asbestos particles on human cells. Scientists undertaking mesothelioma research are studying the process through which asbestos corrupts the healthy cells of the body. Ongoing research about mesothelioma provides a ray of hope that sometime in the future it may become possible to prevent the damaging effects of asbestos particles on human cells.

During the course of mesothelioma research, experts are also performing clinical trials on the mesothelioma patients. They are conducting clinical trials on the patients who are diagnosed for mesothelioma cancers on early stages as well as later stages. Doctors emphasize on trials on both types of patients because both of them equally require relief from mesothelioma cancers. Ongoing mesothelioma research and newer information every day provides hope to mesothelioma victims that any trial can result into the discovery of an effective treatment for mesothelioma cancers.

Sponsors of Mesothelioma Research

Many organizations including the companies responsible for the exposure to asbestos particles are sponsoring mesothelioma research. It is the moral duty of those companies because many people are on brink of death because of their negligence. Law firms are also keeping a close watch on mesothelioma research because many patients are adopting legal course for seeking mesothelioma compensation. A mesothelioma law firm has better chances for getting compensation for its client if they better information about this dangerous disease.

2006-11-17T20:27:00.000-08:00

Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is a mineral that can occur naturally in the environment, and is also used by man in a range of products. This material was once widely used in many places, but as the dangers of exposure to asbestos began to come to light, this all changed. However, for many people it was too late, as the damage had already been done. This is because asbestos is responsible for a number of side effects, which can cause anything from discomfort to death. Asbestosis and pleural plaques can result from exposure to asbestos, and more notably so can mesothelioma, a deadly cancer that can take many decades to develop but only a matter of months from the onset of symptoms to kill.

Mesothelioma is caused by ingesting or breathing in loose asbestos fibres, which can then cause scarring and ultimately can lead to this cancer. The cancer can affect the lung, chest, or abdominal cavities, but it also has a very long latency period, which means that it could be thirty years or more before the person even realizes that they have contracted the cancer because this is how long it can take to manifest. The onset of symptoms can take up to fifty years or more in some cases, but once the symptoms have manifested the lifespan of the person can be as short as several months.

Between the 1950s and the 1980s, many people – mainly men – worked in industries where they were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis and for long periods of time. This mineral was so widely used because it was cheap and because of its fire resistant properties. Because the effects of the mineral were largely unknown except for in certain circles at the time, workers did not question the lack of protection or concern displayed with regards to working so closely with asbestos.

However, it is thought that many companies and manufacturers were aware of the deadly effects of this mineral from as early as the 1920s. However, their failure to provide oblivious employees with protection against the effects of asbestos resulted in many people contracting this cancer, and only realizing thirty to fifty years down the line just as they were settling down to enjoy their retirement.

Some of the workers mostly likely to come across asbestos on a day to day basis and therefore most at risk included as insulators, plasterers, electricians, mechanics, bricklayers, carpenters, and other tradesmen. This is because these professionals worked closely with materials and products that contained asbestos. Also at risk were the families of these workers, as they could often ingest or breathe in asbestos fibres from the clothes, skin, or hair of the worker, and this could lead to the same effects.

Millions of workers have been exposed to asbestos over the years, and the unlucky ones have discovered several decades later just what an impact their work had on their health. Many of the cases of mesothelioma coming to light today are in men, as it was mainly men that worked with asbestos several decades ago. These workers are now finding out that they have this cancer and other asbestos related disorders, as the symptoms finally manifest.

The dangers of asbestos exposure have now been far more widely recognised. However, millions of people worldwide have been exposed to this mineral. For these people, living life can be like living on borrowed time, and each year, thousands of new cases of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers are diagnosed.

This figure is likely to increase over the next ten years or so, and many more middle-aged and elderly people could find that they have been harbouring this deadly cancer for the past few decades.

Although it is now known that asbestos exposure is responsible for malignant mesothelioma and other forms of cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and other respiratory and health problems, this mineral can still be found in insulation materials in many places worldwide, and therefore continues to hold its deadly reign over mankind.

