Mesothelioma lung cancer is a major disease brought about by being exposed to asbestos. It is said that malignant cells appear in the mesothelium, the sac that acts as a defensive cover for many of the internal organs in the body.
The following facts could help you understand more about the condition called mesothelioma:
* The risk of developing mesothelioma is increased because of the exposure to asbestos. Studies showed that at least 70% of the mesothelioma cases have history of exposure to this construction material. But it does not limit the development of this cancer. Some people may have this disease even without necessarily being exposed to it.
* Symptoms for Mesothelioma lung cancer usually include difficulty in breathing, chest pain that is usually located at back of the rib cage, lumps, swelling or pain in the abdomen and unexplained weight loss.
* Mesothelioma may be diagnosed through certain tests that doctors conduct which includes: physical examination, chest x-ray, CBC or complete blood count, removal of tissue samples for biopsy, bronchoscopy and thoracotomy. There is also an exam that can be performed where a small amount of fluid is taken from either lungs or the abdomen. This test is called the cytologic exam.
* There is no cure for mesothelioma lung cancer that is known today, but there are treatments that can be used to help manage the disease. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are some of the modalities used for treatment. Surgery is the most common treatment by simply removing the affected area together with some of the tissue that surrounds it. This is used at the early stage of the disease. Radiotherapy is another treatment for mesothelioma lung cancer. This is used as palliative form of treatment that alleviates symptoms in difficulty in breathing and pain. It also helps control the spread or metastases of the cancer. Chemotherapy is done through the use of catheters to allow anti-cancer drugs to enter the blood stream quickly. This is elected for those patients who cannot undergo surgical procedures.
Mesothelioma lung cancer is a disease that currently has no known cure, so early detection and aggressive treatment is really the key to the best possible outcome.
Did you know that Mesothelioma lung cancer is a direct result of asbestos exposure? When asbestos fibers are inhaled, these fibers can lodge in the lungs, causing extensive damage to the healthy cells and increasing the long term risk of lung cancer. Visit a-mesothelioma-guide.com to learn more about this health condition.
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