Mesothelioma Patient

A mesothelioma patient is someone who has developed this rare, but deadly, form of cancer that develops almost exclusively as a result of exposure to asbestos. A mesothelioma patient develops this disease by inhaling or ingesting harmful amounts of airborne asbestos fibers. This happens most often in the work environment, but can occur in any environment where asbestos is present. A mesothelioma patient has the legal right to seek compensation for their damages, including pain and suffering, loss of income, and all related medical expenses.

A mesothelioma patient can develop this cancer in the lining of any internal organ, though mesothelioma most often attacks the pleural tissues of the lungs or the peritoneal tissues of the abdominal cavity's organs. When a mesothelioma patient's pleural lung tissue is affected, they may experience shortness of breath, chest pain, and a chronic cough, though a mesothelioma patient may not experience any symptoms for several years.

A mesothelioma patient whose peritoneal tissues of the abdominal cavity are compromised may experience effusions, where the tissues swell and collect fluid. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may not develop for many years, though a mesothelioma patient may suffer from a painful or swollen belly, bowel problems, nausea, weight loss, anemia, and/or swelling of the feet.

A mesothelioma patient can be afflicted with this cancer for several years before it is ever diagnosed because mesothelioma can remain dormant for decades. Once diagnosed, the prognosis for a mesothelioma patient is bleak. The average mesothelioma patient lives four to eighteen months after being diagnosed. If a mesothelioma patient is diagnosed earlier their survival time can increase, with a fifty percent chance of living two years, and a twenty percent chance of surviving five years.

A mesothelioma patient is an individual who has been exposed to toxic asbestos fibers in the last fifty years. Workers in the factory, construction, custodial, automotive, railroad, and shipyard industries are all at risk for developing mesothelioma. The family members of workers who unknowingly bring asbestos fibers home on their person may also be at risk for developing mesothelioma. The harmful effects of asbestos exposure have been well understood for a long time, though organizations still choose to manufacture products using this dangerous material. This material is also present in many existing structures, and can pose a hazard during renovation and demolition.