Mesothelioma is a type of lung cancer are rare. The main factors causing mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers. There is a gap of time, sometimes even up to 30 years, between exposure to asbestos and the onset of the illness. There is difficulty to diagnose this disease because the symptoms are very similar to other benign diseases such as pneumonia.
Mesothelioma is a disease that affects the mesothelium, or lining that form a protective layer around the stomach, lungs, heart and other body parts. Mesothelium cells can divide rapidly. And also tersebuat cells have a longer life span and growing too fast. Abnormal development of cells of the mesothelium is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. People who have worked in the asbestos industry or living near asbestos industry and their families will be more vulnerable to contracting the disease.
Mesothelioma Divided into three main types. Types tersebuat is (pleura when it affects the lungs), (peritoneum when it affects the stomach) and (pericardial when it affects the heart). About 75% of cases originated from pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma or pericardial 20%. There are also some other rare types of mesothelioma that affects 5% of the rest. All these statistics only relate to cases documented. There are still thousands of cases that go undiagnosed or undocumented worldwide.
Pleural mesothelioma:
Among the various types of cancer, mesothelioma accounts for only a small percentage. However, among the various types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma accounts for nearly three-fourth of cases documented. In pleural mesothelioma, fluid will be built between the chest and a layer of mesothelium.
Symptoms:
Symptoms of this disease is like gasping for breath, shortness of breath loss,, severe fever, coughing up blood and breathing difficulties. Pleural mesothelioma patients face acute chest pain. Diagnosing the disease is not easy Because the symptoms are similar to pneumonia.Tidak no known cure for pleural mesothelioma. There are two types of pleural mesothelioma is cancerous and non-cancerous. When the cancer, it is called as a form of malignant and when it is non-cancerous, it is called as a benign form.
Mesothelioma latency period is approximately 20 to 50 years. This makes a lot of people trouble to connect the disease to asbestos exposure. They may have changed a lot of work today and can not consider their illness as an occupation disease.
Pleural mesothelioma caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers enter the lungs through the nose or mouth and they mangendap in the lungs. Then, they travel through the network. Because they are lightweight and invisible, they become easy air and inhalable. When asbestos fibers settle in a layer of mesothelium, the cells of the mesothelium began to show abnormal behavior, causing mesothelioma. Formed tumors in this disease in the lungs and the mesothelium and can spread to other body parts.
Because they are difficult to detect, they may have caused havoc to the maximum when they are detected. Mostly, when the mesothelioma is detected, the patient is in the final stages of cancer with only a few months or years away. Sometimes, not even. Mesothelioma is a terrible killer disease. Tests and appropriate measures shall be taken by the medical fraternity to detect the disease as soon as possible.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a very rare disease. Approximately 10-20% of documented cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma affects the patient's abdomen. Abdominal mesothelium cells behave abnormally in this disease. The disease is also caused by oral inhalation of asbestos fibers. Fibers travel through the entire digestive tract and settled in some parts of the digestive system. Mesothelium layer that starts at the rapidly dividing cells and also has a longer life span. It causes tumors in the stomach and can also spread to other parts of the body. The main symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma is severe abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, constipation, fever, chest pain, weight loss and difficulty breaking. Loose motion or constipation, abdominal swelling and pieces of tissue in the abdominal area are classic signs of peritoneal mesothelioma. The disease is diagnosed in several ways using x-rays, IT scans, MRI, PET, laparoscopy, laparotomy, thoracotomy, and so on. The main risk factors for contracting this disease is exposure to asbestos fibers and asbestos dust. But some of the following factors also increase the risk of contracting the disease:
* A family with a history of hereditary cancer risk factors.
* Smokers seem to have a higher chance of contracting the disease compared with non-smokers, who have the same level and amount of exposure to asbestos fibers.
* Zeolites are minerals that have properties very similar to asbestos and also seems to be as dangerous as asbestos.
* Thorium dioxide is used in x-ray is also a cancer-promoting factor.
Pericardial mesothelioma:
The most rare form of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma, it affects the mesothelium lining the heart. The main symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, palpitations, fatigue and cough. As with all types of mesothelioma, there is no cure for this type also. The only thing doctors can do is to reduce pain and discomfort of the symptoms and help patients have a comfortable and peaceful death.
Pericardial layers of the heart is removed to reduce the symptoms. The heart is the most fragile part of the body. It is covered with a layer of brittle even called the pericardium. That is why the disease is known as pericardial mesothelioma because it affects the pericardium. Early symptoms are fatigue, chest pain, heart palpitations, difficulty breathing and persistent cough. Because signs are common to other heart problems, it is difficult to diagnose this disease. Slowly, begin thickening of the heart lining and fluid began to fill the heart. It can also spread to other organs of the body.
At the next stage of pericardial mesothelioma, the patient finds it very difficult to consume food or liquids. The lungs gradually cease to function and obstruction in the intestines become more prominent. Worsening heart condition and patients may be affected by a stroke or heart attack. The death of a solution and that patient safety mesothelioma crave. People most likely to get this disease are those who face constant exposure to risk factors such as
* Shipyard workers
* Asbestos industries' workers and miners.
* Zeolite industries' workers and miners.
* Construction site workers.
* Poof Fire material producers
* Cement Mixer
* Painter
Not only the above groups of people have a higher chance of contracting the disease but also their families run the risk of contracting this disease. Workers when they came home with asbestos dust and asbestos fibers in their clothing and their families may be exposed to the disease. Workers should take the following preventive measures:
1. They should wear protective clothing to work.
2. They have to change clothes and wash them before they leave home.
3. An expert must be employed to detect if there is asbestos in the housing and the environment nearby.