Mesothelioma is a form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Over time, cancerous cells develop in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Only after several decades to begin to show symptoms, and often because of this delay, by the time mesothelioma is diagnosed it is too late for treatment to be effective.
Mesothelioma is a rare, with infection rates of only 15 per million in the United States in 2004. It is commonly found in individuals who encounter asbestos in the workplace, such as the shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other craftsmen.
There are three main areas can develop mesothelioma, the lining of the lungs and chest cavity known as the pleura, the lining of the abdominal cavity called the peritoneum, or the sac around the heart called the pericardium. Any form of mesothelioma cancer has its own specific symptoms, but there are many symptoms that can be found in any of them. These symptoms include cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest or abdominal pain and fatigue.
Because the symptoms of mesothelioma are so general, it can be very difficult to diagnose disease. This, combined with such a long delay before symptoms begin to develop often means that little can be done to help the patient. The most common treatments are radiation, chemotherapy and sometimes surgery. Unfortunately, however, these treatments were able to increase the survival of mesothelioma victims outside a few months.
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