Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by exposure, either primary or secondary, to asbestos. There are many treatment centers in the USA. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer which affects specific membranes of the body. About three thousand new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. Mesothelioma is considered very rare, however,2000 new cases are found each year in the U.S. Mesothelioma can be detected in both men and women at any age. Workers in the shipbuilding industry, asbestos mining and milling workers, manufacturers of asbestos products and construction workers have all been identified as high-risk for asbestos illnesses. Even though many of the companies were aware of the hazards of asbestos exposure they did not advise workers of the dangers of asbestos. Workers who were exposed in great numbers worked in locations including shipyards, power plants, chemical plants, factories, steel mills, building construction sites and telephone industry sites. Military personnel, service members and especially shipyard workers who worked during the1970s or earlier have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos. Type Of Cancer Mesothelioma is rare in people under age 55. Its incidence increases with age. Mesothelioma is most often diagnosed after a patient goes to a doctor because of symptoms. If there is a reason to suspect you may have mesothelioma, your doctor will use one or more tests to find out if the disease is present. Mesothelioma is a benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor that begins within the mesothelium, a protective lining surrounding most of the organs in the body. Most mesotheliomas begin within the pleura (the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity) or the peritoneum (the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity). Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that affects the lining of the chest wall or, more rarely, the abdomen, and, in very rare instances, the heart. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, and may have a latency period of up to 40 years or more from the time of exposure until symptoms manifest. Mesothelioma is a serious and tragic cancer that affects thousands of people each year. Mesothelioma is almost always a direct consequence of exposure to asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma is not truly a cancer of the lung but is a cancer of the tissues surrounding and lining the lungs (the pleura). It may rarely occur in other lining tissues such as the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum). Cancer cells can also spread from their original site to other parts of the body. Treatment Mesothelioma treatment options can include surgery, chemotherapy, or clinical trials. If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma, your physician or health care provider should refer you to an oncologist to explore the appropriate mesothelioma treatment options. Mesothelioma treatment options for malignant mesothelioma also includes clinical trials in phototherapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy and other therapies. Medical specialists are scrambling to find the mesothelioma treatment options for malignant mesothelioma that can protect and cure the projected increase in mesothelioma patients of the future. Mesothelioma treatment options often end up being hospice care. The potential of inhaling asbestos dust should not be taken lightly; while rare, mesothelioma is a serious, fatal form of cancer. Mesothelioma treatment falls into three categories: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Typically at least two of these treatments are carried out in conjunction with one another. Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient’s age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy , or a combination of these treatments. Treatment for mesothelioma is still being investigated through clinical trials and research, but as a rule it responds poorly to the treatments that are currently used. Mesothelioma cancer patient resource with questions and answers about Definition Of Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
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