2006-11-17T20:19:00.000-08:00

Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelial cells around the heart, lungs or abdominal organs. The most common type of mesothelioma is the one which affects the pleura, the thin membrane between the lungs and the chest cavity. This type of the disease is known as Pleural Mesothelioma, and sufferers can experience symptoms which include: shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, chest pains, weight loss, and trouble swallowing.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is another form of this disease but is not as common as Pleural Mesothelioma. This type of the disease affects the peritoneum membrane of the abdomen. These tumors can also be found in the stomach and abdominal organs. Sufferers of Peritoneal Mesothelioma can experience symptoms which include: stomach pains and abdominal swelling, nausea, loss if appetite, vomiting, bowel obstruction, and blood clotting abnormalities.

The third and the rarest type of mesothelioma is Pericardial Mesothelioma, which affects the tissue and cavity surrounding the heart. Patients of this type of the disease may experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, persistent coughing and palpitations.

Malignant mesothelioma is a fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos. A form of cancer, this disease can affect the sac lining, the chest or the abdomen. An unusual aspect about this disease is that it does not manifest itself for years following the asbestos exposure – in fact, the average manifestation time is 35-40 years later, and in some cases even 50 years later.

In previous years, asbestos was widely used in many places. Many people worked with this deadly material, unaware that several decades later it would be the death of them. Workers such as insulaters, plasterers, electricians, mechanics, bricklayers, carpenters, and other tradesmen were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis as it was contained in many insulation and construction materials.

However, it is not only those that were regularly exposed to asbestos that are at risk. There have been many cases of mesothelioma manifestation in people that were only exposed to asbestos for a short period of time. In fact, the disease has even been known to affect people who have had only minimal contact, such as wives that used to wash their husbands overalls after they had worked with asbestos.

The long latency period attached to mesothelioma means that the symptoms of this disease can take many years to manifest, making both diagnosis and effective treatment very difficult. And even when the symptoms do become evident, which can take several decades, the symptoms are so generalised and non-specific that they could be put down to any number of more common diseases. This makes it hard for even experienced doctors to make a quick and conclusive diagnosis with mesothelioma patients. The symptoms of this disease can often be confused with pneumonia during its early stages.

Some of the most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (which is the most common form of the disease) are shortness of breath and chest pains. This may be accompanied by a persistent cough, and all of these symptoms stem from the build up of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion. This type of the disease starts in the chest cavity and can then spread to other parts of the body. Pleural mesothelioma sufferers may also begin to display severe breathing difficulty, weight loss and fever as well as trouble swallowing and even swelling of the face and neck. Some patients may also develop a rasping voice and start coughing up blood. However, there are other patients that may not show any significant symptoms at all.

The symptoms for patients who suffer from peritoneal mesothelioma (a rarer form of the disease) are slightly different. This type of the disease starts in the abdomen and can spread form there. Patients of peritoneal mesothelioma can display abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, loss of appetite and vomiting. They can also suffer breathing problems, and chest pain in addition to these symptoms. These symptoms result from tumors that lean against the abdominal wall. Bowel obstruction, anemia, fever and problems with blood clotting may also affect peritoneal mesothelioma patients.

The rarest form of this disease is pericardial mesothelioma, which starts in the cavity surrounding the heart. With pericardial mesothelioma, the tumors grow in the tissues that surround the heart and can spread from there. Pericardial mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.

2006-11-15T00:04:00.000-08:00

The Different Types Of Mesothelioma

A disease that has only started to come to light in recent years,mesothelioma is a cancer that normally presents itself in malignant form and results in tumours in and around vital organs of the body. The definition of the word mesothelioma is literally cancer of the mesothelium (-oma being a medical term for cancer). The mesothelium is the sac that lines and protects vital organs such as the heart and the lungs, and this disease causes the cells of the lining to become abnormal and malignant.

The result of asbestos exposure, mesothelioma comes in three forms: pleural mesothelioma; peritoneal mesothelioma; and pericardial mesothelioma. All three types have a variety of associated symptoms, and there are some symptoms that are common to all three types of the disease. In all cases of the disease, sufferers are unlikely to even realise that there is a problem until many years after they have actually contracted mesothelioma from regular exposure to asbestos.

