Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Treatment, and Legal Options

Bergman Oslund Udo Little’s mesothelioma guide explains the symptoms and treatments for mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that develops in the protective lining of your organs. The vast majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos exposure. If you or a loved one has mesothelioma, contact Bergman Oslund Udo Little’s knowledgeable and compassionate mesothelioma lawyers. We have specialized in mesothelioma lawsuits in Washington and Oregon since 1995. We will fight for you while you focus on your treatment. 

Written by:

Brendan Little, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: October 9, 2024

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What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma Lawyers Who Care

FAQs

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that starts in the mesothelium or pleural lining, the membrane that protects most of your internal organs. Symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, a persistent cough, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. 

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. People are at risk of developing mesothelioma if they have worked with or been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos is a durable mineral used throughout the 20th century in various building materials, including insulation, cement, siding, roofing, and machinery components. Asbestos fibers may be released into the air when people interact with materials containing the toxic substance. When inhaled or ingested, the fibers may get embedded in the mesothelium, leading to inflammation and scarring. Cancerous tumors may eventually develop decades after the initial exposure.

If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma, contact Bergman Oslund Udo Little’s Oregon and Washington mesothelioma trial attorneys. Our mesothelioma guide can inform you about asbestos-related illnesses and how our team can help. We’ll analyze your case to determine whether you can file a lawsuit against the parties responsible for your asbestos exposure, such as asbestos product manufacturers.

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma usually affects the lining of the lungs or pleura. However, it can also affect the lining of other body parts. The following are the main types of mesothelioma: 

Pleural mesothelioma affects the pleura, the lining of the lungs. It is the most common type of mesothelioma. 
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the peritoneum, the lining of the abdomen. It usually does not cause any symptoms until the disease is advanced. 
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium, the lining of the heart. 
Testicular mesothelioma affects the tissue around the testicles. It is most common in men aged 55 to 75.

Mesothelioma has a latency period of 10 to 60 years or more. The latency period is the time between the initial asbestos exposure and diagnosis. Several factors can affect the latency period, such as the type of mesothelioma, co-occurring conditions, and the duration of asbestos exposure. Those exposed to high concentrations of asbestos for longer periods may have shorter latency periods.

People who have worked in job sites with asbestos exposure are more likely to get mesothelioma. Examples of such job sites include:

Mesothelioma Symptoms

Mesothelioma patients experience a wide range of symptoms. The most common mesothelioma symptoms include:

Painful coughing
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Pleural effusion (fluid around one or both lungs)
Unusual lumps under the chest
Nausea
Unexplained weight loss
Muscle weakness
Sweating
Trouble swallowing or dysphagia
Abdominal swelling (peritoneal mesothelioma)
Altered bowel movements (peritoneal mesothelioma) 
Heart palpitations (pericardial mesothelioma)
Swelling on a testicle (testicular mesothelioma)

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Only doctors specializing in mesothelioma can determine whether you or a loved one have mesothelioma. The sooner you receive a precise diagnosis, the better your chances of survival. Early-stage mesothelioma is easier to treat than advanced, metastatic mesothelioma that has spread to other body parts.

There are multiple tools that a physician may use to diagnose or rule out mesothelioma:

Physical examination: The doctor performs a physical examination to locate signs of mesothelioma. These may include decreased breath sounds, abdominal masses, and fluid build-up in your abdomen.
Imaging and diagnostic tests: After performing a physical examination, the physician will conduct one or several imaging tests, such as a CT scan, X-ray, MRI, or PET scan. The doctor will use these tests to see whether you have a suspected mesothelioma, its size and location, and whether any cancer has spread or metastasized to other body parts.
Biopsy and cytology tests: Physical exams and imaging tests can reveal signs of mesothelioma, but they are insufficient for a diagnosis. To be certain, the health care provider will remove tissue from your body for a pathologist to review under a microscope. This procedure is called a biopsy. The pathologist can determine whether you have mesothelioma. Analysis of fluid drained from around the lungs, known as plural effusion, may also show markers consistent with mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Treatment

According to the American Cancer Society, mesothelioma patients’ five-year relative survival rate is 12 percent. Fortunately, doctors can prescribe treatments to improve your lifespan and quality of life. 

