Archive for the tag 'chest pain'

Asbestos Exposure

by Loz

Asbestos Exposure

Symptoms of lung cancer, asbestosis or other asbestos - related diseases may include chronic cough and hoarseness, wheezing, chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, dysphonia, coughing up blood and shortness of breath. Mesothelioma lung cancer is usually associated with asbestos exposure. The real crisis regarding asbestos exposure in the workplace is not potential litigation but the number of victims who contract the deadly disease Mesothelioma.

People who contract the disease must be absolutely sure that the cause for the same was asbestos exposure and then take steps to get the right legal counsel. Second, is the long latency period between exposure to the cause of the disease, asbestos, and its onset. Currently, these asbestos cause a disease for which there is no cure; however, due to the amount of attention that this disease is getting, many top scientists and researchers worldwide are working to develop a cure for the disease.

Because of the devastating nature of the disease and because we are able to point to a single root source, asbestos exposure, there is significant reason for all individuals to take necessary precautions to avoid contraction of the disease. In conclusion, there many things that you have to do for prevent developing of asbestos related disease, but The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) could be very useful and a good start point. If you think that you may have an asbestos - related disease because you worked exposed to asbestos many years and you show any of the symptoms above mentioned, you should visit a specialist doctor to be explored by him and decide whether you need more exams or not.

Other important thing is to visit the doctor regularly to stay informed about your health, (but this one must be specialist in the disease) whether you work or worked in contact with asbestos at your job. Without writing a book, I wouldn’t have the space to detail every observation I’ve made during this period, but I can assure you that no contact with asbestos is without a possible adverse health consequence. There are many more instances of contact for which I don’t have the time to detail here, but basically, with the characteristics of the material, knowledge of where you may encounter the substance and many hours of observation (I’ve been in construction over thirty years), you too can make the same deductive conclutions that I have made.

So, I set out to try to logically deduce, with a knowledge of the physical properties of asbestos,when I encountered the substance as I attempted to clean every surface and item in every room of the house. Supporters of the bill propose to set up a 0 billion dollar asbestos compensation fund, but it is doubtful if even an all out effort this week will bring the bill to a vote on the floor of the US Senate. While the Asbestos Bill is unfair and serves to limit rights and remedies of victims in favor of multi-billion dollar corporations, you can take action to help defeat this bill.

Every major asbestos victims’ organization opposes this bill, while being supported by the corporate defendants who knowingly poisoned their workers and the public with asbestos and would receive billions of dollars in liability relief. It was estimated that approximately 10 million workers had been exposed to asbestos by the year 1978 and that by 1970 25 million tons of asbestos had been used in building work across the USA. Even if the ancient wisdom had been lost, insurance companies were refusing to insure asbestos workers, or charging higher premiums for them by the 1920’s.

In the 1920s the asbestos industry was aware of the damaging effects of asbestos, and yet they did nothing to protect workers or their families. Back in the 1920s, a large variety of medical articles showed that there was scarring on the lungs of asbestos factory workers. Become involved in the fight to keeps victims rights regarding asbestos litigation in the hands of the people.

About the Author
For more related information about Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Fibers, and Asbestosis Feel free to visit us today.

Pleural Mesothelioma: A Quick Look

by James F. Howell

Pleural mesothelioma is one of several types of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. It is caused by asbestos fibers being ingested into the lungs and affects the pleural lining of the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma is a deadly and devastating disease with no known cure. There are a number of symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, and like other forms of mesothelioma, they can appear very non-specific and could be mistaken for a number of common diseases or illnesses. Shortness of breath, caused by pleural thickening which gradually contracts the breathing space, is often the first symptom of pleural mesothelioma. Cough, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, facial swelling, weight loss, fever, and rasping are some of the other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. In many cases, however, individuals with the disease never experience symptoms at all until well after it has matured.

It typically takes several decades for the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma to develop, and once diagnosed, patients typically have a life expectancy of only a few months. Men between the ages of 50 and 70 are more commonly diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma than any other demographic, largely because asbestos was widely used in numerous industries from World War II until the 1970s, and due to the amount of time it takes for the symptoms to occur, it is just now being discovered that they have the disease.

The treatments that are currently available for pleural mesothelioma patients are primarily palliative, to ease the patient’s suffering. These treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

About the Author
James Howell is a freelance writer and researcher. Find out more about Pleural Mesothelioma. Or learn more about Mesothelioma.

