Pericardial Mesothelioma – A Rare But Still Fatal Asbestos Disease.

Sept. 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Lack of proper asbestos awareness and regulation for most of the twentieth century meant that many thousands of workers employed in the asbestos-using industries of the north of England, Midlands and the south coast were regularly exposed to the deadly asbestos fibre dust which, ultimately, claimed their lives several decades later.

Pleural mesothelioma is well known as the most common form of the malignant and incurable mesothelioma cancer, caused solely by breathing in asbestos fibres, which become permanently lodged in the lining of the lungs.

Less well understood is the development of pericardial mesothelioma, in which the fibres have found their way to become embedded in the membrane that surrounds the heart. While it is believed that inhaled asbestos fibres travel via the bloodstream from the lungs to the heart, there is no conclusive evidence to support the theory.

Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare form of asbestos–related disease, accounting for around 6 per cent of all mesothelioma cancers and for approximately half of all pericardial tumours, which tend to be not localised and, typically, spread out to cover most of the heart.

The long incubation period from initial asbestos exposure to the first appearance and diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestosis symptoms can last between 15 to 50 years, causing cells to become cancerous and rapidly divide. As the malignant cells continue to grow, the pericardial membranes thicken, eventually causing tumours to develop.

Pressure is put on heart by the changes in the pericardial membrane, which lead to the build-up of fluid between the outer (parietal) layer covering the entire chest cavity and the inner (visceral) layer, lining the heart.

As with pleural mesothelioma, where early symptoms can be so easily confused with other types of respiratory complaints or lung disease, the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma can also be mistaken for  symptoms of other heart conditions, as can seen by the following list :

Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat.
Chest pain or murmurs.
Coughing, difficulty breathing when at rest or lying down.
Fatigue.

Often a confirmed diagnosis is only made at the very last stages of the cancer with studies showing that as many as 50 to 60 per cent of all patients can only expect to live for another six to 18 months, possibly two years. Palliative treatment is usually the only option to improve quality of life in the time remaining, and reduce the severity of symptoms caused by the build-up of fluid.

The time limit for entering a claim for mesothelioma compensation is three years from diagnosis, which includes the time necessary to trace former employers and/or company insurers and an asbestosis lawyer to thoroughly prepare the claim.

Visit http://www.asbestosvictimadvice.com for more information and advice.

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