For years, people were unaware of the dangers of asbestos. It was commonly used in construction materials across the United States for decades prior to the discovery that the material created deadly complications for many individuals. Reno mesothelioma lawyers are keenly aware of the damage asbestos can cause with just minor exposure.
According to Medical News Today, the term asbestos includes six naturally occurring minerals. They are fibrous in nature and incredibly durable. However, these microscopic, fibrous minerals can be inhaled into the lungs, causing many complications, including mesothelioma. This deadly condition is a cancer that develops in the lining of the tissue that surrounds the lungs and abdominal organs. Consider the following three types of mesothelioma that are often connected to asbestos exposure:
- Pleural mesothelioma
This type of malignant, or cancerous, mesothelioma develops in the lining around the lungs. Medical News Today reports that this is the most common form of the disease. Patients with the condition often experience serious symptoms, including the following:
- Shortness of breath and painful coughing
- Weight loss
- Pin under the ribcage, the side of the chest or in the lower back
- Exhaustion
Some individuals experience fever, sweating and difficulty swallowing. Others may notice lumps in the chest area under the skin. The condition is directly related to exposure to asbestos.
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
When the lining of the abdomen becomes cancerous, peritoneal mesothelioma is the diagnosis. The peritoneum is a thin layer of cells that encompasses the organs located in the abdomen. When mesothelioma begins, it starts as small plaques of cancer that steadily grow to encompass more of the peritoneum and may metastasize and spread to the liver, ovaries and intestines. Incidence of the condition is very rare, with fewer than 500 individuals receiving a diagnosis in the U.S. each year. It accounts for approximately 20 percent of all annual mesothelioma cases. It has similar symptoms to other asbestos-related forms of mesothelioma.
- Pericardial mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart. This is the rarest form of the cancer. Reno mesothelioma lawyers often see patients with the diagnosis who complain of low blood pressure, fluid retention, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue following light exertion and chest pain. Like the other two forms of the condition, patients who develop pericardial mesothelioma often have an extremely short life expectancy following diagnosis.
Most cases of malignant mesothelioma, no matter what type, are discovered in their advanced stages after a long latency period of between 20 and 40 years. Despite this, injured individuals should not think that they are unable to seek compensation for their injuries. Patients should seek the assistance of Reno mesothelioma lawyers immediately following a diagnosis.