Mesothelioma is a diagnosis nobody every wants to hear. It is a form of cancer that is very often deadly. It is most often caused by exposure to asbestos on a repeated basis, which has made it a much discussed topic.
What is it?
Mesothelioma gets its name from the area of the body where cancer appears. The mesothelium is a lining that covers all the internal organs in the body. The lining is lubricated, which allows the organs to move about without damage. For instance, the lining allows the heart to pump without causing damage to the lungs and such. Mesothelioma as a cancer appears in this lining.
How Common Is It?
Fortunately, Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. There are roughly 2,000 new cases reported a year, but the number is rising. The cancer appears more often in men than women and there is a far greater likelihood of being diagnosed with it as you age. This is primarily because it can take 50 years or more to show up. A person exposed to asbestos in 1985 for instance, might not show symptoms until 2025.
Risk Factors
The risk factors for Mesothelioma are almost entirely related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos was seen as a wonder material because of its insulating and fire resistant properties. It was heavily used in everything from shipyards to construction materials until it became apparent that it caused Mesothelioma and other health problems. If you've been exposed to asbestos at any point in time or lived with someone who has, then your risk of getting the disease is vastly increased. Smoking is also a contributor.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose for a number of reasons. Chief among them is it tends to produce symptoms associated with other diseases. Until biopsies are done on impacted areas, it is almost impossible to be sure of a diagnosis. There are no blood indicators or any absolutes with this disease. This is why many suspect the number of Mesothelioma cases are actually far higher each year than reported. They are simply misdiagnosed.
The key to dealing with Mesothelioma is to educate yourself. I diagnosis is not a good thing, but your fear can often be worse than what is actually happening.
What is it?
Mesothelioma gets its name from the area of the body where cancer appears. The mesothelium is a lining that covers all the internal organs in the body. The lining is lubricated, which allows the organs to move about without damage. For instance, the lining allows the heart to pump without causing damage to the lungs and such. Mesothelioma as a cancer appears in this lining.
How Common Is It?
Fortunately, Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. There are roughly 2,000 new cases reported a year, but the number is rising. The cancer appears more often in men than women and there is a far greater likelihood of being diagnosed with it as you age. This is primarily because it can take 50 years or more to show up. A person exposed to asbestos in 1985 for instance, might not show symptoms until 2025.
Risk Factors
The risk factors for Mesothelioma are almost entirely related to asbestos exposure. Asbestos was seen as a wonder material because of its insulating and fire resistant properties. It was heavily used in everything from shipyards to construction materials until it became apparent that it caused Mesothelioma and other health problems. If you've been exposed to asbestos at any point in time or lived with someone who has, then your risk of getting the disease is vastly increased. Smoking is also a contributor.
Diagnosis
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose for a number of reasons. Chief among them is it tends to produce symptoms associated with other diseases. Until biopsies are done on impacted areas, it is almost impossible to be sure of a diagnosis. There are no blood indicators or any absolutes with this disease. This is why many suspect the number of Mesothelioma cases are actually far higher each year than reported. They are simply misdiagnosed.
The key to dealing with Mesothelioma is to educate yourself. I diagnosis is not a good thing, but your fear can often be worse than what is actually happening.
Thomas Ajava is with GeorgiaMesotheliomaLawsuits.com - where you can learn more about Georgia Mesothelioma lawsuits.
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