Asbestos-The Chief Cause of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that mainly affects the mesothelium - the lining of the lungs and the abdomen.It accounts for about 3% of all diagnosed cancers annually. It is characterized by shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, coughing blood and unexplainable weight loss. These are just a few symptoms of the disease.

Asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma.Studies have proven that exposure to this substance leads to different types of mesothelioma. But, how exactly does asbestos cause mesothelioma?

 Asbestos is a set of six naturally occuring silicate minerals.Mine workers and those working in manufacturing  industries that handle asbestos are at most risk. Due to its fibrous nature, asbestos can easily separate. These are usually very small and light particles that easily suspend in air. These fibres are either straight or curved. The straight fibres are more likely to cause disease than the curved ones. During the manufacturing and mining processes, asbestos can be disintegrated and become airborne.  The people around such environments inhale the fibres and they are deposited in the lungs. 

The body easily gets rid of the fibres through coughing. However, not all the fibres are usually removed from the lungs. The remaining fibres usually get into the air sacs, the alveoli-the point where gaseous exchange takes place. These fibres remain in the lungs for the longest time possible. They also settle at the lower part of the lungs and the big muscle that moves the lungs when breathing, the diaphragm. During their stay in the lungs, the asbestos fibres tend to damage them. The process is usually gradual and unnoticed until after a minimum of 15 years.

The fibres, which accumulate in the pleural cavity, attack the mesothelium. This is a tissue which lines the lungs and chest cavity. It is normally moist, flexible and thin to allow for ample gaseous exchange. The asbestos usually enter the walls of the mesothelium and irritate the cells. As a result, the mesothelium counter attacks by forming a scar tissue. However, after some time, the scar tissues become fibrous lading to a condition called asbestosis.

The fibers also interfere with cell division in the mesothelium, especially mitosis. The cells' DNA is damaged and the growth and regulation process tampered with. Since there is uncontrolled cell multiplication, there is a massive uncontrolled cell growth, leading to cancer.

In conclusion, it is medically proven that  exposure to asbestos causes mesothelioma. It is important that one avoids getting exposed.Workers in the manufacturing or mining sectors should wear protective gear.People with a history of exposure to asbestos should present themselves for regular screening and checks by their doctors.This will help to detect the disease early enough for better management and greater chance of survival.

Early Diagnosis of Mesothelioma Can Save Your Life

The term mesothelioma defines a rare form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, a protective membrane covering most of the internal organs. The mesothelium is named differently depending on the organ it covers: peritoneum (lining the organs inside the abdominal cavity), pleura (covering the lungs and internal chest cavity), pericardium (lining and protecting the heart), tunica vaginalis (surrounding the male internal reproductive organs) or tunica serosa uteri (lining the internal reproductive organs in women).

Besides protecting the organs it covers, this membrane also produces a lubricating fluid, released between the two layers of the meshotelium. Mesothelioma occurs mainly in people with a history of direct or indirect exposure to asbestos-direct when the patient works or worked in organizations that produce or use asbestos,and indirect when innocent family members of asbestos industry workers inhale the asbestos fibres that got stuck on their clothing. When  the toxic fibers of this mineral are ingested or inhaled, they become lodged in organs and cavities, leading to inflammatory processes and diseases. They usually lead to high cellular damage and overtime they begin to divide uncontrollably. As a consequence, the two layers of the mesothelium become thicker and the fluid between them begins to build up.

In most of the patients it takes up to 20-50 years after asbestos exposure for mesothelioma symptoms to develop. Considering the fact that in early stages this form of cancer is asymptomatic, mesothelioma prognosis depends on how advanced the disease is when diagnosed. Having a diagnosis during the first stages of the illness improves the patient's chances of positively responding to treatment. On the other hand, if the mesothelioma is diagnosed once it  has reached the advanced stages,treatment options are really limited and often, prognosis is very poor.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this cancer and it is usually accompanied with persistent dry cough, dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), dyspnea(shortness of breath), night sweats and fever, fatigue and persistent pain in the chest area. In this type of mesothelioma, the respiratory function is the most affected.

Peritoneal mesothelioma can be recognized by symptoms like unexplained weight loss, accentuated anemia, fatigue, frequent diarrhea or constipation episodes, abdominal pain, lumps and swelling, nausea and vomiting.Pericardial  mesothelioma leads to heart palpitations and chest pain, dyspnea, fever and general fatigue. Testicular mesothelioma is extremely rare and the very scanty number of cases known makes it hard to establish the typical symptoms. The most common sign reported is the appearance of testicular lumps, which may be painful in some patients.

Diagnosis is usually based on the patient's medical history, a physical examination and in case mesothelioma is strongly suspected,additional tests may be required - usually, X-rays, CT, MRI or PET scans. If the result of these tests is positive and tumour is identified, the physician may also order a biopsy, in order to establish if it is benign or malignant.

As for the treatment, the most common alternatives are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery is used to remove the affected tissues and provide symptomatic relief. Radiation therapy kills the existing cancer cells and prevents the growth of new ones, while chemotherapy uses medication to target the cells responsible for mesothelioma development.

Sadly however,prognosis is usually very poor as the vast majority of cases are diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease.Treatments are generally unsuccessful and most patients die within 5-14 months.Only about 5% live up to 5 years.Early diagnosis greatly improves the chances of survival.

Mesothelioma-A Silent Killer

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that people contract after long periods(usually 20-50 years) of exposure to asbestos. Many people live with it without knowing only for them to come down with it later when it is beyond a state that is treatable. It is a rare disease but does not mean that you are completely safe. It is very important that you get tested for the disease if you have a history of direct or indirect exposure to asbestos for long periods. There are very many ways on how to know if you have mesothelioma.

The progression of the disease is very slow and one can even succumb to other ailments without knowing that he or she had mesothelioma. If you know that you have been exposed to asbestos for more than twenty  years then you need to get tested for the disease. The first symptoms include falling short of breath at the slightest exertion or when sleeping. This is brought about by pleural effusion which is an excessive collection of fluid in between the lungs and the chest cavity.

The other symptom is persistent cough usually dry accompanied by small episodes of breathlessness. The fluid constricts the air supply to the lungs and the cough is a reaction of the body trying to decongest the lungs. The heart may also be affected and you can possibly feel the fluid inside the chest cavity.

Chest pains are also symptoms to watch out for. When the cough becomes  persistent you are likely to start feeling pain when coughing. The pain is usually sharp and it is during this stage of the ailment that many patients seek medical advice. Chest pains are common for extreme colds and flu but you should learn to differentiate the symptoms. People with lung cancer also experience similar symptoms.

It is also possible to have palpitations characterized by a very high heart rate. Before the disease was actually discovered, medical experts used to diagnose the condition as increased blood pressure. The reason behind the increased heart rate is the fluid collecting around the heart constricting the veins and arteries. The heart therefore had to put in extra effort to pump the required amount of blood to meet the needs of  the body organs therefore resulting in an increased heart rate.

If you have a history of asbestos exposure long enough and you have any of the above symptoms then you should visit a medical institution for a checkup. Mesothelioma is diagnosed using advanced medical tests like Computer Tomography(CT) scans, X-ray and Magnetic Reasonance Imaging(MRI). It can imitate other forms of cancer but can be singled out by carrying out a pathological test.
It is extremely vital that people with a history of long periods of exposure to asbestos should present themselves for regular screening to enable their doctors detect the condition early for better prognosis and survival rate.