Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer which occurs in the mesothelium, which is a thin layer of tissue that covers most internal organs. The disease most commonly attacks the tissue around the lungs, but rarer forms may attack tissues surrounding the heart, abdominal organs, or testicles. Patients who have worked with asbestos, or who have family members who worked with asbestos, are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
When lungs are affected, patients exhibit certain common mesothelioma symptoms. These symptoms include shortness of breath, unusual lumps under the skin of the chest, chest pain, painful coughing, and unexplained weight loss. When abdominal organs are affected, patients may experience abdominal pain, swelling, or lumps.
Cancers develop for multiple reasons. For this disease, the most frequent risk factor is asbestos exposure. Sometimes, the disease occurs among patients who, between 1955 and 1963, were exposed to a particular virus in the polio vaccine. Other cases occur in people who were exposed to a certain type of x-ray radiation, between 1920 and 1960.
Physicians will look for lumps using physical examination and imaging scans. If physicians find a suspicious growth, a biopsy will be taken. If the growth is malignant, physicians will perform more imaging scans, to find out how extensively the disease has spread throughout the body.
This form of cancer, unfortunately, is often discovered in its latter stages. When the disease is advanced, a cure is often impossible, and doctors focus instead on palliative care. If the cancer is not too advanced, patients may try radiation, surgery, or chemotherapy, to combat the tumors.
Mesothelioma symptoms often mimic the symptoms of other diseases, but patients should not hesitate to discuss what they are experiencing, with a physician. In particular, patients with a history of asbestos exposure should take their symptoms very seriously, and see a doctor as soon as possible. With early detection, cancer sufferers will have a much better chance of curing Mesothelioma.
Have a quick look at our site to learn everything you need to know about asbestos cancer, now. You can also find a detailed summary of Mesothelioma symptoms at http://www.mesotheliomaquestions.org/ today.