Malignant Mesothelioma: A Terrible Disease

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that begins in cells that most organs in the body line, especially the chest, abdomen and heart. Doubled formed by these cells is called mesothelium. The mesothelium produces a protective sac that surrounds the internal organs of the body. It consists of two layers: a layer of cells surrounding the organ, and another forms a sac around it. These cells secrete a fluid that allows organs to move easily and safely in the space defined by the mesothelium.

Thus, moving organs like the heart and lungs to function normally with only one functioning mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and multiply without control, invade surrounding tissue affects the body, they must protect themselves. In most cases of mesothelioma are the lungs to the organs affected. Mesothelium of the lungs is known as pleura. Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed of the disease.

Risk factors and risk groups

Mesothelioma is associated with asbestos. Around 70-80% of cases of mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral group that has been widely used in industrial products including cement, brake linings, floor coverings and insulation. The first cases of mesothelioma occurred in the 1900s in Britain, where workers in asbestos factories began to experience a high level of lung disease. The disease is called asbestosis then. It was only much later, in 1959, the relationship between asbestos and lung cancer was made.

Mesothelioma can also occur as a result of secondary exposure to asbestos. The possibility of developing cancer in the family and other people in contact with asbestos workers is high, since exposure to dust from the employee's clothing and hair. People live in old buildings (before the ban of asbestos in building materials) are at risk. Occupations that are most associated with mesothelioma are: carpenters, electricians, plumbers, shipyard workers, the textile industry, the number of employees, etc.

The incidence of mesothelioma

Most countries have now set the level of asbestos, which can probably be found in the work environment of a person. Since the risk of related diseases has increased due to heavy and long exposure to asbestos, proper work environment leads to fewer cases of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is now a relatively rare disease, only 2000 cases occur each year in the United States.

Living with disease

Like many other cancers, there is little you can do when the diagnosis was made in the early stages of the disease. Unfortunately, most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed at a late stage. There is no cure for the disease. In some cases, tumors can be surgically removed, with the hope that it has not spread to other parts of the body. Surgery may try to remove the tumor or the entire lung. Treatment with radiotherapy and chemotherapy are largely palliative (that is, to reduce the severity of symptoms rather than treat disease.)