The most common cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. In nearly all cases, those infected have been either directly or indirectly exposed to this mineral substance. Asbestos was commonly used as an insulation material, due to its strength and resistance to heat and fire. It was also used in ship-building and in common household appliances.




Understanding the Causes of Mesothelioma

The most common cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. In nearly all cases, those infected have been either directly or indirectly exposed to this mineral substance. Asbestos was commonly used as an insulation material, due to its strength and resistance to heat and fire. It was also used in ship-building and in common household appliances.

It wasn't until the 1960s that doctors first noticed the health risks posed by asbestos. At that time, they saw a flurry of patients with similar occupational backgrounds reporting the same set of symptoms. As a result, physicians were able to prove the link between asbestos and mesothelioma. 

The individuals most likely to have come into contact with asbestos include construction workers, factory workers, miners, shipbuilders, plumbers and electricians. In addition to workers who had direct contact with asbestos, the family members of these individuals were often indirectly exposed as well.

The danger posed by asbestos is due to the fact that it is made up of hundreds of tiny fibers.  When the material is disturbed, these fine fibers are released and enter the lungs of those nearby. Because they are so small, the fibers get stuck in the lungs and cannot be coughed out or released via normal breathing. The body's immune system unsuccessfully attempts to destroy the fibers, which results in inflammation of the lung tissue.

Asbestos fibers may also be swallowed, at which point they get stuck in the digestive tract. This results in the less common peritoneal form of mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdomen. The rarest form of the condition is the pericardial type, which affects the lining of the heart.

As a result of medical research and public outcry, and regulates the use of asbestos from the Clean Air Act of 1970, and in 1989, the United States Environmental Protection Agency a total ban of the material. Since that time, and removed the ban, and some products that contain small amounts of asbestos, which is still allowed under the law of the United States.

If you have questions about asbestos exposure, visit the mesothelioma attorneys of http://mesolawsuit.com/ for more information.

Joseph Devine

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Diagnosing mesothelioma cancer is often difficult as symptoms may not occur up to 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, coughing, and pain in the chest are signs of cancer mesothelioma. Symptoms include weight loss, weakness, fatigue, and anorexia. Abdominal swelling, anemia, and fever are also indicators of the tumor as well.




Your Household May Be The Cause of Mesothelioma Cancer

Asbestos is a group of minerals resistant to fire and has long been used throughout history for various purposes. It was found in the burial clothes of the ancient Egyptians. Asbestos is mined from metamorphic rocks. When this material is used in materials to increase their resistance of fire, it is often mixed with cement and woven into clothes and fabric.

Asbestos is everywhere in your household, from your brake shoes, in your electric oven, and hot plate wiring, it is in the insulation of your house. It is resistant to chemicals, it is flexible, a material easy to use and very much in demand. However, the inhalation of asbestos is the cause of various serious illnesses.

Therefore, the use of this material has been banned in many countries due to its cancer causing quality. In the US, chrysolite has been widely used in various products such as texture and mud coats, sheeting, adhesives and ceiling tiles, plasters, roofing tars, siding, pipes, fireproofing, and the list continues for long.

Naturally, asbestos is in small quantity in the air we breathe and the water we drink. Studies have shown that members of population, who are not exposed to high asbestos exposure, have around hundreds of thousands of asbestos fibres in every single gram of their dry lung tissue.

Cancer mesothelioma is almost in every cases caused by exposure to asbestos. The mesothelium is a layer of special cells that form a membrane around certain body cavities. This tissue produces a fluid that protects the organs. These organs are enabled to move by the help of this tissue. It is mainly in the pleura, and the outer lining of the lungs.

Most people who develop mesothelioma cancer have previously been employed in a place where they inhaled asbestos, or have been washing the clothes of people working with asbestos. Developing it shows no relation to smoking.

Diagnosing it is often difficult as symptoms may not occur up to 20 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, coughing, and pain in the chest are signs of cancer mesothelioma. The latter is due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space, which are the membrane around the lungs. Symptoms include weight loss, weakness, fatigue, and anorexia. Abdominal swelling, anemia, and fever are also indicators of the tumor as well.

