Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer that affects the mesothelium and thus, derives its name. Mesothelium is the protective layer of cells, lining the internal organs and the abdomen in the body. Mesothelioma causes damage to tissues and other organs and spreads its evil claws throughout the body.
The most pathetic part of it is that mesothelioma is not felt until its effects are very acute- to the extent of going beyond cure. In fact, it can lay dormant for a prolonged period of two to three decades, before making its presence apparent.
The most common parts of the body that are acutely affected by mesothelioma are the lungs and the heart. The most prominent cause of mesothelioma is found to be asbestos. About 70 to 80 percent of the cases are known to occur due to exposure to asbestos. People working in factories, having asbestos roof and those who inhale tiny particles of asbestos that float in the air and people who manufacture asbestos- related products, are known to have a higher chance of acquiring this condition.
As such, the United States has banned the use of asbestos by 1975 but, as stated earlier, since the symptoms of mesothelioma lie dormant for a long time, more than 2,700 people still suffer from this disease. Mesothelioma is rightly called the silent killer disease because the symptoms are not very apparent until the end stage is approached. It silently lies in the body and then, all of a sudden, attacks aggressively the thin layer of mesothelium, resulting in the fatal attack. The end is almost inevitable as 75 percent of the people affected by mesothelioma die, within the first year of the symptoms and the rest, a few years later.
Dependent upon the areas affected, mesothelioma can be classified as pleural mesothelioma, where in, it affects the pleura or lungs and spreads to other parts of the body. The common symptoms are difficulty in breathing, chest pain, tiredness and loss of weight. This is the most common of all types and 75 percent of the people suffer from this type.
When it affects the abdominal cavities, it is known as peritoneal mesothelioma, as is evident from symptoms like pain or swelling in the stomach, vomiting, obstruction of the bowel and tiredness. Mesothelioma may affect the heart too, as in pericardial mesothelioma and is felt through pain in the chest, trouble in breathing and palpitations in the heart.
The medical expert subjects the patient to a number of tests such as X Ray, MRI scan, biopsy and CT scan, to diagnose and confirm the presence of mesothelioma, along with the history of the past employment of the patient. Though a permanent cure has not been found yet, depending upon the size of the spread of the disease, the suffering of the patient can be relived, to some extent, through chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and any such alternative treatment methods.
The most pathetic part of it is that mesothelioma is not felt until its effects are very acute- to the extent of going beyond cure. In fact, it can lay dormant for a prolonged period of two to three decades, before making its presence apparent.
The most common parts of the body that are acutely affected by mesothelioma are the lungs and the heart. The most prominent cause of mesothelioma is found to be asbestos. About 70 to 80 percent of the cases are known to occur due to exposure to asbestos. People working in factories, having asbestos roof and those who inhale tiny particles of asbestos that float in the air and people who manufacture asbestos- related products, are known to have a higher chance of acquiring this condition.
As such, the United States has banned the use of asbestos by 1975 but, as stated earlier, since the symptoms of mesothelioma lie dormant for a long time, more than 2,700 people still suffer from this disease. Mesothelioma is rightly called the silent killer disease because the symptoms are not very apparent until the end stage is approached. It silently lies in the body and then, all of a sudden, attacks aggressively the thin layer of mesothelium, resulting in the fatal attack. The end is almost inevitable as 75 percent of the people affected by mesothelioma die, within the first year of the symptoms and the rest, a few years later.
Dependent upon the areas affected, mesothelioma can be classified as pleural mesothelioma, where in, it affects the pleura or lungs and spreads to other parts of the body. The common symptoms are difficulty in breathing, chest pain, tiredness and loss of weight. This is the most common of all types and 75 percent of the people suffer from this type.
When it affects the abdominal cavities, it is known as peritoneal mesothelioma, as is evident from symptoms like pain or swelling in the stomach, vomiting, obstruction of the bowel and tiredness. Mesothelioma may affect the heart too, as in pericardial mesothelioma and is felt through pain in the chest, trouble in breathing and palpitations in the heart.
The medical expert subjects the patient to a number of tests such as X Ray, MRI scan, biopsy and CT scan, to diagnose and confirm the presence of mesothelioma, along with the history of the past employment of the patient. Though a permanent cure has not been found yet, depending upon the size of the spread of the disease, the suffering of the patient can be relived, to some extent, through chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery and any such alternative treatment methods.
