Mesothelioma is a rare disease caused as a result of malignant
cancerous cells lining the patient's body cavities such as
chest, abdominal region or the area surrounding the heart. It is
typically associated with exposure to asbestos which has been
documented in as many as 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. This
disease is very difficult to assess consistently due to the
great variability in time before diagnosis and the rate of
progression of malignant mesothelioma.
Even insignificant exposure to asbestos (commonly reported in
such work environments as asbestos mills, mines, shipping yards,
some older Navy ships or patients. homes) is known to result in
mesothelioma, which in many cases does not occur for decades
after initial exposure to this cancer-causing substance. In the
recent years as many as 2000-3000 cases of have been diagnosed
per year. It is also known that family members of workers
exposed to asbestos can contract this disease through exposure
to the worker's clothing. Smoking greatly increases the risk of
contracting this disease.
Mesothelioma, this is a deadly disease that has been in the
spotlight for the last decade. Sad but true, the number of
under-regulation usage in years past still shows that we are
paying for it today. It can be safely said that almost everyone
in the world has been exposed to asbestos at one point in their
life. Because of the unique nature of the disease, even those
who have suffered only small exposure are at risk of contracting
the disease. In effect, virtually everyone has some risk of
contracting Mesothelioma.
But while this sort of statement is true, it is also open ended
and up for debate. While it is certainly true that individuals
who have been exposed to small amounts of asbestos for
relatively short periods of time have contracted the disease,
this is a rarity in most cases. In fact, the vast majority of
Mesothelioma cases involve individuals who were exposed to
airborne asbestos fibers for an extended period of time.
Most research shows that the industries most in danger of
prolonged exposure and thus of contraction are shipbuilding
trades, asbestos mining and milling, textile work, insulation
work, and brake repair personnel workers. There are, however,
some other similar factors which can affect the likelihood of
contracting this disease. Among these is exposure to radiation.
There have been causes in which individuals who were exposed to
radiation have subsequently displayed signs of and contracted
mesothelioma. However, the studies to attempt to verify this
correlation have not proven out this claim in a strong way.
Another more certain and proven cause of the disease was the
taking of the Polio vaccines. Some batches of this vaccine were
contaminated with Simian Virus 40 which has been detected in a
host of rare cancers including Mesothelioma. Some individuals
who have been exposed to long periods and high quantities of
asbestos have not contracted the disease. As a result, doctors
have concluded that genetics play a major role in determining
whether or not patients contract the disease. Unfortunately, the
gene variability which offers some resistance to the disease
also means that some are particularly vulnerable to asbestos
exposure.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma,
remember that time matters. The faster you consult your doctor
and get professional care the better your chances will be of
dealing with this dangerous cancer. There are three traditional
methods of fighting cancerous mesothelioma: surgery,
chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy. Please contact your
doctor as soon as possible to get more information.
About the author:
Copyright Troy Francis. Troy is a writer and Personal Trainer
for Exercise-Diet. Please, feel free to republish this article.
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