rich pagen - mesothelioma

 
Mesothelioma Cancer   Posted by: www.mesothelioma.com    Mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, occurs when malignant cells are found in the mesothelium or, the protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs. These cells can damage surrounding organs and metastasize. The most common cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos and can be known as asbestos cancer. Approximately 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year. The disease occurs more in men than woman, and usually risk increases as a person ages. Exposure to asbestos is reported in 70 to 80 percent of mesothelioma cases. Other diseases caused by asbestos are asbestosis, a chronic lung aliment, as well as other cancers.  Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring minerals that can be found in an assortment of products including; cement, flooring products, textiles and insulation. Today, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets limits for acceptable levels of exposure in the workplace and workers must use protective equipment. The risk of disease increases with the level of exposure and length of time exposed. There are two types of mesothelioma: pleural and peritoneal. The first, pleural mesothelioma occurs in the membrane surrounding the lungs. Symptoms usually include shortness of breath and pain in the chest from buildup of fluid in the pleura. Peritoneal mesothelioma includes symptoms such as weight loss, abdominal pain, swelling, bowel obstruction, anemia, fever and blood clotting abnormalities. Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to many other conditions. A full physical examination is needed along with x-rays, a CT scan and a MRI. The next step is for a doctor to perform a biopsy to determine if the abnormalities are cancerous. If the patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, more procedures will be needed to determine the stage of the cancer for proper treatment. Treatments will depend on the location of the cancer, the stage, and the overall health of the patient. Standard treatments usually include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy but new and better treatments continue to be researched and developed. http://www.mesothelioma.com/http://www.mesothelioma.com/asbestoscancer.htmshapeimage_1_link_0shapeimage_1_link_1