Mesothelioma and Asbestos
Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, often linked to previous exposure to asbestos. In this disease, cancer cells grow in the protective membrane (mesothelium) covering the internal organs of the body. This disease is usually located in the outer wall of the chest cavity and lungs (pleura). It can also be found in the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or in the sac that envelops the heart (pericardium). People who contract this disease have invariably worked on jobs that put them in close contact with asbestos.
One of the characteristics of mesothelioma is that symptoms can appear very late, sometimes 50 years after first contact with asbestos. The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, the most common form of the disease, include chest discomfort and breathing difficulties. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma, another form of the disease, include weight loss, abdominal swelling and pain. Blood clotting, intestinal obstruction and fever are other symptoms of this type of mesothelioma. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the symptoms may include pain, swelling of the face, and difficulty swallowing food. However, it is important to remember that these symptoms are not exclusive to this disease; they can also occur with other less severe conditions.
Over the past two decades, the mesothelioma case rate has increased. Nevertheless, overall, it is a relatively rare cancer. The percentage of cases depends largely on the exposure of populations to asbestos. In the United States, it has been reported that this frequency would have peaked at 15 per million in 2004. This trend is expected to continue in other parts of the world. Interestingly, mesothelioma is more common in men than in women. The risk of contracting this disease increases with age, but a person of any age and sex can be affected. About one-fifth to one-third of mesothelioma cases are peritoneal.