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The Facts About Mesothelioma Cancer
By Heather Colman
What is Cancer?
Mesothelioma cancer is an extremely rare cancer form that is only found in the mesothelium. This form of malignancy generally affects those people who have been exposed to a situation where asbestos is present, typically those who have worked in buildings where it was used as a fire retardant..
What happens when a person has Cancer?
This type of cancer directly affects the mesothelium and causes abnormal cells. These cells begin to divide rampantly. They invade and cause damage to all organs and tissues that are near the effected area. cancer tends to spread fairly quickly throughout the body, as well.
Mesothelium
This is the membrane that protects and covers many of the organs within your body. The membrane is made up of cells and is in separate layers. The first layer surrounds the organ extremely close and the second creates a protective sac around the organs.
Studies show that only 2,000 people each year are diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. Studies further show that men are more apt to contract this type of cancer than women. However, Cancer knows no boundaries and can be found in both genders. Typically, the older the person is, the more at risk they are for developing cancer.
Who is at risk for Cancer?
Anyone who is exposed to asbestos in large quantities and for long periods of time are especially at risk for developing cancer. It is impossible to say who exactly will develop cancer because it has been found in those who had only very little
What is the mesothelium?
The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.
The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart. The mesothelial tissue surrounding the male internal reproductive organs is called the tunica vaginalis testis. The tunica serosa uteri covers the internal reproductive organs in women.
What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
How common is mesothelioma?
Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.
exposure to asbestos and those who had no exposure at all, but lived with someone who had a good deal of exposure to them. The risk to those living with someone works in asbestos filled areas is high. Asbestos is brought home by the worker as dust on his or her hair or clothing.
Mesothelioma Cancer Symptoms
Mesothelioma cancer is a slow growing type of cancer. Some cases do not see any type of symptoms until thirty to fifty years after asbestos exposure. Some symptoms can include:
Chest Pain
Shortness of breath
Sudden Weight Loss
Pain in the abdominal region
Abdominal swelling
Bowel Obstruction
Blood Clots
Fever
Anemia
Trouble Swallowing
Facial Swelling
Neck Swelling
Treatment of Cancer
There are a few different treatment options available for those diagnosed with cancer. The method of treatment will depend upon many different things such as the age, overall health, where the cancer is located and the stage the Cancer is in. The three typical types of treatment include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. In some cases, treatments may be combined if it proves beneficial to the patient. Article Source: http://www.articleblender.com This article is Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more Mesothelioma cancer resources at mesotheliomacancerinfo.org.
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