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Mesothelioma – The Working Man’s Killer

Article by Roger McGrady

What is mesothelioma? Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body’s internal organs, themesothelium. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.

Back in the day, asbestos was used in the construction of many buildings and places of business. Unknowing workers worked in these structures each day not know that there was danger lurking in thewalls and ceiling. Many years later, some were diagnosed with a type of lung cancer that was directly attributed to the asbestos exposure. Luckily today, asbestos is no longer used as a building material dueto the risk.

Those suffering from the effects of long term asbestos exposure are often diagnosed with a cancer called mesothelioma. There are different types of this cancer but the most common is Pleural Mesothelioma which affects the lining or pleura of the lungs. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing, a persistent dry cough, chest pain or painful breathing.

The second type of Mesothelioma that is most common is Peritoneal Mesothelioma. This affects the lining of the abdominal cavity. Typical symptoms of this type of cancer are vomiting, a distendedabdomen, a change in bowel habits, and unexplained weight loss.

Mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive type of cancer and does not usually respond well to standard cancer treatments. In addition to being difficult to treat, it is usually not easily diagnosed. Pleuralmesothelioma responds better than other types, but that is only if it is caught in the early stages. Due to the difficulty in getting a timely diagnosis, the prognosis is not usually a good one.

This difficulty in diagnosis makes it critical that you inform your doctor of any known exposure to asbestos. Without this information, your doctor may not consider asbestos related diseases as a potential cause for your symptoms, hence delaying a proper diagnosis. Any symptom, no matter how insignificant it might seem, needs to be reported to your doctor. Armed with this information, he can then order appropriate tests to accurately diagnose any asbestos caused illness.

Each year approximately 2000-3000 people are diagnosed with asbestos related cancer. This number is projected to go higher over the next decade. Researchers and scientists continue to study Mesotheliomaand its possible causes. Hopefully, with advancements in treatment options, Mesothelioma patients will have better a better prognosis in the long term.

If you are having previously unexplained symptoms, and think you might have been exposed to asbestos, talk with your doctor. You might end up with some tests that were not needed, but you will gain peace of mind when Mesothelioma is ruled out.

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About the Author

For more information about your legal rights, please contact mesothelioma attorney John Donahue at JD Law Group at 1-888-736-4248 or go to http://www.jdlawgroup.com to submit your claim.

Mesothelioma can be described as a rare type of cancer which is caused due to the exposure of humans to asbestos. In more clear words, mesothelioma occurs when asbestos are inhaled and absorbed into the individuals bloodstream which results in the formation of a cancerous coating on the internal body organs of patients.

Pleural Mesothelioma is considered as the most common type of mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma creates a tumor on the pleura – the sac which lines the chest cavity protecting the human lungs.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is another type of mesothelioma which affects the peritoneum of the human abdominal cavity. There are also several other forms which effect various areas such as the lining of the heart and abdomen.

Causes of Mesothelioma

As mentioned earlier, exposure to asbestos is the main reason for mesothelioma cancer. Asbestos is a heat resistant fibrous mineral which is commonly used for various industrial purposes. Asbestos is widely used as the main object in creating gasket compounds, roofing, patching compounds, and floor tiles.Asbestos dust is injurious to the human body, and may invariably lead to this cancerous condition if exposed to for a longer period of time.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma

According to physicians, mesothelioma is common with people working with asbestos. It is reported that the effect of a couple of weeks or even less can result in the risk of mesothelioma. The effect is not immediate and to say an average it takes around 35 to 45 years to develop a malignant tumor. Mesothelioma cancer is mostly seen in miners, factory workers, railroad laborers, ship builders, insulation workers, and gas mask makers.

Some of the main symptoms of mesothelioma cancer include breathing difficulties, abdominal pain, bowel obstruction, and continuous coughing causing chest and stomach pains.

Treatments

With the advancement in science and technology, newer treatment techniques have been introduced, and some of it is looking promising as well.

Today, there are several procedures used for mesothelioma treatment. The type of mesothelioma treatment purely depends on several factors such as the health and age of the patient, location of the cancer, and the stage of the disease.

The main form of treatment for mesothelioma is surgery to remove the tumor and some of the tissue around the infected part. For cancer of the pleura, an operation known as pneumonectomy is usually done to remove a lung. In certain cases, the diaphragm, the muscle just below the lungs which aids in breathing is removed.

Radiation therapy, also known as radiotherapy, is another method of mesothelioma treatment. In this treatment high energy rays are used to kill cancer cells and shrink tumor affected cells.

Another treatment for mesothelioma cancer is chemotherapy. In this treatment anticancer drugs are used to kill cancer cells throughout the patients body. This treatment involves the administration of the drugs by injection into a vein.