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Fighting Mesothelioma - Do You
Know If You Work And Play
Around Asbestos?
A cancer from some modern chemical or contaminant is
nothing
new to Americans. The 1960's show the emergence of
cancer
as a major health threat. During the 1960's the
medical
community began detecting a serious form of cancer
known as
Mesothelioma. This strange name is derived from
mesothelium, a protective coating that exists around
internal organs of the body. Mesothelioma attacks the
mesothelium, especially that of the lungs. This cancer
is
caused by exposure to airborne asbestos.
Rattling off products that contain asbestos isn't
common
knowledge for most people. In fact, the general public
is
usually aware of only one or two asbestos-containing
industrial products such as thermal insulation used in
pipe
coverings, joint compounds and ceiling tiles. Since
the
most commonly used form of asbestos is as a fiber
derived
from silicate minerals, asbestos is sometimes woven
into
fabrics to increase the cloth's ability to retain
heat.
Other less-known products that usually contain this
dangerous form of asbestos include pipeline wrap,
roofing
felt, millboard, and vinyl-asbestos floor tile.
The United States is actively working to reduce
exposure to
airborne asbestos in the workplace. However, other
countries continue to use hazardous forms of asbestos
in
products that are imported into this country.
Compounding
the problems of asbestos is the fact that
asbestos-containing building materials were used
extensively
in the 1960's and 1970's. Many homes and schools that
were
built during that time period show high levels of
airborne
asbestos.
It is the airborne form of asbestos that is the most
likely
to cause Mesothelioma or other asbestos-related
disease.
Like many other cancers, Mesothelioma may not appear
until
decades after chronic exposure to airborne asbestos.
This
cancer attacks the mesothelium, which is a protective
sac
or membrane that protects the exterior of various
organs in
the body. The cancer is most likely to attack the
mesothelium of the lungs, followed by the mesothelium
of
the stomach.
Even though this cancer doesn't limit itself to only
one age
group, most Mesothelioma diagnoses occur between 30 to
50
years after encountering asbestos. Since outward
symptoms
start by resembling lesser threatening signs such as
persistent coughing, blocked bowels, or fever,
diagnosis is
best left to further investigation by a doctor.
Depending
the type of Mesothelioma, other symptoms may include
shortness of breath, weight loss, chest pain, blood
clotting, stomach pain and swelling, and heart
palpitations.
There are three major forms of Mesothelioma, depending
on
the area of the body it is attacking. Peritoneal
Mesothelioma affects the stomach; pleural Mesothelioma
attacks the lungs; while pericardial Mesothelioma
affects
the heart. Treatment options for Mesothelioma depend
on
how severe the cancer is and the condition of the
patient.
Treatment commonly involves the removal the diseased
portion
of the organ and killing off remaining cancerous
cells.
Outside of surgery, other treatment options include
chemotherapy or radiation. It is critical for the
patient
to remain active with any Mesothelioma treatment since
many
victims of this disease without follow-up treatment
die
within six months of the diagnosis.
For additional information about Mesothelioma or
asbestos
exposure, consult the following web sites:
http://www.mesolink.org or http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org.