If the cancer has already spread to other parts of the body, the mesothelium symptoms include pain or difficulty in swallowing, or swelling of the face or neck. In severe cases, other signs will show, including blood clots in the veins that may be the cause of thrombophlebitis, severe bleeding in many body organs, and jaundice, in which the skin and the eyes turn yellow. The sugar level of the blood can drop significantly, and pulmonary emboli can develop, which is when blood clots form in the arteries of the lungs.

Mesothelioma cancer does not normally spread to the brain or bones. Pleaural tumors are usually found on one side only of the lungs.

Treatment of mesothelioma cancer with conventional therapies have not proved successful, and patients have a survival time span of 6-12 months only. This fact is mainly due to the slow forming of the tumors after the long exposure to asbestos. Surgery has not proved helpful at all in most of the cases. Only 10% of the patients who have been operated have lived for up to 5 years after the surgery.

Radiation has proved to be useful in relieve symptoms, although, the tumours are highly resistant to radiotherapy. Most successful of the treatments is Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy which helps the drugs to enter more efficiently into the abdominal and pelvic tissues by way of heating the fluid agent.

There are various societies and organisations which can help you identify the risk of asbestos exposure in your household, and they can provide you with guidance on how to eliminate the risk.

For more information on cancer try visiting http://www.cancercondition.com - a website that specializes in providing cancer related information and resources including information on mesothelioma cancer.

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Mesothelioma may be a relatively rare disease but for those effected, it can alter your lives and the lives of your loved ones, drastically and irrevocably. This article explains the leading causes and cures regarding Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in the US in particular and in the world as a whole.




Cause of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma is rare. That is what the people in charge would have you think. If Pleural Mesothelioma is so rare, how do you think, more than 2000 to 3000 new patients are diagnosed every year?

The fact is Pleural Mesothelioma used to be a rare form of cancer which made a symptomatic appearance 30-50 years after exposure to Asbestos. You see the only way to contract Pleural Mesothelioma is by being exposed to Asbestos. Before 1980 there were no laws protecting the workers from Asbestos exposure in the workplace, however, once it was seen that people working in an environment of Asbestos exposure were being diagnosed with Pleural Mesothelioma 30-50 years after their exposure, laws began to change.

Just imagine you work for 30 years in an industry and when you near retirement age you or your loved one contracts Pleural Mesothelioma.

What is Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma cancer is a malignant form of cancer found in the sac lining of the abdominal cavity or around the lining of the heart. It's a fast and deadly cancer as once the symptoms develop it divides at a swift rate and complications are created within a year. The survival rate is nil and the life expectancy once the pleural Mesothelioma cancer develops is hardly two to three years, if you are lucky.

Asbestos Exposure and Pleural Mesothelioma

80% of all Mesothelioma cases are for workers in the asbestos industry. The disease is more common in men between the ages 50 and 70 and is contracted through the occupational hazard.

Most laws emerged but as yet, fail to give complete protection to the workers in the Asbestos industry. People working in shipyards, mines, insulation factories etc are still as viable to get pleural Mesothelioma as they were decades ago. Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma causes death. The fault lies with your employer.

MesotheliomaResourceOnline.com presents information that will help you understand the disease; its causes, effects and how you can best cope with it. If you need further assistance or have some questions on what you have seen so far, please feel free to contact us for more information.

Action You May Take

Money is not everything. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma from asbestos expression to consider legal action, you may receive compensation.

Mesothelioma Resource Online holds highly researched information and articles on the leading causes and cures on Mesothelioma. During the course of on going re-search and analysis we have developed an extensive Data Base regarding Mesothelioma types, causes, cancer images and legal issues.

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Peritoneal mesothelioma or abdominal pain can be defined as a pain that affects the belly or abdomen. This is also known as the stomach region or belly.




Peritoneal Mesothelioma Or Abdominal Pain - What Causes It and What are Its General Symptoms?

