what are the causes of mesothelioma

The dangers of exposure to asbestos dust are well documented with tens of thousands of people stricken ill with Mesothelioma, Asbestosis and related diseases. For many years, unsuspecting homeowners and workers worked with and lived around free, friable asbestos without with no knowledge of the dangerous and often deadly harm that breathing in even relatively small amounts of asbestos dust could do. A frequently asked question then among many that believe that they had at least some exposure to asbestos dust is just how much asbestos exposure will cause you to get sick or even worse cause cancerc
The first thing to know about asbestos exposure is that ill effects from this exposure have a long latency period. It is not unusual for someone exposed to asbestos to not develop mesothelioma for 25-40 years after exposure. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects the Mesothelioma, a protective lining that covers most of the body's protective organs. Asbestos fibers that are breathed in become lodged in the linings of the lungs and eventually cause the cells to mutate and become cancerous. About 70-80% of Mesothelioma cases are estimated to be caused by various degrees of asbestos exposure.
The amount of exposure that causes disease in people is up for debate. While there are many cases of factory or other workers that have had heavy exposure to free, friable exposure for many years developing disease, there are also cases where exposure has been as short as several months or just a few weeks. Intensity of exposure is most likely as relevant as length of time. If you think you were exposed to asbestos dust it is a good idea to write down as much as can be remembered as to length of time, intensity, where and how you were exposed. Frequently asbestos litigation can be pursued if you can prove you worked in an industry or work setting or lived in an environment where there was exposed friable asbestos that affected you.
One of the reasons it is so important to document as much as possible how much asbestos exposure you might have had is because the disease of Mesothelioma is notoriously hard to detect and quite often is mistaken for other cancers. It is important to detect the initial signs of asbestos disease both to receive early treatment as well as to clearly identify the cause for possible litigation later. The two primary types of Mesothelioma are Pleural (chest) and Peritoneal (abdominal). In Pleural a lung's membrane will thicken a fluid will collect. Both of these cause difficulty in the contractions of the lungs and make breathing difficult. In Peritoneal similar symptoms appear but around the abdominal region leading to fluid accumulation and pain in the area.
It is unknown how many people have died from Mesothelioma that might have been mis-diagnosed with another type of cancer. Therefore it is important to educate youself on the differences and causes of each. One place to get great information on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure.

All About Mesothelioma | What is Mesotheliomac

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos fibers (which are commonly found in construction materials), you should read the following information concerning a rare form of cancer called Mesothelioma. Once symptoms appear, your treatment options are greatly reduced. Early diagnosis is the key to prolonging life and increasing the quality of life.
What is Mesotheliomac
The thin cellular layer that lines our bodys internal organs is known as the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, which occurs in the mesothelium.
Usually, this type of cancer is concentrated around the patients lungs, in the pleural tissue. This type of Mesothelioma is known as Pleural Mesothelioma, and it accounts for 70% of all diagnosed cases.
Mesothelioma may also appear in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), 25-30% of diagnoses are of this variety.
When Mesothelioma occurs in the pericardium (the lining around the heart), this is known as Pericardial Mesothelioma. This is the most rare form of the disease and occurs in less than 5% of all cases.
What are the causes of Mesotheliomac
The overwhelmingly primary cause of all varieties of Mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. From the late 1800's until very recently, asbestos was a fundamental resource for building materials. This means that people involved in the building process, plumbers, carpenters, and electricians, are the highest risk group for exposure. It is also believe the asbestos fibers which cling to clothing may also have exposed anyone doing the laundry of an exposed worker.
Unlike lung cancer, tobacco smoking does not cause Mesothelioma; however, smoking tobacco does seem to increase the risk or someone who is exposed to asbestos to develop Mesothelioma.
What are the symptoms of Mesotheliomac
Unfortunately, there are virtually no early symptoms of Mesothelioma. Once symptoms do appear, the disease has already progressed to a dire point. For this reason, anyone who has been exposed to asbestos is best served by preemptive x-rays to check for any sign of the disease.
Later Signs of Pleural Mesothelioma:
Difficulty swallowing
Night Sweats
Unexplained Weight Loss (of greater than 10%)
Fever
Fatigue
Chest Pain
Difficulty, or Pain with Breathing
Possible Lumps on the Chest
Later Signs of Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
Night Sweats
Fever
Unexplained Weight Loss
Abdominal Swelling (possibly with pain)
Anemia
Fatigue
Constipation or Diarrhea
Nausea or Vomiting
Possible Lumps on the Abdomen
Later Signs of Pericardial Mesothelioma:
Heart Palpitations
Irregular Heart Rhythm
Chest Pain
Shortness of Breath (or difficulty breathing)
Fever
Night Sweats
Fatigue
What is the treatment for Mesotheliomac
There is no cure for Mesothelioma. The treatment is the same as lung cancer: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. There are also new cutting-edge therapies that are attempting to eradicate Mesothelioma. These include: phototherapy, gene therapy, and immunotherapy.
What is the prognosis for Mesotheliomac
While treatment does increase one's chance of a prolonged life, as well as possibly increasing one's quality of life, in 2006, the five year survival rate for all persons diagnosed with Mesothelioma, was a mere 5%.

