What is mesothelioma cancer ?
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the mesothelium, in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide uncontrollably and without order. Cancer mesothelioma is not easily diagnosed due to the fact that the symptoms this type of cancer presents are very similar to other diseases such as pneumonia that are much more common.
Mesothelioma cancer can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the thoracic cavity (pleura) or the abdominal cavity (peritoneum). Mesothelioma has also been found in the stomach and other abdominal organs but it is much rarer in those areas than are both pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma cancer can also occur in the ovaries and scrotum. It invades the chest wall or the esophagus during the second stage. Mesothelioma also takes a long time to develop (typically 15-40 years), so patients today could have been exposed prior to the 1980s when asbestos was not highly regulated.
What causes mesothelioma?
Though asbestos exposure is the primary reason in 70% to 80% of the cases, cancer mesothelioma can be caused by other means, like exposure to the chemical zeolite that is also present in asbestos. Asbestos has become part of our daily life being in cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. The asbestos fibers take their toll by going into our windpipe and settling in the internal organs causing the formation of carcinogenic tumors.
People working in other industries could also be exposed to asbestos without remembering the exposure. Also some people who were exposed to asbestos through washing and handling of clothes contaminated with asbestos and some people living close to asbestos industries may also develop cancer mesothelioma.
Once an individual has been diagnosed with cancer mesothelioma, the next step is to discuss mesothelioma treatment options with his/her physician. Recent scientific research has produced significant breakthroughs with regard to treatment protocols for mesothelioma patients and more options are now available for managing the disease and supporting improved quality of life.
Newly diagnosed patients always have many questions about the treatment options that would be most effective for them, including those about new treatment therapies like Alimta and Cisplatin and other chemotherapy drugs.
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