The symptoms of all types of mesothelioma do not generally manifest for several decades after contraction. This can make the disease difficult to diagnose and all too often is too late to save the patient by the time a diagnosis is made.

Pleural Mesothelioma:

The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the lungs and the protective lining and cavity of the lungs. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma result from pleural effusion, which is a build up of fluid between the lung lining and the chest cavity. Sufferers of pleural mesothelioma may experience some or all of the following symptoms: difficulty in breathing, difficulty in swallowing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, weight loss, fever, coughing up of blood, and rasping.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

A rarer form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the stomach and abdomen. The cancer can start in the abdominal area and spread to other parts of the body, but the tumours that press against the wall of the abdomen can cause some or all of the following symptoms: abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, breathing problems, chest pain, bowel obstruction, anaemia, fever, and blood clotting abnormalities.

Pericardial Mesothelioma:

The last and the rarest of the mesothelioma types is pericardial mesothelioma. This is where the cancer affects the heart and the cavity that surrounds the heart. The tumours affecting pericardial mesothelioma patients can cause some or all of these symptoms: chest pain, shortness of breath, trouble breathing, persistent coughing, and palpitations.

There are also cases of other asbestos related diseases such as asbestosis and respiratory problems that have stemmed from exposure to this potentially fatal material. Anyone that has worked with asbestos should see their doctor if they have any onset of this type of problem or if they are concerned and have doubts.

As you can see, the symptoms for all three types of mesothelioma are non-specific, which means that they could be the result of a number of more common diseases that are associated with the same symptoms. Many of the symptoms are the same as those displayed by viral pneumonia patients, and the disease if often mistaken for something else.

If your doctor is unaware that you have been exposed to asbestos, he or she is unlikely to assume that you may have mesothelioma and will instead test for a number of other more common diseases that are associated with your symptoms. People who have worked with asbestos or who have close contact with someone that works with asbestos should therefore always be vigilant in looking out for any of these symptoms and seeking medical advice if any or all of the symptoms manifest. They should also make their doctor aware that they have worked with asbestos so that no further time is wasted in testing for other types of disease. Much of the delay in diagnosing mesothelioma comes from lack of information and awareness on both the part of the doctor and the patient.

However, it is up to the patient, who is aware of the asbestos exposure, to increase the chances of a speedy diagnosis by making the doctor aware of the circumstances and keeping an eye out of any tell tale signs that mesothelioma may be present.

2006-11-15T00:01:00.000-08:00

Causes and Facts About Asbestos and Lung Cancer

Exposure to asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. You might have been exposed asbestos while working in one of the many high risk industries or performing contract work with materials that contained asbestos. Review the list of potential sources to see if you can pinpoint where you might have been exposed to asbestos fibers.

Learn about the link between asbestos and lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other related asbestos lung diseases.

2006-11-14T23:51:00.000-08:00

How will my doctor diagnose mesothelioma?

If your doctor thinks your symptoms could indicate mesothelioma, he or she will ask you a series of questions to determine whether you've been exposed to asbestos and then administer tests to find out whether the disease is active.

There are many different types of tests that can help your doctor confirm whether or not you have mesothelioma. Learn more.

Pre-testing

First, your doctor will ask you questions about your history to determine possible sources of asbestos exposure. He or she will ask for a detailed description of all your symptoms to help determine whether or not you have mesothelioma or any other health problems.

Next, your doctor will send you for a chest x-ray. He or she will look for thickening or stiffening of the lining of your chest cavity (pleura), changes in the spaces between the lobes of your lungs, and for the presence of fluid in your chest. These are typical signs of a previous exposure to asbestos. Your doctor will then conduct lung function tests and may also order a CT scan or MRI (two tests that can create more detailed images of your body tissues than normal x-rays).

If any of these tests indicate mesothelioma, your doctor will do a biopsy (test a small sample of tissue) or pleural fluid to confirm the diagnosis.

Biopsy

Doctors can make an initial diagnosis through a needle biopsy of the tissue suspected to be cancerous or of the fluid surrounding the lung. However a needle biopsy will not allow your doctor to determine the type of cancer with absolute certainty, so he or she may choose to use another method called open pleural biopsy.

