Posts Tagged ‘mesothelioma’

Mesothelioma 101

Monday, February 8th, 2010

People who confront a regular exposure to noxious asbestos infusions are the ones who suffer with suffocating condition of Mesothelioma. It is the inner side lining of the organs in the body whose cells are affected by the effect of this cancerous condition. During the investigation one can encounter the presence of destructed cells on the inner walls of the lining that covers the affected organ. It is the Mesothelioma of heart and lungs that occurs with a high frequency.

Workers who work in close conjunction with products of asbestos at some factory are the ones that commonly suffer with this disease. Mesothelioma commonly presents itself to the sufferer as breathlessness and weight loss symptom. The symptom of this condition related to weight is the one that can be found relating to many other conditions, and can therefore misguide the diagnosis in a way if no investigative procedures are performed on the patient like X-ray and biopsy. It is therefore recommended to get all the investigations done before one draws any conclusion just by observing the symptoms.

Once a person has been formally diagnosed, there are several methods of treatment available for the patient, which can be chosen at the doctor’s discretion. They may perform treatments where the doctors bring talc into the patient’s system, which is used to block the pleural space (the space around the lungs) so that no further fluid can gather and put pressure on the lungs. The prognosis is usually bad, as this form of the cancer is detected later on when symptoms have actually developed and damage has taken place. Chemotherapy, Radiation therapy, and sometimes surgery are used for treatment.

Other than the fore mentioned pleural variety of Mesothelioma, there are many variety of the condition that coexists. The most common form of Mesothelioma is pleural Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affecting abdomen is detected only in 20% of the Mesothelioma cases. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is also caused by infusions of asbestos. In peritoneal variant of Mesothelioma the causative infusions get carried away all the way to the abdomen. The early stage of this condition can be readily treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The third and rarest form of the cancer is Pericardial Mesothelioma. This form affects about 10% of Mesothelioma cases annually. Also caused by exposure to asbestos, this form affects the lining of the heart. Though it is not known how exactly the asbestos gets there, it is speculated that asbestos is absorbed into the bloodstream and eventually finds its way. Just like the other two forms, Pericardial Mesothelioma is treated with chemotherapy and radiation. However, in this form, surgery is not an option due to the location of the tumour, since there is a large risk of damage to the tumour area.

All people with Mesothelioma who were wrongly exposed to asbestos are eligible for financial compensation. This includes most people who have worked with asbestos, which generally includes construction and industrial workers. At this time, not much can be done about Mesothelioma, and it is difficult to treat.

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