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Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lung Cancer |
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Written by LIQID
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Sunday, 17 April 2005 |
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Page 2 of 2
So I am sure you are wondering what Mesothelioma really is and what it can do to you.
Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that originates in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a protective membrane that lines several of the body's major important cavities including the heart (thoracal), peritonium (abdomen), pericardium (heart), and the reproductive organs in men and women. The mesothelium provides a viscous layer so that moving organs may glide easily and expand and contract with out stretching too much.
Mesothelioma might not appear for as much as 30 – 50 years later. Mesothelioma doesn't always have to reside in the lungs as shown before. Most just believe that it is just a chest disease. The symptoms range from tightness of chest to pain in the abdomen, chest neck face or any other area that has a mesothelium due to a build up of fluids.
This condition is often confused with other diseases so it is difficult to diagnose this. Its important for a doctor making the diagnosis to know a patient's full history of exposure to asbestos. X-rays will have to be taken to determine what is going on inside a person's chest and also a CT scan and a MRI will have to be used to look at various conditions of a persons internal organs. Asbestos exposure has been a factor in almost all cases but there have been instances where a person can contract it normally.
Even though there are new cases and they are increasing over the past few years, mesothelioma cancer is rare. There are only about 2,000 new cases each year. It is generally found in men more than women and the chances for finding this disease increases with age, never the less, it can be found in both men and women at any age.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 17 April 2005 )
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