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Malignant mesothelioma and asbestos exposure are closely linked together. This severe disease attacks the protective lining that coves the lungs, abdominal cavity, or heart. Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, patients can undergo surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to alleviate symptoms. Asbestos exposure is associated with various diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, colon cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer. The first symptoms indicating mesothelioma appear 20 to 50 after initial exposure to asbestos.
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Asbestos was considered to be a miracle material due to its high durability and resistance to fire, heat, and chemical damage. All commercial forms of asbestos are associated with lethal cancers, pleural abnormalities, and respiratory diseases. This material was used in ceiling products, household products, adhesives, clay, cigarette filters, fertilizers, hair dryers, and paint.
In the automotive industry, asbestos can be found in clutch pads and brake linings. This mineral is also present in building materials, including vinyl floor tiles, HVAC flexible duct connectors, acoustic ceilings, countertops, and cement. Asbestos was widely used in household products such as ironing rests, slow cookers, mittens, and talcum powder.
Millions of people have worked with products containing asbestos. Locomotive engineers, construction workers, machinists, home inspectors, firefighters, and industrial plant workers present an increased risk of malignant mesothelioma. Family members of those who were occupationally exposed to asbestos may develop this rare form of cancer too. Studies have shown that up to 80 percent of all individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos at work.
Most of the people diagnosed with mesothelioma have worked with asbestos containing products on a daily basis over a long period of time. When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled, they bypass the filtration system of the lungs and cause severe respiratory damage. Some fibers are carried on clothes, shoes, skin and hair, which leads to secondhand asbestos exposure. Asbestos fibers may become stuck in the thin membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity, causing peritoneal mesothelioma.
Classified as a human carcinogen, asbestos has killed thousands of people since the 1930s. Treatment options for mesothelioma are limited because the disease is usually diagnosed in late stages. Most patients diagnosed with this aggressive disease experience persistent cough, loss of appetite, chest pain, difficulty breathing, dyspnea, accumulation of fluid in the lungs, fever, night sweats, and anemia. These symptoms are non-specific and they do not necessarily indicate the presence of a tumor. For this reason, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed.
The size and shape of asbestos fibers, as well as the duration of exposure and the presence of other lung diseases determine how asbestos exposure affects a person. Some experts believe that smoking increases the risk of asbestos related diseases. Because of its long latency period, mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose. In advanced stages, mesothelioma causes severe ascites, jaundice, blood clots in the veins, and pleural effusion.
Many companies working with asbestos knew about the health risks associated with this material. However, most of them continued to use it and exposed workers to high concentrations of asbestos. If you have worked with asbestos containing products, contact a mesothelioma specialist as soon as possible. Follow the link below to revieve free information on Mesothelioma and treatment centers across the U.S.
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