Information On What is Mesothelioma

by Uchenna Ani-Okoye

Mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancer, usually associated with previous exposure to asbestos. Signs and symptoms of the disease include among other things, shortness of breath and rapid unexpected weight loss as in patients with Mesothelioma, nutrients in the blood stream cannot always be absorbed resulting in malnutrition and weight loss.

Aside from Mesothelioma, these people can acquire asbestosis, a non-cancerous chronic lung sickness and other forms of cancer of the lungs, cancer of the larynx and kidney. There are treatments used to keep the patient comfortable, but there is currently no cure for mesothelioma. Erionite fibres were found in biopsies of lungs of the mesothelioma cancer afflicted people.

The physicians empanelled by mesothelioma treatment support groups analyze each patient. A legal counseling along with aid from housing, utilities, transportation, accurate medical treatment, pharmaceutical supplies and services should be the prime motto of mesothelioma support. The compensation could be millions of dollars for victims of mesothelioma who have been exposed to asbestos.

Because mesothelioma is caused by direct exposure to asbestos or asbestos dust, and nearly 30 million tons of asbestos was used in buildings of every description until the mid 1970’s, it has kept Mesothelioma lawyers in high demand, as they pursue Mesothelioma settlements for the victims and their families. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

‘What is Mesothelioma’, the website contains useful resources on Mesothelioma lawyers and attorneys, as well as causes by asbestos exposure, asbestos removal, asbestos attorneys and lawsuits, and asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma thus becomes a deadly disease when no remedial measures are taken to overcome it and when exposure to asbestos is not controlled. However it would take 10-40 years after the first exposure for the first symptoms of mesothelioma to become noticeable, which made it very difficult to diagnose.

It is important to stress that once you start experiencing the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma (shortness of breath, chest pains, coughing up blood, and palpitations) you should immediately seek specialized help. Mesothelioma can result from very small fibres or dust particles at low exposure levels. Generally, it is believed that sustained exposure to asbestos is more liable to give one mesothelioma.

Due to the difficulty of diagnosing mesothelioma in its early stages, many mesothelioma treatments focus on improving the quality of life for patients. There are many variables in evaluating a mesothelioma case, so only the patients doctor can determine the best treatment and possible prognosis on an individual basis. Pericardial mesothelioma sufferers may experience chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent coughing and palpitations.

Chemotherapy of mesothelioma is being improved regularly as research labs and pharmaceutical companies are discovering new and more effective drugs. Pleural mesothelioma: A type of lung cancer which attacks the pleura surrounding the lungs, this is the most common type of mesothelioma, affecting approximately two-thirds of all mesothelioma patients.

If you’d like access to more information and resource links pertaining mesothelioma, then check out my site at: Mesothelioma Cancer.

About the Author
Uchenna Ani-Okoye is an affiliate marketer who writes articles on various topics

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment - Asbestos Kills

Mesothelioma cancer is a disease that results from exposure to asbestos related substances. Asbestos usually consists of fibres that can enter the body through the mouth, or the skin, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream.

Mesothelioma cancer has become more widely documented in the last 5-10 years, due to the fact that symptoms of asbestos cancer can take between 20 to 40 years to manifest. Mesothelioma cancer is hard to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to manifest themselves until the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and other secondary illnesses such as pneumonia.

Asbestos cancer most often develops in men between the ages of 50 to 70 years who were exposed to high levels of asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos was mainly used in manufacturing industries such as automotive and ship building as well as in the construction industry. The use of asbestos was only recently banned in the 1990’s.

Mesthelioma lung cancer has been found to be the most common form of mesothelioma cancer and it develops in the lining of the lung (pleural). Mesothelioma cancer can also develop in the abdominal area (peritoneal) and around the heart (pericardial). There is a greater chance of malignancy in abdominal asbestos cancer. For a more detailed explanation of mesothelioma cancer, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Mesothelioma lung cancer can be detected through a CT scan which enables it to be sometimes diagnosed earlier than the other two types of mesothelioma cancer. The type of mesothelioma cancer treatment will depend on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, the age of the patient as well as personal preferences. The disease can be divided into four separate stages. The stage in the disease process that is reached will determine the method of mesothelioma cancer treatment. At the first stage when the tumour is confined to the lining of the lungs, surgeons may try to remove the entire tumour surgically. Once the tumour has invaded the surrounding body tissues in the later stages, it is not curable. Read more >>>>

What Are The Four Stages of Mesothelioma Cancer?

