The Hidden Secrets of Mesothelioma
By Joe Mandove
Mesothelioma is plastered all over television screens and billboards along site roads, however, the meaning of the cancer is still unknown to most United States citizens. To get straight to the point, Mesothelioma is a cancer that has no cure. There are two forms of this cancer. The pleural form is one of the types. This form is a cancer that develops around the lungs. The other form of cancer, which is much more rare, is a cancer of the stomach. This form of cancer is called Peritoneum cancer. Both of these forms are caused by exposure to asbestos. Usually, once exposed to asbestos, it will take anywhere from twenty to forty years for Mesothelioma to form. This does not meant that if you were a little kid and walked into a shed made primarily of this cardinogen material that twenty years from that time you would develop this life ending disease. Even workers who were exposed to asbestos day after day do not and will never get cancer. On the other, hand many industrial workers who handled asbestos every day for years will develop cancer and eventually die from it. This depends on your genetics and the length of time that you were exposed to asbestos. The majority of the people who do develop cancer are in fact blue collar low income laborers who touched asbestos day in and day out without even knowing it. The way they found out was by news or actually getting the symptoms of cancer. This would be like someone working at a Windex factory sitting down to watch the Nightly Evening news and learning that the chemicals in Windex have been discovered to cause cancer. This comparison goes to show the tragedy of Mesothelioma.
Another tragedy about this disease is that it currently has no cure. The only ways to treat Mesothelioma have little or no success. Helping the victim cope by form of moral support and pain numbing medication are as of today the best ways to deal with this asbestos caused disease.
Spreading knowledge about this incurable victims is the least United States citizens can do to help fight this cause. This is one of the only ways to help, since building resources for a cure for this cancer is one of the best ways to fight it.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
The Three Forms Of Mesothelioma
The Three Forms Of Mesothelioma
By Joseph Devine
It seems that every other week there is a new area that is susceptible to Mesothelioma due to unrealized asbestos exposure. Last week it was asbestos fibers in toys. Who knows what it will be next week? In all of this, no one stops to consider that there are three different forms of the disease. As with all versions of cancer, some of the types of Mesothelioma are more severe or deadly than others. The three known types are Pleural, Peritoneal, and Pericardial. Their names basically derive from the area where the cancer is located.
Pleural Mesothelioma is caused by the formation of malignant tumors in the pleura. The pleura are the tissues that line the lungs and the chest cavity. In this form, fluid builds up between the lining or pleura and the lungs. When this happens, patients experience shortness of breath. That common indicator makes sense because if there is excessive fluid in the chest cavity, the lungs cannot expand properly. The shortness of breath is called pleural effusion. The symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma often resemble pneumonia and other less serious afflictions. For this reason it is important to tell a doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma involves tumors and cancer developing in the lining of the abdominal cavity. This version occurs much less frequently than the Pleural variety but is still common enough. The symptoms include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, and fever.
The third form of Mesothelioma is Pericardial. This form occurs in the pericardium which is the compartment in the chest that contains the heart and the roots of the major artery and vein systems. The symptoms of the Pericardial form are very similar to those of Pleural Mesothelioma as well as many less serious diseases. The main symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma are a constant cough, shortness of breath, chest pains, and palpitations. These same symptoms can show up in conjunction with any range of heart and lung issues.
All three of the forms of Mesothelioma are mainly caused by exposure to asbestos. While it occasionally pops up after no asbestos has been inhaled, the majority of cases (roughly 99%) are linked to exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a fiber that gets into the lungs. It is common in a variety of industries and was a popular fire retardant material used to insulate buildings. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell when one is exposed to asbestos whether or not that same exposure will lead to Mesothelioma. Also, the disease generally takes decades to appear.
Pleural Mesothelioma is by far the most commonly occurring form of the deadly cancer. Like other cancers, Mesothelioma is capable of spreading from its original site to other parts of the body. It is particularly easy for the Pleural and Pericardial forms to spread because of the amount of blood flowing through the areas that they afflict. It only takes a few cells to take root elsewhere for the cancer to spread.
