The Silent Killer, The Asbestos Cancer - Mesothelioma

The silent killer, asbestos cancer, Mesothelioma can be present in your system for many years before signs of the cancer are evident. If you have worked with asbestos, make an appointment today with your doctor and have a complete physical. The earlier this type of cancer is caught, the better the survival rate is. Asbestos cancer, Mesothelioma is well known in the construction industry. Among workers that have used asbestos, there has been serious rise in the incidences of cancer being found. The reason that this particular type of cancer is called the silent killer is because of the dormancy period that often is a part of this disease. Individuals do not realize that they have Mesothelioma until they have a hard time breathing or if they have pain in the chest or abdomen areas of the body. Once these symptoms appear it is important to get to a doctor so that it can be diagnosed early and treated immediately.

Treatment for Asbestos Cancer, Mesothelioma

Treatments for the asbestos cancer, Mesothelioma are available and the treatments that are being used are chemotherapy drugs, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. The sooner a person can be diagnosed and treated, the sooner and more readily they can recover. If you have worked with asbestos at any period of time in your life, go to your health care provider and have the tests run that will determine if you have any of the cancerous cells of Mesothelioma or not. The sooner you are treated, the better your chances are for survival of this deadly disease.

Survival Rates of Mesothelioma Victims

Survival rates of Mesothelioma victims has been found to be that ten percent of the Mesothelioma patients will live at least five years after they have been diagnosed with this type of cancer. According to medical research the average patient survives about four to eighteen months after diagnoses is made discovering the cancer that laid dormant for a long period of time. Giving a survival rate is difficult because each patient has different circumstances. The best survival rate is found when asbestos cancer, Mesothelioma is diagnosed early and treated immediately.

Mesothelioma Prognosis - Get Straight Facts

The word meaning of the term prognosis is outcome. It is important when it is spoken together with mesothelioma. Mesothelioma prognosis can be tough for some of the patients. After all those years serving the industry, when the patient realizes that they are swindled ultimately, the desperation and pain can proliferate in the sadness. Some of the doctors will conclude the truth that the prospects of survival are slim. The rest of the ensemble inspires hope into the mind of the patient. The outcome of mesothelioma depends on how the body is responding to the treatment.

Mesothelioma is similar to the other embodiments of cancers. It has certain inherent properties that give it a distinctive role. The doctor can start the mesothelioma prognosis only after the condition has been examined. Here lies the problem; the condition cannot be diagnosed that easily. It is usually during the advanced stages of the cancer, that tests will reveal that the patient is truly suffering from mesothelioma. Most of the doctors falter at this stage itself, because if timely medication is not provided, the survival chances are thin. Once the condition has been successfully diagnosed, then the doctor can start working on the mesothelioma prognosis.

There are various factors affecting the mesothelioma prognosis. Some of them will be listed as well as illustrated in the rest of the passage. The location where mesothelioma is known to occur plays a pivotal role in the entire process. It is commonly known to occur on the pleura, peritonea, pericardium and the testis. Among these, the one developing on the pleura is the most common form of mesothelioma. The rest of the forms of asbestos cancers is also equally fatal. The next factor that decides the prognosis is the rate of infection. If the condition is found out by suitable tests during the initial phases, with appropriate surgical and therapy sessions, the patient can be saved.

The cancer cells are known to spread to the surrounding cells or migrate to a different location and start attacking the normal cells present in the region. This happens during the later stages and plays an important role in the mesothelioma prognosis. The condition is known to occur with other forms of associated symptoms. These symptoms may be caused by the alternate action of the cancer cells. The smoking and the drinking habits of the patient will also influence the mesothelioma prognosis largely.

The patient has to actively take on the medication sessions without fail. Never lose hope, because in the absence of hope, the chances of recovery are slim. Miracles happen all the time, and if an early detection is made the chances of survival are colossal. The family members should be supportive of the patient at all times. The usual survival rate as published by some of the eminent journal is just 10 percent. People who are undergoing treatment for mesothelioma are known to live approximately five to six years after the initial detection. This is an impressive figure considering the lasting rates of other forms of cancers.

Surviving Mesothelioma - Fighting This Life Threatening Enemy

Mesothelioma, a disease linked to asbestos exposure, is a rare form of cancer in which malignant cells are located in the Mesothelium - a shielding sac that covers a large amount of the body's internal organs. Malignant pericardial, malignant pleural and malignant peritoneal Mesothelioma are the three main types of Mesothelioma cancer. The peritoneal form involves the tissue covering the abdominal cavity and the pleural form involves the sac that protects the pleural cavity around the lungs.

Mesothelioma is frequently mistaken for lung cancer. Generally the symptoms of mesothelioma can include: cough, shortness of breath, husky voice, and difficulty in breathing, difficulty swallowing, abdominal pain and swelling, chest pain, anemia, insomnia, loss of appetite, cachexia, fatigue, weight loss, and fluid in the abdomen or chest. It is not easy to properly diagnose mesothelioma since numerous symptoms can be confused with other illnesses such as flu, bronchitis, pneumonia and heart disease.

Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos. No amount of asbestos exposure is harmless. Some mesothelioma victims have experienced occupational exposure to asbestos over a long period of time. An example would be a plumber, boilermaker or HVAC repairmen in the 1960's; a time when many of the parts and equipment contained some asbestos. Some mesothelioma victims were exposed in a "secondary fashion" from the clothes of the person who was directly exposed. An example of this would be a woman who washes her husband's work clothes and inadvertently inhales or ingests some of the microscopic asbestos fibers. A third category of victim would be someone who was exposed to only small amounts of asbestos through casual contact with an asbestos containing product. All forms of exposure can cause mesothelioma.

Today, there is still not a complete ban on asbestos containing products in the U.S. The EPA has, however, put in certain limits on the amount of asbestos that is permitted in some products. Nonetheless, because of the costs of litigation, many manufacturers of asbestos containing products have voluntarily removed asbestos from their products. Products from other countries, however, may still contain asbestos. For example, recent testing by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization found asbestos in children's toys coming from China.

Typically, 20 to 50 years elapse between asbestos exposure and the diagnosis of Mesothelioma cancer. This latency period varies by individual but is the reason that mesothelioma typically strikes seniors.

Although mesothelioma is a particularly aggressive cancer there are treatment options available including: standard therapies - surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, alternative or complimentary therapies and clinical trials. Clinical trials are a broad category that includes various types of treatments that are being tested. Currently these therapies include: Monoclonal Antibody Approaches, Anti-angiogenesis Drugs, Vaccine Approaches - Immunotherapies, and other "biological modifiers."

There is a lot of disheartening Mesothelioma News and information on the internet regarding mesothelioma survival rate. Despite this pessimism, there are a few long term mesothelioma survivors including: Stephen Jay Gould, Rhio O'Connor, Paul Kraus, and others. In fact, Paul Kraus wrote an inspirational book about his recovery from mesothelioma titled "Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide." Today, "Surviving Mesothelioma" is the best-selling mesothelioma book in the world, according to a testimonial from a former brain surgeon. This Mesothelioma book has all the information a cancer patient needs to learn what survival behavior is all about.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.