Mesothelioma,
a disease linked to asbestos exposure, is a rare form of cancer in which
malignant cells are located in the Mesothelium - a shielding sac that covers a
large amount of the body's internal organs. Malignant pericardial, malignant
pleural and malignant peritoneal Mesothelioma are the three main types of
Mesothelioma cancer. The peritoneal form involves the tissue covering the
abdominal cavity and the pleural form involves the sac that protects the
pleural cavity around the lungs.
Mesothelioma
is frequently mistaken for lung cancer. Generally the symptoms of mesothelioma
can include: cough, shortness of breath, husky voice, and difficulty in
breathing, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain and swelling, chest pain,
anemia, insomnia, loss of appetite, cachexia, fatigue, weight loss, and fluid
in the abdomen or chest. It is not easy to properly diagnose mesothelioma since
numerous symptoms can be confused with other illnesses such as flu, bronchitis,
pneumonia and heart disease.
Mesothelioma
is caused by asbestos. No amount of asbestos exposure is harmless. Some
mesothelioma victims have experienced occupational exposure to asbestos over a
long period of time. An example would be a plumber, boilermaker or HVAC
repairmen in the 1960's; a time when many of the parts and equipment contained
some asbestos. Some mesothelioma victims were exposed in a "secondary
fashion" from the clothes of the person who was directly exposed. An
example of this would be a woman who washes her husband's work clothes and
inadvertently inhales or ingests some of the microscopic asbestos fibers. A
third category of victim would be someone who was exposed to only small amounts
of asbestos through casual contact with an asbestos containing product. All
forms of exposure can cause mesothelioma.
Today,
there is still not a complete ban on asbestos containing products in the U.S.
The EPA has, however, put in certain limits on the amount of asbestos that is
permitted in some products. Nonetheless, because of the costs of litigation,
many manufacturers of asbestos containing products have voluntarily removed
asbestos from their products. Products from other countries, however, may still
contain asbestos. For example, recent testing by the Asbestos Disease Awareness
Organization found asbestos in children's toys coming from China.
Typically,
20 to 50 years elapse between asbestos exposure and the diagnosis of
Mesothelioma cancer. This latency period varies by individual but is the reason
that mesothelioma typically strikes seniors.
Although
mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive cancer there are treatment options
available including: standard therapies - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation,
alternative or complimentary therapies and clinical trials. Clinical trials are
a broad category that includes various types of treatments that are being
tested. Currently these therapies include: Monoclonal Antibody Approaches,
Anti-angiogenesis Drugs, Vaccine Approaches - Immunotherapies, and other
"biological modifiers."
There
is a lot of disheartening Mesothelioma News and information on the internet
regarding mesothelioma survival rate. Despite this pessimism, there are a few
long term mesothelioma survivors including: Stephen Jay Gould, Rhio O'Connor,
Paul Kraus, and others. In fact, Paul Kraus wrote an inspirational book about
his recovery from mesothelioma titled "Surviving Mesothelioma and Other
Cancers: A Patient's Guide." Today, "Surviving Mesothelioma" is
the best-selling mesothelioma book in the world, according to a testimonial
from a former brain surgeon. This Mesothelioma book has all the information a
cancer patient needs to learn what survival behavior is all about.
DISCLAIMER:
The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes
only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical
advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or
other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a
medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in
seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
For
a limited time, free copies of "Surviving Mesothelioma" are available
to newly diagnosed Mesothelioma patients on this website.
Article
Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
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