Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive form of cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Caused by asbestos, mesothelioma has no known cure and has a very poor prognosis.

According to a 2017 report by the Centers for Disease Control, 2,400 – 2,800 people are diagnosed in the United States each year. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a3.htm. People who have worked with or been exposed to asbestos have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma. After being exposed to asbestos, mesothelioma symptoms can take 20 – 50 years to appear.

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs.

Pleural mesothelioma , which affects the tissue that surrounds the lungs, causes signs and symptoms that may include:

·Chest pain under the rib cage

·Painful coughing

·Shortness of breath

·Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest

·Unexplained weight loss

Peritoneal mesothelioma , which occurs in tissue in the abdomen, causes signs and symptoms that may include:

·Abdominal pain

·Abdominal swelling

·Lumps of tissue in the abdomen

·Unexplained weight loss

Other forms of mesothelioma

Signs and symptoms of other types of mesothelioma are unclear, since these forms of the disease are very rare.

Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects tissue that surrounds the heart, can cause signs and symptoms such as breathing difficulty and chest pains.

Factors that may increase the risk of mesothelioma include:

· Personal history of asbestos exposure. If you've been directly exposed to asbestos fibers at work or at home, your risk of mesothelioma is greatly increased.

· Living with someone who works with asbestos. People who are exposed to asbestos may carry the fibers home on their skin and clothing. Exposure to these stray fibers over many years can put others in the home at risk of mesothelioma. People who work with high levels of asbestos can reduce the risk of bringing home asbestos fibers by showering and changing clothes before leaving work.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma , you should seek legal advice immediately. Once the diagnosis occurs, the statute of limitations will begin to run and the time that you have to protect your rights is limited. The Odom Law Firm has been representing people with mesothelioma since 1986. https://www.odomfirm.com/mesothelioma To find out about your legal rights, contact the Odom Law Firm at 1-800-541-3135 for a free consultation.