What You Should Know

What is mesothelioma ?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of

the lungs and chest cavity ( pleura) , the abdomen ( peritoneum) or the sac that contains the heart (pericardium ) . It is a serious illness, whose symptoms usually appear when you are already at an advanced stage .

Most people who become ill with mesothelioma have had some

type of exposure to asbestos , often in the workplace ( although sometimes exposed through family or environmental exposure )

Symptoms usually appear 20-50 years after exposure . This long latency period means that when the disease is detected , usually already be in advanced stages , increasing the difficulty of treatment.

Lungs diagram

Types of mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma . Approximately three quarters of all mesothelioma cases

are of this type . Pleural mesothelioma starts in the chest cavity . Peritoneal mesothelioma . Only 25 to 30% of the cases arise in the peritoneum.

The membrane is thickened and fluid accumulates between the layers causing pressure in the abdominal region and its organs. There may be abdominal pain and swelling due to fluid accumulation .

Pericardio. This mesothelioma type of mesothelioma is extremely rare . Pericardium layers thicken as cancer cells grow , resulting in accumulation of tissue between the membrane layers , which will eventually hamper the heart function.

Testicular Mesothelioma . Less than 1% of cases are of this type , which affects the inner lining of the testes.

Symptoms of pleural

mesothelioma

• Shortness of breath feeling left " without air " • Pain when breathing • Dry cough , persistent • Coughing up blood • Occurrence of an abnormal mass or ball under the skin of the chest • Weight loss for no apparent reason • Pain in the chest , lower back or shoulder • Difficulty swallowing • (oarseness or changing voice • Fever • Sweats • Generalized fatigue • Muscle weakness

Symptoms of peritoneal

mesothelioma :

Symptoms of peritoneal

mesothelioma abdominal pain Swelling of the abdomen Constipation or diarrhea intestinal obstruction Masses of tissue beneath the skin in the abdomen Weight loss for no apparent reason Abnormalities in the coagulation anemia fever nausea vomit hernia Pericardial mesothelioma This type of mesothelioma is extremely rare . Pericardium layers thicken as

cancer cells grow , resulting in accumulation of tissue between the membrane layers , which will eventually hamper the heart function.

Exposure at work or occupational

Exposure to asbestos in the

workplace Workers in manufacturing automotive brake and cloches Assembly workers and supervisors Mechanical brakes ( pads ) Civil engineers , construction superintendents carpenters Stone and brick masons Crane operators Drilling machine operators Electricians Cabling Installers Polishers Handlers naval filler Workers in industrial furnaces Bricklayers , plumbers , plasterers Pipe cutters and packaging Engineers and Electrical Workers naval Workers mechanical Engineers industrial Engineers

We need to inform and generate social awareness of how dangerous it is to be exposed to these contaminants, so we can have a longer and healthier life. For updates, check my blog: http://mesothelioma-treatments-2013.blogspot.com/