Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is becoming more and more
common. The most common cause of this cancer is exposure to
asbestos. When constantly exposed with insufficient protection,
asbestos dust and fibres affect the mesothelial cells which make
up the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the outer lining that
protects some of the body’s most vital organs such as the heart
and lungs. The mesothelial cells become abnormal after lengthy
periods of constant exposure to asbestos causing an array of
problems.

Due to the latency period and symptoms of this cancer,
mesothelioma is very difficult to diagnose. Mesothelioma takes
decades to mature and develop fully and this is why many elderly
men who were exposed to asbestos thirty years before are just
discovering they have the cancer. A lot of these men are
currently lodging multi-million dollar lawsuits against the
companies that exposed them to the dangers of asbestos without
sufficient protection.

The organs that are, Mesothelioma treatment, affected most by mesothelioma are the lungs.

The most common type of mesothelioma which is called pleural
mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs and can cause
symptoms such as coughing, breathing and swallowing
difficulties, shortness of breath and fever. Another area that
can be affected by mesothelioma is the abdomen. This is less
common and this is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of
peritoneal mesothelioma include nausea and vomiting, weight
loss, fever, bowel obstruction, loss of appetite and general
pain in the stomach area.

The last and least common type of
mesothelioma is known as pericardial mesothelioma and it affects
the heart and the tissue surrounding it. Symptoms of this form
of the cancer include palpitations, breathing difficulties and
persistent coughing. Generally, the symptoms of mesothelioma are
typical of many other diseases and this makes it very difficult
to diagnose.

There are treatments for mesothelioma although these are usually
unsuccessful. If the cancer is treated aggressively in its early
stages then there is a good chance of a patient surviving.

However, due to the difficulty to diagnose mesothelioma, the
cancer is not normally found until it is too late. Treatments
that are used for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation
therapy, palliative therapy and chemotherapy. Research for
additional treatment of mesothelioma is being done at various
cancer centers all over the United States as well as by
pharmaceutical companies. For more information on the treatment
of mesothelioma go to http://www.
1-mesothelioma.co.uk/treatment.html