Symptoms of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an aggressive, ravaging form of lung cancer generally associated with asbestos exposure. Many symptoms of early stages are similar to those of other conditions--for example, dry coughing, pain on breathing in or out, and shortness of breath may mimic pleurisy symptoms.  Later stage symptoms will be more serious, including fluid in the lungs (pericardial effusion), swelling in the abdomen (ascites), and cachexia.

According to one medical expert, cachexia refers to an unintentional loss of muscle and body mass.  It can be a sign of advanced mesothelioma (the asbestos-related lung cancer) and is a not nutritionally reversible.  In other words, no amount of eating---and no matter how healthy it is---will replace the lost muscle.  It can be devastating to realize that your body has reached such a state.  Make sure you have the best best medical care throughout the course of this illness. Review our mesothelioma website on "Choosing a doctor."

Many mesothelioma patients have found that with the proper legal assistance, they are able to successfully pursue a mesothelioma lawsuit.  Settlements from irresponsible corporate employers can be significant.  Call us at HendlerLaw today and we will review your case with you at no charge.  We help our clients recover compensation for what they and their families are suffering. 800.443.6353.

Malignant mesothelioma, an asbestos-related form of lung cancer, causes many difficult symptoms in those who develop it, often including pericardial effusion.  Late-stage patients may experience swelling in the chest area or the abdomen, coughing, loss of muscle tone, fatigue, chest pain and many other symptoms.  Because it is such an aggressive and difficult-to-treat disease, choosing your care team is critical.   Make sure they understand mesothelioma and how and when to perform various procedures and administer certain types of drugs.

You may also be eligible to receive compensation for your suffering. At HendlerLaw we have a history of successful mesothelioma litigation in which we've won significant settlements for our clients.  We will help you analyze the facts of your situation and make a decision as to whether you and your family may benefit from working---at no charge to you---with one of our mesothelioma trial attorneys.  Don't wait.  Call us 24/7 today at 800.443.6353.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive form of lung cancer that's almost always associated with having been exposed to asbestos at some time during the patient's life. It progresses rapidly and reduces the patient's quality of life. Unfortunately, there is as yet no cure. But treatment options continue to be the subject of more and more research as the number of cases of mesothelioma continues to grow.

Medical options for treating early stages include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy---usually with a combination of drugs such as cisplatin and pemetrexed. But because many cases are not discovered until later stages, symptoms often must be treated in ways designed more to relieve discomfort than to stop the growth of tumors or cure the disease.

However, it's important to understand that if you have mesothelioma, you have legal options to possibly recover some compensation if you were exposed to asbestos while on the job or living in an area where the substance was mined or used in manufacturing. Plaintiffs in a number of cases have been awarded substantial compensation when they worked with an experienced mesothelioma trial attorney. A qualified attorney will help you review your history of asbestos exposure and decide if you may have grounds for filing litigation.

At HendlerLaw we are experienced in winning relief for clients who have mesothelioma or have lost a family member to this disease. We can help, and there is no charge to you unless and until you are awarded compensation. Call us any time with questions at 800.443.6353.

An accumulation of fluid around your heart may be a sign of serious disease, or it may be a way your body reacts to an injury. Called pericardial effusion, causes can be quite different but usually fall into two main categories: underlying disease (cancer is a common cause) or trauma, as in injury or post-surgery.

Malignant mesothelioma is a fast-moving form of lung cancer that so far has a poor prognosis. The earliest noticeable signs might be confused with pleurisy symptoms---cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing---so it's important to see a doctor when you develop these types of symptoms. Early diagnosis means doctors may be able to use more aggressive treatments to extend survival times. Pericardial effusion is just one of the many signs that may develop in later stages of mesothelioma. Others might include abdominal fluid retention, cachexia (general debility, muscle wasting, losing weight) and more.

Because this disease is so aggressive, it is critical to get the best informed and most understanding doctors you can find. And because asbestos exposure is the foremost cause of mesothelioma of all types, it's important to do a thorough review of your personal history to see whether you may have been exposed and may have a right to recover compensation by filing mesothelioma litigation. We at HendlerLaw can help you explore your history and understand your options. Call us day or night at 800.443.653.

