Mesothelioma Diagnosis Information - NYC

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you are experiencing mesothelioma symptoms, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible – especially if you have a history of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly type of cancer caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Because mesothelioma can take decades to develop, it is sometimes misdiagnosed or diagnosed too late. Detecting mesothelioma early is critical to increasing a patient’s chances of receiving effective medical treatment and improving their quality of life.

If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, you could be owed compensation for the harm you’ve suffered. At Belluck Law, PLLC, we can help get maximum compensation from employers, asbestos manufacturers and other parties who may have contributed to your asbestos exposure.

For over 35 years, founding attorney Joseph W. Belluck has fought to get people in your position the money and accountability they deserve. To date, Joe has secured more than $1 billion in compensation for clients nationwide. Based on our track record and vast resources, Joe Belluck and his team have earned a reputation as the go-to firm for mesothelioma litigation.

Reach out to Belluck Law, PLLC, for a free initial consultation to learn more about your legal rights. Even if you don’t know how you were exposed to asbestos, Joe will review your work and family history to help you determine how you came into contact with asbestos and the companies that should be held liable for your mesothelioma.

How Does a Doctor Diagnose Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer whose only known cause is asbestos exposure. A naturally occurring mineral, asbestos was used in a variety of industrial capacities for centuries.

As with many other types of cancer, doctors diagnose mesothelioma through a battery of tests that can include:

Doctors who suspect their patient is suffering from mesothelioma often ask them to provide a detailed history of their possible asbestos exposure. Patients who know they have been exposed to asbestos or asbestos-containing materials should undergo regular cancer screenings.

You should see your doctor as soon as possible if you develop symptoms like chest pain, abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss, as these could be signs of mesothelioma.

Is Mesothelioma Difficult to Diagnose?

Due to its rarity, mesothelioma can often be challenging to diagnose. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 3,000 cases of mesothelioma were reported in the United States in a single recent year.

Sometimes, symptoms of mesothelioma are mistaken for signs of other medical conditions. Patients with a history of asbestos exposure should see a doctor specializing in mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases because primary care physicians are not always familiar with their telltale symptoms. Diagnosing mesothelioma as early as possible increases the patient’s chances of receiving effective medical treatment and improves their quality of life.

Misdiagnosis

Mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed as another disease, including other types of cancer – such as lung cancer, heart cancer, stomach cancer and colon cancer – or as various cardiac or respiratory conditions. These illnesses often cause many of the same symptoms as mesothelioma, such as chest or abdominal pain, difficulty breathing or unexplained weight loss. If a patient does not have a documented history of asbestos exposure, some doctors may not consider mesothelioma as part of the differential diagnosis.

Staging mesothelioma

Once a patient has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, doctors may still find it difficult to determine the stage of the disease. Cancer stages define how far the disease has progressed, which inform what treatments may be effective and what prognosis and life expectancy a patient may have. Staging often requires evaluation of the patient’s symptoms, a physical exam, a radiology scan and biopsies of various tissues. Cancer stages range from stage 1, the earliest and most treatable stage, to stage 4, where cancer has spread to other organs in the body.

Latency period

The latency of mesothelioma can also make it difficult to diagnose. Mesothelioma may not manifest itself for several decades following a person’s most recent exposure to asbestos. As a result, patients may forget about their asbestos exposure or not think to consider that their exposure is causing their present symptoms.

