“Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer affecting the membrane lining of the lungs and abdomen. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that most often starts in the covering of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma) but can also start in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma).”
Causes are often linked to the exposure of Asbestos and over the years more and more information has come to light about the affects asbestos can have on the human body. Our sites brings together articles and information including tests and scans to diagnose mesothelioma, treatment including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and current research.
Making a correct diagnosis can be difficult for health professionals because the disease often presents itself with symptoms that mimic other common conditions. There is currently no known cure for mesothelioma, but treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy can help to improve the condition.
The suffering this condition can cause can be hard to diagnose and treat, if you have had exposure to Asbestos over the years and have any of the symptoms you should consult your health professional as soon as possible to allow an inspection and diagnosis. Once you have been diagnosed you are able to research and obtain the correct treatment for you. If you consider that an old employment position has had insufficient health and safety measures which may have lead to the exposure to Asbestos, you should consider contacting a lawyer to look into your case and advise on potential compensation.
CAUSES OF MESOTHELIOMA
Asbestos, a mineral occurring naturally in the earth is among the more common causes of mesothelioma. People can be affected and certain jobs have a higher exposure to asbestos such as people in the military and people who are involved in firms that manufacture insulating material to be used in construction.
The percentage of people exhibiting symptoms of mesothelioma is likely to keep rising in the next few years. The exposure and anticipated inhalation of asbestos fibres has been one of the major causes of the development of mesothelioma across the world. Making matters worse is the fact that symptoms of mesothelioma commonly take about 25 to 50 years to surface. Since early detection is crucial to the treatment rate of the condition, it’s important in order to recognize the indications of mesothelioma.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of mesothelioma include swelling of the abdomen, chest pain, shortness of breath, abnormal blood clotting process, abdominal malady, anemia and fever. And there are some other symptoms of mesothelioma, including persistent cough, and recurring infections of bronchitis and pneumonia. Many people experience pain in the bones, swelling of face or the neck and jaundice. There are other things to watch out for as well, although the existence of one or two of these symptoms will not always signify the presence of mesothelioma.
It might be quite difficult to diagnose this disorder, as the indications of mesothelioma are similar to a number of other diseases. Complicating things further is the fact that this disorder has the capacity to stay dormant for many years prior to any symptoms are even noticeable. Symptoms could sometimes manifest themselves after a period of up to 50 years.
If you really have been exposed to asbestos fibers please keep a watch out for all these symptoms. If you are around asbestos, then you definitely should know that you’re residing or working in a high risk environment.
If you are diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment is likely to contain chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. Gene therapy is an alternative treatment option that is available for those individuals with pleural mesothelioma who usually do not respond well to surgery radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
The number of people recovering from this disorder isn’t that optimistic but if diagnosis is made early, treatment is still effective.
People who were exposed to asbestos could be susceptible to “collected damages for asbestos-associated disease,” mesothelioma being one of them. This leads to the legal problems surrounding settlement via asbestos funds or class action lawsuits regarding mesothelioma, a hot issue these days.
Also common are chest pains and rapid weight reduction.
Although chemotherapy, radiation and cobalt therapies, along with operation occasionally, are proven effective in combating cancer, the same couldn’t be said with mesothelioma given the poor mesothelioma prognosis as established by patients.
However, recent scientific research has produced significant breakthroughs regarding treatment protocols for mesothelioma patients and more options are now accessible for handling mesothelioma and supporting improved quality of life. This sheds light, especially the afflicted individuals, who endure the physical, psychological, and financial stress of a seemingly hopeless condition. Furthermore, recently diagnosed patients frequently bombard their physicians about what treatment is best for this disease. Apart from the traditional cancer therapies we’ve mentioned above, lately-introduced chemotherapy drugs have demonstrated promising results in some patients with mesothelioma.