| Mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of | | | | after he graduated from high school. Strahl's |
| cancer where cancerous cells develop in the | | | | case is a good example of the fact that |
| mesothelium -- a protective sac that covers | | | | Mesothelioma has a latency period of anywhere |
| most of the body's internal organs. Like most | | | | from 20 to 50 years. Like thousands of others |
| cancers, early detection of mesothelioma | | | | he developed the disease long after his |
| greatly increases the chances of beating the | | | | exposure to asbestos.Symptoms of |
| disease.But early detection is more difficult | | | | mesotheliomaBecause of its long dormancy |
| with mesothelioma because it has a long | | | | period, mesothelioma is often not detected |
| dormancy period of 30 or 40 years in which | | | | until it enters its active, aggressive stage. |
| the cancer remains fairly inactive and causes | | | | Pleural mesothelioma - cancer of the lung |
| very few symptoms. When the disease passes | | | | lining - causes shortness of breath or |
| into its active phase it rapidly spreads to | | | | chronic coughing. Unfortunately these |
| the internal organs such as the lungs, heart | | | | symptoms can easily be mistaken for allergies |
| and abdominal organs. In its active phase it | | | | or a common cold.In fact pleural mesothelioma |
| is very difficult to treat successfully | | | | is often discovered by accident when patients |
| because it develops and spreads so | | | | think they have one of these more common |
| quickly.Causes of mesotheliomaMesothelioma | | | | illnesses. Other symptoms of pleural |
| was barely in the public eye until a few | | | | mesothelioma may include chest pain, chronic |
| years ago. It has a very specific cause -- | | | | coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, |
| exposure to asbestos. And the dangers of | | | | wheezing, hoarseness, weight loss, or blood |
| asbestos exposure were not widely | | | | in the phlegm from the lungs when |
| acknowledged until the 1970s and 80s when its | | | | coughing.Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the |
| serious health implications could no longer | | | | lining around the stomach and intestines and |
| be ignored.As often happens in cases | | | | is usually just as dangerous. Symptoms of |
| involving commercial products with harmful | | | | peritoneal mesothelioma include pain or |
| side effects, there was tremendous resistance | | | | swelling in the abdomen, weight loss, bowel |
| to acknowledging its dangers. In the case of | | | | obstruction, anemia, and fever.Treatment of |
| asbestos, it was a product that had some very | | | | mesotheliomaUnfortunately, by the time most |
| important properties that made it ideal for | | | | infected people become aware they have |
| insulation applications.During the first half | | | | mesothelioma it has ceased being dormant and |
| of the previous century, right up until the | | | | becomes extremely aggressive. Once it is no |
| mid 1970s asbestos was the default material | | | | longer dormant, this type of cancer can |
| used to retard heat transfer in buildings, | | | | travel quickly, and it becomes almost |
| machines, heavy equipment, and a broad range | | | | impossible to stop.While there are treatments |
| of commercial applications. Because it was | | | | that are available in order to keep the |
| plentiful and inexpensive to mine, asbestos | | | | patient comfortable, there is currently no |
| was widely used in building products such as | | | | cure for mesothelioma, and as many as 75% of |
| home insulation, floor, ceiling and roof | | | | those who develop the disease will lose their |
| tiles. It was also used in commonly found | | | | life within one year. The remainder may last |
| commercial products such as brake linings and | | | | for up to an additional six months.Among the |
| pipe insulation.This meant that millions of | | | | treatments that are used in order to reduce |
| people were coming in contact with asbestos | | | | the effects of the disease are oxygen, |
| on a daily basis. And since the effects of | | | | postural drainage and pain killers. A wide |
| exposure to asbestos fibre often do not | | | | range of treatment approaches are being |
| become apparent for 30 or 40 years after | | | | tested, ranging from attempts to fortify the |
| prolonged exposure, there often appeared to | | | | body's natural immune system to gene therapy |
| be no immediate health risk.This was | | | | which tries to attack the problem at the DNA |
| especially important in the case of workers | | | | level. Homeopathy, herbs and acupuncture are |
| who mined and processed asbestos. Although | | | | also used. But none have yet been shown to be |
| workers were regularly getting sick and often | | | | very effective once the disease reaches the |
| had premature, painful deaths, the long | | | | aggressive stage.Given the generally poor |
| period of dormancy of mesothelioma made it | | | | prognosis for people who do not catch the |
| difficult to make the connection to | | | | disease in time, early detection is the best |
| asbestos.Even short term asbestos exposure | | | | defence against mesothelioma. If you have |
| will cause mesotheliomaGenerally, the | | | | worked in an industry such as construction or |
| probability of developing this form of cancer | | | | suspect that you may have been exposed to |
| is directly related to the length of time you | | | | asbestos, be alert for symptoms and contact |
| are exposed to asbestos. The health risk also | | | | your doctor immediately. Like all forms of |
| increases with the intensity of the exposure | | | | cancer, detecting mesothelioma at the |
| to asbestos.However, an exposure of as little | | | | earliest stage possible greatly increases |
| as one or two months can result in | | | | your chances for survival.For more |
| mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later. At the age | | | | information about the causes, symptoms and |
| of 48, Canadian Member of Parliament Chuck | | | | early detection of Mesothelioma visit See |
| Strahl, was recently diagnosed with | | | | our extensive collection of mesothelioma |
| mesothelioma and traces the cause back to | | | | articles and reports. |
| changing brake pads on logging equipment | | | | |