Friday, December 18, 2009

Some Basic Facts On Mesothelioma

By Heidi Wingrain

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that attacks the mesothelium, which is a membranous sac that protects most vital organs of our body. This type of cancer occurs when the cells of this covering start showing abnormal behavior by dividing on their won without any order. Slowly the malice spreads and the adjoining tissues and organs also get affected.

Continuous exposure to asbestos leads to this type of cancer. Those workers earning their wages from factories and workshops, where the material is used are always at the danger zone. Asbestos being a substance which is naturally occurring and highly useful has been put to use extensively. Even though this is the case, the governments all over the world have opened their eyes to notice the side effects it causes. The use of asbestos, which is responsible for eighty percent of the mesothelioma cases, has been banned by many governments.

There are three types of this cancer. The first and the most common is the Pleural Mesothelioma, which attacks the lining around abdominal cavity and the heart. Doctors aver that this is a very dangerous malady since chances of survival for more than three years is practically nil. Next is the peritoneal mesothelioma, which attacks the sac around abdominal organs, especially the GI tract. The third form, which is very rare compared to the others, is the Pericardial Mesothelioma. It affects the protective lining of the heart exclusively and is the most life-threatening of the three forms.

The symptoms of mesothelioma appear very late after the person comes into contact with asbestos. This makes the diagnosis and treatment process complicated and uncertain. Various symptoms of the disease are traces of blood in sputum, abdominal dysfunction, pain in chest wall, breathlessness, fatigue, cough, weight loss for no apparent reason etc. There are laws by which the victim can claim compensation from the employer for not taking adequate precautionary measures to protect the health of the employees.

Chemotherapy and surgery are the popular traditional methods for treating mesothelioma. At times a combination of these two is also used. Though researches are going on in the field of mesothelioma treatment early detection and treatment are essential to win over the disease.

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