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If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or Lung Cancer you could be entitled to significant compensation from both the Asbestos Trust Funds and asbestos product manufactures.
Contact us now for a FREE consultation.
Free Case Review
If you have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma or Lung Cancer you could be entitled to significant compensation from both the Asbestos Trust Funds and asbestos product manufactures.
Contact us now for a FREE consultation.
Free Case Review
Epithelioid mesothelioma is a type of cancer related to asbestos exposure. It affects the epithelial cells and makes up 50-70% of total mesothelioma diagnoses. Epithelial mesothelioma is named for its sheet-like epithelial cells. This cell type tends to respond better to treatment than others. There are approximately 1,500 to 2,100 cases diagnosed each year.
The necessary treatments and care can be costly if you or someone you love is diagnosed with epithelioid mesothelioma. There are options to receive compensation through lawsuits, settlements, and trust funds to help people who become ill due to asbestos exposure.
Broadly, mesothelioma is an aggressive, rare cancer. It can affect the lung lining and chest wall; less commonly, it may affect the abdominal lining, known as the peritoneum. It can also affect the tissues around the testes.
Eight of ten people who receive a mesothelioma diagnosis report previous asbestos exposure, making this the single most prominent risk factor.
Mesothelioma was used broadly in industrial applications and construction for decades because of its strength and heat resistance. Unfortunately, the fibers would break apart, creating dust that could land in the lungs or other parts of the body. Once those fibers settle, they could irritate the area, causing mutations and inflammation, contributing to cancer.
Malignant epithelioid mesothelioma is the most often diagnosed cell type, making up more than half of all cases. It’s considered a mesothelioma subtype, diagnosed by analyzing the cell types in a person’s body.
Mesothelial cells will usually mutate because of asbestos exposure and resulting irritation. This irritation or damage to the cells can cause an inflammatory reaction that gets out of control. This is the only known cause of mesothelioma.
The mesothelium is the lining of the lungs, heart, and abdomen. It’s typically made up of healthy epithelial cells. The irritation of the mesothelium then affects these epithelial cells, which can turn into tumors.
When examined after a biopsy, the epithelioid cells will have a defined egg shape that’s elongated. They might clump together, and a pathologist can identify them because the cells will have a visible nucleus. The cells will divide faster than others, meaning there is more rapid tumor growth with epithelioid malignant mesothelioma.
The upside of that is that the cells adhere to each other, slowing the potential for metastasis or spread of the disease. They’re also easier to remove with surgery.
When examined after a biopsy, the epithelioid cells will have a defined egg shape that’s elongated. They might clump together, and a pathologist can identify them because the cells will have a visible nucleus. The cells will divide faster than others, meaning there is more rapid tumor growth with epithelioid malignant mesothelioma.
The upside of that is that the cells adhere to each other, slowing the potential for metastasis or spread of the disease. They’re also easier to remove with surgery.
The primary and only known risk factor for epithelioid mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, which is true for other cell types. Most people who develop mesothelioma worked with or around asbestos products long before being diagnosed. The latency period for mesothelioma following asbestos exposure can last 20 to 60 years.
The symptoms of epithelioid mesothelioma can be nonspecific, especially early on. For example, symptoms can include appetite loss, cough, or shortness of breath. If it progresses, the symptoms can become more severe and noticeable. Many of the signs and their severity will also depend on the location as well as the size of the tumor, so there’s variation between individuals with this cancer.
Other symptoms might include:
The only way to diagnose this cancer is to biopsy affected tissue. A sample of lung tissue is taken to look at the cell type under a microscope. Along with a biopsy, imaging tests and scans may be used, but these alone aren’t enough to make a diagnosis. The term epithelial subtype mesothelioma describes the types of cells a pathologist sees when looking at the tissue sample.
The only way to diagnose this cancer is to biopsy affected tissue. A sample of lung tissue is taken to look at the cell type under a microscope. Along with a biopsy, imaging tests and scans may be used, but these alone aren’t enough to make a diagnosis. The term epithelial subtype mesothelioma describes the types of cells a pathologist sees when looking at the tissue sample.
If this type of mesothelioma is caught relatively early on or in an early stage, it can be treated aggressively.
Options include chemotherapy, which can triple the survival rate for mesothelioma, surgery, and immunotherapy, one of the most promising research areas.
Surgical candidates usually have stage 1 or 2 cancer. Surgery can also include HIPEC, used to inundate the affected area with chemotherapy after surgical cancer removal. HIPEC means Hyperthermic (or Heated) Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.
It is a surgical procedure that gives new hope to patients with abdominal cancers. Immediately after removing visible tumors through cytoreductive surgery, surgeons pump a potent dose of heated chemotherapy inside a patient’s abdomen or chest cavity.
Radiation can help manage symptoms, and surgery can extend someone’s life for several years after a diagnosis.
The treatment plan for any type of mesothelioma depends on the cancer stage, the tumor, and the person’s overall health.
Epithelial mesothelioma responds best to the treatment of the three subtypes.
If someone receives a late-stage diagnosis, they may receive palliative care to reduce symptoms and improve comfort, and perhaps immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Regardless of the stage, it’s common to see a combination of treatment approaches used.
