By Richard Romando
Symptoms of mesothelioma take a long time to develop, which is a major reason for the high fatality rate. Symptoms include shortness of breath, difficult breathing, and pain in the chest or abdominal cavity. Chest pains indicate that the disease is aggravating the nerve cells in the tissues, and has reached a serious stage. Less severe chest discomfort and shortness of breath are generally due to the accumulation of fluid between the two layers of the pleura.
Mesothelioma of the abdomen can have symptoms of abdominal pain and swelling. Other symptoms include cough, fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
As chest pain, shortness of breath or abdominal pain are symptomatic of several diseases, tests are required to identify the cause. These tests vary depending on the symptoms and may include an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a chest or abdominal X-ray. If abnormalities are seen, a CT scan or an MRI scan is taken. These tests help determine the size, location and extent of a possible tumor.
Fine-needle aspiration may also be given. In this procedure, a thin needle is used to remove a small sample of the fluid in the abdomen or lungs for examination. A biopsy is also taken through a thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), or through a led laparoscopy. Here, a tube-like instrument inserted through a small incision gives a view of the tumor and collects a tissue sample. A bronchoscopy or a mediastinoscopy may also be done. This enables the doctor to look for other masses of tumors in the lungs or to take tissue samples from lymph nodes.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Mesothelioma - Do You Need To Worry?
By Ben Weston
Mesothelioma is a unique cancer that's directly associated with asbestos. This cancer grows in the mesothelium which is the lining that encapsulates many of the body's organs but is more common in the lungs and chest cavity.
This particular disease is difficult to discover as you may not suffer symptoms for several decades after having exposure to asbestos. A few of the more common symptoms are breathlessness, fluid surrounding the lungs, tiredness, and an abrasive cough that might have blood in it.
It also has symptoms like several other conditions such as Tuberculosis and different kinds of lung cancer. The only way to make certain is to get X-rays, CAT scans, or magnetic resonance imaging carried out. Delaying this procedure is not wise if you have any reason to believe you may be at risk.
Fortunately, the likelihood of picking up mesothelioma today is uncommon. There is an undertaking to make certain that outlawing the use of asbestos in common construction materials is stopped and exhaustive checking of older constructions is underway, rebuilding them if needed. Winding asbestos around water pipes was common in aged buildings and using it in ceilings was practised as well.
Although it is naturally occurring, it is difficult to just come across asbestos today. Although using it in concrete, brake pads, and in many diverse fireproof materials was common practice for a longtime.
Mineworkers and their kinfolk because of working in the mines, laundering miner's clothing, and experiencing much asbestos in their surroundings, contracted mesothelioma as an outcome.
Recognising the long-term dangers of the substance at the time was not known and unfortunately there were little or no safeguards employed when using it.
Mesothelioma is a unique cancer that's directly associated with asbestos. This cancer grows in the mesothelium which is the lining that encapsulates many of the body's organs but is more common in the lungs and chest cavity.
This particular disease is difficult to discover as you may not suffer symptoms for several decades after having exposure to asbestos. A few of the more common symptoms are breathlessness, fluid surrounding the lungs, tiredness, and an abrasive cough that might have blood in it.
It also has symptoms like several other conditions such as Tuberculosis and different kinds of lung cancer. The only way to make certain is to get X-rays, CAT scans, or magnetic resonance imaging carried out. Delaying this procedure is not wise if you have any reason to believe you may be at risk.
Fortunately, the likelihood of picking up mesothelioma today is uncommon. There is an undertaking to make certain that outlawing the use of asbestos in common construction materials is stopped and exhaustive checking of older constructions is underway, rebuilding them if needed. Winding asbestos around water pipes was common in aged buildings and using it in ceilings was practised as well.
Although it is naturally occurring, it is difficult to just come across asbestos today. Although using it in concrete, brake pads, and in many diverse fireproof materials was common practice for a longtime.
Mineworkers and their kinfolk because of working in the mines, laundering miner's clothing, and experiencing much asbestos in their surroundings, contracted mesothelioma as an outcome.
Recognising the long-term dangers of the substance at the time was not known and unfortunately there were little or no safeguards employed when using it.
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