Mesothelioma - FAQ's and Facts
By Frederick Schenk
If you or a loved one has received a diagnosis of mesothelioma, you may still learning about this cancer, and what the diagnosis means for you and your family. Here the most frequently asked questions and answers about mesothelioma
What is mesothelioma? It's a rare type of cancer, accounting for only 1% of all cancer diagnoses that grows in the mesothelium, the thin membrane that lines the chest and abdominal cavity, and covers the organs within each of these cavities.
What causes mesothelioma? Almost all cases of mesothelioma are linked to asbestos exposure. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked in asbestos-related industries such as pipe-fitting, manufacture of brakes, and shipbuilding.
How does asbestos cause mesothelioma? When asbestos is handled, tiny asbestos fibers, thinner than a human hair, break off and become airborne. If the workplace is not appropriately ventilated, workers inhale the fibers. Inhaled asbestos fibers work their way into the chest cavity or the abdominal cavity, and lodge in the mesothelium.
How long does it take to develop mesothelioma? The disease progresses slowly; symptoms may not appear for 15 years, sometimes for as long as 40 years after the exposure. The membrane thickens into a hard, inflexible rind, forming bumps and nodules. The enlarging cancerous tissue produces large amounts of fluid that crowds the chest or abdominal cavity, and the cancer itself compresses nearby organs
Why does mesothelioma take so long to be diagnosed? The mesothelium thickens very slowly, and until it becomes so thick that it presses against the chest or abdominal wall, or its fluids begin to leak, the victim has no symptoms. Only when it has grown large enough to press on vital organs and to leak fluid into the chest or abdominal cavity does the victim begin to experience symptoms such as severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and constant fatigue. By the time symptoms are troublesome enough for a victim to seek medical attention the disease may have progressed so far that the life expectancy will be measured in months.
Does mesothelioma always show up in the lungs? About 80% of mesothelioma cases occur in the lungs, where it's called pleural mesothelioma. The other 20% of mesothelioma cases are peritoneal, occurring in the abdominal cavity.
Is there treatment for mesothelioma? Current treatments involve chemotherapy and radiation, and surgical removal of some of the tumor mass to reduce discomfort. Researchers are investigating new therapies which may have greater potential to slow the development of tumors, and biological markers which may lead to earlier diagnosis.
If you believe that your mesothelioma developed as a result of workplace exposure to asbestos, you may have a legal claim against the corporation that permitted the exposure, or the manufacturer of the asbestos product.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
The Rise of Asbestos Related Diseases
The Rise of Asbestos Related Diseases
By Rick Jackson
Asbestos has been dubbed as a miracle mineral when people discovered its property to withstand heat. The use of asbestos became more widespread during the industrial revolution when countries started to aim for growth through infrastructures.
Unfortunately, although asbestos has been found to be useful in construction and even in clothing, it has been discovered to be hazardous to health - even the early Greeks recognized asbestos related diseases in the slaves who handled the minerals during that time.
The United States and Canada started to use asbestos for insulation in the 1860s. The very first commercial asbestos mine was built in 1879 at Quebec. Soon, asbestos have been used in so many other household construction applications like:
-Fire retardant coatings
-Concrete
-Bricks
-Pipes
-Fireplace cement
-Heat-, fire-, and acid-resistant gaskets
-Pipe insulations
-Ceiling insulations
-Fireproof drywall, flooring
-Roofing
-Lawn furniture
Asbestos had become a very valuable commodity in a wide range of applications where infrastructure construction is concerned but there are other applications where asbestos is used: brake pads and shoes, clutch plates, stage curtains, fire blankets, interior fire doors, etc.
The hazards of continuous usage of the asbestos has eventually manifested when about 100,000 people in the United States fell sick and died due to asbestos related disease. Many of these victims were exposed to asbestos in their jobs like in ship building for example. During the World War II, tons and tons of asbestos were used in the ships and soon after, thousands of workers started to die of mesothelioma and asbestosis due to their prolonged exposure to the minerals.