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer that usually begins in your chest cavity, but it may also begin in your abdomen where it is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to correctly diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma early on because of the lack of definitive symptoms. In later stages you may begin to accumulate a large amount of fluid in your abdominal cavity---called ascites. Treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma will depend on the type you have (several types have been identified such as biphasic and cystic---which is considered somewhat less aggressive) and the stage, but it normally consists of some combination of chemotherapy with pemetrexed and cisplatin, and surgery to reduce the tumor and remove cancerous cells.

No natural causes of mesothelioma in the peritoneum have yet been identified, regardless of the type. This disease has so far always been found to be associated with asbestos exposure at some point in the patient's life. It may originate in the abdomen or it may also develop from pleural mesothelioma cells migrating into the peritoneum.

Regardless of how mesothelioma begins, you deserve the best medical care. And you deserve the best mesothelioma legal advice you can obtain. Call us at HendlerLaw and we will help you review your history to identify potential sources of exposure to asbestos. Then we will advise you of your legal rights and help you decide whether to file a lawsuit---at no charge---to possibly recover compensation. 800.443.6353.

Though some studies have been published stating that the combination of surgery and heated chemotherapy is effective for improving survival times for malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, a recent paper questions those conclusions. It states that the studies were flawed and patients cannot in fact expect longer survival times when treated with surgery to reduce tumor size combined with heated chemotherapy applied to the abdominal cavity (peritoneum).

Mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer associated with asbestos exposure, most often occurs in the linings of the lungs (pleura) but can also occur in the linings around the heart (pericardium) or the peritoneum. Symptoms of mesothelioma in the pleura or pericardium can be cough, chest pain (pleural effusion causes fluid in and around the lungs), and shortness of breath. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are likely to be weight loss, cachexia (muscle wasting), abdominal pain and swelling (ascites). Treatment is often not begun early because these symptoms don't usually appear until the disease is at a late stage.

If you believe you may ever have been exposed to asbestos, make sure your doctor understands the signs and symptoms of mesothelioma. The earlier you are diagnosed properly, the more likely treatment can prolong survival. And don't hesitate to contact a qualified mesothelioma cancer attorney for information on your legal rights to potentially receive compensation if you develop mesothelioma. We are here to help. 800.443.6353.

Mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer generally associated with asbestos exposure. Typical approaches for cancer such as surgery plus radiation and/or chemotherapy can relieve some symptoms in some patients, but they have been relatively unsuccessful at prolonging survival times.

However, researchers are constantly searching for new chemotherapy drug combinations and ways of using them that will do a better job. Pemetrexed is currently the first choice drug given with platinum-based compounds, but until now doctors have not been able to tell ahead of time how well any individual tumor might respond. As a measure of just how much effort is being put into mesothelioma research, a recent study tested and did find a correlation between levels of certain RNA molecules and proteins and how well non-small lung cancer cells (such as those in mesothelioma) might respond to pemetrexed.

If you have mesothelioma, be sure to find a doctor who keeps up with all the latest research. And don't hesitate to speak with a mesothelioma trial attorney about your legal rights. We are here to help. Call any time at 800.443.6353.

The human body responds to assaults on it in many ways, whether those attacks come from trauma or injury or from a disease such as lung cancer. Malignant pleural mesothelioma---nearly always associated with exposure to asbestos---is a particularly aggressive form of lung cancer. Effects on your body can begin long before you or the doctor notice symptoms. One of the earliest sign of mesothelioma cancer for some patients may be thrombophlebitis---a condition in which your blood forms clots and the veins become inflamed.

If you develop thrombophlebitis, and especially if you've ever been exposed to asbestos, see your doctor immediately and watch carefully for other symptoms. If you do develop pleurisy symptoms or other lung disease problems, make sure your doctor is a cancer specialist.

And don't hesitate to call us at Hendlerlaw if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma. We can help you determine if you might be able to receive compensation by  filing mesothelioma litigation. Call us at 800.443.6353.

If your body starts to retain fluid in the tissues around your heart (pericardial effusion), you may feel discomfort anywhere from mild to severe depending on situation. Pericardial effusion causes can be either benign and malignant, so it's critical to have an experienced doctor evaluate your condition as soon as possible.

