Information about
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma
is a Very Dangerous Cancer Caused By Asbestos Exposure
There are different types of mesothelioma and if you show
any symptoms you need to see a doctor immediately.
Mesothelioma is a type
of cancer of the abdomen that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos,
an industrial product used frequently in the early 20th
century. Asbestos
was commonly used for its resistance to fire and heat in things such as
ovens and brake shoes for cars. It was also mixed with cement to increase
the heat resistance of the cement. Asbestos is a fibrous material that can
also be woven into cloth. The problem with Asbestos arises when it becomes
old and brittle. When something containing asbestos is broken or brushed
against, asbestos fibers are released into the air. Asbestos fibers can be
thinner than one thousandth of a strand of human hair and invisible to the
naked eye. Because they weigh so little they can be kept in the air for
days, and when finally settled, the slightest breeze can put them back
into the air.
Once asbestos enters
the lungs it is absorbed into the mesothelium, a protective layer in your
abdomen that protects your internal organs. Some of the common areas that mesothelioma
can develop are the pleura, the pericardium, and the peritoneum, all
linings of internal organs in the chest. There are several symptoms of
mesothelioma however it can be confused with several other diseases so it
may not be properly diagnosed until the disease has progressed
significantly. Some symptoms of mesothelioma include wheezing, fatigue,
and shortness of breath, swelling, and chest pain. Some of the symptoms of
severe mesothelioma include low blood sugar, jaundice, blood clots, weight
loss and severe internal bleeding.
Treatment
of mesothelioma has largely proved unsuccessful and typically after a
diagnosis the patient has less than a year to live. Radiation therapy can
be used to restrict the growth of the cancer; however, because
mesothelioma is usually located across a large portion of the chest,
it’s impossible to focus the radiation on the cancer. The amount of
radiation required to kill the mesothelioma
in the chest would be fatal to the patient. There are chemotherapy
procedures available as well; however, they only slow the growth of the
cancer and are unable to eliminate it. There are surgical procedures
available that do help slow the cancer however they are fairly major
surgeries. The most common surgery is a pleurectomy, a procedure where the
lining of the chest is removed. Because the lining of the chest is where
the majority of the cancer grows, it helps prolong the patient’s life.
It is possible to stop the disease however if caught early enough. Some
survivors continue to live 20 years or more after their mesothelioma
developed.
Beginning in the
1970’s, the use of asbestos has been heavily regulated in the United
States and is rarely used. In the European Union, Japan and Australia it
entirely banned. Asbestos litigation has been estimated to have a total
cost of $250 billion dollars with over 600,000 claimants. Because
mesothelioma sometimes takes 20 to 50 years to develop, the number of
cases is expect to rise in the near future even though the exposure rate
of asbestos is significantly lower now that in the past. So if you are
diagnosed with this dangerous disease you should also talk to a mesothelioma
attorney and see if they can offer you some advice and assistance.
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