Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer that affects the body of many retired factory, military, shipyard and construction workers. While there are many aggravating factors that can worsen the severity of a mesothelioma case, it has been demonstrated with strong evidence to be primarily caused by exposure to asbestos.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma tumors affect the protective lining surrounding a great deal of the body’s internal organs. These tumors can lead to the development of severe chest pain, low blood sugar levels, fatigue, anemia, shortness of breath and even lung collapse. Mesothelioma tumors can spread all over the body, with the exception of the brain, skeletal system and adrenal glands. Mesothelioma symptoms can take a very long time to manifest, in some cases at least 15 years. The fact that some cases are not diagnosed until decades after the initial asbestos exposure that caused them makes the cancer very hard to treat or prevent.

How Does Asbestos Exposure Occur?

Asbestos is a general term for a wide range of minerals used throughout human history, and more recently in a variety of industrial settings. Its efficiency as a cheap insulator led to it becoming very popular in homes built before the 1970s, as well as military ships during World War II. In their raw mineral form, small asbestos particles can easily become airborne, where they pose a huge risk of being inhaled. Inside the body, these abrasive dust fragments lead to the development of cancers. Many shipyard workers and factory personnel were exposed to asbestos long before the correlation between asbestos and mesothelioma was commonly noted. Modern workers who renovate older buildings are also at risk for mesothelioma inducing asbestos exposure.

How to detect Mesothelioma and What to do About it?

Diagnosis of this desease is complicated by the similarity of mesothelioma symptoms to a many other common diseases. Generaly, a complete detailed review of a patient’s medical history as well as their occupational history and experience is necessary in obtaining an accurate diagnosis. The historic study is usually followed by thorough physical examinations including chest X-rays, lung function tests and CT scans or MRIs.

There are few treatments  for mesothelioma that can provide some sort of cure by themselves, and surgery has proven frequently ineffective on mesothelioma.   Chemotherapy is the most commonly administered effective therapy, and immunotherapy treatments have provided various results, some of which were in fact successful.  There are clinical trials of new treatments that are in Phase II and Phase III study that are proving to be very hopeful of a cure to mesothelioma cancer.

Get more information about Asbestos Exposure, here!

Get more information about Mesothelioma Causes and Treatments, here!