In an open pleural biopsy, your surgeon makes a small incision in your chest and inserts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope between two ribs and into the chest. Using the thorascope, the doctor can see the tumor and may take a sample of the tissue and/or the fluid. If the area of concern is your abdomen and not your chest, your doctor will use a peritoneoscope in much the same way.

Fluid diagnosis

Mesothelioma is hard to diagnose. Even biopsies are not foolproof diagnostic tools. Mesothelioma can resemble other types of cancer, including some types of lung cancer and even some cancers of the ovaries.

For this reason, your doctor may want to have special laboratory tests done to confirm his diagnosis. Mesothelioma cells contain certain types of chemicals not found in cancers of the lung or ovary. With an electron microscope experts can view samples at 100 times the magnification of a regular microscope to help determine if the disease is really mesothelioma.

Other diagnostics

If your doctor feels that he needs a larger sample of a tumor or that he wants to remove an entire tumor, he will suggest surgery. In a thoracotomy he operates on your chest cavity, and in a laparotomy he operates on your abdominal area.

A bronchoscopy may be needed if your doctor thinks you have pleural mesothelioma. In this procedure, he inserts a flexible lighted tube into your mouth and extends it down through your trachea and into your lungs to check for masses in the airway. He may even remove small samples of abnormal-looking tissue.

In a mediastinoscopy the doctor inserts a lighted tube under your sternum and down into your chest in order to view your lymph nodes. Because mesothelioma seldom moves to the lymph nodes, this procedure helps your doctor determine whether your cancer is actually mesothelioma or some other form of lung cancer.

Best tools

The best tool your doctor has at his or her disposal is the open pleural biopsy, a procedure he or she can perform during thoracoscopy. This procedure lets him or her see directly inside your chest to determine if the cancer has spread or has affected any other organs.

Somewhat less reliable is the CT guided pleural biopsy in which your doctor can see shapes but not actual tumors. Besides looking for malignant signs in masses, your pathologist may use a number of histochemical and immunohistochemical stains (chemical analysis of a tissue sample) to confirm whether or not the disease is mesothelioma. As of today, there are still no tests to tell exactly how the disease will progress.

Definitions

CT - computed tomography

A special radiographic technique that uses a computer to assimilate multiple X-ray images into a 2 dimensional cross-sectional image. This can reveal many soft tissue structures not shown by conventional radiography. The machine rotates 180° around your body, sending out a pencil-thin X-ray beam at 160 different points. Crystals positioned at the opposite points of the beam pick up and record the absorption rates of the varying thicknesses of tissue and bone. A computer turns the information into a picture on a screen and can reveal your tissues with about 100 times more clarity.

MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A special imaging technique used to image internal structures of your body, particularly the soft tissues. More effective than an x-ray, the MRI uses the influence of a large magnet to polarize hydrogen atoms in the tissues and then monitors the summation of the spinning energies within living cells.

Images are very clear and are particularly good for soft tissue, brain and spinal cord, joints and abdomen. These scans may be used for detecting some cancers or for following their progress.

Biopsy

A biopsy refers to a procedure that involves obtaining a tissue specimen for microscopic analysis to establish a precise diagnosis. Biopsies can be accomplished with a biopsy needle (passed through the skin into the organ in question) or by open surgical incision.

Pleura

The delicate membranes covering the lungs (visceral pleura) and lining the inner side of the pleural cavity (parietal pleura).

2006-11-14T23:46:00.001-08:00

Symptoms of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.

People often ignore the symptoms of mesothelioma or mistake the signs for common minor ailments. It's not unusual for people to experience symptoms for two to three months before seeking medical advice. About one-fourth of those with symptoms may wait as long as six months before they are diagnosed.

Learn the differences between pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma including symptoms, medical treatments and links to additional web resources.

