Cause of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma doesn~t strike often, but when it does it~s always life-threatening. The mesothelium is a lining that protects most of our major organs. Mesothelioma strikes this sac and the cells don~t develop normally; instead they are out of control, invading organs and tissue. It~s interesting, and sad to note that many patients have inhaled asbestos fibers in their work.

Mesothelioma is a metastatic cancer, meaning it can spread to other areas of the body from where it began. The number of cases in the past 20 years have increased, although it~s still considered rare. On average, 2,000 new diagnoses are made each year. Patients are more often men than women, although risks go up for both genders as they age.

As many as 80% of those contracting this disease have worked with asbestos at some time. That leaves 20% with the disease having no known asbestos exposure. Asbestos is made up of fibers made from certain minerals that are then woven into fabric. The fibers occur when the material is separated into threads. Asbestos is most often used industrially in shingles, wall and ceiling insulation, and brake linings among other ways.

The problem is that when small particles of asbestos get into the air and are then inhaled or swallowed, significant health problems arise to include the mesothelioma cancer, as well as lung cancer. While asbestos is still legal, today you find businesses using other materials because of the high health risks. Sometimes, companies will hire people to remove the asbestos, which that in itself poses high risk.

Asbestos was first used in the early 19th century and became widely used during World War II. For this reason a lot of American workers worked with it. The highest number of workers at severe risk worked in heating, construction, asbestos mills and mines, and shipyards during the 1940s.

Current limited use and careful monitoring have ensured that mesothelioma occurrences are quite limited. Still if you~ve been around asbestos and are afraid of getting the disease, there are specific symptoms to look out for. These include difficulty breathing, fluid build-up in the chest, causing pain, sudden weight loss, swelling and soreness in the abdomen, anemia, fever, trouble with blood clotting, blocked bowels, neck and facial pain, and trouble swallowing.