What is Mesothelioma and What Can Be Done to Treat It

What is Mesothelioma? Some facts and myths about this very modern disease.

There is a common misconception that mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer. It is in fact a cancer of the protective membrane around the lungs, inside the ribs, known as mesothelium. similar membrane covers most of the body's organs, but it's lining around the lungs, which often becomes cancerous.

Unlike lung cancer, mesothelioma is not caused by smoking. The vast majority of cases associated with exposure to tiny, airborne fragments of mineral asbestos, which is often used in a range of building materials, particularly insulation. Inhalation of asbestos fibers is the only known cause of mesothelioma.

exposure to asbestos is strongly associated with other very debilitating and life-threatening diseases, including lung cancer and asbestosis, a less serious disease that affects the lining of the lungs, such as pleural fibrosis, pleural plaques and benign pleural effusions.

Building materials manufacturers have been aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure to air since the 1930s, but the warnings and safety measures only began to be put in place in the 1960s, and even then they were dangerously inadequate. the use of asbestos in construction was eventually banned in the U.S. in the mid-1970s, and stringent measures were put in place to protect workers on renovation or demolition sites where asbestos is present. However, even now building workers are not always told when you work in a place that carries the risk of exposure to asbestos.

Although the number of people who were recently exposed to the risk of mesothelioma is now at a minimum, newly diagnosed cases of the disease are set to rise dramatically in coming decades. This is due to the fact that symptoms can take 30-50 years to develop. Sufferers become aware of symptoms only after the cancer has reached an advanced stage, which is why the disease is so difficult to treat and has such a low survival rate of a diagnosis. extent of disease in the United States became a major concern, with more than 2000 new cases are reported each year.

A new screening and diagnostic techniques have been developed to increase the effectiveness of treatment. Those who believe that they May be at risk can find information and support from their local health care providers, and from online mesothelioma support resources such as MesotheliomaSurgeons.net