A recent study showed that doctors may be able to tell whether an effusion is benign or malignant by measuring the thickness of the pericardium and looking for enlargement in your lung. Malignant disease generally results in a significantly greater thickening of this lining surrounding your heart. This may help doctors find a problem without more invasive procedures.

Malignant mesothelioma, the asbestos-related lung cancer, can begin with signs that are like pleurisy symptoms---dry coughing or pain on inhaling or exhaling (but not much in between). Your body may try to fight these by accumulating fluid around your lungs--a percidarial effusion, which might even make your symptoms feel better temporarily. But if you should ever experience signs like that, don't wait. See a doctor immediately.

Chemotherapy drugs for mesothelioma patients are under constant scrutiny. Pemetrexed, which has qualities and abilities similar to an earlier drug called methotrexate, has been proven to be substantially less toxic to patients when used for treating mesothelioma cancer.

In a small recent study researchers wanted to find out whether patients with specific symptoms would also have fewer side effects with pemetrexed. For patients who were suffering with excess fluid---either abdominal ascites or pleural effusion---they tested whether it was better to drain the fluid before administering the drug or if the patient would do just as well without draining the excess. Results suggested that patients would do just as well without having to first have the excess fluid removed.

You may have seen this long word, mesothelioma, in the newspapers or on television and wondered about it. What is mesothelioma? It is a unique form of lung cancer that's usually connected with a patient's history of previous asbestos exposure---either from working in a place that mined or used asbestos or from living in or near an area where such work was done.

But the simple definition of the term doesn't describe what patients must endure with the symptoms of mesothelioma. These can include difficulty breathing, coughing, chest pain, abdominal fluid retention, and many more. In addition, the disease is highly resistant to the typical cancer treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy and progresses rapidly to more advanced stages.

When some patients learn that their disease might have been prevented if they'd known about the dangers of asbestos, they suffer the additional burden of wondering if their employer may have known that workers were being exposed to asbestos on the job. The only way to resolve that question is to work with an experienced attorney who can give you expert mesothelioma legal advice. Your attorney will work with you to recover the relevant details of your work history so that you can determine whether it might make sense to file a lawsuit to seek compensation.

Mesothelioma can be devastating. Make sure you first spend all the time you need in choosing your care team. You deserve the best and most knowledgeable care available. Then, review our website for information about the legal process. We are available to answer your questions 24/7. Don't hesitate to call us day or night. One of our experienced attorneys will help you understand what's involved, what you will need to do, and how your case might work.

If you have you have received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may be feeling confused, lost, and frightened. This disease rightly has a reputation as difficult to live with and hard to treat. Symptoms of mesothelioma can be widely different, depending on the stage and how your body is reacting to the malignancy.

Once you have finished choosing your care team and are satisfied that you are receiving the most knowledgeable medical treatment, it may be a good time to think about filing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Naturally, you don't want to undertake the process of filing mesothelioma litigation without feeling confident that you have a good chance of recovering compensation. That's why it's critical to receive the best legal advice you can. You'll want to work with someone who has successfully navigated these complex types of cases many times. A mesothelioma trial attorney must know the ins and outs of the legal process in addition to the fine points of establishing a history of asbestos exposure and corporate responsibility.

Don't hesitate to ask your attorney any questions that come to mind. And be aware that your attorney should be working with you at no charge. Fees should only be charged in the event of winning a case or negotiating a settlement. If you have any fears or concerns or would like to investigate your own situation, HendlerLaw is a leading mesothelioma asbestos law firm with resources in several states, including New York, Texas and California. Don't hesitate to call us any time at 800.443.6353.

Several drugs have demonstrated some effectiveness when dealing with the asbestos-related disease known as mesothelioma. Because those drugs have such limited capabilities, however, doctors are always searching for new and better alternatives. As of today, one of the most common drug combinations in use is pemetrexed plus cisplatin. In some cases doctors may substitute carboplatin for cisplatin because it is less toxic, but it requires larger doses for the same effectiveness.

