| Mesothelioma CancerWhat is | | | | between 50 and 70 years. Men are typically |
| Mesothelioma?Mesothelioma is a serious | | | | affected more, because of the common presence |
| malignant tumor that affects the torso of the | | | | of asbestos in industrial settings. There are |
| human body. There is a strong link between | | | | three major types of malignant mesothelioma. |
| mesothelioma and contact with asbestos | | | | Epithelial, sarcomatoid, and mixed. |
| particles via breathing or swallowing.There | | | | Epithelial mesothelioma is most common. |
| are three common forms of mesothelioma:1. | | | | Symptoms may include, but are not limited to |
| Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common form | | | | respiratory distress, a lasting cough, and |
| of Mesothelioma. It starts in the chest | | | | pneumonia. In addition, symptoms are often |
| cavity (after breathing the particles) before | | | | mistaken for less serious ailments, and many |
| spreading to other areas.2. Peritoneal | | | | patients do not show any signs at |
| Mesothelioma starts in the abdomen (after | | | | all.Individuals with pleural mesothelioma may |
| swallowing the particles) and accounts for | | | | amass some fluid between the lung lining and |
| about 10-20% of Mesothelioma patients.3. | | | | chest cavity. This can be detected through a |
| Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rarest form | | | | chest x-ray, as well as CT scans.Diagnosis of |
| of Mesothelioma. It starts in the cavity that | | | | Mesothelioma is based on a biopsy. This exam |
| surrounds the heart.Mesothelioma is difficult | | | | will test a tissue sample for the presence of |
| to diagnose early on because the symptoms are | | | | malignant and/or pleural mesothelioma.Causes |
| often mistaken for those of other, less | | | | of MesotheliomaAsbestos is the principal |
| serious ailments. To make matters worse, it | | | | cause of Mesothelioma. Asbestos is a type of |
| often takes many years for the symptoms to | | | | insulation material, which was commonly |
| show up after the contact with asbestos takes | | | | utilized in the past in the following |
| place. Individuals with a history of extended | | | | industries:Steel WorkersBrake |
| asbestos exposure are at the highest risk for | | | | MechanicsInsulatorsBoilermakersShip |
| developing malignant mesothelioma. Even a | | | | fittersMaintenance WorkersPipe |
| small exposure to this cancer-causing | | | | FittersConstruction industryShipbuilding |
| material can result in malignant | | | | industryAutomotive industryOther |
| mesothelioma. However, mesothelioma has a | | | | manufacturing industriesMesothelioma appears |
| latency of up to thirty-forty years, and many | | | | most often in people who worked in the above |
| individuals previously exposed to asbestos | | | | industries and were exposed to asbestos in |
| are now displaying symptoms. This means the | | | | their workplace. |
| average age of mesothelioma patients is | | | | |