What is Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer affecting the mesothelium (lining around the lungs, abdomen, and heart).
What Causes Mesothelioma
The primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. When invisible microscopic asbestos fibers enter the body either through breathing or ingestion, they will cause normal healthy body cells to mutate into cancer (mesothelioma) over a period of time.
Asbestos exposure could be either direct or indirect.
Direct asbestos exposure occurs when the person comes in direct contact with asbestos fibers. Such persons could include asbestos mine workers, construction workers, building renovators, ship builders, ship breakers, clutch and brake liner manufacturers / mechanics.
Indirect asbestos exposure occurs when the person comes into indirect contact and breathes / ingests asbestos fibers. Such persons could include family and friends of persons who come into direct contact with asbestos fibers. These persons have asbestos fibers embedded into their clothing, skin, and hair. Family and friends get exposed to these fibers when they come in contact with such persons.
To develop mesothelioma, a person need not be exposed for long periods of time to asbestos. Even short periods of asbestos exposure can cause a variety of diseases including mesothelioma.
Types of Mesothelioma
There are basically three types of mesothelioma.
-- Pleural Mesothelioma
-- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
-- Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining surrounding the lungs (pleura). When inhaled, sharp, microscopic asbestos fibers damage these cells, causing scarring and mutations leading to cellular plaques over time. These plaques gradually deteriorate the functioning of the lungs, and ultimately lead to cancer (pleural mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma, consisting of over 80% of all diagnosed mesothelioma.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include one or more of the following.
-- Mild to severe pain in the chest
-- Constant shortness of breath
-- Fluid retention in and around the lungs
-- Mild to severe cough
-- Constant wheezing while breathing
-- Blood traces in the sputum
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining surrounding the stomach. This cancer occurs when the asbestos fibers are ingested into the digestive tract. Peritoneal mesothelioma is not so common with about 10 to 20% of all diagnosed mesothelioma falling into this category.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include one or more of the following.
-- Constant mild to severe pain in the abdomen
-- Fluid retention in the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract
-- Tissue lumps in the abdomen
-- Regular diarrhea or constipation
-- Sudden unexplained weight loss
-- Constant feeling of nausea
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining surrounding the heart. Very few are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, making it the rarest form of mesothelioma.
Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma may include one or more of the following.
-- Mild to severe chest pain
-- Constant shortness of breath
-- Heart palpitations
-- Constant mild to severe cough
Asbestos Related Diseases
It is commonly thought the asbestos exposure leads only to some form of mesothelioma. This is not true.
Even though mesothelioma remains the most common outcome of asbestos exposure other diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer.
Asbestosis is a fatal disease caused by asbestos exposure and should not be mistaken for mesothelioma. The parenchymal tissues within the lungs get inflamed in persons suffering from asbestosis. This causes improper lung functioning and could prove fatal.
Asbestos induced lung cancer is fatal, but fortunately it is extremely rare in the U.S.
Mesothelioma Cure
After initial asbestos exposure it could take between 30 to 40 years (in some instances 50 years) for the symptoms of mesothelioma to surface.
The bad news is that by the time the disease is diagnosed, it is almost always in a terminally advanced stage and will not react positively to most treatments available today.
After diagnosis the person will live a painful life for approximately 12 to 18 months.
The good news is that surgeons today are using a combination of new techniques (all under trial) to diagnose and cure mesothelioma, leading to reduced pain during treatment, and a life expectancy of approximately 5 years after diagnosis.
Get Diagnosed for Mesothelioma
If you have been in any profession related to asbestos, or are a family member or friend of someone involved in such an industry, please get yourself diagnosed for mesothelioma by a physician / surgeon specializing in the latest techniques of mesothelioma diagnosis / cure. You could be feeing very energetic and healthy today, but mesothelioma could currently be a reality within you, gradually reaching a stage where a total cure will be impossible. If diagnosed today, it could save you a lot, including your life.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer affecting the mesothelium (lining around the lungs, abdomen, and heart).
