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What is mesothelioma?
The pericardium is the mesothelial tissue that surrounds and acts as a
safeguard to the heart. The pleural mesothelium membrane covers the
lungs and chest cavity and peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that
enfolds the organs in the abdominal cavity.
What is actually cancer mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a dual
layered membrane with which our chest, lungs, abdomen and the heart is
wrapped safely.
Cancer Mesothelioma can damage any of these cells, although pleural
mesothelioma is more common; it metastasizes and at an advanced stage
the disease reach to the other parts of the body like the lymph nodes,
lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.
How is cancer mesothelioma caused?
Though asbestos exposure is the primary reason in 70% to 80% of the
cases, mesothelioma can be caused by other means, like exposure to the
chemical zeolite that is also present in asbestos.
Asbestos has become part of our daily life being in cement, brake
linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.
The asbestos fibers take their toll by going into our windpipe and
settling in the internal organs causing the formation of carcinogenic
tumors.
The overall scenario regarding cancer mesothelioma
Though there is a ban on certain asbestos products, around 1000 people
in France and above 2000 people in the U.S are faced with this
nightmare each year.
Mostly, workers from shipyards, asbestos mines and mills are prone to
this mishap, due to a constant exposure to asbestos. However, it takes
30 to 50 years for the disease to surface and show symptoms though they
are not always accurate.
Cancer mesothelioma is proving more than a menace and the average
person live for 12-24 months; the earlier it is detected, the better is
the cure process.
The recent picture
Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
have put restrictions towards maintaining acceptable levels of asbestos
exposure in the workplace. People who work with asbestos are geared up
with individual protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.
Even the family members of the workers are prone to the disease, so
they are advised to take a shower before leaving for home.
Symptoms of cancer mesothelioma
- Feeling out of breath and pain in the chest due to an accretion of fluid in the pleura
- Peritoneal mesothelioma comprises weight loss and abdominal pain and a bulging abdomen due to accumulation of fluid
- Bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever
- Pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face
However, a registered medical practitioner can diagnose you correctly.
Diagnosis of cancer mesothelioma
Diagnosis commences with an assessment of the patient's medical
history, as well as any history of asbestos exposure. A complete
physical examination may be performed, including:
- X-rays of the chest or abdomen
- A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a
sequence of comprehensive pictures of areas inside the body created by
a computer linked to an X-ray machine
- In an MRI, a strong magnet connected to a computer is used to draw
meticulous pictures of areas affected by cancer mesothelioma inside the
body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed
- A biopsy regarding the taking out of a sample tissue for examination
is needed to verify a diagnosis of mesothelioma. Types of biopsy
depending on the location of the tumor are thoracoscopy, peritoneoscopy
Lastly, the stage of the disease is important to the doctor for the correct diagnosis.
Cancer mesothelioma treatment
Treatment of cancer mesothelioma yields results depending on the site
of the cancer, the phase of the disease, and the patient's physical
condition. The usual treatments for cancer mesothelioma are surgery,
radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Occasionally, these treatments are
combined.
Surgery is an effective way to remove tumor but the age of the person
matters. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are good ways to ward off
the symptoms.
Often, high-end drugs are given to the patient to reduce the fluid formation in body.
Thus, it is better for the workers to get a medical check up at equal
intervals and be aware of its symptoms. If a patient is diagnosed with
cancer mesothelioma at the earliest stage, the treatments might do
wonders for him. |