Fortunately, sometimes the infected areas can be removed from the body via surgery. The chemotherapy drugs that are in existence to treat the disease have not been shown to eradicate the problem so much as delay its progress. While this may not sound like a lot, delaying the progression of the disease can improve the quality of life of the patient which is all that can really be asked for in cases that are inoperable. With treatment, the general lifespan after diagnosis is roughly 18 months; however, some people have been known to live for four years. Without treatment, people generally have roughly four months to live.
While OSHA has made great strides in controlling the exposure and use of asbestos, it is still not a perfect system as sometimes people are not aware of a possible risk of exposure or even the presence of asbestos. For this reason, it is important for people that work in industry and construction (particularly those that re-model older buildings) learn all that they can about asbestos and Mesothelioma.
By Joseph Devine
It seems that every other week there is a new area that is susceptible to Mesothelioma due to unrealized asbestos exposure. Last week it was asbestos fibers in toys. Who knows what it will be next week? In all of this, no one stops to consider that there are three different forms of the disease. As with all versions of cancer, some of the types of Mesothelioma are more severe or deadly than others. The three known types are Pleural, Peritoneal, and Pericardial. Their names basically derive from the area where the cancer is located.
Pleural Mesothelioma is caused by the formation of malignant tumors in the pleura. The pleura are the tissues that line the lungs and the chest cavity. In this form, fluid builds up between the lining or pleura and the lungs. When this happens, patients experience shortness of breath. That common indicator makes sense because if there is excessive fluid in the chest cavity, the lungs cannot expand properly. The shortness of breath is called pleural effusion. The symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma often resemble pneumonia and other less serious afflictions. For this reason it is important to tell a doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma involves tumors and cancer developing in the lining of the abdominal cavity. This version occurs much less frequently than the Pleural variety but is still common enough. The symptoms include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, and fever.
The third form of Mesothelioma is Pericardial. This form occurs in the pericardium which is the compartment in the chest that contains the heart and the roots of the major artery and vein systems. The symptoms of the Pericardial form are very similar to those of Pleural Mesothelioma as well as many less serious diseases. The main symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma are a constant cough, shortness of breath, chest pains, and palpitations. These same symptoms can show up in conjunction with any range of heart and lung issues.
All three of the forms of Mesothelioma are mainly caused by exposure to asbestos. While it occasionally pops up after no asbestos has been inhaled, the majority of cases (roughly 99%) are linked to exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a fiber that gets into the lungs. It is common in a variety of industries and was a popular fire retardant material used to insulate buildings. Unfortunately, there is no way to tell when one is exposed to asbestos whether or not that same exposure will lead to Mesothelioma. Also, the disease generally takes decades to appear.
Pleural Mesothelioma is by far the most commonly occurring form of the deadly cancer. Like other cancers, Mesothelioma is capable of spreading from its original site to other parts of the body. It is particularly easy for the Pleural and Pericardial forms to spread because of the amount of blood flowing through the areas that they afflict. It only takes a few cells to take root elsewhere for the cancer to spread.
Fortunately, sometimes the infected areas can be removed from the body via surgery. The chemotherapy drugs that are in existence to treat the disease have not been shown to eradicate the problem so much as delay its progress. While this may not sound like a lot, delaying the progression of the disease can improve the quality of life of the patient which is all that can really be asked for in cases that are inoperable. With treatment, the general lifespan after diagnosis is roughly 18 months; however, some people have been known to live for four years. Without treatment, people generally have roughly four months to live.
While OSHA has made great strides in controlling the exposure and use of asbestos, it is still not a perfect system as sometimes people are not aware of a possible risk of exposure or even the presence of asbestos. For this reason, it is important for people that work in industry and construction (particularly those that re-model older buildings) learn all that they can about asbestos and Mesothelioma.
How Deadly is Mesothelioma Cancer?
How Deadly is Mesothelioma Cancer?
By Ramir Sarmiento
Mesothelioma cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer today, with a mortality rate so high that eight out of ten of those diagnosed pass away within a year of their diagnosis. Today, asbestos is banned in at least 60 countries, so the cancer is most often found in those who worked with asbestos mainly from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Asbestos is the name for the group of six different fibrous minerals, which occur naturally in the environment. It does not dissolve in water nor evaporate, and they have no detectable odor and taste.
