Abstract: Malignant mesothelioma is a devasting, rare and deadly form of cancer, caused by exposure to asbestos. If you've lived under working conditions that exposed you to asbestos, or had a household member that worked near or with asbestos, you should bring this to the attention of a medical doctor and seek free legal counsel.
What is Mesothelioma?
Chances are you may never have heard of mesothelioma cancer unless you or a relative have the disease. Still considered as a rare cancer, it has been popularized by its linkage to asbestos.
Exactly what is mesothelioma cancer or malignant mesothelioma? Malignant mesothelioma is a deadly cancer of the mesothelium, or lining of the lung and chest cavity. However, it sometimes can be a deadly cancer of the peritoneum (the lining of the abdomen). It is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, and is slow forming ? often taking between 20-50 years to develop after exposure to asbestos.
Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms
Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma in the lung and chest cavity are as follows:
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Weight Loss
- Chest Pain
Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma in the abdomen are as follows:
- Abdominal swelling and pain
- Weight Loss
Wondering How You Could Have Gotten Mesothelioma Cancer?
Several diseases are associated with exposure to asbestos. They include: malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural effusion, pleural plaques and thickening, and lung cancer.
Prior to 1975 asbestos fibers were commonly used. You could have been exposed to asbestos while working at any number of different industries. Chief among the possibilities would be jobs at asbestos mining and milling plants, shipyards, fireproofing and heating, construction, automotive repair, insulation, pipefitting and boilermaking.
If you did not work in one of these industries or another that used asbestos, it is also possible that you could have been exposed if someone in your household worked with asbestos and carried asbestos fibers home on his or her clothing, hair or body. You may also have been exposed indirectly by living near asbestos mines.
Although it is true that most patients with malignant mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos-related diseases likely had prolonged exposure to asbestos over a long period of time, it is also possible for one to develop one of these diseases from a brief exposure to asbestos.
The odds of developing lung cancer from smoking also increase significantly from exposure to asbestos. Although most people with lung cancer are told that their lung cancer was caused from smoking, if you or someone you know has lung cancer and also worked in an environment that gave you exposure to asbestos, it is highly recommended that you contact an attorney that specializes in handling mesothelioma and lung cancer cases caused by exposure to asbestos. The justice system has been very generous in its rewards to people who suffer diseases caused by asbestos exposure.
To learn more about mesothelioma cancer I recommend you visit http://www.mesothelioma-cancer-online.com (Mesothelioma Cancer Online). When searching for web resources covering mesothelioma cancer. Mesothelioma-Cancer-Online.com is an excellent resource center that offers recommendations and directory listings for numerous websites related to mesothelioma cancer, along with articles and books about mesothelioma cancer.
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a lump or thickened tissue in the breast, testicles, or any other part of the body
a sore or ulcer that will not heal
persistent hoarseness or a nagging cough that has blood in it
persistent pain or large lumps in the abdomen or difficulty in swallowing
changes in bowel or bladder function
obvious changes in a wart or mole
unusual bleeding or discharge
unexpected weight loss or loss of appetite
undue fatigue, lassitude, or malaise
persistent pain (though cancer is not always painful)
painless, swollen glands that stay enlarged.
Note These could all be symptoms of a "benign" condition that can be quickly and easily cleared up with the right treatment, but you should always consult a physician right away.
Treatment
All estimated 85-95 percent of all cancers are preventable, according to some experts. Prevention, then, is the key in cancer, as it is in heart disease. This means maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and mental and emotional state. And even when it is too late for prevention, the same things that can help prevent cancer are also recommended in its treatment (outside the standard medical treatments of surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or drug therapy).
Diet And Nutrition Eat less fat (trim all the fat off meat, and try fish or chicken instead). Buy only skim or semiskim milk, low-fat yogurt and cheese. Cut down on fried food (bake, broil, or steam instead). Eat butter (in moderation) instead of margarine; give up cream. Eat more fiber (or roughage): at least five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables every day (leave the skin on fruit but wash it thoroughly first); dried fruit, especially prunes (without sugar); plenty of dark green and yellow vegetables (spinach, broccoli, carrots); baked potatoes with the skins left on; plenty of whole grain cereals (such as brown rice); granola, bran flakes, or porridge for breakfast; wholewheat flour and wholewheat bread only; wholewheat pasta.
Eat less sugar, less salt, and eat organically-grown food as far as possible.
Special Treatment
Nutritional or dietary treatments have a good record for helping some people with cancer. Some are listed below.
The Gerson Therapy (or Gerson Diet) This was created by the late Max Gerson, a German doctor who immigrated to the United States. It involves counseling as well as a strict diet, and requires determination and commitment on the part of the client.
Macrobiotics This is an Oriental form of food combining.
Megavitamin Therapy Supplementation for cancer should only be prescribed by a qualified practitioner.
Alternative Treatment
Those alternative therapies shown to be most effective for cancer are
psychological therapies: including art, music, and drama therapy; counseling; healing/faith-healing; hypnotherapy; meditation/relaxation; psychotherapy; visualization
physical therapies: aromatherapy; Ayurvedic medicine; homeopathy; herbalism; massage; naturopathy/ hydrotherapy; nutritional therapy; reflexology; yoga and and t'ai chi.
Both Simmi Kang & Richard Bean are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.