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Easy Steps to Prevent Mesothelioma
By: Amie Perlowski
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that attacks the body's mesothelial cells
around the organs. The mesothelium provides a protective membranous lining
for the internal organs and allows moving organs (i.e. the heart and the
lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures. The names of the three
regions of mesothelial cells that provide protective coating are 1) pleura,
the sac which surrounds the lungs; 2) peritoneum, the lining which protects
the abdominal cavity; and 3) pericardium, the sac which surrounds the heart.
Three different types of mesothelioma cancer attack these three different
regions.
Pleural mesothelioma: A type of lung cancer which attacks the
pleura surrounding the lungs, this is the most common type of mesothelioma,
affecting approximately two-thirds of all mesothelioma patients. Symptoms
include horseness, fever, blood in sputum, swollen arms and face, coughing,
loss of weight, difficulty breathing, chest pain, weak muscles, and reduced
tactile sensitivity.
Peritoneal mesothelioma: A cancer of the abdomen
which attacks the peritoneum lining the abdominal cavity. This affects
approximately one-third of all mesothelioma patients. Symptoms include
abdominal bloating, impaired bowl function, fever, swollen feet, and nausea.
Pericardial mesothelioma: This form of mesothelioma which attacks the
pericardium surrounding the heart is extremely rare. Symptoms include chest
pain, dyspnea, cough, and palpitations.
Mesothelioma has been linked to
asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a type of building material used in thermal
insulation products and ceiling tiles. In the United States, asbestos usage
peaked during the 1950s - 1970s. During the late 1960s, concerns over the
health consequences of asbestos exposure began to arise, thereby decreasing
the amount of asbestos manufactured in next two decades. By the 1980s, a new
industry of asbestos abatement began to flourish. But according to the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as many as 733,000
schools and public buildings still contain asbestos.
Small asbestos
fibers that enter the air do not evaporate and can remain suspended in the
air for a long time. These fibers, when breathed into the body, are toxic.
There are three types of asbestos exposure.
Occupational asbestos
exposure: People working in factories that manufacure asbestos are likely to
have a high exposure to asbestos and are most at risk of developing
asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Paraoccupational asbestos exposure: Family
members of workers exposed to asbestos in the workplace are susceptible to
exposure from asbestos dust brought home by the worker on his clothes or
skin.
Neighborhood asbestos exposure: Those who live in the vicinity of
an asbestos manufacturing plant are also at risk.
Mesothelioma is still a
relatively rare form of cancer. There are an estimated 2,000 - 3,000 new
cases per year in the United States. Approximately 7-13 per one million male
patients with a history of asbestos exposure contract mesothelioma.
Diagnosis usually occurs 20-40 years after initial exposure to asbestos.
About the Author
Amie Perlowski writes about
mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
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