What is mesothelioma ?


The people mostly threaten by mesothelomia have worked with asbestos over the past thirty to fifty years. Men between the ages of sixty and seventy are mainly concerned, but also those who have had regular contact with a person who has worked with asbestos. 
The workers who were exposed to asbestos regularly carried dust and fibres on their clothes, skin and in their hair and the fibres and dust could be ingested by family members, who were then at risk of also developing mesothelioma, respiratory problems or another asbestos related disease.

The organs most affected by mesothelioma are the lungs and the surrounding tissue.

The most common type of mesothelioma is the pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs. Symptoms are breathing and swallowing difficulties, coughing, shortness of breath, fever and weight loss. 

Another type of mesothelioma is the peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is not as common as pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms are nausea and vomiting, weight loss and loss of appetite, fever, bowel obstruction and pain or swelling of the stomach area.

The third type of mesothelioma, more rare, is the pericardial mesothelioma which affects the heart and the tissue surrounding it. Symptoms can include palpitations, breathing difficulties, and persistent coughing.

Because symptoms of mesothelioma are very common to loads of other diseases, many people got away with this for years. People who have worked with asbestos should always let their doctor know this:  a speedy diagnosis is important to the effective treatment of mesothelioma. The faster the mesothelioma is diagnosed and treated, the more chance of success, which is why it is important to get as fast a diagnosis as possible.

The treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy, palliative therapy and chemotherapy