Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma:

Mesothelioma is a rare from of lung cancer which arises in the cells lining the chest area around the lungs and can also affect organs in the abdomen.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common one which involves the chest area. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects organs in the abdomen. In rare cases the disease can affect the heart.

Symptoms:

The symptoms of the disease involve shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss and decreased appetite.

In case a tumor develops in the area it can result in change of voice, and dis functioning of diaphragm, swelling in the abdomen.

Causes:

Most people with malignant mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos for a long time. Asbestos is used in a variety of building materials like pipes, furnaces, paints, coating materials, floor tiles etc.

Most commonly occurring patients were exposed to asbestos while working at mines, factories, construction and mills.

The disease develops 30 to 40 years after exposure and is most common in men after 40 or 50 years of age. The disease is often diagnosed by an X-Ray or lab test.

Treatment:

Treatment of the disease depends on how early it is diagnosed. The disease is diagnosed by carrying out a biopsy. There are three different kinds of treatment for the patients with malignant mesothelioma.

First is the surgery which is taking out the cancer or tumor.
Second is the radiation therapy which uses X-rays to kill the cancer cells.
Third is chemotherapy which involves drugs and oral medicine.

New treatment methods and drugs are tested everyday for the treatment of the disease. Research is being carried out at various cancer research centers in USA.

If you want any more information on the disease you can check the links below.

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