It has a tendency to separate in to microscopic size particles that will remain in the air, and easily inhaled. Most people develop the cancer on a job where they inhaled asbestos particle, or have been exposed to dust fibre.
Once asbestos is inhaled, it comes through the respiratory passage. These fibre lodge themselves in the mesothelial cell around the lungs. It can cause direct damage to the lungs traveling to the end of their small passage reaching pleural are surrounding the lungs.
There are many different names of Mesothelioma cancer such as pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial because of the different location of the cancer on the body's internal organ.
Being positive from Mesothelioma cancer need much attention. In common cases, the patient or victim is diagnosed and it was too late to do anything, to save one's life.
A worker must take necessary precautions when dealing with asbestos fibers to minimize some health problems.
Tips to Prevent Mesothelioma cancer:
-Always wear a protected suit before doing your job. Asbestos particles need not to be able to enter inside your suit.
-Bring extra clothes after work. Change your clothes before going home to avoid the possibilities of inhaling it together with your loved ones.
-Always wear a high-quality dust mask inside the facility.
Mesothelioma cancer is particularly difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to become evident until the final stages of the disease. A very important characteristic of asbestos cancer is the long delay, or latency period, between exposure and the beginning of the disease.
By Ramir Sarmiento
Mesothelioma cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer today, with a mortality rate so high that eight out of ten of those diagnosed pass away within a year of their diagnosis. Today, asbestos is banned in at least 60 countries, so the cancer is most often found in those who worked with asbestos mainly from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Asbestos is the name for the group of six different fibrous minerals, which occur naturally in the environment. It does not dissolve in water nor evaporate, and they have no detectable odor and taste.
It has a tendency to separate in to microscopic size particles that will remain in the air, and easily inhaled. Most people develop the cancer on a job where they inhaled asbestos particle, or have been exposed to dust fibre.
Once asbestos is inhaled, it comes through the respiratory passage. These fibre lodge themselves in the mesothelial cell around the lungs. It can cause direct damage to the lungs traveling to the end of their small passage reaching pleural are surrounding the lungs.
There are many different names of Mesothelioma cancer such as pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial because of the different location of the cancer on the body's internal organ.
Being positive from Mesothelioma cancer need much attention. In common cases, the patient or victim is diagnosed and it was too late to do anything, to save one's life.
A worker must take necessary precautions when dealing with asbestos fibers to minimize some health problems.
Tips to Prevent Mesothelioma cancer:
-Always wear a protected suit before doing your job. Asbestos particles need not to be able to enter inside your suit.
-Bring extra clothes after work. Change your clothes before going home to avoid the possibilities of inhaling it together with your loved ones.
-Always wear a high-quality dust mask inside the facility.
Mesothelioma cancer is particularly difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to become evident until the final stages of the disease. A very important characteristic of asbestos cancer is the long delay, or latency period, between exposure and the beginning of the disease.
The Leading Causes of Mesothelioma
The Leading Causes of Mesothelioma
By Alex Scott
What is mesothelioma and how does one get it? When you learn and understand mesothelioma causes, you will know how to avoid this condition and if you already have been diagnosed with it, it will help you determine what may have caused it. For many years, people were unaware of what caused this type of cancer. We now know that 9 out of 10 cases are caused by exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is mined from the rocks in many countries. People who worked in mines were often exposed as well as people who worked in construction because asbestos was used in insulation for homes and buildings. Asbestos fibers are very tiny but strong as steel and can be woven similar to cotton and are resistant to chemicals and to heat.
Prior to around the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in homes for many different uses. It was also used in construction and ship building. Then it was discovered that when the asbestos is damaged, it releases these tiny fibers that get into the lungs and make it difficult to breathe. These fibers build up in the lungs and cause inflammation and fibrosis. In some cases, this can also lead to cancer in the lungs.
It was in the 1960s that we first began to make the links between asbestos and mesothelioma. In addition to causing lung problems and possible cancer, the fibers from asbestos can be swallowed and this causes problems in the digestive system as well.
Some people and professions that may have been exposed to asbestos. Examples of professions include construction workers, boilermakers, electricians, plumbers, demolition workers, shipbuilders and people who lives or worked with people in these profession or people who lived and worked in places where asbestos was made. People who lived or worked in buildings that had asbestos in them are also at risk. If any of these conditions match you and you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, it was probably caused by this asbestos.
