Cures And Preventive Measures For Mesothelioma Disease

By Heidi Wingrain

Mesothelioma stands high among the most threatening diseases which affect mankind in the present world. Inhaling asbestos fibers for a long time is the cause behind mesothelioma disease. In most cases the patients die within two years of diagnosis. The peculiarity of the disease is that it takes many decades to develop and show its first symptoms. This very fact proves to be a hindrance in timely detection and proper treatment.

Asbestos, which is highly useful mineral in industries, is extremely toxic. Once breathed in, the air borne fibers get accumulated in the mesothelium, which is a protective membrane that covers the internal organs. This results in excessive abnormal cell division and the extra fluid collected due to this thickens the sidewalls of the organs. This obstructs the proper functioning of the organs.

Mesothelioma disease is classified into three according to the areas of our body they occur. While the pleural mesothelioma affects the lung cavities, the peritoneal kind targets the abdominal cavities. The pericardial, which is the most potent among these, attacks the cavities of the heart.

There is no full cure for a fully developed mesothelioma cancer case, as of now. Traditional therapies like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can at best increase the life span by several years. The treatment procedures are hindered due to late detection resulting from the long gestation period required for the disease to show its first symptoms. In most cases, symptoms show up only after the cancer reaches advanced stages. However, if detected early and treated quickly, there is a fair chance that the disease can be removed totally thereby assuring the patient a prolonged healthy life.

It is therefore very important that everyone, who had worked in asbestos-based factories, asbestos pits and family members of such employees to undergo periodical checkups. The usual symptoms are breathing problems and related illnesses like cough, fever etc. Being a rarity, all cancer centers are not manned or equipped to diagnose and cure mesothelioma disease. The patient should approach only those physicians who exclusively deal with the disease, which would greatly help in timely and accurate diagnose, which would be followed by aggressive treatment to root out the cancer. - 30540

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