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Mesothelioma is a certain type of cancer most commonly caused by an exposure to asbestos. However, mesothelioma may not show up for many decades after the asbestos exposure. There are three types of mesothelioma: Pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial, and they all have devastating effects on the victim and their family.

Mesothelioma is the most uncommon form of cancer and it is also the most serious of all diseases related to asbestos exposure. Keep in mind that just because it is uncommon, it is not considered a rare type of cancer. Because of the symptoms mesothelioma exhibits, it is often difficult to diagnose. By the time a diagnosis is finally reached, treatment may no longer be effective. It is one of the lease responsive cancers to treatment.

Pleural mesothelioma affects the chest and lungs of its victim. From the chest and lungs, it spreads to different organs in the body, including the brain. Pleural mesothelioma is often not easy to detect. Survival rates are usually about a year and a half from the onset of their symptoms. A very small percentage may survive three to five years.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include:

· Pain in a specific area of the chest that doesn’t seem to go away.

· Shortness of breath or breathing problems due to fluid buildup in the chest.

· Weight loss

· Fever

· Anemia

· Fatigue

· Coughing up blood

· Jaundice

· Low blood sugar

· Blood clots

· Tumor masses

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the abdomen and many times spreads to nearby organs, such as the spleen, liver, or bowels. The survival rate is very low, with most patients surviving about ten months after the development of symptoms.

Common peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include:

· Severe abdominal pain

· Excessive fluid in the abdomen area

· Difficult bowel movements

· Nausea and vomiting

· Fever

· Swollen feet

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart and is the rarest of the mesothelioma-related cancers. This type of cancer invades the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart. When the disease progresses, the heart is unable to deliver the proper amount of oxygen to the rest of the body. The health of the victim declines very rapidly during the progression of the disease. The most common symptoms resemble a heart attack, with nausea, shortness of breath, and pain in the chest.

Mesothelioma is most often treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, though there are some experimental treatments that are taking place while the disease is still in their earlier stages. This serious disease affects more than just the victim; it affects their loved ones as well. Having seen firsthand the devastating effects of this disease, we work hard to protect the rights of working men and women.

Mesothelioma, or the cancer of mesothelium, is a fatal tumor that affects pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium – linings around lungs, abdomen, and heart respectively. It is a fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral.

Mesothelioma cancer be benign, i.e. it can be non-cancerous and non-spreading or it can be malignant i.e. cancerous and spread to other parts of the body leading to death. Its primary cause is prolonged exposure to asbestos and it has a latency period of about 30 to 50 years.

Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma can be classified into three types depending on the area of body affected by it. There are 3 common types of mesothelioma:

1. Pleural Mesothelioma

2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma

3. Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

The most common form of mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of pleura) is a tumor of the protective lining around the lungs. It can be either benign or malignant.

The pleura is a sac-like membrane made of two layers between which the pleural fluid is released. This fluid in turn acts like a lubricating agent and helps the lungs to function smoothly during breathing.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma are:

* Shortness of breath

* Chest pain

* Back pain

* Pain in the rib cage

Other symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma, for both benign and cancerous forms, include:

* Fluid build-up in the lung lining

* Hoarseness

* Coughing up blood

* Swelling of the face and arms

* Muscle weakness

* Paralysis

* Sensory loss

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Another common form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the peritoneum that causes tumor in the abdominal lining. Like pleural it can be benign or malignant.

The peritoneum is the membrane that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity and also includes:

* Tunica Vaginalis Testis (mesothelial tissue lining the male internal reproductive organs)

* Tunica Serosa Uteri (mesothelial tissue lining the female reproductive organs)

Symptoms

The fluid released in the peritoneum helps in the smooth functioning of these organs. When the peritoneum is affected, some common symptoms experienced are:

* Stomach pain

* Weight loss

* Nausea

* Vomiting

* Hernia

* Bowel obstruction

* Fluid in the abdominal cavity

If the cancer spreads beyond the abdominal cavity, additional symptoms can be found, such as:

* Anemia

* Blood clotting abnormalities

* Trouble swallowing

* Swelling of neck, face or arms

Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial Mesothelioma or the cancer of pericardium is a tumor of the protective sac-like lining around the heart.

Pericardium protects the heart by:

* Smoothening its motion against surrounding organs

* Limiting its motion so that it stays in the chest cavity

* Preventing it from over-expansion during excess influx of blood

Symptoms

When pericardium’s function is affected by mesothelioma, the following symptoms may occur:

* Chest pain

* Shortness of breath

* Fluid accumulation in the lining

If the mesothelioma cancer spreads to other organs of the body, it can affect their normal functioning and cause painful symptoms. Thus, it is important that mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed on time and proper treatment is given to save the patient’s life.