Family members of people who were exposed to asbestos are sometimes affected if the person came home with asbestos on their clothing and bodies. There are rare cases where people have developed this type of cancer and have not been exposed to asbestos. The exact cause of this is unknown but it has been linked to some cases of radiation exposure.
This cancer can appear from 10-60 years after your first exposure to asbestos and this is what made it so long to discover what was causing most cases. There are still people who were exposed years ago that may have yet to have been diagnosed with cancer but it doesn't mean they don't have it or won't get it in the future. Mesothelioma takes time to develop and the more your exposure to asbestos, likely the more severe your symptoms may be.
Mesothelioma is not contagious and it is not spread through coughing, eating or drinking after another person or in any other common way. If someone you know has this type of cancer, you can't catch it from them. There is also no research to show that smoking cigarettes increases your risk of developing mesothelioma. However, if you have already been diagnosed with it, you will likely be advised to stop smoking as it can make your condition worse.
Regardless of what causes your disease, the diagnosis and treatment processes will likely all be the same. However, it is good for many people to try to determine the cause of how they obtained their mesothelioma and in some cases, you may even be able to start a lawsuit against the place that you were exposed in if the exposure occurred after the public had been made aware of the danger. You will need a mesothelioma lawyer to help you with this and you will need to be able to prove your what caused your cancer.
By Alex Scott
What is mesothelioma and how does one get it? When you learn and understand mesothelioma causes, you will know how to avoid this condition and if you already have been diagnosed with it, it will help you determine what may have caused it. For many years, people were unaware of what caused this type of cancer. We now know that 9 out of 10 cases are caused by exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is a natural mineral that is mined from the rocks in many countries. People who worked in mines were often exposed as well as people who worked in construction because asbestos was used in insulation for homes and buildings. Asbestos fibers are very tiny but strong as steel and can be woven similar to cotton and are resistant to chemicals and to heat.
Prior to around the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in homes for many different uses. It was also used in construction and ship building. Then it was discovered that when the asbestos is damaged, it releases these tiny fibers that get into the lungs and make it difficult to breathe. These fibers build up in the lungs and cause inflammation and fibrosis. In some cases, this can also lead to cancer in the lungs.
It was in the 1960s that we first began to make the links between asbestos and mesothelioma. In addition to causing lung problems and possible cancer, the fibers from asbestos can be swallowed and this causes problems in the digestive system as well.
Some people and professions that may have been exposed to asbestos. Examples of professions include construction workers, boilermakers, electricians, plumbers, demolition workers, shipbuilders and people who lives or worked with people in these profession or people who lived and worked in places where asbestos was made. People who lived or worked in buildings that had asbestos in them are also at risk. If any of these conditions match you and you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, it was probably caused by this asbestos.
Family members of people who were exposed to asbestos are sometimes affected if the person came home with asbestos on their clothing and bodies. There are rare cases where people have developed this type of cancer and have not been exposed to asbestos. The exact cause of this is unknown but it has been linked to some cases of radiation exposure.
This cancer can appear from 10-60 years after your first exposure to asbestos and this is what made it so long to discover what was causing most cases. There are still people who were exposed years ago that may have yet to have been diagnosed with cancer but it doesn't mean they don't have it or won't get it in the future. Mesothelioma takes time to develop and the more your exposure to asbestos, likely the more severe your symptoms may be.
Mesothelioma is not contagious and it is not spread through coughing, eating or drinking after another person or in any other common way. If someone you know has this type of cancer, you can't catch it from them. There is also no research to show that smoking cigarettes increases your risk of developing mesothelioma. However, if you have already been diagnosed with it, you will likely be advised to stop smoking as it can make your condition worse.
Regardless of what causes your disease, the diagnosis and treatment processes will likely all be the same. However, it is good for many people to try to determine the cause of how they obtained their mesothelioma and in some cases, you may even be able to start a lawsuit against the place that you were exposed in if the exposure occurred after the public had been made aware of the danger. You will need a mesothelioma lawyer to help you with this and you will need to be able to prove your what caused your cancer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