Vitamin a - Possible New Drug For Mesothelioma

Vitamin A is a very important vitamin to maintaining health. Vitamin A is found in foods like carrots and it is well known for its importance in maintaining eyesight. Also recent independent research studies over the last three decades have suggested that vitamin A could possibly have an impact on managing and preventing mesothelioma.
Vitamin A has many essential functions in the human body including:
- sustenance of vision
- bone growth
- Reproduction
- Cell division
- Cell differentiation
- Helping to maintain the immune system – the body’s defense against infection.
Vitamin A comes from animal sources (such as liver and whole milk) and plant sources.
Retinoids which are chemically related to vitamin A have been implicated as anti-carcinogenic. For example, according to an article published in a leading medical journal: “At the cellular level, the anti-leukemia and anti-cancer activity of retinoids is the result of three main actions, cell-differentiation, growth inhibition and apoptosis.”
In a 1988 study performed by the National Cancer Institute, the dietary patterns of mesothelioma patients were compared to those of healthy individuals. According to the article, mesothelioma patients ate less homegrown, cruciferous vegetables and all vegetables combined before they were diagnosed compared to healthy patients. Cruciferous vegetables, also called Brassica Vegetables, include Arugula, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Watercress, Bok Choy, Turnip Greens, Kale, and Mustard Greens. The researchers also pointed out that carotene intake was significantly lower for the mesothelioma patients. Carotene is a precursor to vitamin A.
In this 1996 study from the Division of Epidemiology of the American Health Foundation, the investigators examined the association between dietary intake and mesothelioma by studying 94 men and women with malignant mesothelioma and 64 people without cancer. They concluded that their results provided “some justification for the hypothesis that provitamin A or beta-carotene may decrease the risk of mesothelioma. Provitamin A is any of the carotenoids that are precursors of vitamin A and can be found in fish-liver oils, egg yolk, milk products, green-leaf or yellow vegetables, and fruits.
In a study from 2002, researchers looked at mesothelioma cells in vitro (in test tubes or Petri dishes outside the body) and found that retinoic acid (the oxidized form of Vitamin A) “may lead to a decrease of mesothelioma cell local invasion.” They interpreted this to mean that retinoic acid may modify how mesothelioma grows and spreads in the body. This study suggests that vitamin A levels could possibly affect the aggressiveness of mesothelioma once someone is diagnosed with the disease, thus making mesothelioma metastases unlikely.
And in 2006, Australian researchers looked at former workers and residents exposed to crocidolite (blue asbestos) in Western Australia. Their findings suggested that “people with chronically low plasma levels of retinol (the fat-soluble animal form of vitamin A found in liver and eggs) have increased risk of developing mesothelioma and lung cancer.”
Will vitamin A eventually become part of conventional treatment modality for the prevention or treatment of mesotheliomac These independent studies are very preliminary, but their conclusions are intriguing. In addition, there are anecdotal reports of long-time mesothelioma survivors using vitamin A as part of their healing regiments. But first a great deal more research is needed.
Mesothelioma patients willing to add Vitamin A as part of their cancer treatment should discuss with their doctor on the use of Vitamin A before proceeding on the use.
About the author: Bello kamorudeen.