Radiation can help manage symptoms, and surgery can extend someone’s life for several years after a diagnosis.
The treatment plan for any type of mesothelioma depends on the cancer stage, the tumor, and the person’s overall health.
Epithelial mesothelioma responds best to the treatment of the three subtypes.
If someone receives a late-stage diagnosis, they may receive palliative care to reduce symptoms and improve comfort, and perhaps immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Regardless of the stage, it’s common to see a combination of treatment approaches used.
The five-year survival rate for epithelioid pleural mesothelioma is estimated to be 12%. In a study of peritoneal mesothelioma, the median survival was 55 months for patients with epithelioid cells.
The prognosis for this cell type is considered the best of the three, ranging from 10-20 months. Most patients surviving more than two years after a diagnosis have this type of mesothelioma.
Age, cancer stage, and overall health affect life expectancy and prognosis.
Stage 1—early tumor growth occurs along a single lung’s lining.
Stage 2—the mesothelioma may have spread to lymph nodes located nearby.
Stage 3—tumors at this point may have invaded deeper tissue in organs nearby and distant lymph nodes.
Stage 4—the cancer has metastasized, and tumors are forming at distant parts of a person’s body.
Epithelioid is considered the least aggressive subtype of mesothelioma and responds best to treatment, while sarcomatoid is the rarest and most aggressive. Sarcomatoid is also the least responsive to treatment.
Many individual factors play a role in the survival rate, including the stage of the cancer, your overall health, and available treatment options. Life expectancy could be anywhere from 1.5 to 6.5 years in some cases, but it can be shorter or longer than this.
There are very rare instances where someone develops mesothelioma without known asbestos exposure. This would be known as spontaneous or idiopathic mesothelioma, but what’s more likely is that the individual was exposed to asbestos without knowing it.
Although technically cancerous, a benign mesothelioma does exist when it is compartmentalized into cysts or polyps. Cystic or papillary mesothelioma is often not malignant. It can occur when the mesothelium’s growth is not spreading or metastasizing to other parts of the body. This can be removed with surgery and wouldn’t usually recur or return.
Since asbestos exposure is the only known risk factor for epithelioid mesothelioma, knowing you have the right to receive compensation is important. It’s expensive to get treatment for this condition, even with insurance.
You should speak to an expert mesothelioma attorney if you receive a diagnosis. They can go over your case and potential asbestos exposure and then identify the best legal options available in your given situation.
For example, you could claim against an employer or an asbestos manufacturer. This claim might settle, or it could go to trial. Another option is to find a mesothelioma trust fund. Asbestos companies set these up as they were going bankrupt to make sure they could pay people for the harm caused by asbestos.
The life expectancy for someone with epithelioid mesothelioma varies depending on factors such as the stage at diagnosis, overall health, and response to treatment. On average, patients with epithelioid mesothelioma have a longer life expectancy compared to other mesothelioma cell types, ranging from one to several years with treatment.
Epithelioid mesothelioma is characterized by cancer cells that have a uniform, epithelial appearance under a microscope. It is the most common and treatable form of mesothelioma, typically responding better to treatment compared to sarcomatoid or biphasic mesothelioma, which have more aggressive and less uniform cell structures
Currently, there is no cure for epithelioid mesothelioma. However, treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy can help manage the disease, reduce symptoms, and improve quality of life. Early detection and comprehensive treatment can significantly extend survival and enhance quality of life.
The first signs of epithelioid mesothelioma can include shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent cough, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. These symptoms can often be mistaken for other respiratory conditions, making early diagnosis challenging.
Epithelioid mesothelioma is diagnosed through a combination of imaging tests (such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs), blood tests for specific biomarkers, and biopsies. A biopsy, where a sample of the affected tissue is examined under a microscope, is required for a definitive diagnosis.
Treatment options for epithelioid mesothelioma include:
Surgery: Procedures to remove as much of the tumor as possible.
Chemotherapy: Systemic or localized chemotherapy to kill cancer cells.
Radiation therapy: Targeted radiation to shrink tumors and alleviate symptoms.
Immunotherapy and targeted therapy: Newer treatments that enhance the body’s immune response to cancer or target specific cancer cell characteristics.
Epithelioid mesothelioma is not considered hereditary. The primary risk factor for developing mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. However, genetic factors may influence an individual’s susceptibility to asbestos-related diseases.
There are several support resources available for mesothelioma patients, including:
Support groups and counseling services: For emotional and psychological support.
Patient advocacy organizations: Providing information and resources.
Financial assistance programs: To help with medical and living expenses.
Legal assistance: For pursuing compensation claims.
Palliative care services: To manage symptoms and improve quality of life
Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma when asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, leading to inflammation, scarring, and genetic damage to the cells in the lining of the lungs (pleura), abdomen (peritoneum), or heart (pericardium). Over time, this damage can result in the development of mesothelioma.
The latest research developments in epithelioid mesothelioma focus on improving diagnostic techniques, enhancing treatment efficacy, and developing new therapies. Advances in immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and genetic research are showing promise in extending survival and improving quality of life for patients. Clinical trials are ongoing to explore these and other innovative treatment options.
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