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MESOTHELIOMA - RARE CANCER
by Krebs Mather
http://www.symptomsmesothelioma.com
One of the rarest types of cancer is mesothelioma. The
mesothelium lines the body cavity and creates a protective
sac around all the internal organs. The majority of cases
occur in people who have breathed in asbestos. The cancer
develops when the cells making up the mesothelium start
changing their normal pattern. Soon they start to rapidly
divide and create problems in tissues and organs.
Mesothelioma is a metastatic cancer, meaning it can spread
to other areas of the body from where it began. The number
of cases in the past 20 years have increased, although it~s
still considered rare. On average, 2,000 new diagnoses are
made each year. Patients are more often men than women,
although risks go up for both genders as they age.
Studies show that 80% of mesothelioma patients worked with
or near asbestos, leaving the remaining 20% with no known
exposure. Asbestos is made up of mineral fibers, woven into
the fabric, and then separated into threads. We generally
find asbestos in industry, in such products as roofing
shingles, insulation for commercial and private use, and
brake linings.
Asbestos easily becomes airborne once it is free of its
cover or a wall hiding it somehow becomes damaged. The tiny
fibers are then ingested by breathing them in or
swallowing, wreaking havoc on our bodies. Two main
diagnoses when this happens are mesothelioma and lung
cancer. Asbestos is legal, but most businesses have opted
to use other materials. Some companies are even hiring
technicians to remove it from their facilities. Even this
process can be dangerous, as exposure may occur during
removal.
Asbestos was first used in the early 19th century and
became widely used during World War II. For this reason a
lot of American workers worked with it. The highest number
of workers at severe risk worked in heating, construction,
asbestos mills and mines, and shipyards during the 1940s.
Current limited use and careful monitoring have ensured
that mesothelioma occurrences are quite limited. Still if
you~ve been around asbestos and are afraid of getting the
disease, there are specific symptoms to look out for. These
include difficulty breathing, fluid build-up in the chest,
causing pain, sudden weight loss, swelling and soreness in
the abdomen, anemia, fever, trouble with blood clotting,
blocked bowels, neck and facial pain, and trouble
swallowing.
Keep in mind that these symptoms do not appear for 30 to 50
years after asbestos exposure. If you have concerns, you
should seek medical advice but remember mesothelioma is
extremely rare.
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