Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that is becoming increasingly common. The most common cause of this cancer is exposure to asbestos. When constantly exposed with insufficient protection, asbestos dust & fibres affect the mesothelial cells which make up the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the outer lining that protects some of the body’s most vital organs such as the heart & lungs. The mesothelial cells become abnormal after lengthy periods of constant exposure to asbestos causing an array of issues.
Due to the latency period & signs of this cancer, mesothelioma is hard to diagnose. Mesothelioma takes decades to mature & create fully & this is why lots of elderly men who were exposed to asbestos thirty years before are discovering they have the cancer. Lots of these men are currently lodging multi-million dollar lawsuits against the companies that exposed them to the dangers of asbestos without sufficient protection.
The organs that are affected most by mesothelioma are the lungs. The most common type of mesothelioma which is called pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs & may cause signs such as coughing, breathing & swallowing difficulties, shortness of breath & fever. Another area that can be affected by mesothelioma is the abdomen. This is less common & this is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Signs of peritoneal mesothelioma include nausea & vomiting, weight loss, fever, bowel obstruction, loss of appetite & general pain in the stomach area. The last & least common type of mesothelioma is called pericardial mesothelioma & it affects the heart & the tissue surrounding it. Signs of this sort of the cancer include palpitations, breathing difficulties & persistent coughing. Usually, the signs of mesothelioma are typical of lots of other diseases & this makes it hard to diagnose.
There are treatments for mesothelioma although these are usually unsuccessful. If the cancer is treated aggressively in its early stages then there is a nice chance of a patient surviving. However, due to the difficulty to diagnose mesothelioma, the cancer is not normally found until it is late. Treatments that are used for mesothelioma include surgical procedure, radiation therapy, palliative therapy & chemotherapy. Research for additional treatment of mesothelioma is being completed at various cancer centers all over the United States as well as by pharmaceutical companies.
