What is Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the membrane lining the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is a rare cancer and the prime cause is almost always asbestos exposure (inhalation / ingestion).
Mesothelioma is usually seen in elderly patients, mostly male. The reason for this is mesothelioma takes approximately 30 to 40 years to develop and show its effects.
Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive, painful, and fatal of all cancers.
Mesothelioma Types
In a maximum number of cases (over 80%) mesothelioma is restricted to the lining of the lungs (pleura), but can also occur in the lining of the stomach (peritoneum), and in very rare cases the lining of the heart (pericardium). They are known as Pleural Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma, and Pericardial Mesothelioma respectively.
Persons at Risk of Mesothelioma
Since mesothelioma takes approximately 30 to 40 years to develop and show its effects, those being diagnosed with mesothelioma today have probably been exposed to asbestos as far back as the 60s or 70s.
Asbestos safety guidelines never existed until the late 80s, so those diagnosed today could either be directly involved with asbestos, or their relatives / friends who were indirectly exposed to asbestos.
Persons at maximum risk of mesothelioma include the following.
-- Construction workers
-- Building renovation workers
-- Ship building workers
-- Ship renovation workers
-- Auto clutch and brake manufacturing workers
-- Auto clutch and brake mechanics
-- Asbestos mine workers
-- Relatives and friends of all of the above mentioned persons
-- Those living in close proximity to asbestos mines
Mesothelioma Symptoms
The symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific to the disease. Almost all the symptoms of mesothelioma overlap with the symptoms of certain other minor diseases.
This is further complicated with the fact that the symptoms of mesothelioma occur approximately 30 to 40 years after initial exposure. When a person experiences the symptoms of mesothelioma it is easily mistaken for some other disease such as viral pneumonia.
Mesothelioma affects the linings of the lungs, stomach, or heart. As the cancer progresses, the tumors cause the affected tissues to expand and gather fluid. This excess fluid is the cause of the symptoms to appear. Mesothelioma symptoms will also depend on the location of the cancer. An x-ray will reveal the amount and spread of the fluid.
Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining / tissue around the lungs with a build-up of fluid (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma symptoms could include one or more of the following.
-- Shortness of breath
-- Mild to severe constant chest pain
-- Constant mild to severe cough
-- Sudden weight loss
These symptoms are common with other diseases and could be misdiagnosed for pneumonia.
What is Pleural Effusion
Pleural effusion is one of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma. It is the accumulation of fluid in between the pleura covering the chest wall / diaphragm (parietal pleura) and the pleura covering the lungs (visceral pleura). In normal circumstances these membranes are covered with a very small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant between the moving chest wall and lung. When an excess amount of fluid is collected without being able to drain due to the cancer, it results in an effusion.
Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining / tissue surrounding the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms could include one or more of the following.
-- Abdominal swelling
-- Tissue mass in the abdomen
-- Sudden weight loss
-- Nausea
-- Anemia
-- Mild to severe abdominal pain
-- Mild to severe diarrhea
-- Mild to severe constipation
These symptoms are accompanied by a constant mild fever in some cases.
Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare. It affects the lining / tissue surrounding the heart causing a fluid build-up. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms could include one or more of the following.
-- Mild to severe chest pain
-- cough
-- Irregular heart-beats
-- Irregular breathing pattern
-- Constant unexplained fatigue
Get Diagnosed for Mesothelioma
If mesothelioma symptoms show, it means just one thing. The cancer has spread to incurable proportions.
If you know that you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, but none of the symptoms of mesothelioma are present, do not wait for the symptoms to show up. It could be very late by then. Get a diagnosis for mesothelioma performed by a surgeon who is trained in handling mesothelioma cases. Detection in the early stages (which is very rare) will help in better treatment, possibly even getting rid of the cancer.
Always remember that all of the above symptoms could be caused by mesothelioma, or could be caused by some less serious condition having nothing to do with mesothelioma. Never come to a conclusion by yourself that you have mesothelioma even if most of the mentioned symptoms are present. Get it checked / diagnosed by a trained physician / surgeon, because only they will be able to make a definitive diagnosis of the symptoms.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the membrane lining the lungs, abdomen, or heart. It is a rare cancer and the prime cause is almost always asbestos exposure (inhalation / ingestion).
