| Mesothelioma the medical name for cancer of | | | | weight.Testing can be carried out initially |
| the pleura (the lining of the lung and chest | | | | by X-Ray, with a Thoric CT and open lung |
| cavity) or cancer of the peritoneum (the | | | | biopsy being used to confirm the findings of |
| lining of the abdomen). It is usually caused | | | | the early tests. If it is diagnosed early |
| by prolonged or persistent exposure to | | | | enough, the tumor can be surgically removed, |
| asbestos.Symptoms of mesothelioma may not | | | | and with follow-up chemotherapy and radiation |
| appear until between twenty and fifty years | | | | treatment, full recovery is often |
| after exposure, which explains why so many | | | | possible.However, in more advanced cases, |
| new cases of this form of cancer are coming | | | | cure is usually not possible. In such cases, |
| to light now, even though the dangers of | | | | chemotherapy and radiation treatment can be |
| asbestos were realized long ago and measures | | | | used alongside other pain relief treatments, |
| taken to reduce the risk of the disease.As | | | | to ease the symptoms. Where cure is not |
| with many forms of cancer, the mesothelioma | | | | possible, the average survival time is |
| tumor can spread rapidly, often infecting the | | | | between four and eighteen months, depending |
| opposite pleura, and continuing on to other | | | | on the stage of the tumor and the general |
| internal organs. Symptoms include a shortness | | | | health of the patient. |
| of breath, chest pains, coughing, and loss of | | | | |