Mesothelioma: Causes, Symptoms, And Risk Factors

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Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that develops in the thin layer of tissue, which covers the most of your internal organs. Mesothelioma is an aggressive disease, but some treatments are available. Doctors distinguish two different forms of mesothelioma depending on what part of the tissue is affected. If the disease affects pleura, the tissue that surrounds the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is most common. It may also affect tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) and around the heart.

Mesothelioma is usually linked to asbestos exposure. Most people who have mesothelioma have been in places where they breathed asbestos. This often involves men over 40 years of age, who worked with this mineral. Other people have been exposed to asbestos in their household even without knowing it. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposed the restrictions on asbestos in 1983, and since then, the number of new cases has been relatively stable.

Symptoms of mesothelioma

The symptoms of mesothelioma usually develop gradually over time. They don’t appear until several decades after exposure to asbestos.

Pleural mesothelioma leads to signs and symptoms that may include:

- chest pain;

- painful coughing;

- shortness of breath;

- fatigue;

- fever and sweating, especially at night;

- loss of appetite;

- unexplained weight loss.

Symptoms of mesothelioma in the lining of the abdomen include:

- abdominal pain or swelling;

- unexplained weight loss;

- loss of appetite;

- diarrhea or constipation.

See your doctor if you have any worrying symptoms. Tell her or him about any exposure to asbestos you may have had in the past. Remember that signs and symptoms of mesothelioma aren’t specific to this condition and, because of the rarity of mesothelioma, are more likely to be connected with other health problems.

Risk factors

The primary risk factor for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral that is strong and resistant to heat, making it useful in building. But when asbestos is broken up, the dust may be created. If the asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they will settle in the lungs or stomach, causing persistent irritation. This damage can result in mesothelioma. It typically takes 20 to 40 years until first symptoms of mesothelioma manifest.

Other factors that may increase the risk of developing mesothelioma include:

1. Living with someone who works with asbestos. People who are exposed to asbestos may carry asbestos fibers home on their clothes or skin. If it happens regularly, others in the house can be at risk of mesothelioma too.

2. A family history of mesothelioma. If your close relatives have mesothelioma, you may have an increased risk of this condition too.