Alarming Mesothelioma Cancer Rate Increases

I believe we should all take time to consider mesothelioma cancer. We need to be informed about mesothelioma cancer, know the facts so we could prevent it to happen to us and our loved ones because mesothelioma is very hard to control. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is sponsoring clinical trials (research studies with people) that are designed to find new treatments and better ways to use current treatments. Before any new treatment can be recommended for general use, doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the treatment is safe for patients and effective against the disease. Participation in clinical trials is an important treatment option for many patients with mesothelioma.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a thin membrane that lines the chest and abdomen and surrounds the organs in these areas. The lining around the lungs is called the pleura and in the abdomen it is known as the peritoneum.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. Washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can also put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.

How Common is Mesothelioma?

It is reported that incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is becoming an alarming kind of cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States alone each year. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.

What are thesymptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

• Shortness of breath

• Pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura

• Weight loss

• Abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen

• Bowel Obstruction

• Blood clotting abnormalities

• Anemia

• Fever

• Trouble swallowing

• Swelling of the neck or face

Let's all be take care of our health so as to our loved ones. Share this to them. Take time to know about this dangerous mesothelioma. An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure, what if there is no cure?