Mesothelioma Facts & Recent History
Lately many people have been looking for mesothelioma fact and
information. The startling mesothelioma fact is that Mesothelioma Cancer
is a rare cancer but every year about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma
are diagnosed in the United States and this number has been continuously
increasing for the past 20 years. Initially mesothelioma was recognized
as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum and pericardium. Later on, the
doctors studied the fact linking mesothelioma cancers to asbestos
exposure. J.C.Wagner wrote the first on mesothelioma by, and emphasized
its linkage to asbestos exposure in about 32 cases of workers in the
"Asbestos Hills" in South Africa.
From then on the fact about relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos
exposure was confirmed in different research studies around the world.
Mesothelioma is caused because of asbestos exposure and inhalation of
asbestos particles. Asbestos was widely used in industrial and
manufacturing processes and building materials. Construction materials
such as cement, tiles, roofing shingles, pipes, insulating material and
many more, contained asbestos materials. The shocking mesothelioma fact
is that almost all American buildings constructed before 1970s contain
asbestos material that could pose risk for the occupants.
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has released a fact that,
though since 1970s the protections against asbestos exposure have been
in place, the mesothelioma would take 30 to 50 years to be noticed. This
is because mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseases have a high
latency rate. The asbestos particles can lie dormant in the human body
for 30-50 years before manifesting as mesothelioma cancers.
Mesothelioma cancers are of two main types. In pleural mesothelioma, the
cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest and the peritoneal
mesothelioma is found in the lining of the abdominal cavity. There are
rare instances of mesothelioma of the lining of hearts and testicles.
Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than in women.
Awareness about mesothelioma facts is also helpful in having awareness
about symptoms of mesothelioma. This information helps in early
detection and timely treatment of disease. Chest pain that is caused by
cancer itself or shortness of breath, abdominal pain and swelling,
cough, fatigue and unexplained weight loss are some possible symptoms of
mesothelioma cancers.
