Info about Cancer
Introduction to mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a form of cancer whose main reason is over exposure to asbestos. It may be even triggered by indirect exposure, from those who got exposed to those already had been exposed to asbestos. The exposure is mainly by inhalation of asbestos dust. This is a rare form of cancer which is associated with cancerous growth of the cells in mesothelium. Asbestos is a popular metal which finds uses in different types of industries. Countless number of people has been affected with this disease and it has resulted in deaths of numerous individuals.
This situation has even resulted in registration of criminal cases by the affected people against their employers who have ultimately led them to such a condition. There are many support foundations which have been established in recent times in order to provide legal, financial and psychological support to the patients and their families. In the United States of America alone, numerous people are battling this problem in order to save them. This has resulted in a lot of agony for the patients and their families as well.
Lethality of mesothelioma: This disease is extremely dangerous and the patients have very little chance of surviving it. Below are presented some of the reasons of its lethality. The most important reason is the delay in its diagnosis. The disease keeps on manifesting in the patient and can go on undetected for long time and comes to light only in the later stages when it becomes impossible to control.
Further, its danger can be gauged from the fact that it can affect even with small amount of exposure, even up to few months. Thus, prolonged exposure to asbestos is not necessary to catch it. Once a person has been diagnosed with the disease, there are few chances that the patient can survive more than two years. This disease is quite infectious as well as those who are in immediate circle of the patient can catch the disease from him/her.
There are three major types of this disease. These affect different parts of the body.
• Pleura which is the protective layer of the chest.
• Peritoneum which protects the abdomen and
• Pericardium which is a protective sac for the heart.
There are various symptoms of the disease like fever, anemia and problems of the bowels. Further, depending on the organ affected, it can also lead to swelling in neck. The main problem associated with diagnosis of the disease is that the symptoms of this disease are similar to those of many other diseases as well. Thus, it may make the patient and the doctor that the problem may not to be too severe and hence it goes undetected for many years till the problem becomes too severe.