Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelial cells, which cover most internal organs. The two places in which mesothelioma can develop are the lungs and the abdomen, but it is most commonly found in the lungs.
Mesothelioma which affects the lungs is called pleural mesothelioma, and in 70-80% of cases is caused by asbestos fibres being breathed in and becoming stuck in the tissue which covers the lungs (pleura). It is not known for certain what causes mesothelioma in the other 20-30%, although research is continuing.
Who suffers from mesothelioma?
2,000 cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the UK and the number of people who die from it is expected to rise to a peak between 2011 and 2015. This is because the disease can take 15-40 years to develop, and blue and brown asbestos (thought to be the most likely types to cause mesothelioma) were banned only in the late 1908s.
85% of the people who suffer from mesothelioma are male, and this is thought to be because it is mostly men who worked in trades involving asbestos. Most of the women who develop mesothelioma are thought to have breathed in asbestos fibres whilst cleaning the clothing of husbands who worked with the material.
Tradesfolk who are particularly likely to have handled asbestos and are at high risk of developing the industrial illness mesothelioma include:
- Metal plate workers
- Plumbers
- Gas fitters
- Carpenters
- Electricians
- Builders
- Decorators
What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:
- pain in the lower back or side of chest
- shortness of breath
- persistent cough
- weight loss
- difficulty swallowing
These symptoms do not necessarily mean a person has mesothelioma as they could apply to a range of other illnesses, but it is much more likely if they have had contact with asbestos.
What is the prognosis for mesothelioma?
The majority of people who suffer from mesothelioma only see their doctor when it has reached an advanced stage, and at this point the likelihood is that survival will be less than a year.
This very much depends on a range of factors, however, which include blood count, general health, and the type of mesothelioma from which a person is suffering.
One study found that 3 years after diagnosis, 1 in 10 people had survived, and after 5 years, survival rate was 1 in 20. However, other studies found a much better survival rate, with one study finding that 1 in 3 mesothelioma patients survived for 5 or more years, although this study only looked at people with epithelioid type tumours.
There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, but a range of drugs and treatments such as chemotherapy can help to delay the symptoms of the disease.
What should someone do if they are diagnosed with mesothelioma?
If there is a history of contact with asbestos in the workplace, an industrial illness claim may well be an option to consider. If successful, it will provide financial support to help the mesothelioma patient and their family pay for treatment and care, as well as substantial compensation for the exposure to asbestos that caused the illness.
Although most compensation claims have to be started within 3 years of the injury occurring, the nature of asbestos-related disease means that the disease does not become obvious for many years, so industrial illness claims are still valid as long as they are begun within 3 years of diagnosis.
Editorial notes: YouClaim provides an absolutely cost-free, risk-free compensation service to people who have been injured through no fault of their own. Get free legal advice on making a personal injury claim at http://www.youclaim.co.uk or call 0800 10 757 95.
Author: Alexandra Gubbins of http://www.youclaim.co.uk.
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Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, commonly linked with prior exposure to asbestos. In this disease, cancerous cells grow in the protective lining (mesothelium) covering the internal organs of the body. This disease is commonly located in the outer lining of the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). It can also be found in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), or the sac that envelops the heart (pericardium). People who contract this disease have invariably worked on jobs that put them in close contact with asbestos.
One of the characteristics of mesothelioma is that symptoms can appear very late, sometimes 50 years following first contact with asbestos. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, the disease’s most common form, include discomfort in the chest and difficulty in breathing. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, another form of the disease, include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain. Blood clotting, bowel obstruction and fever are other symptoms of this type of mesothelioma. If the malignancy has spread to other body parts, then symptoms may include pain, face swelling and difficulty in swallowing food. However, it is important to remember that these symptoms are not exclusive to this disease; they can happen with other less severe conditions as well.
Over the past two decades, the rate of mesothelioma cases has gone up. Still, in the larger picture, it is a relatively rare cancer. The percentage of cases largely depends on the populations’ exposure to asbestos. In the United States, it has been reported that that frequency may have hit the highest point at 15 per million in 2004. This trend is thought to continue in other parts of the world. Interestingly, mesothelioma is more common in men than women. The risk of this disease augments with age, but a person of any age or gender can be affected. About one-fifth to one-third of all mesothelioma cases are peritoneal.
Mesothelioma Asbestos provides detailed information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos, Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases, Mesothelioma Asbestos Treatment, Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer and more. Mesothelioma Asbestos is affiliated with Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support.
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