Some Facts On Mesothelioma Disease And How It Can Be Conquered Or Prevented
Mesothelioma stands high among the most threatening diseases which affect mankind in the present world. Inhaling asbestos fibers for a long time is the cause behind mesothelioma disease. In most cases the patients die within two years of diagnosis. The peculiarity of the disease is that it takes many decades to develop and show its first symptoms. This very fact proves to be a hindrance in timely detection and proper treatment.
Asbestos, a widely used mineral in industries, is very toxic. The floating fibers, once inhaled, settle in the mesothelium, which is a protective membrane that sheaths the cavities of our vital organs. These particles make the cells of the lining to divide without any order and the excess fluid formed due to this thickens the sidewalls of the organs, thereby impairing their proper functioning.
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.
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.