One rare form of cancer is called Mesothelioma, a malignant tumor in the mesothelial tissues of the lungs and the abdomen, arising from the inhalation of asbestos. Its rarity is one of the reasons why a lot of people are not aware of this kind of fatal disease. In fact, many people die of Mesothelioma undiagnosed. Although there is now a growing awareness of the hazards of asbestos to health, still many have not heard of Mesothelioma and thus, have not understood its nature, cause, signs and treatment. Even some physicians find it hard to detect Mesothelioma because its symptoms are akin to other diseases like lung cancer and pneumonia. Furthermore, it takes decades for a patient who was exposed to asbestos to develop Mesothelioma — fifty years, at most.

Being unaware of Mesothelioma poses higher risks since it deters diagnosis and treatment. A person undergoing treatment must know the different stages of the cancer or the extent of the disease. Chances of recovering from Mesothelioma and the kind of treatment depend on the stage of the illness. There are basically two staging systems used for Pleural Mesothelioma (lungs): TNM system and Brighan system. These staging systems are also used in other kinds of cancers; however, the first is commonly used. There is no established method in determining the stage of the Peritoneal Mesothelioma cancer (abdominal) so the TNM system is used.

There are three variables in the TNM system: tumor, lymph nodes and metastasis. In the earliest stage of Mesothelioma, stage I, the malignant Mesothelioma cells start to grow and multiply only one layer of the pleura. The pleura is the membrane that encloses the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. However, there are some instances wherein the pericardium (membrane that covers the heart) and diaphragm cover are already affected. In this case, the cancer patient is still in stage I Mesothelioma.

In the second stage, the two layers of the pleura are already affected by Mesothelioma. Take note, however, that in this stage, only one side of the body is affected. Normally, the pleura produces only small amount of lubricating fluid that allows easy expanding and contracting of the lungs. The excess fluid is absorbed by the blood and the lymph vessels so there’s a balance between the amount of fluid produced and removed. During the second stage Mesothelioma, fluid starts to build up between the membrane of the lungs and the membrane of the chest wall, resulting to pleural effusion. The increase in the volume of fluid produced causes shortness of breath and chest pain. Other Mesothelioma cancer patients experience dry and persistent cough. Diagnosis of the pleural effusion is achieved through a chest x-ray.

Stage III Mesothelioma means that the malignant cells have already spread to the chest wall, esophagus and the lymph nodes on one part of the chest. The patient may suffer severe pain near the parts affected. When not treated immediately or when the Mesothelioma patient doesn’t respond well to medication, the cancer may advance to the fourth stage. The fourth stage Mesothelioma is formidable since at this stage the Mesothelioma cells have penetrated into the bloodstream and other organs in the body like the liver, the bones and the brain. The lymph nodes on the other side of the chest may also be affected by Mesothelioma in stage IV.

Brighan staging system, on the other hand, determines whether the Mesothelioma can be surgically removed or not and whether the lymph nodes are affected or not. In stage I Mesothelioma, the lymph nodes are not yet affected and the patient can still recover through surgery. In stage II, surgery can still be executed but some lymph nodes have already been infiltrated by the cancer cells. In stage III, the heart and chest wall are already affected; thus, surgery is no longer advisable. The lymph nodes in this stage, however, may or may not be affected. In the final stage, stage IV Mesothelioma, cancer cells have already gone to the bloodstream and other parts of the body like the heart, brain, bone and liver. In most cases, a patient who has reached stage IV Mesothelioma only has four to twenty-four months to live.


Smith Chen is an author and internet marketing consultant.
Find more about discover and review page society


Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_205196_23.html

Mesothelioma - Cancer of the lung lining

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of lung cancer that arises in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is made up of parietal and visceral membranes, thin layers of tissue, which surround organs and body cavities, such as the lungs or abdomen. The visceral membrane immediately surrounds the organ, and the parietal membrane is a sac covering. The visceral and parietal membranes that make up the mesothelium. The mesothelium is referred to by different names, depending on what part of the body it is found in.

Dealing with mesothelioma

Dealing with mesothelioma is a very difficult process. It will require a lot of physical and emotional endurances. The best way to understand mesothelioma is to learn everything that you can learn about the disease. This should include the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of mesothelioma- cancer of the lung lining.

Symptoms

Since mesothelioma-cancer of the lung lining takes a long time to develop inside a human body. It is often difficult to identify the symptoms. In the early stages there may not even be any symptoms at all. When they do appear the most common early symptoms are shortness of breath and chest pains.

Presentations and expectations

There are two major types of asbestos: chrysotile and amphibole. It is thought that exposure to the exposure to the amphibole form is more likely to cause mesothelioma-cancer of the lung lining. However, chrysotile has been used more frequently hence many mesothelioma are caused by chrysotile.

