Today i'm giving some space to TreatMesothelioma.org to raise awareness of the dangers of mesothelioma. I've asked them to provide a guide to symptoms that might alert people that something needs treatment. Military personnel is very likely to have been exposed to asbestos at some point, considering how widely employed it used to be, so they are particularly at risk and need to be aware.
Mesothelioma Warning Signs & Symptoms
Know Them, Learn Them, Then Teach Someone Else.
Mesothelioma is rare form of cancer that
attacks the protective layer, or better described as the thin tissue lining
that surrounds most internal organs. This fluid sac-filled tissue lining is
known as the mesothelium to which mesothelioma got its name. There are three main types of mesothelioma
with a fourth type not having enough data to really share beneficial
information on as it is extremely rare and accounts for 0 – 1% of all
mesothelioma cases. The organs attacked
along with their medical names are listed from most common to least.
Types of Mesothelioma:
- Lungs
– Pleural
Mesothelioma
- Abdomen
– Peritoneal
Mesothelioma
- Heart
– Pericardial
Mesothelioma
- Testicles
– Testicular
Mesothelioma (they got really technical
with this name)
The two main purposes for this article
is to spread awareness on the warning signs and symptoms of mesothelioma so you
can catch it early on and get treated right away and to share that ANYONE IN
THE WORLD is susceptible to developing mesothelioma. This rare, specific cancer is 100% disabling
and although there has been an extreme amount of effort put into clinical
trials with many medical advances over the last 10 years, there is no cure for mesothelioma.
What Causes Mesothelioma?
The main cause of mesothelioma and from
what we understand, the only cause is from a person either inhaling or
ingesting is asbestos dust and/or fibers. Asbestos is a mineral that has thin,
microscopic fibers and was used widely before being banned in the late 1970’s
and 80’s. Common industries that used asbestos containing materials include the
automotive, shipbuilding, and construction industries.
Asbestos fibers are usually released into
the air during the manufacture, construction and remodeling processes when
asbestos containing materials were moved around or disturbed. Once released,
the fibers are ingested or inhaled by workers, property occupants or people
near the point of release. The reason we bring up the cause of mesothelioma
before the warning signs is because these signs and symptoms are often, VERY
OFTEN confused with the symptoms of other ailments and common colds. Therefore, the first thing to ask yourself is,
“Have I ever been exposed to asbestos?”
If your answer is yes but you have no symptoms… that is warning sign
number one.
Common Mesothelioma Symptoms
As recently mentioned, most mesothelioma
symptoms resemble the symptoms of other
ailments. In fact, most people experience mesothelioma symptoms for a few
months before actually even seeing a doctor.
Once the general physician is informed about the symptoms, sometimes it
takes even a couple months after that until the true diagnosis is made. That is why it is so vital to know whether or
not you have been exposed to asbestos. Knowing this could extend your life by 5+
years. Mesothelioma warning signs may vary depending on the type of
mesothelioma that an individual is suffering from. The following are the most
common symptoms a person would face if mesothelioma were developing in their
bodies.
Pleural
Mesothelioma Symptoms
§ Shortness
of breath
§ Pain
in the lower back or side of the patient’s chest
§ Cough
§ Fatigue
§ Fever
§ Excessive
sweating
§ Weight
loss
§ Hoarseness
§ Trouble
swallowing
§ Swelling
of the arms and face
Peritoneal
Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Constipation
- Vomiting
and nausea
- Weight
loss
- Abdominal
fluid accumulation or swelling
- Abdominal
pain
Pericardial
Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Chest
pain
- Chronic
cough
- Heart
palpitations
- Shortness
of breath
- Fatigue
after light exertion
- Murmurs
- Arrhythmia
- Dyspnea
- Orthopnea
Testicular
Mesothelioma Symptoms
It is crucial that you consult a doctor
if you have any of these symptoms especially if you have an asbestos exposure
history. Visual learner perhaps? Here is a video to learn more about the
symptoms and warning signs of mesothelioma: Mesothelioma, the symptoms.
Factors that influence mesothelioma symptoms
How and when mesothelioma symptoms
develop depends on several factors.
They
include:
- Duration
for which a person was exposed to asbestos
- The
amount of asbestos fibers that a person was exposed to
- Type
of asbestos that a person was exposed to
- Stage
of mesothelioma
These factors as well as the cell types
affected will determine the strength and severity of the warning signs. Seeking
medical guidance immediately when these symptoms are detected can lead to a person
having the best possible mesothelioma prognosis. This is due to the fact that
if mesothelioma were caught in stage 1, the patient would have all mesothelioma
treatment options available to
them. Having all treatment options
available is extremely beneficial as this leads to a higher chance of a successful
treatment and will allow the patient to not simply live longer but to enjoy the
life they live free of all the negative side effects from chemo and radiation
therapy.
Sources