Peritoneal mesothelioma or abdominal pain can be defined as a pain that affects the belly or abdomen. This is also known as the stomach region or belly. The Pain can come from any one of these. Although the pain may start from somewhere else, like the chest. Severe pain may not always mean a serious problem. The abdomen is an anatomical area that is bounded by the lower margin of the ribs above, the pelvic bone below, and the flanks on each side. Abdominal pain can be acute and sudden in onset, or the pain can be chronic and longstanding.

Abdominal Pain or Peritoneal mesothelioma causes

most people especially women experience some kind of abdominal pain during pregnancy. Which is completely normal, especially in the beginning stages during pregnancy? These abdominals pains may sometimes be confused as cramps from menstruation. However, abdominal pain during pregnancy is sometimes an indicator of a more dangerous health issue.

The main cause is bacterial infection which can spread in the abdomen from somewhere else. For instance if a person has a perforated bowel or appendix bacteria can get into the abdominal cavity,or even,worse,if a person suffers from perforated stomach there can be a leak of acid into the abdominal cavity.

Abdominal pain can also be caused by inflammation (e.g., appendicitis, diverticulitis), by stretching or distention of an organ (e.g., obstruction of the intestine, blockage of a bile duct by gallstones, swelling of the liver with hepatitis), or by loss of the supply of blood to an organ (e.g., ischemic colitis). Abdominal pain can be acute and sudden in onset, or the pain can be chronic and longstanding.

With pain disorder benefit from group therapy and support, especially if some groups of patients have symptoms of pain are limited by their social network. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is also used sometimes to treat pain disorder.

Peritoneal mesothelioma or Abdominal Pain symptoms

The most common symptom is abdominal pain. At the initial stage, pain can be eased with analgesics, such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Treatment can include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, which are aimed at stopping the spread of the disease and at alleviating the pain.

Patients with chronic lower back pain caused by lower back muscles in spasm results in patients having difficulty in straightening the spine. In such a situation, the abdominal wall muscles have less opposition and become tight and shortened aggravating the forward bent posture.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the gut. It is believe that up to 15% of the population suffers from it once during their lifetime. The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unknown, although food sensitivities and allergies, stress, bowel infection, bowel inflammation and sensitive bowel muscles could all be contributing factors that trigger irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms off.

Some other Common symptoms of abdominal peritoneal mesothelioma includes loss of appetite, vomiting, and nausea An abdominal lump or swelling may also be present. Such a lump or swelling may obstruct the bowel, causing constipation. Fluid may collect in the abdominal cavity, causing distension and bloating. This collection of fluid in the abdominal cavity is called ascites, and is also seen in people with liver disease. The fluid is often drained to relieve symptoms of bloating and distension; excessive fluid collection may hamper normal breathing.

Luwoye-Olajide Temitope Gbenga has more on perotoneal mesothelioma.

For more of this and related articles, please visit http://pemsymptoms.blogspot.com.

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The internal organs of the human body are encased in a protective sac called the mesothelium. Examples of mesothelilial membranes are the peritoneum (abdominal organs), pleura (lungs), and pericardium (heart).




Mesothelioma: A Cancer Caused by Asbestos

The internal organs of the human body are encased in a protective sac called the mesothelium. Examples of mesothelilial membranes are the peritoneum (abdominal organs), pleura (lungs), and pericardium (heart).

Under specific conditions, the cells of the protective membrane divide uncontrolled and become cancerous. This disease is termed as Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer which is caused by prolonged exposure to asbestos dust.

The disease is found to occur among those who work in shipyards, asbestos mines and factories, industries that produce asbestos based products, and the heating and construction businesses. Approximately 3,000 cases occur each year in the US, and most patients are between 50-70 years old. Statistics show that males are commonly affected and among them whites more than African Americans.

