The cause of mesothelioma cancer:
Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos without
sufficient protection over one's mouth and nose. Asbestos is a
fibrous mineral which was discovered in the 1860s but not
properly used until the 1930s. Asbestos was used hugely in
construction due to its property of being fireproof even at high
temperatures. It was not until the 1960s that it became clear
that asbestos was causing a number of diseases. These diseases
include mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Asbestos as the cause of mesothelioma:
When exposed to asbestos without sufficient protection, a person
will inhale many tiny asbestos fibres that are suspended in the
air. These will pass into the respiratory system and get most
probably get lodged in the lining of the lungs. An accumulation
of these fibres can cause the cells around it to become abnormal
and this can lead to mesothelioma. Through the lymphatic system,
asbestos fibres can become lodged in the lining of the abdomen
or in the lining of the heart.
The suffering endured by patients of mesothelioma:
The symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on what type of
mesothelioma a patient has. However, there are several common
symptoms of all types. These include chest pain, shortness of
breath, coughing, coughing up blood, weight loss and loss of
appetite. These symptoms usually take affect only when the
mesothelioma cancer has fully matured and developed. Due to the
fact that these symptoms are frequent for a number of more
common diseases such as pneumonia, mesothelioma is very
difficult to diagnose in its early stages.
The treatments available for mesothelioma:
As yet, all treatments for mesothelioma have a low success rate.
The effectiveness of treatment depends largely on how
aggressively and early the cancer is treated. If treated in its
later stages when it has fully developed, it is extremely
difficult, almost impossible to cure. Treatments include surgery
which comes in two forms, aggressive surgery and palliative
procedures, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and dual therapy
which is a combination of all three main treatments combined.
Dual therapy has shown the most promising signs so far as a
curer for mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma research:
Research is being undertaken in numerous research labs all
across the United States although so far no breakthroughs have
been made. Many pharmaceutical companies are also endeavouring
to find new drugs for chemotherapy. Researchers have recently
predicted that a long awaited new treatment method for
mesothelioma is on the way to being discovered.
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