Mesothelioma is usually seen in elderly patients, mostly male. The reason for this is mesothelioma takes approximately 30 to 40 years to develop and show its effects.
Mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive, painful, and fatal of all cancers.
Mesothelioma Types
In a maximum number of cases (over 80%) mesothelioma is restricted to the lining of the lungs (pleura), but can also occur in the lining of the stomach (peritoneum), and in very rare cases the lining of the heart (pericardium). They are known as Pleural Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma, and Pericardial Mesothelioma respectively.
Persons at Risk of Mesothelioma
Since mesothelioma takes approximately 30 to 40 years to develop and show its effects, those being diagnosed with mesothelioma today have probably been exposed to asbestos as far back as the 60s or 70s.
Asbestos safety guidelines never existed until the late 80s, so those diagnosed today could either be directly involved with asbestos, or their relatives / friends who were indirectly exposed to asbestos.
Persons at maximum risk of mesothelioma include the following.
-- Construction workers
-- Building renovation workers
-- Ship building workers
-- Ship renovation workers
-- Auto clutch and brake manufacturing workers
-- Auto clutch and brake mechanics
-- Asbestos mine workers
-- Relatives and friends of all of the above mentioned persons
-- Those living in close proximity to asbestos mines
Mesothelioma Symptoms
The symptoms of mesothelioma are non-specific to the disease. Almost all the symptoms of mesothelioma overlap with the symptoms of certain other minor diseases.
This is further complicated with the fact that the symptoms of mesothelioma occur approximately 30 to 40 years after initial exposure. When a person experiences the symptoms of mesothelioma it is easily mistaken for some other disease such as viral pneumonia.
Mesothelioma affects the linings of the lungs, stomach, or heart. As the cancer progresses, the tumors cause the affected tissues to expand and gather fluid. This excess fluid is the cause of the symptoms to appear. Mesothelioma symptoms will also depend on the location of the cancer. An x-ray will reveal the amount and spread of the fluid.
Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining / tissue around the lungs with a build-up of fluid (pleural effusion). Pleural mesothelioma symptoms could include one or more of the following.
-- Shortness of breath
-- Mild to severe constant chest pain
-- Constant mild to severe cough
-- Sudden weight loss
These symptoms are common with other diseases and could be misdiagnosed for pneumonia.
What is Pleural Effusion
Pleural effusion is one of the most common symptoms of mesothelioma. It is the accumulation of fluid in between the pleura covering the chest wall / diaphragm (parietal pleura) and the pleura covering the lungs (visceral pleura). In normal circumstances these membranes are covered with a very small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant between the moving chest wall and lung. When an excess amount of fluid is collected without being able to drain due to the cancer, it results in an effusion.
Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining / tissue surrounding the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms could include one or more of the following.
-- Abdominal swelling
-- Tissue mass in the abdomen
-- Sudden weight loss
-- Nausea
-- Anemia
-- Mild to severe abdominal pain
-- Mild to severe diarrhea
-- Mild to severe constipation
These symptoms are accompanied by a constant mild fever in some cases.
Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare. It affects the lining / tissue surrounding the heart causing a fluid build-up. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms could include one or more of the following.
-- Mild to severe chest pain
-- cough
-- Irregular heart-beats
-- Irregular breathing pattern
-- Constant unexplained fatigue
Get Diagnosed for Mesothelioma
If mesothelioma symptoms show, it means just one thing. The cancer has spread to incurable proportions.
If you know that you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, but none of the symptoms of mesothelioma are present, do not wait for the symptoms to show up. It could be very late by then. Get a diagnosis for mesothelioma performed by a surgeon who is trained in handling mesothelioma cases. Detection in the early stages (which is very rare) will help in better treatment, possibly even getting rid of the cancer.
Always remember that all of the above symptoms could be caused by mesothelioma, or could be caused by some less serious condition having nothing to do with mesothelioma. Never come to a conclusion by yourself that you have mesothelioma even if most of the mentioned symptoms are present. Get it checked / diagnosed by a trained physician / surgeon, because only they will be able to make a definitive diagnosis of the symptoms.
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