First studied in the late 1700s in depth studies were only done in the 1960s. Tumors of the Mesothelioma can be benign or malignant. The malignant Mesothelioma are categorized into three types:

o Epithelioid, accounting for 50-70% of mesotheliomas.

o Sarcomatoid, accounting for 7-20%.

o Mixed or bi-phasic, accounting for 20-35%.

When asbestos fibers are breathed into the lungs they travel through large air passages to reach the smaller passages and from them the pleura. In the pleura they damage: the mesothelial cells leading to cancer; lung tissue causing lung cancer; and the development of scar tissue within the lungs known as asbestosis. When asbestos fibers are swallowed they reach the abdominal cavity and cause peritoneal mesothelioma.

Research reveals that the disease only manifests 20-50 years after being exposed to asbestos dust. The symptoms are not specific to the disease but a patient may develop:

o Breathlessness.

o Chest pain accompanied by tightness believed to be caused by accumulation of fluid in the pleura.

o Low back pain.

o Swelling of face and arms.

o Sensory loss.

o Muscle weakness.

o Nausea.

o Vomiting.

o Weight loss that is unexplained.

o Persistent dry cough.

o Sore throat.

o Anemia.

o Fever.

o Constipation.

o Problems with blood clotting.

Since the above are common to minor ailments, patients often ignore the symptoms. It is advisable to consult a doctor if any of the above symptoms persist or if you feel you have been knowingly or unknowingly exposed to asbestos.

A doctor will:

o Take down a detailed medical history and try and determine the symptoms and risk factors.

o Do a thorough physical examination and check for signs of:

o Pleural effusion, fluid accumulated in the chest cavity.

o Fluid in the abdominal cavity.

o Pericardial effusion, fluid in the lining of the heart.

o Take a chest x-ray and check for thickening of the pleura, calcifications, and lowered lung fissures.

o Ask for a CT scan to determine clearly the location, size, and extent of the problem if any is suspected.

o Recommend tests of tissue samples and pleural fluids.

Other risk factors are cigarette or cigar smoking, exposure to radiation, exposure to zeolite a compound that is similar to asbestos, exposure to or infections caused by SV40, a Simian virus.

Those who work in a risky environment should wear protective clothing, have the surroundings tested regularly for suspended asbestos particles, and ensure that they have regular medical tests and report to the doctor any ailments that persist.

Being aware of the disease and its problems helps.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/health/, Premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Health Forum including questions about health care, the Children's Health Issues, addiction, cancer, exercise equipment, Burns & Injuries and more. His article profile can be found at the premier Health Article Submission Directory http://www.1888Articles.com/health-articles-8.html

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The causes of mesothelioma would seem to be more complicated than they are, but they're not. It would seem like such a virulent disease would be more complex in how it forms and what causes one person to get it over another one. But the causes can be boiled down to one word: asbestos.




The Causes Of Mesothelioma Cancer Explained

The causes of mesothelioma would seem to be more complicated than they are, but they're not. It is like a disease so virulent it would be more complex in how it does and that causes a person to get it over another one. But the causes can be boiled down to one word: asbestos.

Asbestos is a group of minerals that are fibrous in structure. Once used in building materials because of its ability to be fire resistant, asbestos is now banned in many countries around the world.

There are three different kinds of asbestos that can cause the dreaded mesothelioma cancer:

Blue Asbestos - Known as the most dangerous type of asbestos and also the most damaging to the lungs.

Brown Asbestos - Mined in Africa and also quite dangerous.

White Asbestos - This form of asbestos is still used in manufacturing and production in the United States and Europe.

Exposure to asbestos can take place twenty to thirty years before the patient even sees any symptoms, making the causes of mesothelioma hard to manage. If you don't know or don't remember that you have been exposed, you might not find out the answer until decades later, when the damage has already been done.

Many people are under the false assumption that one of the causes of mesothelioma is smoking, but this is not true. Studies have reported and proven that there is no link between smoking and mesothelioma cancer.

But exposure to asbestos is only one part of the causes of asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer. When the asbestos gets into your lungs, it can become trapped in the lining. With the fibrous texture of the material, it becomes difficult to expel and can move around in the lungs, causing irreparable damage. This damage leads to scarring in the lungs, which makes it difficult to breathe properly. The lungs can actually become sponge-like and dry out.