Carboplatin side effects usually involve a significant drop in red blood cells and may also include those of many other chemotherapy drugs:

• nausea and/or vomiting
• diarrhea
• mouth sores
• hair loss or thinning
• tiredness, loss of energy

In addition, some patients have been known to suffer kidney problems or issues with the inner ear among their carboplatin side effects.

If you are suffering with symptoms of mesothelioma, be sure you are working with a doctor who truly understands the disease and knows the upsides and downsides of the various drug and treatment options. Review our website for mesothelioma advice and tips on choosing a doctor.

And if you haven't yet reviewed your history of asbestos exposure, don't hesitate to call HendlerLaw. Our mesothelioma trial attorneys are all experienced in helping you sort through the circumstances of your work life to see if you may be eligible to file a mesothelioma lawsuit to potentially recover compensation for your suffering. We can help you make that decision at no charge. Call us at 800.443.6353 any time. Don't wait.

When you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, you begin a long journey. It began, possibly many years ago, when you were exposed to some asbestos risk, either on the job or in your living environment. Early symptoms can include coughing, difficulty breathing, and can then lead to cachexia (general debilitation, muscle wasting, fatigue, etc.). No matter what symptoms appear first, your main consideration is to find a medical care team that is very familiar with this disease and whose members can give you the information and the treatments that are best suited to where you are in the process.

Your doctor may recommend that you undergo a series of tests to help your care team members understand what stage your disease is in and help them recommend treatments that might to relieve your pain or discomfort.

As you and your family learn to live with these lung cancer effects, you will also want to consider getting mesothelioma legal advice from a highly qualified and experienced professional who has successfully helped other victims file asbestos lawsuits to seek compensation. Don't wait. We can help you determine the deadline by which you must file mesothelioma litigation in order not to lose your opportunity. Our experienced mesothelioma trial attorneys will work with you to discover whether you may have a good chance of recovering compensation. Call us day or night at 800.443.6353.

Yes, even though legislation is in place prohibiting the use of asbestos in most manufacturing operations, the stuff was used extensively in industry and in construction materials for many decades before the truth came out. That means that your older home, your office in an older building, or your child's classroom in an older school could still be made with materials that contain significant amounts of asbestos.

Does this mean you should panic? No, but it does make sense to be attentive. Take a walk around the office, the school, and your home. Look for roofing, siding, tile, insulation and any other materials that are crumbling or producing dust. What does asbestos look like? It's hard to describe it exactly because it comes in so many different materials. You can see some photographs of asbestos-containing materials here.


The critical piece is that if you see crumbling, it's important to check. Do not try to determine for yourself if the dust is contaminated--if you do you'll be increasing your own asbestos exposure. Keep friends, colleagues, and family members away from crumbling materials, and get a professional asbestos risk assessment done as soon as possible. With the number of asbestos lawsuits climbing as more victims develop mesothelioma (a rare asbestos-related disease with symptoms similar to lung cancer effects), protect yourself from ever having to be put in that position.

If you have mesothelioma, hopefully you've received solid advice on choosing your care team. It's critical to have experienced medical professionals who understand the signs, symptoms, and typical progress of this ravaging disease. Mesothelioma has lung cancer effects that can result in a host of symptoms. It can be one of the causes of pericardial effusion (fluid around your heart), abdominal fluid retention (ascites), cachexia (muscle wasting, loss of appetite, etc.), and/or pleurisy symptoms (sharp chest pain, coughing, problems breathing, and so on).

And just as importantly---for your own peace of mind and the well-being of your family---you should consider whether you might discuss your situation with a mesothelioma trial attorney. Only a qualified and experienced trial attorney---someone who understands what you're going through and knows how to navigate the legal process---can give you sound mesothelioma legal advice on whether to file a mesothelioma lawsuit.

HendlerLaw is a mesothelioma/asbestos law firm that specializes in helping patients review their history and research all the possible connections to previous asbestos exposure that might lead to receiving compensation. Any one of our attorneys can answer your questions, refer you to helpful resources, and give you mesothelioma legal advice that will guide you in making your decision. We look forward to serving you and your loved ones through this difficult process. Call us 24/7 at 800.443.6353.

Mesothelioma is a very difficult disease--an aggressive form of lung cancer, the effects of which are still usually fatal despite years of research into cures. There are not a great many mesothelioma causes: other than extremely rare cases, asbestos exposure at some point in a person's life is the main culprit among mesothelioma causes.

