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Asbestos Related Diseases - Mesothelioma Defined
by Melinda Brindine
http://www.mesotheliomay.com
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer commonly found in people
who have been exposed to asbestos. The majority of those
diagnosed with mesothelioma are men of retirement age,
simply because it was usually men who worked with asbestos
around thirty to fifty years ago, before modern precautions
were introduced.
And since asbestos particles can become trapped within
hair and clothes, they can also spread to others. For
this reason, there is another group of mesothelioma
patients who did not work with asbestos themselves, but
who came into regular contact with people who worked
with mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is difficult to treat, and most patients do
not respond to the standard cancer treatments. It is also
very hard to diagnose since the symptoms - which could
include coughing, difficulties with breathing, weight loss,
fever and difficulties swallowing - are the same as for
many other diseases.
This is why anyone who thinks they may have been regularly
exposed to asbestos particles should be sure to tell their
physician. Be sure to let your doctor know if you have
worked with asbestos in an unsafe environment (fully
protective chemical suits and breathing masks are what
asbestos workers now must wear, so anything less is
considered unprotected), or anyone who spent significant
time with someone who worked with the material.
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 affects the lung and is the most
common of the three types. This makes sense since
asbestos particles are easily breathed in and trapped
in the lung. Symptoms include shortness of breath,
trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing, weight loss,
and fever.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is the type that affects the
abdomen or stomach area. The symptoms of peritoneal
mesothelioma include vomiting, feelings of sickness and a
poor appetite, obstructed bowels, a swollen and painful
belly, and weight loss.
If the heart is the organ affected then symptoms might
include breathing problems, heart palpitations, and bad
coughing. This mesothelioma is called pericardial
mesothelioma and is the rarest form.
As with most cancers, there is more hope of successfully
treating mesothelioma if it is caught earlier. This is why
your medical history, lodged with your physician, must
include any periods of exposure to asbestos. In general
however, the treatments currently available for treating
the disease do not enjoy a high success rate. This is
particularly true when the mesothelioma is not diagnosed
early.
Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and
chemotherapy. Also, there are several palliative therapy
treatments available that can help alleviate pain
associated with the disease.
Currently, many mesothelioma treatment clinical trials
are going on around the world, as with so many other
cancers, too. The hope is to someday find a powerful
way to defeat this illness.
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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