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What Is Mesothelioma and Why Is It Important?
Mesothelioma is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium divide without control or order and become abnormal. They can invade and destroy nearby organs. Cancer cells can also spread from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of of this disease start in the pleura or peritoneum and finally spread out.
Mesothelioma is a noncancerous or cancerous tumor affecting the lining of the chest or abdomen. Exposure to asbestos particles in the air increases the risk of developing malignant meso cancer. The cancer is a rare form of cancer that involves the mesothelium, or cells that line an organ, abdominal organs, usually the lungs, & heart. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural mesothelioma, where the malignant tumors form on the pleura, the sac that lines the chest cavity & protects the lungs. Other forms of mesothelioma affect the peritoneum (abdominal cavity lining) & the pericardium (which is lining around the heart).
Causes Of Mesothelioma:
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Mesothelioma is usually caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos mesothelioma is a fibrous mineral known to be carcinogenic. People who are exposed to asbestos fibers for a short period of time (few weeks) or even to a small amount may be at risk. In particular, people working with asbestos & their relatives members or those who live with them create mesothelioma. There is a long latency period between initial exposure to asbestos & the development of malignant tumors. On average, 35-40 years elapse before the onset of disease. |
Whos At Risk?:
| Mesothelioma, the deadly illness which has topped news headlines for the last decade, is contracted through exposure to airborne fibers of asbestos. Sadly, the under-regulation of asbestos usage in years past, & arguably still today, exposed millions to airborne fibers & as a result thousands contracted the illness. It can be safely said that everyone in the world has been exposed to asbestos in varying degrees. Because of the distinctive nature of the illness, even those who have suffered only minimal exposure are at risk of contracting the illness. In effect, everyone has some risk of contracting Mesothelioma. But this sort of statement perhaps oversteps the bounds of rationality. While it is certainly true that individuals who have been exposed to little amounts of asbestos for relatively short periods of time have contracted the illness, this is a rarity than a regularity. In fact, the vast majority of Mesothelioma cases involve individuals who were exposed to airborne asbestos fibers for intense & extended periods of time. The industries most in danger of prolonged exposure & thus of contraction are shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining & milling, textile manufacturing, insulation work in construction, & brake repair personnel. There's, however, some other minor factors which can affect the likelihood of contracting the illness. Among these is radiation exposure. There's been causes in which individuals who were exposed to radiation have subsequently displayed signs of & ultimately contracted mesothelioma. However, empirical studies to attempt to verify this correlation have not proven out this claim strongly. Those involved in construction or who lived in homes in the Cappadocian region of Turkey are also at risk. In this region, homebuilders used Erionite, which is a type of zeolite silica stone. Exposure to the fibrous strands of this building material have led to an annual death rate of roughly 1% of the population which dies of mesothelioma each year in Turkey. Another more positive cause of the illness was the taking of the Polio vaccine between 1955 & 1963. Some batches of this vaccine were contaminated with Simian Virus 40 which has been detected in a host of rare cancers including Mesothelioma. Seven of the most influential factors affecting Mesothelioma contraction is genetics. Some individuals who have been exposed to long periods & high quantities of asbestos have not contracted the illness. As a result, doctors have concluded that genetics play a major role in determining whether or not patients contract the illness. Unfortunately, the gene variability which offers some resistance to the illness also means that some are vulnerable to asbestos exposure. |
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