Aging and Disease

What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a rare type of
cancer that grows on the mesothelium, the membrane or
protective sac that surrounds the various organs of the
body. It guards the organs by producing a special type
of fluid to promote mobility of the organs. In the case
of the lungs, mesothelium fluid allows ease in the
movement when taking in air. Mesothelioma tumor can
start on any area of the mesothelium which can be
benign or cancerous. Known to be the cause of
Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a heat resistant fibrous mineral used in
the industry as the main material in making roofing,
gasket compounds, floor tiles and patching compounds.
Its versatility makes it a component of various
products in the market but it is extremely dangerous
once inhaled no matter how small the quantity may be.
Inhaled asbestos fiber can pass through the air
passages which can come in contact with linings of the
lungs which can injure the cells and result to pleural
Mesothelioma. Swallowed asbestos on the other hand can
affect the fibers lined up on the abdominal cavity
resulting to peritoneal Mesothelioma. There are also
evidences that link Mesothelioma with Thorotrast, a
component used for X-rays but its usage has been
stopped for a long time.

The symptoms and signs of Mesothelioma can be very
common that is why the patient may just take it for
granted. The symptoms may happen from two to three
months before Mesothelioma is detected. Pleural
Mesothelioma is the commonly occurring type which takes
part in almost two thirds of the total detected
Mesothelioma cases. The linings of the lungs and chest
called pleura are the affected regions of Pleural
Mesothelioma. Common signs are weight loss but not
related with shift in diet, extreme tiredness,
difficulty in swallowing, raspy or hoarse voice,
constant shortness of breath, cough that have lasted
for a long time, pain the chest or back, extreme
sweating and recurring fever. For Peritoneal
Mesothelioma, commonly affected organs of the body are
bowel, liver and spleen with signs that are similar to
bowel related diseases. Early symptoms include pain on
the belly area, recurring constipation or diarrhea,
increase in the waist area, nausea, vomiting, fever and
even anemia. Anyone who encounters these symptoms that
have been exposed to asbestos can better consult their
doctor for diagnosis to prevent further Mesothelioma
complicated problems.

Prevention of Mesothelioma can be best done by avoiding
contact with asbestos which is proven to be its main
causing agent. Asbestos is found almost everywhere may
it be at home, at work or in any public buildings.
Workers involved with it must take extra care and
precautions to avoid contact through inhalation or
swallowing. Low rates of Mesothelioma cases are
detected for the past 20 years but nowadays, the number
of affected individuals has been growing to a large
degree. In United States almost 2,000 new cases are
detected each year. It occurs mostly with men since
they are commonly the ones involved in business and
cases that involve the use of asbestos. Factory
workers, miners, railroad laborers, gas mask makers,
insulation workers and ship builders are the commonly
asbestos related victims.

The patients or the individuals affected with
Mesothelioma can file lawsuits against asbestos makers,
manufacturers and employers since they have the duty to
protect their workers from the negative effects of
asbestos including Mesothelioma. Several law firms and
lawyers are now available to help the sufferers fight
for their right and to attain the justice that they
deserve.

Tags: Health, Illness

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