Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that develops when the cells of the mesothelium (a thin membrane that covers the chest and abdomen) start to multiply in a rapid and uncontrollable way and can take up to 60 years to fully develop.

Mesothelium is actually divided into two parts.

The first is the pleura which lines the lungs. The pleura is comprised of an inner layer and an outer layer which slide over each other as you breath. If mesothelioma develops in this area it is known as pleural mesothelioma and it causes the two layers to become thicker.

The second is the peritoneum which lines the abdomen and it also has an inner layer and an outer layer. If the mesothelioma affects this area it is known as peritoneal mesothelioma and it also causes these layers to become thicker.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma:

The symptoms of mesothelioma vary based on the region of your body affected by the cancer.

The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

Shortness of breath
Lumps of tissue under your chest skin
Weight loss
Dry cough
Painful breathing
Painful coughing
Chest pain near the rib cage

The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are:

Weight loss
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Abdominal swelling
Change in bowel habits (frequent diarrhea or constipation)
Lumps of tissue in abdomen

Both types of mesothelioma can be very painful and lead to a number of undesirable symptoms. Pleural mesothelioma can cause breathlessness, coughing and chest pain. It can also lead to pleural effusion where lubricating fluid in the lungs becomes trapped between the inner and outer layers of the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma can lead to abdominal pain, bowel problems and it swelling in the abdomen.

Almost every case of mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. In the past asbestos was a very popular construction material. However, as people became more knowledgeable they learnt about the dangers associated with this material. In particular they discovered that the very fine fibers that make up asbestos are easily released when the material is handled.

If you have previously been exposed to asbestos you should go see your doctor right away and explain your concerns. Even if it turns out that you do not have this type of cancer it is better to be safe than sorry.

Several other diseases are related to the exposure of asbestos fibers.

Not all of these are deadly, but they all result in health damage and even damage to the quality of the patient's life. Most of these diseases can be predicted and treated during the time of asbestos exposure. Normally, your exposure to the dust and fibers of asbestos does not cause disease immediately. However, you need to protect yourself from being exposed just to make sure that you will not develop a medical condition related with the mineral.

The dust and fibers of asbestos are hazardous since these are really small. In fact, a microscope is needed just to determine the type of an asbestos fiber. Once they enter the body, there are two possible places where asbestos fibers go. When the fibers are breathed accidentally, they go to your lungs. If they are swallowed, they go to your stomach. Hence, the most common types of asbestos-related diseases occur in the human chest and lungs.

When the fibers of asbestos are viewed through a microscope, they appear sharp. If they get inside your body, they will destroy your tissues. It has been said that all levels of asbestos exposure are harmful to the body. This is due to the fact that just one fiber can bring severe harm. The risk is greatest when you are constantly exposed to it. Medical experts say that the only way for you to hinder the development of asbestos-related health problems is to keep yourself from being exposed to its fibers.

Cancer diseases, which are linked with asbestos exposure, generally take two to four decades to develop. The whole duration is known as the "latency period." Compared to other asbestos-related diseases, pleural thickening occurs more often. There are some individuals who refer to their disease as "asbestosis." However, asbestosis is the specific term for one condition. In order for you to know what is affecting you precisely, you need the diagnosis of a specialist.

The following are among the diseases that are brought about due to severe exposure to the fibers and dust of asbestos:

Lung cancer and other types of cancer diseases

Epidemiological studies suggest that asbestos is one of the primary reasons for lung cancer-related deaths. On the other hand, there are times when a specialist finds it hard to determine the cause of lung cancer. This is especially true when the patient smokes a lot. It has been discovered that exposure to asbestos, paired with smoking, increases the likely of developing lung cancer. Other types of asbestos-related cancer are larynx cancer; stomach cancer; and cancer to the rectum, colon, and ovaries.

Asbestosis

This is a type of pneumoconiosis. Asbestosis is the general reference for the damage occurring to the interior of your lung as a result of asbestos dust inhalation. Your lung is comprised of several alveoli where carbon dioxide and oxygen are transported to and from your blood. When asbestos dust gets inside your lung, the walls of your alveoli are damaged.

Pleural plaques

These refer to the local scarring or thickening of the membrane lining your lungs. Although this type of illness is not that severe, it can be painful and discomforting. It can act as a precursor to another type of asbestos-related disease.

Pleural thickening

This happens when the pleural lining of your lung hardens due to the asbestos fibers found in your lungs. When the case is severe, it can lead to breathing difficulties.

Further Information Regarding Mesothelioma

Smoking and Mesothelioma Risks
Tobacco smoking, while it does not directly lead to mesothelioma, does make a person more susceptible to it if that person has also been exposed to asbestos. In order to understand this susceptibility, it's important to also understand asbestos and the nature of the asbestos cancer mesothelioma.

9/11 Ground Zero and Mesothelioma
Numerous cases of mesothelioma, a rare yet insidious cancer which is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure, may still be in store for the first responders to those attacks and the general population of lower Manhattan and surrounding buroughs.

Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer in which malignant cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs).

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Information
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the abdominal lining (1 per 1,000,000). It is usually associated with asbestos exposure and is regarded as universally fatal.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that can be either malignant or benign. The malignant type of mesothelioma is the most hazardous form of cancer and may be deadly in most cases. This cancer affects the tissue known as the mesothelium, which protects the heart, stomach, lungs, and other organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move.

Does Your Garden Contain Asbestos?
Asbestos containing products are often thought to be solely in the industrial sector of an occupation. What is more uncommonly known is that gardening should be done cautiously because some potting mixtures contain asbestos.

Alternative Mesothelioma Treatments
Alternative treatments for mesothelioma are often described as holistic treatments because not only do they help their patients physical well being but also mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Alternative treatments help ease stress and reduce the side effects caused by the medical treatments for mesothelioma cancer.

Asbestos Dangers for Veterans
The brave men and women who have served our country are modern day heroes. Fighting for freedom has never come easy, nor does it now. According to the United States Department of Veteran Affairs, there are currently 25 million individuals who have served in the United States Armed Forces-thank you. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions of these living veterans have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials during their services.

Mesothelioma: Occupations at Risk
Mesothelioma (mez-uh-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that can be either malignant or benign. The malignant type of mesothelioma is the most hazardous form of cancer and may be deadly in most cases. This cancer affects the tissue mesothelium, which protects the heart, stomach, lungs, and other organs by making a special fluid that allows the organs to move.

Asbestos Dangers for Firefighters
Firefighting is a well known hazardous occupation. They are modern day heroes who extinguish fires and save lives. But besides being exposed to the obvious immediate hazardous factors such as the fire itself, smoke inhalation of carbon monoxide poison, and collapsing buildings, there is a less obvious factor that may be more dangerous - asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Affecting Children
The latency period of mesothelioma can be many years, so often diagnosing children with mesothelioma can be difficult because they have not lived that long. However there have been rare cases and studies that detected mesothelioma in children. Because the prognosis is poor, doctors need to carefully diagnose mesothelioma in their youngest patients.

Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by asbestos exposure and is most commonly found in the outer lining of the lungs called the mesothelium. The majority of the people who develop mesothelioma contract this cancer through breathing in asbestos fibers or being exposed to asbestos dust while on the job.

Mesothelioma and Asbestosis
In order to fully understand the relationship between asbestosis and mesothelioma, and clearly distinguish between these diseases, we must first learn about the cause, then set about defining each condition in a clear, yet non-technical manner.

Mesothelioma Treatment Options
There are several types of treatment available for patients with
mesothelioma, some recommended more frequently than others. The most commonly used treatments are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.