Introduction to Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a collective term applied to a group of naturally occurring compounds that have been used for many industrial and domestic applications for over one hundred years. Because it has excellent insulating and fire retardant properties it was was used extensively in buildings until as recently as the 1970's, when serious health concerns began to materialise, primarily linked to certain types of cancer.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is caused by asbestos, and affects the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs, abdomen or heart.
It is a serious long term disease that is triggered by the inhalation of asbestos fibres, and it can take many decades before the symptoms can be detected, known as the latency period), and a diagnosis made possible. This means that most diagnoses are made when the illness is already at an advanced stage, and so most sufferers tend to be aged between 50 and 70 years old.
In the United States, between two and three thousand new cases of malignant mesothelioma are newly diagnosed each year, most of which are of the type known as 'pleural mesothelioma' - the type that affects the tissue surrounding the lungs. This type is responsible for up to 75 percent of all cases.
The symptoms of mesothelioma tend to develop very slowly, and may delay an early diagnosis, due to the inability of the patient to detect the gradual changes within their body. Studies have shown that over a quarter of people who develop this illness delay seeking medical help for at least six months.
The main symptoms that are associated with mesothelioma are:
Breathing difficulty known as dyspnea as a result of the accumulation of fluid on the lungs
Chest pain, usually towards the lower and back part (suffered by more than half of patients)
Other less common symptoms may include:
Coughing related to the build up of fluid in the lungs
Fever or raised temperature
weight loss accompanied by excessive tiredness
If you should experience any of the above symptoms you should see your doctor without delay. Following a physical examination and an analysis of your medical history, further specialist testing may be recommended under the care of a cancer specialist.
These are some of the additional symptoms that are only apparent following specialist medical diagnostic testing (chest X-Ray, blood tests and possibly a biopsy on any fluid extracted from the chest cavity):
Tumours present in the chest or abdomen
Fluid on the lungs (usually the right lung is more affected due to it's greater size)
Thickening of the lining that surrounds the lung, known as the pleura or visceral pleura
For further information, please visit our website at http://www.mesotheliomalungs.org
This site is about the effects of asbestos on an individual's health, including information regarding symptoms, diagnosis and up-to-date research.
Information helpful to newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients can be be found here: http://mesotheliomalungs.org/newly-diagnosed-mesothelioma