Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers most internal organs (mesothelioma).
Mesothelioma is a violent and fatal type of cancer. Intermediate tumor treatments are available, but for many people with a tumor it is not possible to heal.
Doctors divide the mesothelioma into different species depending on which part of the mesothelioma is infected. Mesothelioma often affects the tissues that surround the lung (pleurisy). This type is called mesothelioma medium. Other rare types of mesothelioma affect the stomach tissue (mesothelioma) and around the heart and around the testicles.
Mesothelioma does not include a form of non-cancerous (benign) tumor that occurs in the chest and is sometimes called a benign medium tumor or individual fibroid.
Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma
The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs.
A pleural mesothelioma, which affects the tissues surrounding the lungs, causes symptoms and signs that may include:
- Chest pain under the rib cage.
- Painful cough
- Shortness of breath
- Lumps of abnormal tissue under the skin in the chest
- Unexplained weight loss
peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects tissues in the abdomen, causes signs and symptoms that may include:
- Abdominal pain
- Flatulence
- Lumps of tissue in the abdomen
- Unexplained weight loss
- Other forms of mesothelioma
The signs and symptoms of other types of mesothelioma are unclear, because these forms of the disease are very rare.
An intermediate tumor, which affects the tissue surrounding the heart, can result in symptoms and signs such as difficulty breathing and chest pains.
A mesothelioma tumor, which affects the tissues surrounding the testicles, may first detect the swelling or mass of the testicle.
When to visit a doctor
Please refer to your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms and signs that may indicate your infection with mesothelioma. There are no specific signs and symptoms of this disease, due to the scarcity of mesothelioma and potentially associated with other cases. If the symptoms and persistent signs that you are experiencing seem abnormal, or annoying, ask your doctor to evaluate them. Please tell your doctor if you have been exposed to asbestos.
reasons of malignant mesothelioma
In general, cancer begins when a series of genetic mutations occur within a cell, leading to cell growth and uncontrolled reproduction. The causes of primary genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma are unclear, although scientists have identified factors that may increase the risk of their occurrence. Cancers are likely to be formed because of the interplay of many factors, such as genetic conditions, environmental, health conditions and lifestyle choices.
Exposure to asbestos: the primary risk factor for mesothelioma
Asbestos is one of the minerals found in the environment normally. Asbestos fibers are strong and heat resistant, which makes them useful in a variety of uses, such as insulation products, brakes, roof, floor and many other products.
When asbestos is dismantled, such as during the mining process or when asbestos insulation is removed, it may produce dust. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers will stabilize in the lungs or in the stomach, where it can cause irritation leading to mesothelioma. The way this is done is exactly not understandable. The incidence of mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos can take 20 to 40 years or more.
Most individuals who have been exposed to asbestos for years will not be infected with mesothelioma. However, other individuals who are exposed to asbestos for a small period of time are infected with the disease. This indicates that there are other factors that may involve determining whether an individual will develop an intermediate tumor or not. For example, you can inherit a predisposition to cancer or another case can increase your risk of being infected.
Risk Factors
Factors that may increase the risk of developing mesothelioma include the following:
Personal history of exposure to asbestos. If you are exposed to asbestos fibres directly at work or at home, your risk of mesothelioma is significantly higher.
Live with an individual working with asbestos. Individuals who are exposed to asbestos, may carry fibre inside the house on their skin or clothes. Exposure to these scattered fibres over a period of several years can expose individuals at home to the risk of developing mesothelioma. Individuals, who deal with high levels of asbestos, can reduce the risk of bringing asbestos fibres to the home through bathing and changing clothes before leaving work.
A family history of mesothelioma. If one of your parents, relatives or children suffers from mesothelioma, you may experience a high risk of infection.
Complications
With the spread of the pleural mesothelioma in the chest, it compresses the structures found in that area. This can lead to complications, such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest Pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Pain caused by pressure on the nerves and spinal cord
- Accumulation of fluid in the chest (pleural effusion), which can squeeze the nearby lung and make breathing difficult
Prevention
Reducing your exposure to asbestos may reduce the risk of developing mesothelioma.
Find out if you are using asbestos
Most people with a mesothelioma are exposed to asbestos fibres during work. Workers who may be exposed to asbestos fibres are:
- Miners
- Factory workers
- Insulation manufacturers
- Shipbuilders
- Construction workers
- Car repairers
Ask your employer if you risk exposure to asbestos in the job.
Follow the employer's safety regulations
Follow all safety precautions at your workplace, such as wearing protective equipment. You may also need to bathe and change work clothes before taking a lunch break or returning home. Talk to your doctor about other precautions you can take to protect yourself from exposure to asbestos.
Make sure you are safe from asbestos in your home
Old houses or buildings may contain asbestos. In many cases, removal of asbestos is more dangerous than leaving it intact. The disintegration of asbestos may result in the fibers becoming volatile in the air, where they can be inhaled. Consult trained experts to detect the presence of asbestos in your home. These experts may experience air in your home to determine whether asbestos is a hazard to your health. Do not try to remove asbestos from your home — hire a qualified expert to do so. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) provides advice on its website to deal with the presence of asbestos in the home.
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