Mesothelioma BY: Shane Cloud, Tennyson Hendershott, and Josh Wykoff

What Is It? Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer. Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs, heart, or abdominal organs.

What causes it? Asbestos exposure is the foremost cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a chemical that is used in thousands of industrial and household products. There are a number of ways in which a person could have experienced exposure to asbestos. These include: working at an asbestos mine or living near an asbestos mine or processing plant. There are more ways but the basic idea is that anything involved with asbestos puts you at risk. It generally takes repeated, heavy exposure to asbestos in an occupational setting to be at risk for asbestos-related disease. Once asbestos fibers accumulate in the body, they can trigger a number of biological changes that may lead to mesothelioma. Scientists say that it is unlikely that mesothelioma risk is inherited. However, it is proven to be environmentally induced.

What are the effects? Mesothelioma affects the lungs, so the pleural lining is the first place where side effects will be identified. These side effects are listed below: chest pain (mostly while taking deep breaths), pain in the chest cavity, which occurs worse when lying down, pleural effusion- which is a fluid that develops around the lungs, fatigue and chronic tiredness, and a constant shortness of breath. In addition to the above effects, this cancer also may or may not bring forth a few more effects, such as, abdominal pain and discomfort, liver disease, and blood clots in the veins and throughout the body.

There are four stages to Mesothelioma. 1. The first stage is localized and the cancer has not spread to other organs. 2. In stage 2 the tumor increases in size and has invaded the lungs or diaphragm. 3. In stage 3, Mesothelioma invades a single area. For example, it can affect the chest wall, esophagus, and lymph nodes. 4. In stage 4 the cancer spreads and affects multiple regions of the body. If the cancer reaches this point then, it is identified as terminal cancer. What are the different stages of Cancer?

There are many symptoms that go along with having Mesothelioma. Some of them are, pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest, cough, hoarseness, and swelling of the arms. When a patient has one or more of these symptoms there are tests that can be done to prove that the patient has mesothelioma. The first test, usually, is the chest X-ray. The X-ray can show the thickening of the lining of the lungs. Another test is a CT scan. The CT scan can be used to find the location of the cancer. How is this Cancer detected?

Cancer Treatment primarily focuses on the destruction of malignant cells while preserving healthy cells. There are three treatments commonly used for Mesothelioma. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy can be used separately to fight cancer or a combination of the treatments can be used. Treatment depends on the type of mesothelioma, the stage the cancer is at, and the physical health of the patient. What are the possible treatments?

There is no actual cure to Mesothelioma, but some practices may help to reduce the intensity of the cancer. These practices include medicines and chemotherapy which vary based on how severe the cancer is. Surgery can be used to remove infected body tissues Radiation therapy can be used to find and kill the Mesothelioma cells Chemotherapy is used to kill and stop the spread of the cancer cells, it can either be injected or taken orally Is there a cure?

At Work- 1.If the presence of asbestos at work is suspected, protective gear should be worn 2.Any protective gear or clothes that have been worn at the site in the presence of asbestos, should be left at the work site. If the clothes were to be worn outside of the work site, others will be exposed to it At Home- 1.Asbestos is usually never outside around the house, but it is inside 2.Some items that may release asbestos in your home include... Attic insulation Roof shingles and tar Drywall and drywall glue Floor tiles Popcorn ceilings Joint compounds Wrapping on pipes and electrical wires Is there a way to prevent this type of cancer?

Mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos diseases. It is not an uncommon disease yet it isn't rare either. Tumors of the mesothelium were first recognized in the 18th century. But scientist didn't think it was as deadly of a disease as they thought so it was not studied upon or examined until the 20th century. The cancer was quite rare in the early 1900's but during the ww2 era, naval shipyards portrayed a great amount of exposure of asbestos. Information on Mesothelioma

Many support groups are available to Cancer patients. Some of these groups include the ACOR (Association of Cancer Online Resources), AICR (American Institute for Cancer Research), and the NHPCO (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization). These groups help Cancer Patients with information on Cancer, treatment, and where to find local support groups. Support Groups?

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