Removal is taking place in schools and other public buildings throughout the U.S. . The hope is that these measures will greatly reduce the occurrence of this cancer.

Long-term effects of the disease

A mesothelioma-cancer of the lung lining is a highly aggressive tumor that is generally deadly. Current treatment of malignant mesothelioma-cancer of the lung lining is designed to make the person with cancer comfortable.

Screening

There is no universally agreed protocol for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. However some research indicates that the serum osteopontin level might be useful in screening asbestos- exposed people for mesothelioma. The level of soluble mesothelin- related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening.

Treatment

Once mesothelioma-cancer of lung lining has been diagnosed a treatment procedure can be recommended and begun. The correct treatment will depend on a number of factors. They include the location of the tumor, the stage of the disease and how far the cancer has spread in the patient. The recommendation will also depend on the age and overall health of the patient.

It is certainly not easy to deal with all of the medical, physical, emotional and financial issues that may be raised when dealing with a serious disease like mesothelioma-cancer of lung lining, but it always better to be prepared. We can just have a hope that in future as the medical science advances this incurable disease can also be cured and lives of many people can be saved.


About the Author

The Article is written by themesothelioma.org - Mesothelioma Treatment

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_132570_17.html

Types of Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that affects the serous membranes surrounding the major organs of the body i.e. the lungs, heart and the abdominal organs, causing these vital organs to inflate with excessive fluid. This fluid further causes the improper functioning of the organs. The only known cause of this cancerous tumor is asbestos exposure. In this disease, malignant cells are built up in the protective linings (serous membranes) of several internal organs known as mesothelium. Different organs in the abdomen cavity can get affected by mesothelioma because of the presence of the protective linings surrounding them. The most common types of mesothelioma include:

* Pleural Mesothelioma,
* Peritoneal Mesothelioma, and
* Pericardial Mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma:

Pleural Mesothelioma is a tumor in which the lining of the lungs, or lung pleura, gets affected by malignant cells. The pleura is a soft protective tissue that surrounds the lungs in the chest cavity. It helps the lungs in breathing (respiration) by producing a serous fluid that lubricates the pleural surfaces to avoid the teasing of the lungs against the chest wall. The malignant cells, once entered the pleura, begin to spread and affect the surrounding organs and tissues. This leads to further complications resulting pain and severe symptoms.

Mesothelioma affecting pleura is of two categories:

Diffused or Malignant (Cancerous):
It is the serious form of pleural mesothelioma that affects the pleural lining of the lungs and its surrounding organs.

Localized and Benign (Non-cancerous):
It is the non-cancerous form of mesothelioma, which does not affect all parts of the body except the pleura. However, it constricts the lung causing shortness of breath, and in some severe cases, pneumothorax (lung failure).

Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a tumor of the peritoneum membrane or the abdomen lining, affecting many organs in the abdominal cavity including stomach. This form of mesothelioma cancer is less common than the pleural form but is more aggressive, resulting severe symptoms and short life expectancy. Like many other cancers, peritoneal mesothelioma can also be either malignant or benign.

Pericardial Mesothelioma:

Pericardial or Pericardium Mesothelioma is the rarest form of cancer, counting less than 10% of mesothelioma cases. In this form of cancer, fluid gets accumulated in the sac that encloses the heart. The main cause of this disease is the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Due to the rarity of this disease, doctors and researchers have not clearly understood how the asbestos fibers enter the heart lining or pericardium. The only logical explanation so far about this form of cancer is the possibility of the asbestos fibers, converted into tiny pieces, transported from the lung into the heart by means of blood circulation. Once the asbestos fibers enter the heart, they expand the tissues in the chest cavity and the pericardium with excessive liquid, disrupting the working of the heart and causing chest pains with breathing disorders.

Each year, approximately 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed. At some point of their lives, the patients of mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos that later cause the hideous cancer of mesothelioma. If you, at some point of your life, have worked in an asbestos-rich environment or used any asbestos materials, you should contact a mesothelioma doctor for correct diagnosis and best treatment options available.

Author: Jennifer White

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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_168788_17.html

Pleural Mesothelioma - The Truth and Facts About Pleural Meseothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma represents for about 75% of all Mesothelioma cases and. The main cause for this type of cancer is the inhalation of asbestos fibers which get embedded in the lung linings, also known as the pleura. These embedded fibers will cause inflammation which will eventually lead to cancer tumors if not treated at the beginning stage.

Also, if the cancel tumors are not detected early, they can spread from the lung pleura to other vital organs which include the heart and abdomen. Pleural Mesothelioma can also invade the lymph nodes and affect the body’s blood system.