What Causes Mesothelioma
The primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. When invisible microscopic asbestos fibers enter the body either through breathing or ingestion, they will cause normal healthy body cells to mutate into cancer (mesothelioma) over a period of time.
Asbestos exposure could be either direct or indirect.
Direct asbestos exposure occurs when the person comes in direct contact with asbestos fibers. Such persons could include asbestos mine workers, construction workers, building renovators, ship builders, ship breakers, clutch and brake liner manufacturers / mechanics.
Indirect asbestos exposure occurs when the person comes into indirect contact and breathes / ingests asbestos fibers. Such persons could include family and friends of persons who come into direct contact with asbestos fibers. These persons have asbestos fibers embedded into their clothing, skin, and hair. Family and friends get exposed to these fibers when they come in contact with such persons.
To develop mesothelioma, a person need not be exposed for long periods of time to asbestos. Even short periods of asbestos exposure can cause a variety of diseases including mesothelioma.
Types of Mesothelioma
There are basically three types of mesothelioma.
-- Pleural Mesothelioma
-- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
-- Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining surrounding the lungs (pleura). When inhaled, sharp, microscopic asbestos fibers damage these cells, causing scarring and mutations leading to cellular plaques over time. These plaques gradually deteriorate the functioning of the lungs, and ultimately lead to cancer (pleural mesothelioma). Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma, consisting of over 80% of all diagnosed mesothelioma.
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include one or more of the following.
-- Mild to severe pain in the chest
-- Constant shortness of breath
-- Fluid retention in and around the lungs
-- Mild to severe cough
-- Constant wheezing while breathing
-- Blood traces in the sputum
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining surrounding the stomach. This cancer occurs when the asbestos fibers are ingested into the digestive tract. Peritoneal mesothelioma is not so common with about 10 to 20% of all diagnosed mesothelioma falling into this category.
Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include one or more of the following.
-- Constant mild to severe pain in the abdomen
-- Fluid retention in the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract
-- Tissue lumps in the abdomen
-- Regular diarrhea or constipation
-- Sudden unexplained weight loss
-- Constant feeling of nausea
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining surrounding the heart. Very few are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, making it the rarest form of mesothelioma.
Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma may include one or more of the following.
-- Mild to severe chest pain
-- Constant shortness of breath
-- Heart palpitations
-- Constant mild to severe cough
Asbestos Related Diseases
It is commonly thought the asbestos exposure leads only to some form of mesothelioma. This is not true.
Even though mesothelioma remains the most common outcome of asbestos exposure other diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer.
Asbestosis is a fatal disease caused by asbestos exposure and should not be mistaken for mesothelioma. The parenchymal tissues within the lungs get inflamed in persons suffering from asbestosis. This causes improper lung functioning and could prove fatal.
Asbestos induced lung cancer is fatal, but fortunately it is extremely rare in the U.S.
Mesothelioma Cure
After initial asbestos exposure it could take between 30 to 40 years (in some instances 50 years) for the symptoms of mesothelioma to surface.
The bad news is that by the time the disease is diagnosed, it is almost always in a terminally advanced stage and will not react positively to most treatments available today.
After diagnosis the person will live a painful life for approximately 12 to 18 months.
The good news is that surgeons today are using a combination of new techniques (all under trial) to diagnose and cure mesothelioma, leading to reduced pain during treatment, and a life expectancy of approximately 5 years after diagnosis.
Get Diagnosed for Mesothelioma
If you have been in any profession related to asbestos, or are a family member or friend of someone involved in such an industry, please get yourself diagnosed for mesothelioma by a physician / surgeon specializing in the latest techniques of mesothelioma diagnosis / cure. You could be feeing very energetic and healthy today, but mesothelioma could currently be a reality within you, gradually reaching a stage where a total cure will be impossible. If diagnosed today, it could save you a lot, including your life.
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