Many of the causes of asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer stem from exposure to asbestos fibers used in construction materials for buildings that were constructed before these discoveries were made. No one realized just how harmful asbestos really was, and when they did, they demolished the buildings with the fibers, but then exposed the workers to those fibers in the meantime. Older buildings can still have some remaining asbestos in them, making it possible to still be exposed in low doses. But over time, these causes of mesothelioma can still add up to damage to your body.

About the Author:

Dave Casey is a medical freelance writer for http://www.mesothelioma-adviser.com Visit the site for medical and legal advice for mesothelioma cancer victims.

Copyright 2007 Mesothelioma-Adviser.com

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Mesothelioma is a very serious form of cancer of the lining of the major organs of the body, the most common affecting the pleura of the lungs, and due to exposure to asbestos. Smoking can contribute, but is not a cause of mesothelioma.




Causes and Treatment of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer, predominantly caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. In fact, mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium, the sheath that covers major organs such as the lungs (pleurum), the heart (pericardium) and the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most common kind.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos

When asbestos fibers are inhaled, they become embedded in the lining of the lungs. Due to their small needle-like size, the normal defenses of the body are unable to detect them. Usually, any foreign bodies such as this would either be coughed up, or be removed through a build-up of mucus around them. But nor asbestos. They cause inflammation of the lungs and tissue damage, leading to scarring and coughing. These are the initial symptoms of asbestosis, though asbestosis is not mesothelioma.

No one knows for sure why cancers develop, but once cancerous cells are formed in the pleura, it gradually becomes thicker, and over time restricts breathing and causes shortness of breath and coughing. What is known as 'pleural effusion' occurs, as the fluid of the pleura, designed to lubricate the movement of the lungs against the other organs nearby, builds up and exerts pressure on the lungs. The thickening of the pleura continues as an increasing number of cells become cancerous, until death eventually occurs.

The Effect of Smoking

Although smoking is known to lead to a number of forms of cancer, it does not in itself promote mesothelioma. However, a patient that has been exposed to asbestos, and who also smokes, will be more liable to contract the disease than a non-smoker will. This is why smokers are generally awarded lower sums in compensation than non-smokers with the same condition. However, it would be wrong to state that smoking is a cause of mesothelioma.

It is, however, the cause of many more lung cancer cases than mesothelioma caused by asbestos, and smoking and asbestos together also increase the risk of the patient developing general lung cancer, just as prolonged exposure to asbestos causes more than just mesothelioma. Asbestos lung cancer and mesothelioma are not the same thing.

Symptoms

The major symptoms are shortness of breath, weight loss, nausea and pain. This is true of all forms of mesothelioma, not only pleural mesothelioma. In peritoneal mesothelioma cases, the abdomen becomes very painful, swollen, as the pleural version will lead to shrinking and swelling of the chest due to pleural effusion. The pressure created can also result in pain, apart from that of the cancer itself.

Diagnosis

If the disease is not diagnosed early, then survival is unlikely. Therefore, any person who has previously worked in the asbestos industry, or has used asbestos in their employment, should make their doctor aware of that fact. They can then be placed on a schedule of regular examinations designed to detect the first signs of the disease. If the condition is detected early enough, most treatments available can be used effectively, and surgery is much more likely to be effective if the area affected is able to be isolated.

If you have contracted the disease, stopping smoking is essential, and you must try to avoid all infections of the lungs and airways. It is possible to have the condition treated, but if diagnosed too late then treatment tends to be palliative, and designed to make the patient as comfortable as possible.

It is essential, therefore, that people that have a history of contact with asbestos inform their physician immediately to make sure that if the symptoms do occur, they are spotted before any lasting harm can be done. Only then will there be a hope of a cure and successful recovery from this insidious disease.

More information on mesothelioma is available at Worry Bead where details on the different types of the disease can be obtained.

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