Mesothelioma Awareness Month 2025
September is Mesothelioma Awareness Month. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lining of certain organs including the lungs, abdomen, heart, and reproductive organs. It is called mesothelioma because it is cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium covers various organs in the body protecting them and allowing organs to move against each other as the lungs expand and contract or the heart beats. When the mesothelium covers the internal organs, it is called the visceral mesothelium and where it covers the body walls, it is called the parietal mesothelium.
There are four main types of mesothelioma. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which is cancer of the pleura, which is the mesothelium that covers the lungs. When the cancer affects the lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum, it is called peritoneal mesothelioma. The peritoneum covers the bulk of the abdominal organs, allowing movement and providing support. The third type is pericardial mesothelioma, which is cancer of the mesothelium that covers the heart. It is very rare compared to pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. The fourth type of mesothelioma is testicular mesothelioma, which is cancer of the membrane that covers the testis in men. The comparable area in women is the tunica serosa uteri, where mesothelioma can develop, but is even more rare than testicular mesothelioma.
The main cause of mesothelioma is asbestos. Sometimes mesothelioma is known as “asbestos cancer,” but asbestos can also cause laryngeal, colon, and lung cancer. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, but mesothelioma is considered a dose dependent cancer, which means that people exposed for longer periods of time and to greater amounts of asbestos are more likely to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma was first recognized in 1870, but it wasn’t until the 20th century that cancer of the mesothelium was called mesothelioma.
It is best to see a doctor if you were knowingly exposed to asbestos and now have mesothelioma symptoms. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can include shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea. People can also experience hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and or coughing up blood. People can also experience pleural effusion when suffering from pleural mesothelioma. It is a build up of too much fluid between the pleura, causing chest pain and difficulty breathing. Finally, chest pain can be experienced by people with pleural mesothelioma, which can also occur in the upper abdomen, shoulder, or arm.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include weight loss as well as pain or swelling in the abdomen. This can be due to fluid retention or tumor growth. People can also experience bowel obstruction, which is a blockage in the small or large intestine. People can also experience anemia, which is a reduction in the number of red blood cells to below normal. Anemia makes the heart and organs work harder to get oxygen where it is needed. Finally, people can experience fever when suffering from peritoneal mesothelioma. It can take a long time for symptoms to develop after asbestos exposure. It can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years to develop symptoms, so if you were exposed to asbestos many years ago and now have mesothelioma symptoms, you should seek a doctor right away.
Were you exposed to asbestos and later diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma? Contact us today to see if you could be entitled to compensation. Call 412-471-3980 or fill out our contact form and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible to go over your case.
