How To Tackle Mesothelioma Disease
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009Mesothelioma ranks high among the most potent diseases affecting mankind today. The cancer, commonly known as mesothelioma disease, is caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. Most patients do not survive more than two years after diagnosis. The disease is very peculiar in that it takes several decades to develop and show its first symptoms. This very reason impairs timely detection and proper treatment.
Asbestos, which is a naturally occurring mineral, is widely used in industries for many purposes. Once inhaled the fibers settle in the mesothelium, which is a protective membrane that covers the important internal organs. This makes the cells to divide unnaturally resulting in the production of excess fluid. The side walls get thickened due to this extra fluid as a result of which the proper functioning of the organs is hampered.
Depending on the area of occurrence mesothelioma disease is divided into three. The pleural mesothelioma affects the lung cavities, the peritoneal attacks the abdominal cavities and the pericardial impairs the cavities of the heart. The pericardial is found to the most dangerous one among the three.
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There is no full cure for a fully developed mesothelioma cancer case, as of now. Traditional therapies like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation can at best increase the life span by several years. The treatment procedures are hindered due to late detection resulting from the long gestation period required for the disease to show its first symptoms. In most cases, symptoms show up only after the cancer reaches advanced stages. However, if detected early and treated quickly, there is a fair chance that the disease can be removed totally thereby assuring the patient a prolonged healthy life.
It is therefore very important that everyone, who had worked in asbestos-based factories, asbestos pits and family members of such employees to undergo periodical checkups. The usual symptoms are breathing problems and related illnesses like cough, fever etc. Being a rarity, all cancer centers are not manned or equipped to diagnose and cure mesothelioma disease. The patient should approach only those physicians who exclusively deal with the disease, which would greatly help in timely and accurate diagnose, which would be followed by aggressive treatment to root out the cancer.