Mesothelioma Symptoms and Signs
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal cancer originating from the lining of the lung and abdomen. What is Mesothelioma Symptoms? What causes this disease? Why is mesothelioma a terrible disease? In this article, we will give answers to these questions. Mesothelioma is not a disease but rather the final stage of aggressive cancer that attacks and destroys the lining of the lungs, abdomen, and sometimes the heart.
Simply put, mesothelioma is horrible. The U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) estimates mesothelioma is responsible for 128,000 deaths each year. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine(NLM), mesothelioma is rare cancer that occurs primarily in people exposed to asbestos their entire lives.
source: ST Vincents Hospital
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is rare cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs. The mesothelium is a protective lining surrounding the lungs and other vital organs. The most common area affected is the lungs and chest wall lining. The abdomen lining, and less typically, the sac enclosing the heart or the sac surrounding the testis, may be damaged.
The average time between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma is about 40 years, although it can vary from 10 to 50 years. It protects the vital organs in your body by producing a clear, lubricating fluid that allows your internal organs to move around. This disease usually occurs in people exposed to asbestos and has affected smokers. Smoking is commonly thought to be one of the leading causes of this disease.
Types of Mesothelioma:
Mesothelioma may be classified into three types:
Pleural (the cells lining the lungs)
Peritoneal (the cells lining the abdomen)
Pericardial (the cells lining the heart).
Testicular (in the testis)
All of these types can be fatal if left untreated.
source: Mesothelioma
The most common type of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, which accounts for about 70% to 80% of all cases. The second most common type is peritoneal mesothelioma, accounting for about 20% to 30% of all cases. Pericardial mesothelioma and Testicular mesothelioma are rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cases.
All three types of mesothelioma are dangerous, but some are more aggressive than others. Pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas can be treated with surgery, while pericardial mesotheliomas cannot due to their location in the body.
Mesothelioma Symptoms:
The symptoms of mesothelioma are wide-ranging and can vary depending on where cancer grows and how far it has spread. If you've been exposed to asbestos and are concerned about your risk of developing mesothelioma, it's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this type of cancer. Symptoms will vary depending on whether the tumor is located in the pleura (the lining of the lungs), the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), or the pericardium (the lining of the heart).
Common Mesothelioma symptoms:
If you've been experiencing the following symptoms, it's time for an appointment with your doctor:
A cough that won't go away
Trouble breathing and/or chest pain
Feeling extremely tired or fatigued
Weight loss without trying to lose weight
Swelling in the abdomen
Difficulty swallowing or hoarseness
Mesothelioma Causes:
The main cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used in construction and other industries due to its high tensile strength. However, asbestos fibers are toxic if inhaled—leading to cancer.
Other mesothelioma causes aside from asbestos include being exposed to erionite, a mineral found in volcanic ash, or radiation therapy for cancer treatment.
However, these causes are less common than asbestos exposure. Even though the dangers of asbestos are widely known, and there have been restrictions on its use since the 1970s, it has not been completely banned for use in the U.S.
Conclusion
We hope you found this guide to mesothelioma and mesothelioma symptoms useful. Please do not hesitate to share if you find this article helpful. No matter what stage a person is diagnosed in within their life, they should contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer to help them fight for compensation from their employer or the company that manufactured asbestos products.
Also, read this article Symptoms of Mesothelioma Explained, to learn more about this disease.