Exposure to asbestos has been shown to be the cause of the form of cancer known as Mesothelioma. Because of the threat of Mesothelioma, most asbestos has been removed from public and private locations, ever since we have known about the effects of this illness. However, the threat of asbestos exposure does still exist, and far from all cases of this cancer are known, since it takes between 10 and 50 years to exhibit the symptoms of Mesothelioma. So many people who have been exposed years ago are still at risk for this cancer. Parts of the population who may have breathed particles of asbestos as far back as 1955 may still develop Mesothelioma.
The three known types of Mesothelioma are pleural, peritoneal and pericardial. Each attacks a different part of the body, as the names imply. On a technical level, the cancer affects the mesothelium, the sac that lines and protects vital organs, such as the lungs and the heart.
Mesothelioma results in the cells within the lining of the mesothelium becoming cancerous.
The most common form of the illness is Pleural Mesothelioma, which targets the lung cavity, and the protective lining of the lungs. Fluids build up between the lung lining and the chest cavity in this type of Mesothelioma. The patient develops pleural effusion as a result. The symptoms of plural effusion are: shortness of breath, a difficulty in breathing, a persistant cough that frequently involves a bloody discharge, great difficulty in swallowing, high fever and ultimately weight loss.
A rarer form of the disease is Peritoneal Mesothelioma. It affects the stomach and abdominal region. This cancer can spread quickly to other parts of the body, even though it
may only first be present in the abdomen. Tumors form in
this form of the cancer, which press against the wall of the abdomen and the pressure of these tumors causes abdominal pain and swelling. Loss of appetite, nausea, chest pains, bowel obstructions, and difficulty in breathing are the indirect results .
Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rarest of all types of Mesothilioma. This is the form of the disease that targets the heart and the surrounding cavity. Tumors form in this type as well, causing similar symptoms as Peritoneal Mesothelioma, such as the shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest pain, palpitations and persistent cough.
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because it exhibits many symptoms that other diseases exhibit. Pneumonia and heart disease both cause shortness of breath,heart disease causes chest pain, etc. If the patient is not aware of any prior exposure to asbestos,Mesothelioma will not be assumed as a cause of these symptoms.That is the reason this cancer is not often pursued by physicians as a cause of these symptoms, unless all other possible diseases have been ruled out.
The types of workers who are most prone to asbestos exposure are shipbuilders, drywall removers, construction workers, firemen, mechanics and demolition workers. They are the most prone to developing Mesothelioma as a result.
Those who are close to the victims of this disease may tragically be at a high risk for developing the disease as well, because asbestos fibers cling to skin, hair, clothing and shoes. The fibers are light, and easily become airborne and eventually can be inhaled by those who are in close proximity to the victims of the disease.
While there are treatments and supportive services that may be put into place for those who suffer from Mesothelioma, there is no known cure. Typically, those who are diagnosed with the disease lose their lives within one year of the diagnosis, and most others follow within the next six months. At best, patients can be kept as comfortable as possible through pain management and, in some cases, respiratory therapy programs.