This is because asbestos was found to have a high tensile strength and was known very well for its flame and heat resistance. Lung Cancer Symptoms And SignsHowever, people who worked in factories and who were commonly exposed to this substance were not really warned about asbestos lung cancer risks. What sort of risks are there?

Well, so far, there are two main asbestos lung cancer risks you should be worried about:

Mesothelioma – This is cancer that does not occur in the lungs but in the tissue covering the lungs. Mesothelioma is a disease wherein a person develops tumors on the tissue covering the vital organs. Although there are certain cases wherein the tumors are benign, the majority of those which develop are very much malignant. Because of this, common use of the term no longer makes decisions between benign and malignant mesothelioma. Almost all of the cases of mesothelioma being reported today have a history of asbestos exposure. This just goes to show you how large the asbestos lung cancer risks are.

Actual lung cancer – Mesothelioma differs from lung cancer in the sense that while mesothelioma affects the tissue covering the vital organs, lung cancer hits the vital organs-the lungs themselves. This is not a pretty sight which is why you should be thankful that lungs are inside your body.

These are the two types of asbestos lung cancer risks that some people face everyday. Now comes the question of how those risks can be lowered.

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The first thing that you can do to lower the asbestos lung cancer risk on yourself is to work someplace other than a factory or establishment which makes use of asbestos as a raw material. Most people who have developed asbestos lung cancer have been exposed to the substance in a work environment. This is because during the early 90’s when people used asbestos extensively in construction and decoration, employers frequently forgot to mention to their employees that asbestos was a very dangerous substance when inhaled. People were not equipped with the right accessories to help them prevent the asbestos fibers from getting into their lungs. Although these people did not feel any sort of symptom while they were working, 20-50 years later, they finally realize how big an impact that job actually made on them.

The next thing you can do to lower the risk of asbestos lung cancer is to try and get rid of any asbestos products at home. In cases like this, you have to remember that there are certain regulations that need to be followed in the disposal of asbestos. You should also try to get an inspector to look around your house and see which asbestos products need to be removed or which products need to be left alone for the general safety of people.

This is because although there are some products which do give off dangerous asbestos fibers, there are those products which are better left alone in order not to render contained asbestos fibers airborne. Hiring an expert will be able to help you make sure that everything is taken care of. After all, no matter how good you may be, you won’t be able to spot asbestos products immediately without the help of an expert, right? By doing this, you can be sure that each asbestos product is disposed of properly and that you don’t place yourself in unnecessary danger.

Another thing you can do to lower the risk of asbestos lung cancer is to check out your workplace or school. Some offices are located in old buildings wherein the ceiling can be a bit damaged. As you may well know, old ceilings do have asbestos in them. This is mainly because people thought that adding asbestos to ceiling tiles can help fireproof a building. If you notice some cracked ceiling tiles, you might want to talk about it to someone who can get it fixed. Old ceiling tiles which are quite crumbly give off a huge amount of asbestos fibers so removing them can help you reduce the risk of asbestos lung cancer. These few tips are quite simple but they may save your life.

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Mesothelioma, also known as asbestos cancer, is cancer of the mesothelium, and is usually found on or around the lungs. Symptoms of this disease are similar to those of many other conditions including lung cancer, so be certain to check with your physician if you note these potential mesothelioma symptoms in yourself or a loved one.

                                                          

If you have been exposed to asbestos or are close to someone who has, it is important to be aware of the symptoms of this cancer so that you can seek the appropriate mesothelioma treatment.

 

These 8 symptoms may not appear for decades after the initial asbestos exposure:

 

-          Shortness of Breath caused by fluid trapped between the lungs and the chest wall.

-          Chest Pains also caused by fluid trapped between the lung and the chest wall, creating pressure that a patient will feel as chest pains under the rib cage and/or be accompanied by coughing. These are often the first mesothelioma symptoms that patients are aware of, occurring long before the others.

-          Weight Loss is often associated with cancerous tumors, particularly if the tumors are older.

-          Abdominal Pain and/or Swelling resulting from fluid buildup in the abdomen.

-          Bowel Obstruction can be another complication resulting from fluid buildup in the abdomen causing complications with the digestive tract and associated organs. Tumors that form in the abdominal region can cause this symptom as well.

-          Anemia can be a result of mesothelioma affecting the tissue lining the lungs and the chest cavity, the pleura.

-          Blood Clotting Abnormalities are only seen in severe cases of mesothelioma.

-          Trouble Swallowing: If the asbestos cancer (mesothelioma) has metastasized from the mesothelioma to other parts of the body, trouble swallowing can occur.

-          Swelling in the Neck or Face: These are also symptoms that will be seen if the mesothelioma has moved to other parts of the body besides the mesothelium.

 

While this list of symptoms is extensive, there is no way to determine whether or not you will need mesothelioma treatment without consulting a doctor. Although you may seek mesothelioma information from any doctor, oncologists specializing in asbestos cancer are trained to identify and treat this particular disease.