Mesothelioma
What Is Mesothelioma ?
Mesothelioma the medical name for cancer of the lung or the
abdomen lining, and is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is a type of building material used in thermal
insulation products and ceiling tiles. Asbestos usage peaked
during the 1950s - 1970s, but during the late 1960s, concerns
over the health consequences of asbestos exposure began to
arise, thereby decreasing the amount of asbestos manufactured
over the following two decades. But even though new measures
where brought in to get rid of it, many schools and public
buildings still contain asbestos.
Small asbestos fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and
can remain suspended in the air for a long time. These fibers,
when breathed into the body, are toxic. The people most at risk
are :-
People working in factories that manufacture asbestos are likely
to have a high exposure to asbestos and are most at risk of
developing asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Family members of workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace
are susceptible to exposure from asbestos dust brought home by
the worker on his clothes or skin.
Those who live in the vicinity of an asbestos manufacturing
plant are also at risk.
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until between twenty and
fifty years after exposure, which explains why so many new cases
of this form of cancer are coming to light now. Many people who
haven't been in contact with asbestos for decades, are now
showing symptoms of this dreadful disease.
As with many forms of cancer, mesothelioma can spread rapidly.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, loss of weight,
and chest pains. If it is diagnosed early enough, the tumor can
be surgically removed, and with chemotherapy and radiation
treatment, a full recovery is often possible.
However, in more advanced cases, a cure is usually not possible.
In such cases, chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be used
alongside other pain relief treatments, to ease the symptoms.
Where cure is not possible, the average survival time is between
four and eighteen months, depending on the stage of the tumor
and the general health of the patient.
I was prompted to write about mesothelioma because as a child I
lived near a factory which produced asbestos, and I personally
know families who have suffered due to this terrible disease.
http://www.online-mesothelioma-guide.com