Mesothelioma -Some Basic Information

I am just learning about an asbestos related cancer. You may have seen info in the news about this disease and wondered what it’s about so here is some very basic info:

Newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients and their caretakers are often thrown into a blurry world filled with confusing numbers and conflicting statistics. Because it’s a rare cancer research on the disease is limited, and accurate information can be hard to find. However, as a mesothelioma patient and their loved ones work to cope with the cancer, having a clear understanding of what the disease is and what to expect can make a world of difference.

Below are some basic facts about this asbestos-related cancer:

·       *Between 2,000 and 3,000 Americans are diagnosed with mesothelioma each year.    Almost all cases of mesothelioma cancer are caused by asbestos exposure. Most of this asbestos exposure occurred at an industrial occupation before the 1980s.

·      * Most cases are diagnosed in men over the age of 55.

     *The symptoms of mesothelioma include chest pain, shortness of breath and a persistent cough.

·       *There are three different types of mesothelioma, and they each refer to the part of the body where the cancer is growing. Pleural mesothelioma forms in the lining of the lungs, peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the lining of the abdominal cavity and pericardial mesothelioma forms in the lining of the heart.

·       *Traditional treatments include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy.

·       *Patients diagnosed in stage I are expected to have a 32-month average life span. This drops to 6.5 months for patients diagnosed in stage IV.

u     You can  learn more at http://www.asbestos.com