Over 30 Billion dollars in trust fund money has been set aside for asbestos victims.
Get a Free copy of Surviving Mesothelioma, Lean on Me, or 100 Questions & Answers About Mesothelioma
Mesolink.org now offeres Free Assistance with VA Claims and other benefits.
Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) is a form of the disease that is generally non-invasive and is less of a threat. WDPM was once considered to be totally benign. That outlook has changed somewhat, as medical experts realized papillary mesothelioma can occur as limited low-grade malignancies. Medical studies have determined that WDPM can appear as combined benign tumors and mild malignant lesions. Calcium buildups can also be found in peritoneal papillary mesothelioma.
WDPM has been discovered in young women who have no history with asbestos - the main cause for other, more deadly forms of mesothelioma. The disease virtually always begins in the lining of the stomach. It can travel to other areas of the body, but is mostly a stay-at-home affliction. WDPM has sometimes been confused with papillary cancers of the ovary or peritoneum. It takes careful microscopic examinations to correctly identify which cancerous form has been spotted. WDPM often first shows as abdominal pain and fluid collections called effusions. It is frequently discovered during a medical check for something else.
Fill out the form below for a Free Mesothelioma Informational Packet with information on the latest treatments, clinical trials, doctors, cancer centers, and more.
It has been noted that most mesothelioma patients are men. That isn't the case with WDPM, which is mostly diagnosed in premenopausal women between ages 30 and 40. Because WDPM is less aggressive than other type of mesothelioma, the prognosis upon discovering the disease is typically much better. A French study involving 24 women with pleural papillary mesothelioma found that the average survival time was 74 months. A little over a third of the women studied survived at least 10 years. That's a considerable difference when compared to those suffering from other forms of mesothelioma. Upon diagnosis their survival rate is too often measured in months, not years.
The uncommon character of WDPM has made it difficult to develop specific treatments. That generally leaves it to oncologists to go ahead and plan treatment schedules based on procedures used to combat other forms of mesothelioma. Therapies used to treat mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. It is important that patients maintain regular follow-up examinations, following treatment, to make sure that WDPM is being well managed.
Anyone who feels at risk for papillary mesothelioma, or any other form of the disease, should always get a second opinion. All types of mesothelioma have an edge on those they infect because of their long, well hidden gestation periods. As noted, WDPM begins by being noticed as vague abdominal discomfort. That doesn't mean everyone should rush to their doctors in the event of a stomach ache. But persistent discomfort can signal a number of potential problems, with WDPM among them. Let the doctor know exactly how you feel so he can at least have an idea about how to begin the diagnosis process.
Closing yourself off after being diagnosed with WDPM does not help solve the problem. Check out material on the Internet, and at your local library, that offers advice about how to deal with what you're up against. Let us add to your knowledge. Fill out the form above.
Learn more about your legal options with a Free Mesothelioma Case Evaluation. Find out about how you may be eligible for:
