What is Malignant Mesothelioma?
Malignant Mesothelioma -- or simply Mesothelioma, is a type of cancer. It gets its name because it arises from the mesothelial surfaces of the inner lung and abdominal cavities.
It affects people later in life -- in their 60's and 70's, most likely. There is a direct correlation between developing mesothelioma and having had exposure to asbestos -- especially as a child.
What's the interest?
Mesothelioma has gotten much more attention in the past few years due to its relationship to asbestos exposure. Asbestos use in the United States has decreased since the 1970s... but this disease appears about 35 years after exposure.
As a result, the number of people who develop and are diagnosed with mesothelioma has been predicted to peak in the recent years.
Early Symptoms
Symptoms are not very specific. Most people present with trouble breathing and chest discomfort. Some people can develop fluid in their lung as a reaction to the Mesothelioma.
Diagnosis
Your doctor is the one to diagnose this disease. It may be difficult to come to the correct diagnosis -- as often, this requires a biopsy (tissue sample) of the affected area. Abnormal lung tissue may be seen on a Chest XRay.
What's to expect?
Depending on the area affected, there are special medications that can be used to try to treat it, but overall is difficult to treat. Unfortunately, the life expectancy after developing this disease is very short, with an average survival from 6 to 18 months.
About the author...
By Anonymous
It affects people later in life -- in their 60's and 70's, most likely. There is a direct correlation between developing mesothelioma and having had exposure to asbestos -- especially as a child.
What's the interest?
Mesothelioma has gotten much more attention in the past few years due to its relationship to asbestos exposure. Asbestos use in the United States has decreased since the 1970s... but this disease appears about 35 years after exposure.
As a result, the number of people who develop and are diagnosed with mesothelioma has been predicted to peak in the recent years.
Early Symptoms
Symptoms are not very specific. Most people present with trouble breathing and chest discomfort. Some people can develop fluid in their lung as a reaction to the Mesothelioma.
Diagnosis
Your doctor is the one to diagnose this disease. It may be difficult to come to the correct diagnosis -- as often, this requires a biopsy (tissue sample) of the affected area. Abnormal lung tissue may be seen on a Chest XRay.
What's to expect?
Depending on the area affected, there are special medications that can be used to try to treat it, but overall is difficult to treat. Unfortunately, the life expectancy after developing this disease is very short, with an average survival from 6 to 18 months.
About the author...
By Anonymous
Labels: malignant mesothelioma