UK Mesothelioma Support
UK Mesothelioma Support
'Mesothelioma' is a medical term according to 'mesoinfo.com' that describes an uncommon, but no longer rare form of cancer in which malignant cancer cells attack the protective lining around the lungs, abdominal organs and heart. In the USA 2,500 men and women are diagnosed with the disease each year, with the average age of people between the ages of 50 to 70 being diagnosed, predominantly in men of this age. According to Cancer Research UK, 1,800 people are diagnosed ever year in the United Kingdom with Peritoneal Mesothelioma, the most common type of Mesothelioma.
The only known cause of Mesothelioma is thought to be prolonged inhaling and exposure to asbestos particles, a fibrous material. The term Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibres that can be separated into thin threads and woven and used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, flooring products, textiles and insulation in roofs. It is these strong, microscopic fibres found in asbestos products which, once the body inhales and has exposure to, may injure the protective linings surrounding the body's organs. As a result, this may lead to possible Mesothelioma in the person in years to come.
Mesothelioma can however take a long time to develop according to Institute of Cancer Research. The time between exposure to asbestos and development of Mesothelioma is usually between 20 and 40 years. The people most at risk of developing Mesothelioma include asbestos miners, factory workers, insulation manufacturers, railway workers, ship builders, automotive workers, and workers in the heating and construction industries who worked in these industries between 1940's to 1970's. Yet, diagnosing Mesothelioma is not so easy according to 'mesotheliomaweb.org' web-site. A chest x-ray may show a build up of fluid in the lining around the lung and further scans can also determine if fluid has built up inside the lungs. Alternatively or also, the doctor may perform a biopsy of chest and stomach to make a definitive diagnosis of Mesothelioma.
Depending on the age, health and stage of Mesothelioma in the individual, a variety of treatments are currently available to treat this disease. The most common treatments for Mesothelioma are surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. In addition, multi-modality therapy, the combination of surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy, is another approach for treating the patient in the early stages of Mesothelioma. Furthermore, research is currently ongoing to find a cure and more effective treatments for Mesothelioma in the USA and in number of countries throughout Europe.
Yet, for all the research conducted so far, Mesothelioma is still an uncommon but very dangerous and aggressive form of cancer. Of those currently suffering from Mesothelioma, many have launched legal proceedings and have won cases against past employers, both in the USA and in a number of European countries including the United Kingdom. Health and Safety in the work place now provide strict guidance and severe penalties for employers who fail to carry out their duty of care with regard to working with asbestos.