Asbestos Symptoms
The mesothelium covers most of the body’s internal organs. It acts as the first line of defense for these organs. As a protective component, however, mesothelium is subjected to assaults, particularly those that are chemical in nature. If this protective covering develops cancer, the disease is referred to as mesothelioma.
Two in every three cases of mesothelioma begin in the mesothelium of the chest cavity. The rest begin in the cavities of the heart and the abdomen.
Rare Type of Cancer
Mesothelioma cannot be easily detected during the early stages of its development. This is because the symptoms are the same as those of minor respiratory complications. A victim may just treat the symptoms with over the counter medicines and watch them fade away after a few days of medication. It is possible that the symptoms may return over and over again without clearly suggesting there is something more serious happening inside.
Despite its difficulty to detect at its early stages, mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer. In the US, only 2,000 cases are recorded each year and more than 99% of these cases are related to asbestos exposure. Most of the victims are working in industries that deal with metal products or are engaged in building construction.
The Symptoms
The symptoms typically do not appear until 30 or 35 years after exposure to asbestos. Most patients initially experience shortness of breath. This is because the disease causes overproduction of fluids in the pleural cavity. Chest pain is another major symptom. A victim may also experience the following symptoms:
Fever – Infection in the damaged part can occur. If there’s fever, a patient is advised to stay in a clean, well-ventilated space.
Anemia – Iron deficiency is a common occurrence among the victims. This is probably a consequence of a loss of appetite.
Difficulty in bowel movement – A tumor in the esophagus can go as far as the digestive organs. If some parts of the intestines are affected, the patient can experience difficulty in moving his bowel. Mesothelioma patients should increase their fluid intake.
Weight loss – The patient may experience loss of appetite, which is common among all cancer patients.
Abdominal pain and swelling – If the tumor has already spread to the digestive tract, some of the digestive organs may experience physical pressure.
Difficulty in swallowing food – If there’s a tumor in the esophageal area, a patient may experience difficulty in swallowing and drinking. Liquid or soft foods are often advised in advanced cases. An esophageal tumor may cause a patient to experience swelling in the face or in the neck.
How Can Mesothelioma Affect a Victim?
Where the damage originates is not really the most important thing in dealing with cancer. The more important thing for doctors and researchers is the fact that the damage can easily spread to tissues and organs that are close. We call this process metastasis.
Failure to immediately treat the disease can lead to death within four to 12 months after the diagnosis, and the usual cause of death is pneumonia or respiratory failure. Some patients experience a small obstruction in the movement of their bowel. The tumor can also attack the pericardium, the membrane that covers the heart and can go as far as penetrating the heart itself. Ten percent of deaths are attributed to cardiac complications.
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