When a person gets exposed to asbestos for longer durations of time, it leads to the development of a certain type of cancer called mesothelioma: Perilous cells are formed in the protective lining which is the covering of our vital organs known as mesothelium, in this type of cancer. This fatal cancer normally affects the pleura, which is the peripheral lining of the lungs and internal chest wall. It may also occur in the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum and the sac protecting the heart known as the pericardium.
Mainly, people who had worked on jobs where they got exposed to asbestos particles are found to be the victims of mesothelioma: Another possibility is that asbestos dust and fiber must have entered their system through some other ways. The fatal disease does not even spare the family members of the workers. They also may get exposed through the particles which are trapped in the workers’ hair or cloths. The gravity of the disease is enhanced by the habit of smoking.
The symptoms of this malicious disease are wide and varied. They include shortness of breath due to collection of fluid between the lung and the chest wall, chest wall pain, weight loss for no apparent reason, fever etc. Mostly, the disease is diagnosed when the patient goes for some other treatment. A chest X-ray or CT scan may give hints to make the physician suspicious and he may advise to go for a biopsy and microscopic examination, which confirm the worst dread.
There are mainly two difficulties that come in the way of curing mesothelioma. The first factor is that diagnosis of the disease mostly takes place very late after asbestos exposure. Sometimes it may even take five decades for the symptoms to appear. By that time it would be too late. The second difficulty is that the symptoms are common for different types of mesothelioma which makes proper diagnosis a Herculean task. If the disease is detected in time, and proper diagnosis is made, chances of survival for the patient increases vastly.
There are various factors which have to be considered for treating mesothelioma: The stage of the disease, location of the cancer, overall health and age of the patient are some of the determining factors. The traditional treatment options available are radiation, chemotherapy and surgery, though a combination of these would be done by the doctors as per the requirement.
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