Mesothelioma is a form of aggressive and deadly cancer. It mostly affects the thin layer of tissues covering the internal organs, most commonly lungs, abdomen, heart and testicles. Diagnosing mesothelioma can be tricky as it is seldom observed and mostly misunderstood by most oncologists and physicians due to its complexity and rare occurrence. Knowing your disease's history and signs can help you get a timely diagnosis. This article will give you insights into the causes, types, and symptoms of mesothelioma so you can make the right move at the right time and prevent yourself from further harm. 

What Causes Mesothelioma? 

The leading cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. It can be a direct or indirect exposure through products that contain asbestos. Indirect asbestos exposure can take years to leave its dangerous aftereffects, while direct exposure can cause illness shortly after, which in most cases is fatal. 

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos consists of heat-resistant fibers that made it a highly sought-after product during World War II. For years, industries used asbestos in their products like gaskets, valve packing, automobile brakes, and pipe insulations and regarded it as a "miracle mineral.” Soon, it was used in everyday products like crayons, hairdryers, cosmetics, and even lawn and garden equipment. As a result, its adverse effects on human health became apparent. After the product was officially tied to cancer in 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned its usage.

What should you do if you suspect mesothelioma?

While visiting a doctor may seem like the only first step here, it isn’t. When it is about mesothelioma, you have to play by different rules. Since misdiagnosing the disease is common, you should do your research prior to seeing a doctor. 

If you suspect mesothelioma, you’d consider asbestos exposure as well. However, unless you are aware of the exposure to the disease, it is nearly impossible to keep track of the places you may have contracted it. So, the first immediate action you can take is to find a lawyer for your case. 

Why Hire a Lawyer? 

Hiring an efficient law firm will provide you with the necessary information and data to determine where you were exposed to asbestos. It will also help you with documentation that can be challenging to extract independently. 

Secondly, mostly construction workers contract the disease and their limited financial resources and funds make it impossible for them to cover the medical bills associated with it. 

Mesothelioma lawsuits can be very complex, and you can only receive the compensation you deserve if you hire a lawyer who has experience with mesothelioma litigation.

Mesothelioma Can Be Misdiagnosed

Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose accurately unless the tumor has spread. It is often mistaken for less serious diseases depending on where it is located in the body. Therefore, if a person experiences common mesothelioma symptoms and has a history of asbestos exposure, they should consult a specialist doctor for a quick diagnosis. 

An article published in 2012 in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology examined how frequently misdiagnosis of the disease occurs at different stages. Nearly 80% of mesothelioma patients are misdiagnosed at stage one, primarily prior to getting an accurate diagnosis from a specialist.

Types of Mesothelioma and Symptoms Similar to Other Diseases

Mesothelioma is classified into different types depending on the part of the body it affects. In order to catch mesothelioma in its early stages and avoid misdiagnosis, it is important to know where these tumors affect the body and what symptoms they present.

1.       Pleural mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma affects the lungs and occurs in the lung's lining. Early symptoms include dry cough, breathing problems, fever, unusual tissue lumps under the skin near the chest, unexplained weight loss, and chest pain. Because these symptoms are similar to those of flu and lower respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia, there is a high risk of misdiagnosis of mesothelioma during flu season. 

If the flu symptoms last longer than five days, a second diagnosis is necessary, especially if you have a history of asbestos exposure. Similarly, stage four mesothelioma symptoms are similar to pneumonia symptoms. Both pneumonia and mesothelioma are characterized by an accumulation of fluid between the outer lining of the lungs and the inner side of the rib cage. This condition is called pleural effusion, and it is usually found among nearly 90% of pleural mesothelioma patients, causing breathing difficulties, dry coughing, and chest pain.

2.       Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdominal lining, and its symptoms include cramps, swelling, nausea, and weight loss. Since these symptoms are also common with hernia and gallstones, it is possible to confuse peritoneal mesothelioma with these comparatively less serious conditions.

The condition is most commonly confused with IBD because of similar symptoms such as abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Sometimes the tumor is undiagnosed through MRIs and CT scans and can be mistaken for inflammation.

3.       Pericardial mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the tissues surrounding the heart. Shortness of breath and chest pains are common symptoms of this type of mesothelioma. Doctors typically misdiagnose this particular type of mesothelioma with heart disease, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, metastatic lung cancer and Angiosarcoma.

4.       Mesothelioma of Tunica Vaginitis

Tunica Vaginitis Mesothelioma is less likely to be misdiagnosed as it is a rare form of tumor that affects the tissues around the testicles and appears as a swelling or mass.

What to Do In Case Of Misdiagnosis?

If you suspect a misdiagnosis, here are a few important steps you can take to rectify the errors and save yourself from further harm.

• Seek a second opinion from a mesothelioma expert

If your last visited doctor is not a specialist of asbestos-related diseases, chances are he may have misdiagnosed your condition. Therefore, it is best to seek a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist and present all the necessary documents. He will then refer you to a specialized pathologist for a laboratory examination of your biopsy samples to identify the type of cancer.

• The second opinion after mesothelioma is diagnosed

Once you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is imperative that you get a second opinion from an expert. Oncologists may diagnose cancer, but they lack the experience to estimate the stage of mesothelioma. Only a specialist can conduct the right tests and determine what stage the mesothelioma is in.

Conclusion

The mesothelioma carries symptoms resembling common diseases, such as flu, pneumonia, inflammatory bowel disease (IBS) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBD). Moreover, it has very mild symptoms in the early stages. Therefore, the chances of misdiagnosis are high. If you suspect mesothelioma or have a history of ACPs exposure, it is important to approach the specialist immediately to get the right treatment for your medical condition. To deal with asbestos litigation, it is also important to find the right lawyer for your case, who will help you reclaim your rights.