Depending on your health, mesothelioma type, and stage, treatments may include the following:

Surgery: Doctors usually prescribe a surgical procedure to remove the mesothelioma tumor and drain any fluid accumulating in the diseased area. Many surgeries can be hard on your health and may not be the best fit for people in poor health. For example, extrapleural pneumonectomy removes the diseased lung and part of the pleura, pericardium, and diaphragm. Patients undergoing this treatment are more likely to have irregular heartbeat, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and pneumonia. Talk to your doctor to learn which surgical procedures are the best for your condition.
Radiation therapy: Doctors may use radiation therapy after surgery to prevent pleural mesothelioma from returning. This type of radiation, called adjuvant therapy, has been shown to improve the survival rate for patients with early-stage mesothelioma. People with advanced pleural mesothelioma that cannot be treated through surgery may be given a combination of radiation and chemotherapy to slow cancer growth and spread. Radiation may also help reduce pain for advanced pleural mesothelioma patients.
Chemotherapy: Doctors may prescribe chemotherapy drugs to kill mesothelioma cells. Unfortunately, these drugs can also kill healthy, fast-growing cells, such as hair and nail cells. Healthcare teams often use systemic chemotherapy to shrink or slow the growth of a tumor that cannot be surgically removed. 
Experimental treatments: Doctors may recommend participating in a mesothelioma clinical trial, experiments testing the efficacy and safety of new treatments. Experimental treatments offer great promise, but they also carry risks. No one knows how effective the treatment will be and what side effects it will cause. While most side effects go away quickly, some are severe and permanent. For this reason, it’s a good idea to discuss the matter at length with your doctor.

Mesothelioma Lawyers Who Care

Treatments for mesothelioma can be costly, especially if insurance does not cover them. Victims of mesothelioma and their family members are likely entitled to significant compensation from the companies that manufactured and sold asbestos products. As such, you may consider filing a lawsuit for compensation if you or a loved one developed mesothelioma due to occupational exposure. If your lawsuit is successful, you may obtain compensation for economic and non-economic damages, such as medical fees, out-of-pocket costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Bergman Oslund Udo Little has mesothelioma lawyers in Oregon and Washington. We provide mesothelioma patients the peace of mind to concentrate on their recovery and spend time with their families. Besides providing helpful legal information, we can help asbestos victims:

Gather and preserve evidence
Build a case
Negotiate with the opposition
Fight for your rights at trial, if needed

Talk to Bergman Oslund Udo Little’s trusted and compassionate asbestos attorneys to learn more about your options. We have ample experience fighting for mesothelioma victims’ needs and the needs of their loved ones. For example, in 2022, we won a $30 million mesothelioma verdict for a victim’s family. We take special care to always travel to meet clients where they live and work hard to ensure that the legal process does not impose unnecessary burdens on families dealing with a difficult diagnosis like mesothelioma.

FAQs

How do I know if I have mesothelioma?

Only an experienced cancer doctor can tell you for sure. If you have been exposed to asbestos, you should closely monitor your health and be sure to tell your doctor about your exposure during your regular physicals.

Why should I file a mesothelioma claim?

While no amount of compensation can make up for the diagnosis of a devastating illness, filing a lawsuit in a timely manner makes sense for many reasons. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. That means your illness is not your fault and you may be owed compensation.
Filing a claim can be life-changing and it won’t cost you a thing unless we win.

What should I expect with a mesothelioma lawsuit?

Every mesothelioma case is unique. Some cases settle relatively quickly; others will take time to work their way through trials and appeals. But here’s a brief overview of what to expect during mesothelioma litigation.
Case evaluation: When you contact our firm, you will speak to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who will talk to you about your illness, your work history, your family, and the places you’ve lived. We will collect medical and Social Security records from the course of your entire lifetime. The time we spend with you, your family members, and any available coworkers you can recall will help us create a record of the events that caused your mesothelioma and the impact it has had on your family. After gathering this information, we will be in a position to decide whether we may be able to help you by filing a lawsuit on your behalf.
Case filing: A case begins with the filing of a complaint. In your complaint, our firm will choose the proper court to file your claim and the proper companies to sue. The complaint will briefly set out the facts of your case, explain the nature of the defendants’ wrongful conduct, and describe how you and your family have been harmed.
Discovery: During discovery, your Bergman Oslund Udo Little lawyer and the lawyers who represent the defendants will trade information. The two sides work to “discover” all the facts that will be relevant should the case to go to trial. Discovery is helpful for lawyers in two ways. Obviously, it helps them to prepare for a trial. But the information gathered during discovery may be more useful in helping the defendants’ lawyers to determine whether a case should be settled, and if so, for how much.
Settlement and trial: After a case is filed and the discovery phase is underway, the judge will set your case for trial. Now is also when asbestos defendants have a real incentive to settle your case. For this reason, your lawyer from Bergman Oslund Udo Little will work to have your case set for trial as soon as possible. If the defendants in your case do make a settlement offer, we will communicate those offers to you and share our opinion about whether you should accept or reject them. If a settlement cannot be reached, then your case will proceed to trial. The jury will make the final determination about the defendant’s responsibility for your injuries and the amount of compensation that would be fair in your case.
Appeal: If your case goes to trial and we are successful, the defendant has the right to appeal the decision. If it does so, it will ask a higher court (usually called the court of appeals) to review the case to see whether mistakes were made at trial that were so serious that the jury’s verdict should be disregarded and a new trial granted.

How Rare is a Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

Mesothelioma diagnoses are rare in the United States, with about 3,000 new cases diagnosed each year—making up less than 0.2 percent of all U.S. cancer diagnoses. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, you may be entitled to compensation through a lawsuit.