Mesothelioma - The Facts Of Asbestos And Mesothelioma

By Shan Durai

Mesothelioma is a variety of cancer that is almost frequently directly caused by exposure to asbestos. As such, jobs that involve constant exposure to asbestos (Asbestos miners, Asbestos products, Shipyard workers) carries with it a huge danger. Studies have made known that the vast majority of those that have mesothelioma had exposure to asbestos over period of time. Just a few thousand cases of Mesothelioma crop up every year, making it considerably exceptional. Depending on where the cancer is affecting the mesothelium, kinds will vary. They are known as Pericardial Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Pleural Mesothelioma.

The cancer is named after the mesothelium, which is a protective membrane that covers numerous cavities. The cavities that we are interested in are the Pleura, Pericardium and Peritoneum cavities.

The symptoms of this cancer depend greatly on the area affected. These symptoms normally show up much later on in the future after exposure to asbestos Weight loss, abdominal pain as well as abdominal lumps are all symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma - Shortness of breath, cough (dry), lumps in the chest region, chest pain, painful breathing and coughing. Finally, heart palpitations, fever, murmurs and difficulty breathing can point to symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma.

In rare cases, if the cancer is caught exceedingly early, the cancer may be sent into remission. If not, mesothelioma patients experience abysmal survival rates. The life expectancy of those with advanced stages of this cancer usually do not survive more than a year. Those lucky enough to detect the cancer in its early stages can expect to live for up to 5 years.

There are exceedingly few practicing research centers on mesothelioma probably due to its rare occurance. The most aggressively researched area would pleural mesothelioma, spearheaded by the well-known Dr.David Sugarbaker as well as other significant doctors specializing in mesothelioma. The main areas of research tend to target pleural mesothelioma and new, aggressive techniques have been found to extend live expectancy by years. - 29763

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