Diagnostic Tests for Mesothelioma

To diagnose mesothelioma, doctors rely on a wide range of imaging techniques, such as:

• X-rays – An X-ray uses radiation to produce an image that shows tissues of various densities. Cancer tumors often appear as denser material than the surrounding tissue in images.
• Computed tomography scans – CT scanning uses a computer to integrate numerous detailed X-ray images to create a highly defined image that can reveal the presence of cancer tumors.
• Magnetic resonance imaging – An MRI uses electromagnetism rather than radiation to create a visual image of the body’s internal structures. MRIs are often used to scan for the spread of cancer to determine whether mesothelioma has reached an advanced stage.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scans – A PET scan uses small amounts of radioactive materials that are molecularly bonded to sugar molecules to identify cancers. Because cancer cells have a higher metabolism than normal cells, they absorb more radioactive materials, thereby showing up as a brighter region on the scan as the radioactive materials undergo nuclear decay.
• PET-CT scans – PET-CT scanning machines perform PET and CT scans simultaneously, sometimes combining the information from both scans into a single image to facilitate interpretation.

Biopsy Procedures for Mesothelioma

To confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, a doctor will usually take a biopsy from a suspected tumor so the tissue sample can be studied under a microscope or through laboratory testing. Depending on the type of mesothelioma and the patient’s specifical medical condition and tolerance, a patient may undergo a biopsy procedure such as:

• Thoracentesis – This procedure removes fluid from the space surrounding the lungs, which can later be examined for evidence of cancer cells.
• Thoracoscopy – The most accurate biopsy procedure for diagnosing pleural mesothelioma involves inserting a thin, flexible wire with a light and camera at the end to take a tissue sample from the area surrounding the lungs.
• Laparoscopy – This biopsy procedure used to diagnose abdominal or peritoneal mesothelioma is performed by inserting a miniature camera into the abdomen to observe the area and take tissue samples.
• Bronchoscopy – This procedure is performed by inserting a miniature camera on a thin wire through the nose or mouth into the windpipe and into the lungs to collect tissue samples from inside the lungs.
• Mediastinoscopy – This biopsy procedure takes tissue samples from the lymph nodes around the windpipe. It is often performed to help diagnose the stage of mesothelioma.

The Mesothelioma Diagnosis Process

Diagnosing mesothelioma requires multiple steps, each of which usually takes a couple of weeks to complete. However, the diagnostic process will differ for each person, depending on factors such as the specific symptoms a patient is experiencing, what diagnoses the doctor is considering, the doctor’s experience with diagnosing and treating mesothelioma, scheduling availability and the conclusiveness of diagnostic tests.

The basic mesothelioma diagnosis process involves the following steps:

First doctor’s visit (1-2 weeks)

During your initial appointment, your physician will review your personal medical history, family medical history (including relatives who may have had mesothelioma), the nature of the symptoms you are experiencing and your history of asbestos exposure, if any.

Imaging (1-2 weeks)

If the doctor includes mesothelioma in the differential diagnosis, they may order various imaging scans, including X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans.

Results (1-2 weeks)

Once imaging has been performed, a radiologist and your treating providers will review the scans to identify any potential abnormalities that should be targeted for a biopsy.

Surgical biopsy (2-4 weeks)

Depending on the location of the suspected tumor, your doctor may advise you to undergo one or more types of biopsy procedures to take tissue samples that can be examined in a laboratory to confirm the presence of cancer cells and to identify the type of cancer. Biopsies can take one to three days of inpatient hospital recovery, while laboratory testing usually takes seven to 10 days.

Mesothelioma diagnosis (2 weeks)

After reviewing your imaging scans, biopsy results and other laboratory tests, your doctor may confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and develop a treatment plan based on the type and stage of the cancer.

Get the Compensation You Deserve

If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, you could be entitled to significant compensation for your medical bills, lost wages and other related losses. For years, many employers and manufacturers of asbestos-containing products were aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure but concealed these risks from workers and consumers.

If you were exposed to asbestos on the job or elsewhere and developed mesothelioma as a result, you deserve justice and accountability from the parties that hurt you. Joe Belluck wants to help you do demand them.

For over 35 years, Joe has fought for the rights of asbestos exposure victims, securing hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients. Let him put his experience, skill, vast resources and dedication to work for you.

Contact Belluck Law, PLLC, for a free, no-obligation consultation and learn more about how our firm can help you after a mesothelioma diagnosis.