Mesothelioma Facts For Your Knowledge

By Heidi Wingrain

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that attacks the mesothelium, which is a membranous sac that protects most vital organs of our body. This type of cancer occurs when the cells of this covering start showing abnormal behavior by dividing on their won without any order. Slowly the malice spreads and the adjoining tissues and organs also get affected.

It has been found that the cancer is mostly caused by persistent exposure to asbestos. Workers employed at factories and workshops that use this material are always at risk of getting afflicted. Being a highly useful natural substance, asbestos has been put to extensive uses, but now governments around the globe are waking up to its terrible side effects. Some countries have even banned the use of asbestos. A huge chunk of all mesothelioma cases occur due to over-exposure to this material.

There are three types of this cancer. The first and the most common is the Pleural Mesothelioma, which attacks the lining around abdominal cavity and the heart. Doctors aver that this is a very dangerous malady since chances of survival for more than three years is practically nil. Next is the peritoneal mesothelioma, which attacks the sac around abdominal organs, especially the GI tract. The third form, which is very rare compared to the others, is the Pericardial Mesothelioma. It affects the protective lining of the heart exclusively and is the most life-threatening of the three forms.

The symptoms of mesothelioma infection include chest wall pain, fatigue, breathlessness, cough, blood emission during coughing spells, weight loss, abdominal dysfunction etc. The cancer becomes life threatening due to the fact that the symptoms develop only several years after a person inhales asbestos fibers. The law has come to the aid of such affected persons by making them eligible for compensation from the employer.

Chemotherapy and surgery are the popular traditional methods for treating mesothelioma. At times a combination of these two is also used. Though researches are going on in the field of mesothelioma treatment early detection and treatment are essential to win over the disease. - 30540

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here