What Is Mesothelioma?

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