Causes of Mesothelioma

What causes Mesothelioma and what is it? The way this disease can be avoided is learning about the disease and its causes. For several years people were unaware of what caused mesothelioma but now it is known that every 9 out of 10 cases of mesothelioma are causes due to exposure to asbestos. 

A natural mineral, asbestos is mined from the rocks in several different countries. Construction workers using this mineral in the houses and buildings built and the miners working in the mines extracting it are most likely to be exposed to asbestos. 

Asbestos was used in houses, construction and shipbuilding very commonly before the 1980's. It was then discovered the damage that this mineral can cause releasing tiny fibers which can get lodged into a persons lungs which can lead to cancer. 

The links between asbestos and mesothelioma was first established in the 1960's and in addition to causing possible cancer and lung problems it can also cause problems in the abdomen and the digestive system. 

Examples of jobs where workers are exposed to asbestos include plumbers, electricians, boilermakers, demolition workers, ship builders, and construction workers. Furthermore, people who live with these people or near the areas where these people work may also be at a risk. 

People who were exposed to asbestos can also cause exposure to their families since the fiber gathers on their clothes and bodies and can thus be inhaled by family members. Cases where a person has contracted this disease but has never been exposed to asbestos are very rare. Even though the exact causes in these cases were unknown links were made to radiation exposure in some of the cases. 

The reason why it was so difficult and took so long to discover the reason behind the contraction of this disease is the fact that it takes 20-50 years for symptoms to show and people rarely link the symptoms to something that they did so long ago. Mesothelioma takes time to develop but higher the exposure to asbestos, the more severe the symptoms. 

This disease cannot spread through coughing, eating or drinking after or with another person and is not contagious. You can't contract this cancer if someone you know has it neither is there any research to link smoking to the increased risk of mesothelioma development but once one contracts this disease they will probably be instructed to quit smoking or face worsening their conditions. 

The diagnoses and the treatment for mesothelioma will always be the same, regardless of the causes. Nonetheless, it is advisable for people to try and determine what caused the disease because in some cases of negligence on the part of a third party a law suit may be filed.

Mesothelioma is one of the rarest forms of cancer that affects the Mesothelium layer responsible for protection of internal organs. The incident of mesothelioma has grown over a period. This form of cancer proves to be deadly. The symptoms of mesothelioma are not pronounced and most of the time the disease is detected at later stages leading to death of the victim. Until date there is no permanent cure found. However, radiation, chemotherapy and surgery along with medications are carried, but they only acts as a remedy for fighting symptoms. The treatments prolong death but do not rule it out. In extreme cases, combination of all the treatments is conducted. The detections time varies from 10 years to 50 years. The late detection leads to delay of timely treatment. This may result in survival of victim from anywhere between 2 yrs to 5 years. The sole reason for mesothelioma has been found to be exposure to asbestos. People working in asbestos factories, cement factories dealing with asbestos, or in firms handling asbestos goods are susceptible victims.

A prolonged exposure to the same has been regarded as the prime suspect.However, there have been cases where a short exposure too has lead to mesothelioma. People who are exposed to asbestos passively for example family members of asbestos workers too have found to be suffering from mesothelioma. Washing of asbestos laden clothes and hair of asbestos workers may cause this deadly disease.

There are few categories of workers who are at a greater risk of contracting mesothelioma. They are steel workers, brake mechanics, boilermakers, insulators, ship fitters, pipe fitters, maintenance workers.

Mesothelioma is categorized on the basis of area of exposure. The prime zones of mesothelioma are lungs (pleural mesothelioma), abdomen (peritoneum mesothelioma) and heart (pericardial mesothelioma).
Asbestos penetrates the Mesothelium and constricts the functionality of these organs. However, the symptoms of mesothelioma are usually confused with common illness delaying the detection. Several of the common symptoms are chest pain, abdomen pain, pneumonia, irregular fluttering of heart, constriction of bowel, coughing. 

Asbestos is made of tiny fibers that are resistant like steel and can be woven like cotton. Asbestos is a natural mineral extracted from rocks. The fibers are resistant to heat and chemicals and that is the sole reason for consumption of asbestos for industrial as well as construction purpose. However prolonged exposure leads to ingestion and accumulation of these fibers in the affected areas and finally they coagulate together penetrating the Mesothelium thus leading to mutation of cells. 

This further leads to cancer. The penetration of Mesothelium is responsible for constriction of functionality of the vital organs. Mesothelium releases fluid that is responsible for movement of heart, lungs and stomach. Mesothelioma leads to thickening of fluid further hampering functionality.

Asbestos are generally blue, brown and white. Of all the three blue and brown were rated dangerous and thus their consumption minimized. However, recent studies have professed white asbestos equally dangerous. There are various precautionary measures set by government for fighting this disease.