Many people ask us, “How do I know if I have mesothelioma? What are the signs and symptoms?”

Oftentimes, the first signs and symptoms of mesothelioma are chest pain, shortness of breath, and tightness in the chest. People also have flu-like symptoms.  In the early stages, symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific and may mimic lung conditions of a less serious nature, such as bronchitis or pneumonia.

Many individuals tend to ignore these subtle symptoms and consider them everyday ailments.  In addition, the latency period for contracting this form is cancer is anywhere between fifteen and fifty years after one has been exposed to asbestos.

It is best to seek immediate medical advice if you have the following symptoms:

  • Persistent dry or raspy cough with little or no phlegm
  • Coughing up blood
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Night sweats or fever
  • Persistent chest pain that occurs in the rib area
  • Shortness of breath occurring even at rest
  • Painful breathing
  • Swelling or pain in the abdomen
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea or constipation (changes in normal bowel habits for a prolonged time period)
  • Anemia
  • Chest pains
  • Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat

Normally, when there is a chest x-ray taken, there’s fluid build-up in the lungs and patients will get referred to a specialist, such as someone at Roswell Park.  Patients with mesothelioma will be diagnosed after taking a tissue biopsy.

When asbestos products were installed, repaired, maintained, renovated, or removed, the asbestos was disrupted. These processes created asbestos dust, which was then breathed in by workers.  Asbestos dust remains airborne for weeks, affecting those who worked directly with asbestos, as well as those who simply worked nearby. When an area is swept, the dust is stirred up and airborne again. One cloud of dust contains millions or billions of asbestos fibers.  There are also many cases of paraoccupational (or secondary) exposure where a loved one comes home wearing clothing that is covered in asbestos dust and thereby exposes his or her family to the toxic fibers. There are also cases of neighborhood exposure where a company allowed air contaminated with asbestos dust to escape from its premises.

If you or someone you love was exposed to asbestos and have questions about the symptoms of mesothelioma, please give our office a call to arrange a free consultation. We will schedule an appointment to come to your home and meet with you and your family to explain your legal rights.  We can help.

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Since 1995, the attorneys at Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC have been helping clients in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse, NY, who have been injured due to asbestos exposure. Through our tireless efforts, we have helped to shape and reform asbestos laws throughout the state of New York. We have a full team of lawyers devoted to representing people exposed to asbestos.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lung cancer, please contact us today and we will schedule an appointment to come to your home and meet with you and your family to explain your legal rights.