Mesotheloma
Mesotheloma is usually spelled “mesothelioma” and is a rare cancer usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Legal claims for this disease can often be considerable, sometimes totalling more than tens of millions of dollars.
The link between direct asbestos exposure (such as from mining it) and mesothelioma was established in 1960, which led to many court cases against companies who should have made themselves aware of such medical data and taken relevant care. A few years later it was also medically proven that even indirect exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, such as from someone washing clothing used by an asbestos worker. This medical finding further increased the amount of litigation on this subject. Over half a million asbestos claims have been filed.
Smoking does not directly cause Mesothelioma but a combination of smoking and asbestos exposure has been proven to increase the risk of Mesothelioma occurring in the lungs.
Mesothelioma symptoms can include breathing difficulties and coughing due to fluid in the lungs, chest pain and less specific symptoms such as weight loss, fever head and neck pain and abdominal pain. These symptoms can occur several decades after the asbestos exposure.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma might be supported by chest X-ray and/or CT scan or MRI, and the verified by detailed examination a sample of affected tissue. Diagnosis is often difficult because the same symptoms can indicate other less serious conditions.
Most patients die within eighteen months of knowing they have this disease not because the disease is rapidly progressing but because diagnosis is often only clear at a later stages of the disease.
Workers in the ship building and repairing industries have the highest mortality rate from Mesothelioma because asbestos is so widely used on ships but many other professions can be affected, including carpentry, pipe-fitting and fire fighting.
Mesotheloma is more usually known by its more common spelling “mesothelioma”.