The Development of Mesothelioma - Part 2:
Mesothelioma can be a devastating diagnosis for you and your family. While asbestos exposure causes this deadly cancer of the tissue that lines the body’s internal organs, it can still be decades before symptoms become serious and patients receive a diagnosis. In many cases, doctors don’t catch the disease until its later stages, making treatment challenging. In our last blog post we discussed a recent study in Nature Communications looking at the pathogenesis of mesothelioma or how it develops. Today, we’ll pick up where we left off, discussing the development of mesothelioma and symptoms you and your family should watch for.
The Pathogenesis of Mesothelioma
Scientists and medical professionals still don’t fully understand the exact bodily mechanisms that allow mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure. However, they do know that inhaled asbestos fibers are quite durable in the body, causing ongoing injury and inflammation in mesothelial cells. Mesothelioma tumors also contain genetic abnormalities or mutations that decrease “tumour suppressor gene function,” allowing cancer cells to reproduce aggressively. Scientists also know that interrupting “cytoplasmic control of gene expression at the level of mRNA translation has a major role in both cancer development and progression.” This “dysregulation” can allow abnormalities and mutations during cellular reproduction, leading to aggressive cancer progression.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Because it can take decades to diagnose mesothelioma, it’s important to know the symptoms of this disease, particularly if you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos. Symptoms can include:
- Chest or abdominal pain
- Painful coughing
- Abdominal swelling
- Shortness of breath
- Unusual lumps under the skin on your chest
- Unexplained weight loss
- Abdominal pain.
In the final part of this blog series, we’ll discuss promising new avenues of research suggested by this Nature Communications study.
You Need Legal Advice You Can Trust
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with a mesothelioma you may be entitled to compensation, and you need experienced legal guidance on your side. Call the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-MESO (6376) or contact us online. Your first consultation is always free, and you won't pay a fee unless we recover money on your behalf.