Patients who develop mesothelioma may experience any number of symptoms. They can include abdominal fluid retention (abdominal ascites), or pleurisy symptoms such as coughing, sudden and intense chest pain, rapid shallow breathing, or difficulty breathing (caused by pleural effusion--fluid collecting in the space around the lungs).

The key to prolonging survival with mesothelioma is finding medical professionals who are experienced with the asbestos connection and understand how the symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases and conditions.

Another important consideration is to speak with a qualified mesothelioma trial attorney who can help you review your history and determine whether you might be able to recover compensation for your suffering. Hendlerlaw is a mesothelioma asbestos law firm that specializes in helping victims---at no cost---decide if it might make sense for them to file their own mesothelioma lawsuits. Our fees come only if there is a settlement or award. Please call us with any questions or concerns. We are available 24/7 at 800.443.6353.

Carboplatin is one of several chemotherapy drugs that's commonly used to treat various types of lung cancer, including mesothelioma, the type associated with asbestos exposure. Two companies have recently announced their researchers believe they've found more effective ways to use carboplatin by giving it in combination with different drugs.

The upside of carboplatin is that it works by preventing cells from making DNA, which then slows down the rate at which cancer cells can reproduce. The downside, as with many chemotherapy drugs, is that carboplatin side effects can be very uncomfortable since it works by killing cells, some of which are perfectly healthy. The hope for all cancer treatments is to develop antibodies or other helper agents that will allow much smaller doses of chemotherapy to do the same work.

If you believe you've been exposed to asbestos at any time in your life and you develop symptoms of mesothelioma such as a lasting cough, difficulty breathing, abdominal fluid retention, or other lung-related problems, see a qualified physician immediately. And don't hesitate to call us if your doctor suspects mesothelioma. We are experienced in helping victims find out if they may have a reasonable chance of recovering compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit. Call us night or day at 800.443.6353.

The list of mesothelioma causes is short: asbestos exposure is the only known factor positively associated with developing this unusually aggressive form of lung cancer.

Asbestos has been used for generations because of its heat resistant and fire retardant properties. Evidence of its usefulness was recorded very early in history. A quote from an environmental chemistry website talks about just how early asbestos was used:

"It is possible to trace written documentation of the use of asbestos back to the days of the Roman Empire. However, evidence of the use of asbestos in pottery and chinking of log homes dating back [to] 3000 BC has been found archaeological digs in Scandinavia."

And evidence of the dangers was recorded almost as early. In Roman times Pliny the Elder was only one sage who noticed that those who worked with asbestos had more than usual health problems. He specifically noted that they had lung and other problems (cachexia---wasting away---and abdominal fluid retention) and tended to die at young ages. He even went so far as to design a respirator out of of transparent bladder skin and suggested asbestos workers wear one as protection. 

Knowing that humankind has been well aware of the hazards of asbestos for this long makes it even more incredible that companies as late as the 1970s were failing to share the truth with workers and not providing adequate protections.

If you're suffering the symptoms of mesothelioma, talk to one of our experienced attorneys about the possibility that you may be able to collect compensation for your suffering. We are here to help you, 24/7. Please call us at 800.443.6353.

If you or someone you love is living with symptoms of mesothelioma, you are already facing tremendous challenges with your health. It may seem overwhelming to think about seeking mesothelioma legal advice. It's natural to worry that you cannot afford to pay anything beyond what you're already facing with your medical bills.

It's important for you to know that you can get the help you need to file a mesothelioma lawsuit without paying anything out of pocket. While you may have pleurisy-like symptoms and may be facing daunting physical symptoms such as blood clots (thrombophlebitis), abdominal fluid retention, and other lung cancer symptoms, you and your family can speak to a qualified mesothelioma trial attorney without incurring any extra expense. Reasonable fees are paid only when a settlement is awarded to you.

Browse our site both for help with your medical situation and for no-cost mesothelioma legal advice about your rights. We have helped hundreds of clients just like you receive fair compensation for the suffering they've had to undergo as a result of corporate misconduct. Call us day or night at 800.443.6353.