Mesothelioma is a rare, incurable, and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and many patients are caught off-guard by their diagnosis. Understanding how mesothelioma develops can help asbestos disease victims recognize its signs and make decisions about their care.
What Is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was once widely used for many commercial purposes. When asbestos is disturbed, and its fibers become airborne, they can be inhaled or ingested and remain in the body for decades. The fibers can get lodged in the lining of the lungs and damage the surrounding tissues, leading to mesothelioma. Although it can take 10 to 60 years for tumor growth to start, it can develop rapidly once it does.
The Stages of Mesothelioma Progression
In stage 1 of mesothelioma progression, tumors are still small and localized. Patients diagnosed at this stage may be eligible for aggressive treatment options, including surgery. Multiple surgical procedures can remove resectable mesothelioma tumors, often along with some of the surrounding tissue. However, even with aggressive medical intervention, life expectancy at this stage averages 21 months.
The second stage of the disease is characterized by an increased number of small tumors that have begun to spread to nearby lymph nodes, other organs, and the diaphragm. At this stage, tumors may infect the lung itself, though it is still markedly different from lung cancer. Average life expectancy typically decreases to about 19 months in stage 2.
Early mesothelioma diagnosis is key to extending life expectancy, but it can be challenging. Patients in stages 1 and 2 may have no symptoms at all yet, and when symptoms do begin to present, they can easily be mistaken for other conditions. As tumors grow in and around the lungs, early symptoms include persistent cough, chronic fatigue, difficulty breathing, and chest pain or discomfort. Respiratory symptoms like these mimic other conditions such as lung cancer, COPD, pneumonia, asthma, or even the common cold, which can make an accurate diagnosis more difficult.
Many mesothelioma patients do not receive a diagnosis until stage 3 or 4. In stage 3, tumors continue to spread to other organs, the chest wall, and even the esophagus, making treatment more complicated. Once patients reach stage 3, many of them are no longer eligible for surgery, as the disease has spread too far to be successfully removed. However, they may benefit from emerging therapies like immunotherapy and gene therapy.
Stage 4 is the final stage of the disease’s progression, when mesothelioma tumors have spread to more tissues, including the bones and the blood. In stage 4, patients have an average survival rate of 12 months. For many patients at this stage, treatment will mostly be palliative to help manage symptoms of the disease.
The Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyers at Shein Law Advocate on Behalf of Mesothelioma Victims
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers at Shein Law are here to help. We will be with you on every step of the legal process. Call 877-743-4652 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. Located in Philadelphia and Pennsauken, New Jersey, we serve clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.