Overexposure to asbestos is the most important factor which is responsible for contracting mesothelioma. Of all of the reported mesothelioma cases, about 70-80 percent has a record of asbestos exposure. At the same time, some other cases have been reported where asbestos was not at concerned. Asbestos is a mineral happening in nature as masses of flexible fibers and it can be separated into fine threads and woven. It is widely put to industrial use for manufacturing cement, flooring products, brake linings, roof shingles, insulation products and textiles. Owing to its widespread use, a number of employees have been influenced by asbestos mesothelioma.
The asbestos particles being so tiny float in the air during the manufacturing process. Unknowingly, they may be inhaled or swallowed by the workers, resulting in serious health problems. It should be noted that smoking and asbestos exposure enhance a person’s risk of contracting cancer of the air passageways in the lung. Millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos since the early 1940s. Shipyard workers, those who are working in asbestos mines and mills, workers in the heating and construction industries etc also face increased threat of catching the disease.
The risk of asbestos related disease increases with heavier and longer exposure to asbestos. However, there are exceptions like individuals with brief exposure developing asbestos mesothelioma and a few others who are heavily exposed not developing the disease. Asbestos has been mined and used for commercial purposes since the late 1800s. Initially the risks involved in asbestos were not known. Once the link between the cancer and asbestos was established various laws came into existence for the welfare of the workers. Limits have been set for acceptable levels of asbestos exposure in the place of work.
The cancer is so malicious that it does not even spare the family members. Asbestos particles stick to the hair and clothing of workers thereby exposing the relatives also to them. In order to avoid this, rules have been formulated for the workers to have a bath and change of cloth before heading home.
Diagnosis of asbestos mesothelioma is very difficult as the symptoms of the illness appear awfully late. The resemblance of the symptoms with those of other sicknesses also prove and barrier in the path of early diagnosis. Improvement in medical science has given rise to many treatment possibilities for the victims, though a total cure isn’t materialized so far.
Mail this postMesothelioma, a malevolent cancer affecting the protective sac covering our internal organs, is usually caused by continued exposure to asbestos filled atmosphere. The particles of this substance enter our body through the lungs and gets deposited in this membrane and caused abnormal cancerous growth. Unfortunately, in most cases, symptoms of mesothelioma rear its head only many years later, sometimes fifty years, making treatment a prolonged uphill battle.
It is advisable for people who have had constant exposure to asbestos to visit an expert doctor the very first day the symptoms appear. Mesothelioma is basically of three types – the pleural, pericardial and peritoneal. Testicular mesothelioma is another category which exists, though found rarely. There is only one way to defeat the disease, ie early detection and treatment. The symptoms of the disease are wide and varied.
Continued dry or raspy non-productive cough, coughing up blood, dysphagia or difficulty in swallowing, fever, night sweat, heavy weigh loss, fatigue, persistent pain in the areas around ribs or chest, pain while breathing, dyspnea or shortness of breath even while resting and formation of visible lumps under the skin around the chest are the most common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer is the most common of all the four types and therefore, responsible for most deaths.
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Night sweats, anemia, fatigue, fever, weight loss for no apparent reason, constipation or diarrhea, inflammation in the abdomen, vomiting, formation of bumps under the skin in the abdominal region are the most common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for fewer deaths compared to other types of mesothelioma cancer. It is responsible for less than five percent of the total incidents of cancer. But it is more life threatening and as such dangerous. The chances of survival are very less once affected with this type of cancer. The primary symptoms are irregular heartbeats, breathing difficulty, fever, tiredness, night sweats, chest pain etc. The symptoms of mesothelioma here are not so developed unlike the other types. Formation of testicular lumps is the main symptom of testicular mesothelioma. This is a fourth type of mesothelioma cancer, though not found commonly.
Mail this postMesothelioma is a type of cancer that attacks the mesothelium, which is a membranous sac that protects most vital organs of our body. This type of cancer occurs when the cells of this covering start showing abnormal behavior by dividing on their won without any order. Slowly the malice spreads and the adjoining tissues and organs also get affected.
Continuous exposure to asbestos leads to this type of cancer. Those workers earning their wages from factories and workshops, where the material is used are always at the danger zone. Asbestos being a substance which is naturally occurring and highly useful has been put to use extensively. Even though this is the case, the governments all over the world have opened their eyes to notice the side effects it causes. The use of asbestos, which is responsible for eighty percent of the mesothelioma cases, has been banned by many governments.
Mesothelioma cancer is of three types. The first one attacks the lining protecting the cavity around the lungs. It is called the pleural mesothelioma. This is a very serious condition from which it is very difficult to escape. The second type affects the case around abdominal organs, especially the GI tract. This is known as the Peritoneal mesothelioma. The third form, which is the most malicious, attacks the protective lining of the heart. This type is known as the Pericardial mesothelioma and is found rarely.
