Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the tissues of cells that line the lungs, heart and stomach. These tissues are called mesothelial cells and they become infected by inhaling particles of dust from asbestos fibers. Once these cells become infected they dry up the fluids surrounding these major organs of the body and tumors begin to develop. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma which accounts for 75% of all malignant cases however there are two other types peritoneal, and pericardial which you may be interested in reading about.Understanding Mesothelioma
Dealing with mesothelioma is a very difficult process. It will require a lot of physical and emotional endurance, a strong family and social network, and expert medical and professional advice and assistance. The best way to approach dealing with mesothelioma is to first learn everything that you can about the disease. This should include the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of mesothelioma. Symptoms
Since mesothelioma takes a long time to develop inside a human body it is often difficult to identify the symptoms. In the early stages there may not even be any symptoms at all. When they do appear the most common early symptoms are shortness of breath and chest pains. These symptoms on their own will not usually identify the disease and are often misdiagnosed as asthma or other respiratory problems like pneumonia. Tests and Diagnosis
As discussed previously, mesothelioma takes a long time to incubate within a human body before symptoms may appear and cause suffering to the carrier. To be more specific, it can take fifteen to twenty years for this deadly disease to fully show itself and the damage it has done. This presents a very difficult challenge for doctors and the medical community in diagnosing the disease and in many cases patients with this disease are either not aware that they have it or do not ask the doctor to specifically check for symptoms. Current Treatment
Once mesothelioma has been diagnosed a treatment procedure can be recommended and begun. The correct treatment will depend on a number of factors. They include the location of the tumor, the stage of the disease and how far the cancer has spread in the patient. The recommended treatment for mesothelioma will also depend on the age and overall health of the patient...Causes and Risk Factors
The fine fibers of asbestos make it a great source for insulation and a fire retardant however the entry of asbestos into the human body can trigger the onset of mesothelioma. It is widely known now that Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Sometimes the fibers enter the body through the lungs by an unsuspecting individual just breathing air containing asbestos fibers. Once they are taken in through the respiratory passages these fibers lodge themselves in the mesothelial cells around the lungs. This can cause direct damage to the lungs by traveling to the ends of their small passages and reaching the pleura area surrounding the lungs.
Types
There are many different types of mesothelioma that can occur in the body, almost always as a result of some form of exposure to asbestos and asbestos fibers. This can include pleural mesothelioma which affects the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma that affects the stomach or abdominal cavity, and pericardial mesothelioma that refers to a cancer of the lining of the heart.
The Four Stages
Tracking the progress of cancers caused by mesothelomia is called staging and it is commonly accepted that there are four main stages of mesothelomia. These stages are measured by a variety of mechanisms including x-rays, CAT scans, and MRI testing. All of these will tell an attending physician how far the cancer has progressed and help to determine the appropriate level and type of treatment.
Once a doctor has made a full examination of the patient and correctly diagnosed a case of mesothelioma they will discuss a course of treatment with the patient and their family. This will almost always include a discussion of pain management and a recommended course of pain management and control during the treatment period and beyond. There are a number of options open to doctors and patients in the area of pain management and control and they include drug therapy and epidural implants, as well as psychological approaches that have helped many mesothelioma patients better cope with the impact of pain.Medical Related Hospitals and Doctors
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