Causes of Mesothelioma

Much is still unknown of what are the true causes of Mesothelioma. The only current and main known cause of Mesothelioma is thought to stem from individuals working with asbestos based products or in premises that contains asbestos which is inhaled by workers. Once diagnosed with Mesothlioma, it can kill the person within 8 to 12 months according to cancer research UK. In the history of asbestos exposure at work, it is reported that 70 percent to 80 percent of all cases end up with people with Mesothelioma in later life. However, Mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos, with the early symptoms of Mesothelioma generally non-specific that may lead to a delay in diagnosis. The main problem and difficulty with diagnosing Mesothelioma is that the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other medical conditions. There are however crucial symptoms that could indicate possible Mesothelioma within an individual. This could include possible chest pain and coughing, as well as shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include weakness and weight loss in the body, lower back pains, and/or difficulty in swallowing which can be infrequent but very painful. These symptoms don't conclusively diagnose an individual with Mesothelioma but can be strong indicators of possible Mesothelioma.

In order to find greater clearer situation and find if Mesothelioma is there, diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. In addition, a complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. Body scans may be called for where a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. If the medical tests show positively that there maybe cancer and possible Mesothelioma, then a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of Mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist, a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer, removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. This biopsy will take different shape depending on where any possible Mesothelioma maybe located in the body.

There are three known forms of Mesothelioma. The most common type of Mesothelioma is Pleural Mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma affects the lining of the lung and a key indicator is shortness of breath, chest pain and/or persistent cough in the person. Less common forms of Mesothelioma are peritoneal Mesothelioma and pericardial Mesothelioma. Peritoneal Mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity and pericardial Mesothelioma affects the lining around the heart. In addition, there are sub-types and forms of Mesothelioma which are called epithelial, sarcomatous and biphasic.

Depending on the result on the biopsy, will determine whether the diagnoses of Mesothelioma is either positive or negative. If diagnose of Mesothelioma is positive, then a variety of treatments are currently available.