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The symptoms of mesothelioma infection include chest wall pain, fatigue, breathlessness, cough, blood emission during coughing spells, weight loss, abdominal dysfunction etc. The cancer becomes life threatening due to the fact that the symptoms develop only several years after a person inhales asbestos fibers. The law has come to the aid of such affected persons by making them eligible for compensation from the employer.
The traditional methods of treatment employed for mesothelioma treatment are surgery or removal of cancer, chemotherapy or use of drugs and radiation to kill malicious cells. Combinations of two of all of these are also employed in extreme cases. Researches are on to find a successful remedy, but early detection, diagnosis and treatment are essential to achieve everlasting success in the fight against this induced physical malady.
Mail this postMesothelioma prognosis comes as a shocking revelation to the victims and family members, due to wide and varied reasons. A rare form of cancer, mesothelioma infects the protective covering of the internal organs, called mesothelium. Over-exposure to asbestos results in the mesothelium getting affected. People become exposed to asbestos mostly at their work places, where the material is used. Those who are staying near asbestos mines also fall victims of the disease. But the impact of the infection would be different in different persons. It depends on the stage of cancer at the time of detection, the age and health of the infected person and the ability of the body to respond to treatment procedures.
The first reason for negative mesothelioma prognosis is that the disease lies inactive for several decades before the symptoms arrive. By that time the cancer may have even reached vital organs like lungs, abdomen or heart. Doctors categorize mesothelioma into four stages. The first two stages are relatively easy to treat, but the prognosis of stage 3 and 4 are not bright enough. In many cases, mesothelioma infection is detected only when the patient visits the clinic for other physical illnesses.
Finding expert physicians for treating the disease also meets with obstacles since mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer. Many cancer centers and specialists do not have the expertise to treat the infection. Researches are continued ceaselessly to find appropriate treatment for advanced stages of mesothelioma. Presently stage 3 and stage 4 patients are given treatment to lessen the pain and provide a soothing environment.
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Mesothelioma cancer is of three types – the pleural, the peritoneal and the pericardial. The most commonly found one is the pleural type, though it can be cured easily. Different treatment procedures like chemotherapy, surgery and radiation are used to cure the infection affecting the protective lining of the lungs. The second type affects the abdominal cavities. This is called peritoneal mesothelioma and is more dangerous. The third type affects the heart region and is definitely fatal. This is known as pericardial mesothelioma. Another problem associated with the disease is that doctors tend to diagnose the type of infection wrongly increasing the number of fatalities.
In the modern age, with the invention of modern treatments, mesothelioma prognosis has become better. The modern treatment includes multimodality treatment, gene therapy, photodynamic therapy etc. Ultimately survival depends on the response of the patients towards treatment and the type of cancer.
Mail this postMesothelioma and lung cancer are two separate entities having no relation between them. While lung cancer affects the lungs itself and is caused by a wide range of reasons including smoking, mesothelioma lung cancer, which occurs due to inhalation of asbestos filled air, attacks the mesothelium, a protective lining covering the pleural cavity. The disease often erupts only after many years of such exposure and this aspect alone is responsible for many mesothelioma related deaths.
The cancer is comparatively rare and as such, most of our cancer hospitals and doctors lack the requisite means and knowledge for treatment. In the United States, less than 3000 mesothelioma cases are diagnosed yearly. This cancer is considered as an occupational danger because it is the workers of factories or asbestos mines who usually get affected.
The asbestos particles settled in the mesothelium take several years to annihilate the pleural lining to life-threatening stages. There are virtually no discernable symptoms at the preliminary phases and this ends up in the absence of any checkups and detection till it is very late and this factor is responsible for most deaths.
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If detected and treated at the initial stages itself, mesothelioma lung cancer can be cured. But most cases of this cancer are detected when severe symptoms start showing up after many decades of asbestos infection. Doctors classify the cancer into four levels depending on how far the infection has spread. The initial stage, that is level one, can be treated through surgery. The next level require much more aggressive treatments like surgery combined with medicines and radiation therapy. Medicated treatment, medically called chemotherapy, helps prevent the spread and recurrence of cancerous growth, but has several painful side effects. Radiotherapy uses high energy or particle beams to kill off the harmful cells.
The next two levels, the third and fourth stages are highly dangerous and entail very little hope of survival. Medical practitioners generally use only palliative treatment, that is, the treatment of the symptoms, to provide the patient a comfortable life as long as he lives. Mesothelioma lung cancer patients are legally entitled to file litigations for monetary compensation also. If the outcome is positive, the money awarded can be of immense help to meet all treatment and household expenses of the patient.
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