What to look for if you suspect you have mesothelioma

Early symptoms of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma are listed in the chart below:

Signs		May Indicate
pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest shortness of breath trouble swallowing cough fever sweating fatigue weight loss hoarseness coughing up blood swelling in the face and arms muscle weakness sensory loss		Pleural mesothelioma (chest cavity)
abdominal (belly) pain weight loss nausea vomiting hernia fluid in abdominal cavity a mass in the abdomen		Peritoneal mesothelioma (abdominal area)

Some cases of lung cancer and gastrointestinal cancer can also be attributed to asbestos exposure. Non-cancerous or benign diseases associated with asbestos exposure include asbestosis, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural fibrosis, and benign pleural effusions.

If you have been exposed to asbestos and develop any of the above symptoms, contact your doctor immediately.

2006-11-14T23:46:00.000-08:00

The Various Staging Systems for Mesothelioma

Your treatment options are determined based on how advanced your mesothelioma is, or in other words, the stage of mesothelioma you have.

There are three staging systems used for pleural mesothelioma, the Butchart system, the TNM system and the Brigham system.

There is no established staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma.

The Butchart staging system

The Butchart staging system is based on the size and spread of the primary pleural cancer and is divided into four stages.

Stage 1:

Mesothelioma is in the pleura on the right or left side only. It may have grown into the covering of the heart (pericardium) and the diaphragm.

Stage 2:

Mesothelioma has grown into the chest wall. It may be in the pleura on both sides. It may also have grown into the esophagus, heart, or lymph nodes in the chest.

Stage 3:

Mesothelioma has penetrated to the abdominal cavity. It may be found in lymph nodes beyond the chest.

Stage 4:

Mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to other organs.

The TNM system

The TNM system is the most common staging system used for mesothelioma patients. The acronym stands for (T) tumor, (N) lymph nodes, and (M) metastasis

Stage 1:

Mesothelioma affects the right or left pleura and may have grown into the covering of the heart (pericardium) and the diaphragm.

Stage 2:

Mesothelioma has spread to both layers of the pleura on the same side of the body.

Stage 3:

Mesothelioma has spread to the chest wall, esophagus or lymph nodes on the same side of the chest.

Stage 4:

Mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to other organs in the body such as the liver, brain or bone or to lymph nodes on the other side of the chest.

The Brigham staging system

The Brigham staging system is based on whether the mesothelioma can be removed by surgery and whether the lymph nodes are involved. The four stages in this system are similar to the TNM system.

Stage 1:

Mesothelioma can be removed with surgery and there are no lymph nodes containing cancer cells.

Stage 2:

Mesothelioma can be removed with surgery but there are lymph nodes containing cancer cells.

Stage 3:

Mesothelioma cannot be removed with surgery because it has spread into the chest wall, heart, or through the diaphragm into the peritoneum. There may or may not be lymph nodes containing cancer cells.

Stage 4:

Mesothelioma has spread through the bloodstream to other organs in the body such as the liver, brain or bone.

2006-11-14T23:41:00.000-08:00

About Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. If you or someone you know has mesothelioma cancer, this overview will help you understand the disease in greater detail.

Mesothelioma most often occurs in the thin membrane lining the lungs or abdomen. Between 2,000 - 4,500 cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. Though the disease does not usually manifest itself until several decades after the exposure to asbestos, once mesothelioma appears it progresses very rapidly.

Because of the time lag between exposure and the onset of the disease, and because its initial symptoms often mimic common minor ailments, you may not realize you have mesothelioma until you are already experiencing its effects.

This section provides answers to common questions about the two main types of this disease: pleural mesothelioma (chest) and peritoneal mesothelioma (abdominal).

Mesothelioma Blog

The Different Types Of Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma:

Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

Pericardial Mesothelioma:

Causes and Facts About Asbestos and Lung Cancer

How will my doctor diagnose mesothelioma?

Pre-testing

Biopsy

Fluid diagnosis

Other diagnostics

Best tools

Definitions

CT - computed tomography

MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Biopsy

Pleura

Symptoms of pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.

What to look for if you suspect you have mesothelioma

Signs

May Indicate

The Various Staging Systems for Mesothelioma

The Butchart staging system

Stage 1:

Stage 2:

Stage 3:

Stage 4:

The TNM system

Stage 1:

Stage 2:

Stage 3:

Stage 4:

The Brigham staging system

Stage 1:

Stage 2:

Stage 3:

Stage 4:

About Mesothelioma Cancer