Monday, June 6 2005 18:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Have you heard of a disease, which is one of the deadliest diseases in human history and yet is 100% preventable? Needless to say, Mesothelioma is nothing else but another form of cancer. The average life span of an inflicted person from the time of diagnosis until death is six months.

As per dictionary meaning Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor of mesothelial tissue, especially that of the pleura or peritoneum.

Mesothelioma was recognized in the late 1700's as a tumor in the area of chest and/or abdomen. However, it was not until much later, in 1960, that this particular type of tumor (Mesothelioma) was described in more detail.

Reason for Mesothelioma

Important reason for Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Patients with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos. Others were living in asbestos houses and they too were breathing asbestos dust particles with out their knowledge.

The first report linking mesothelioma to asbestos exposure was written by J C Wagner, and described 32 cases of workers in the "Asbestos Hills" in South Africa. Since then the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure has been confirmed in studies around the world. About three-fourths of mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. They are known as pleural mesothelioma. Another 10% to 20% begin in the abdomen. These are called peritoneal mesothelioma.

Exposure to Asbestos

The worst part is that an exposure of as little as one or two months can even cause mesothelioma after three or four decades.

Researches found that people exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the long latency period of asbestos disease.

Asbestos widely used in India

The only known cause of getting Mesothelioma is through a mineral called Asbestos. It comes from inhaling the particles of dust as the asbestos degrades. Our lung could inhale these dust is several ways. In India, asbestos is widely used for roofing purposes. They are cheaper and famous in the Indian rural market. Otherwise, people who work in factories, shipyards, mines, and steel factories are more prone to Mesothelioma.

If you are exposed to dust particles of any types, and suffering from fever or weight loss, you may have to check with your doctor. The other common symptoms of Mesothelioma are pain or swelling in the abdomen. Men are more likely to get Mesothelioma for the obvious reason that factory workers are mostly men. The risk of the disease usually increases with age.

Prevention of Mesothelioma

You can prevent Mesothelioma if you exercise caution. You may avoid Mesothelioma by eliminating your exposure to asbestos. Slight exposure to asbestos could also cause problems. It is difficult to eliminate complete exposure as asbestos is used for making different products.

Wear protective masks and clothing if you cannot avoid exposure to asbestos. If your workplace exposes you to asbestos, change clothes before going home or getting closer to family members, friends etc. Use tiles for roofing house instead of deadly asbestos. Eventually a little care from a very elementary stage could keep us away from any diseases, if Mesothelioma is also a disease it is certainly preventable.

How Mesothelioma is diagnosed?

Like other cancers, Mesothelioma too is diagnosed by pathological examination from a biopsy. Human tissue is removed from the disease-affected area, then pathological tests are conducted to ascertain whether the patient is having Mesothelioma or not.

This is the end of a process that usually begins with symptoms that send most people to the doctor: The symptoms are a fluid build-up around the lungs (pleural effusions), shortness of breath, pain in the chest, or pain or swelling in the abdomen etc. The consulting doctor may ask the patient to under go an x-ray or CT scan of the chest or abdomen.

Knowledge of the stage of the disease helps the doctor to treat the patient. Treatment for mesothelioma depends on many factors. These include the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health. General treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.