What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare disease
caused as a result of malignant cancerous cells lining the
patient's body cavities such as chest, abdominal region or the
area surrounding the heart. It is typically associated with
exposure to asbestos which has been documented in as many as
70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. This disease is very difficult
to assess consistently due to the great variability in time
before diagnosis and the rate of progression of malignant
mesothelioma.
Even insignificant exposure to
asbestos (commonly reported in such work environments as
asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards, some older Navy ships or
patients. homes) is known to result in mesothelioma, which in
many cases does not occur for decades after initial exposure to
this cancer-causing substance. In the recent years as many as
2000-3000 cases of mesothelioma have been diagnosed per year. It
is also known that family members of workers exposed to asbestos
can contract this disease through exposure to the worker.s
clothing. Smoking greatly increases the risk of contracting
mesothelioma.
Some of the earliest symptoms of
mesothelioma can often be mistaken for less serious illness and
are commonly overlooked. Some patients do not show any signs of
sickness in the early stages of development of the disease. Most
commonly the symptoms include dyspnea, pleuritic pain, lasting
cough, fatigue, and weight loss. However, these can not be
easily attributed to mesothelioma unless the patient is examined
by their health care provider and necessary tests are done,
which may include CT scans, x-rays scans, or MRI. Surgery can be
one of the treatment options; however, the recurrence rate of
cancerous cells is high. It is very important that the disease
is diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
This disease is not linked with
patient's race; however it is more common in men. Most cases of
mesothelioma occur 30-45 years after initial exposure to
asbestos. Once it develops, this cancer will continue to grow
until it is treated.
Mesothelioma Treatment: What You Can Do
If you or someone you know has
been diagnosed with mesothelioma, remember that time matters.
The faster you consult your doctor and get professional care the
better your chances will be of dealing with this dangerous
cancer. There are three traditional methods of fighting
cancerous mesothelioma: surgery, chemotherapy drugs and
radiation therapy. Please contact your doctor as soon as
possible to get more information.
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