Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is common among people who have been exposed to asbestos. Because of this causation, most mesothelioma patients tend to be men of retirement age, who may have worked with asbestos in unsafe conditions three to five decades ago.
Nowadays there are precautions in place for working with this dangerous substance.
The cancer may also be found in those who had close contact with asbestos workers, since particles of it can get trapped in hair and clothes.
This type of cancer is unfortunately hard to treat and may not be responsive to standard cancer therapies.
Moreover, the symptoms (weight loss, difficulty breathing, fever, cough, etc.) can masquerade as any number of diseases, making diagnosis difficult.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in the past you should be sure to let your doctor know about it.
Especially if you worked with asbestos in an unsafe manner, without the protective chemical suits and masks that asbestos workers are now required to wear, you could be at risk. Or if you were in regular contact with an asbestos worker, also tell your doctor.
Mesothelioma afflicts the cells in the mesothelium, which is the external layer of the stomach, lungs and heart. That means there are three basic types of mesothelioma, one for each of these organs.
Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lung, is the most common. This is not suprising if you consider that asbestos particles are easily breathed in and trapped in the lung. Common symptoms include trouble breathing, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, and fever.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is the type that affects the abdomen or stomach. Symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite, constipation, a swollen or painful belly, and unexplained weight loss.
The third type is the rarest. Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the heart, has symptoms that include heart palpitations, difficultly breathing, and severe cough.
Prognosis is best if the disease is caught early, as with most types of cancer. That's why it's so important to talk to your physician about your medical history and prior exposure to asbestos. But mesothelioma in general has a poor sucess rate, especially when caught later.
Treatments for this disease range from surgery to radiation therapy and chemotherapy. To help relieve the suffering associated with the disease, there are several palliative therapy treatments available.
As with all other cancers, there are big research projects and clinical trials taking place around the world to try and uncover more successful treatments for mesothelioma.
Doctors and scientists hope to find ways of successfully treating even late stage cancers.
Mesothelioma is a cancer that is easily preventable - simply stay away from asbestos. Asbestos is safe enough until it is broken up or knocked about, because this is when the deadly particles are released.
Asbestos was a very common material in building and manufacturing for quite a long time, so it is not unusual to find it. Roofs and walls in buildings of a certain age might contain it, for example. If you suspect that you have asbestos in your house, do not try to get rid of it yourself. It is dangerous to your health and to others (you will have to dump it somewhere). It is also illegal! Having the material professionally removed is costly but well worth the money.
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