Mesothelioma generally develops in certain tissue linings. For instance, the lining around your abdomen or your lungs may be affected. This is where mesothelioma is originally going to develop and the symptoms that you’re going to see will be related to the way that the cancer interacts with these organs.
For instance, if you have mesothelioma in the lining around your lungs, one of the more common symptoms is trouble breathing. If you have mesothelioma in your abdomen, it could be misdiagnosed as an ulcer or confused with the results of extreme stress.
But what about the risk to other parts of your body? Is it possible for the mesothelioma, if left untreated, to spread to other organs? Or is it simply a type of cancer that is limited to the lining where it began?
It can spread, and the cells will look the same
Doctors are quick to point out that mesothelioma absolutely can spread. This is true with most types of cancer, and this is no exception. Nearby organs may be affected by mesothelioma and develop cancer as a result. This is why getting quick treatment is so important, because putting it off for even a short amount of time can mean that the cancer begins moving about your body and becoming more dangerous to your overall well-being.
Doctors know that mesothelioma spreads not just because they find cancer in other areas, but because they can examine those specific cells. They will look similar, so they know that they started in the lining tissue and then moved to the other organs. This rules out the possibility that someone just spontaneously developed cancer in two areas at the same time.
One of the problems with mesothelioma is actually that the symptoms may not show up until it has already become very advanced, and the spread could have started. Those who have even minor symptoms may want to consider whether or not mesothelioma is responsible so that they can get out ahead of something like this.
Taking the proper steps
When faced with a disease such as mesothelioma, you and your family probably have a lot of questions. Make sure you know exactly what legal steps you can take and what options you have at your disposal.