Mesothelioma Knowledge Center

Like most cancers, mesothelioma involves the abnormal dividing of cells of a particular part of the body — in this case, the mesothelium. The name Mesothelioma is derived from mesothelium, which is the membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. What is known as ‘pleural effusion’ occurs, as the fluid of the pleura, designed to lubricate the movement of the lungs against the other organs nearby, builds up and exerts pressure on the lungs. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that allows for a smooth movement for these tissues. The pleura is the membrane that typically surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity, while the peritoneum is the tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity.

Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States alone. Epithelial mesothelioma is a rare disease caused by asbestos exposure that may have occurred decades before the patient is diagnosed. It has been observed and proven that heavy and long exposure to asbestos is the prime cause of Mesothelioma. Essentially, asbestos refers to a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. It is widely used in industrial products like cement, roofs, flooring products, textiles, brake linings and insulation. Sometimes, it may even be as long as 40 years.People who work in construction sites, shipyards, renovation sites and so on contract this disease because of constant exposure to asbestos. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed, and can cause serious health problems. Exposure to asbestosis increases the risk of developing mesothelioma and other types of cancer like that of kidney and larynx.

A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. Approximately 1,500 cases of malignant mesothelioma are reported annually, and 80 percent of these cases are caused by asbestos exposure. The other common way to be exposed the asbestos is through a short period of time but with heavy exposure in that period. When a factory worker handles asbestos, he risks exposing it to his family and therefore it becomes a very serious issue when so many people have to suffer. The family members of asbestos workers may be exposed to asbestos dust that has been brought home on the clothes and hair of asbestos workers.

This fact is mainly due to the slow forming of the tumors after the long exposure to asbestos. This type of cancer develops after 15-25 years after exposure to asbestos. Furthermore, it takes decades for a patient who was exposed to asbestos to develop Mesothelioma – fifty years, at most. The earlier symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma are very similar to those experienced with other lung conditions, such as pneumonia or lung cancer. The symptoms of Mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss, constipation and cough.The incidence of Mesothelioma is one in 10 lakh people. The symptoms include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, and fever.The third form of Mesothelioma is Pericardial.

The doctor may perform a complete physical examination. Chest x-ray, CT scan and MRI scan will allow the doctor to do a good diagnose.A CT scan is used to create detailed images. If anything looks suspicious to the doctor, then a biopsy will be performed to which should confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. A biopsy is a surgical procedure where a sample of tissue or fluid is obtained from the affected area and it is then examined in a laboratory by a pathologist. Once the diagnosis regarding the extent, the variety and the age of the malady is confirmed, a multispeciality board of doctors meets to plan the treatment. Naturally, mesothelioma sufferers whose cancer is caught and treated earlier have a greater chance of prolonging their life. Patients would undergo surgery to get rid of the majority of the cancerous mesothelioma cells and then chemotherapy and radiation therapy would be used to kill off any remaining cells.

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