Today, many people continue to suffer from a continued over exposure to asbestos.
By Rick Jackson
Asbestos has been dubbed as a miracle mineral when people discovered its property to withstand heat. The use of asbestos became more widespread during the industrial revolution when countries started to aim for growth through infrastructures.
Unfortunately, although asbestos has been found to be useful in construction and even in clothing, it has been discovered to be hazardous to health - even the early Greeks recognized asbestos related diseases in the slaves who handled the minerals during that time.
The United States and Canada started to use asbestos for insulation in the 1860s. The very first commercial asbestos mine was built in 1879 at Quebec. Soon, asbestos have been used in so many other household construction applications like:
-Fire retardant coatings
-Concrete
-Bricks
-Pipes
-Fireplace cement
-Heat-, fire-, and acid-resistant gaskets
-Pipe insulations
-Ceiling insulations
-Fireproof drywall, flooring
-Roofing
-Lawn furniture
Asbestos had become a very valuable commodity in a wide range of applications where infrastructure construction is concerned but there are other applications where asbestos is used: brake pads and shoes, clutch plates, stage curtains, fire blankets, interior fire doors, etc.
The hazards of continuous usage of the asbestos has eventually manifested when about 100,000 people in the United States fell sick and died due to asbestos related disease. Many of these victims were exposed to asbestos in their jobs like in ship building for example. During the World War II, tons and tons of asbestos were used in the ships and soon after, thousands of workers started to die of mesothelioma and asbestosis due to their prolonged exposure to the minerals.
Today, many people continue to suffer from a continued over exposure to asbestos.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Asbestos Exposure - How Can Individuals Protect Themselves?
Asbestos Exposure - How Can Individuals Protect Themselves?
By Felix White
If you work in an environment where asbestos is used it is very important to make sure that the adequate precautions are being taken to safeguard your safety. Due to the dangers posed to the individuals by asbestos exposure, there are various regulations to safeguard the health of the individuals.
On the workplace employers are required to follow the required regulations in order to safeguard the health of their employees. Workers should follow instructions and use the protective equipment provided to them by their employer. They should also follow the correct work practices and safety procedures. It is important that workers know how to use their protective equipment since if it is wrongly used exposure to asbestos may also occur. If there is some concern among workers about the exposure of asbestos on their place of work, they should immediately discuss the situation with their employer and their health and safety representatives.
If you are an individual that have a family member that works in an environment where asbestos is used, it is important that the family member washes himself and changes clothes on the workplace before coming home. Any clothes of the individual that have been used in an environment where asbestos is used may also contain dangerous asbestos fibers.
It is important not to damage or burn products that are made of asbestos. Further more it is important that old houses that have pipes or other materials made with asbestos be checked by an expert. Old pipes or materials may deteriorate as time passes and may expose the individual to asbestos.
By Felix White
If you work in an environment where asbestos is used it is very important to make sure that the adequate precautions are being taken to safeguard your safety. Due to the dangers posed to the individuals by asbestos exposure, there are various regulations to safeguard the health of the individuals.
On the workplace employers are required to follow the required regulations in order to safeguard the health of their employees. Workers should follow instructions and use the protective equipment provided to them by their employer. They should also follow the correct work practices and safety procedures. It is important that workers know how to use their protective equipment since if it is wrongly used exposure to asbestos may also occur. If there is some concern among workers about the exposure of asbestos on their place of work, they should immediately discuss the situation with their employer and their health and safety representatives.
If you are an individual that have a family member that works in an environment where asbestos is used, it is important that the family member washes himself and changes clothes on the workplace before coming home. Any clothes of the individual that have been used in an environment where asbestos is used may also contain dangerous asbestos fibers.
It is important not to damage or burn products that are made of asbestos. Further more it is important that old houses that have pipes or other materials made with asbestos be checked by an expert. Old pipes or materials may deteriorate as time passes and may expose the individual to asbestos.
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