The main cause of this type of cancer is exposure to asbestos. If a person is exposed to asbestos for only a couple of months, the deadly and fine asbestos particles may lead to Pleural Mesothelioma 30 to 50 years later. The older generation especially men in their sixties or seventies are most at risk, because this was the generation that worked with the deadly material with minimal protection. Because it takes so long for this type of cancer to surface, these men are only now discovering that they have this deadly cancer. Many now are filing lawsuits against the companies who are responsible for exposing them to asbestos.

Among the symptoms associated with Pleural Mesothelioma is chest pain. However, the pain is does not come directly from the lung pleura but often appears in the shoulder or upper abdomen. Persistent coughing, shortness of breath, facial swelling, weight loss, fever and coughing up blood are the other symptoms of this type of cancer. The tumor for this type of cancer grows rapidly and enlarges the pleural space, causing this space to be filled with fluid. This is the fluid responsible for the discomfort or pain associated with the early symptoms of this cancer. Many of these symptoms are similar to diseases which are more common than this cancer and hence it is very difficult to diagnose until it is too late.

There is not proper cure available for Pleural Mesothelioma and treatment options are limited. Active research is being conducted around the globe and many pharmaceutical companies are testing new drugs to combat this cancer. Current available treatments for this cancer include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

According to a research done on 167 patients with proven Pleural Mesothelioma, the median survival rate of patients following diagnosis was 242 days. The survival rate was also affected by the type of cancer cells, age, medical record, and lifestyle. Through this research, patients with biphasic cell types had the shortest life expectancy. The chance of survival can be drastically increased if this cancer is treated in its early stages because once it has developed and spread it is very difficult to cure.
By Ray Lam


Find out more on Pleural Mesothelioma by visiting http://raysinfo.info a popular information website that specializes in offering information about health, wealth, wisdom and also about Mesothelioma Cancer.

Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment - Asbestos Kills

Mesothelioma cancer is a disease that results from exposure to asbestos related substances. Asbestos usually consists of fibres that can enter the body through the mouth, or the skin, and, subsequently, enter the lungs, or blood stream.

Mesothelioma cancer has become more widely documented in the last 5-10 years, due to the fact that symptoms of asbestos cancer can take between 20 to 40 years to manifest. Mesothelioma cancer is hard to diagnose, as the symptoms do not tend to manifest themselves until the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of mesothelioma lung cancer include shortness of breath, chest pain, fever and other secondary illnesses such as pneumonia.

Asbestos cancer most often develops in men between the ages of 50 to 70 years who were exposed to high levels of asbestos in the workplace. Asbestos was mainly used in manufacturing industries such as automotive and ship building as well as in the construction industry. The use of asbestos was only recently banned in the 1990’s.

Mesthelioma lung cancer has been found to be the most common form of mesothelioma cancer and it develops in the lining of the lung (pleural). Mesothelioma cancer can also develop in the abdominal area (peritoneal) and around the heart (pericardial). There is a greater chance of malignancy in abdominal asbestos cancer. For a more detailed explanation of mesothelioma cancer, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Mesothelioma lung cancer can be detected through a CT scan which enables it to be sometimes diagnosed earlier than the other two types of mesothelioma cancer. The type of mesothelioma cancer treatment will depend on the stage at which the cancer was diagnosed, the age of the patient as well as personal preferences. The disease can be divided into four separate stages. The stage in the disease process that is reached will determine the method of mesothelioma cancer treatment. At the first stage when the tumour is confined to the lining of the lungs, surgeons may try to remove the entire tumour surgically. Once the tumour has invaded the surrounding body tissues in the later stages, it is not curable.

Conventionally, the more advanced stages of mesothelioma cancer are treated with either radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy x-rays to destroy cancerous cells and shrink tumours Chemotherapy, on the other hand, uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. The aim of these mesothelioma cancer treatments is to prolong the patient’s life as the disease cannot be cured in the more advanced stages.

In addition to these conventional mesothelioma cancer treatments, there are also various experimental treatments currently under investigation which offer new hope.

Immunotherapy: This form of biological therapy for mesothelioma cancer treatment uses the patient’s own immune system to attack the cancerous cells. Clinical studies have shown that the immune system is able to distinguish healthy cells from cancer cells, and can therefore be used to destroy those cancerous cells.

Gene Therapy: This form of mesothelioma cancer treatment is very much still in the developmental stages. The process involves injecting a specific gene straight into the tumour. This gene renders the cancer cells sensitive to the antiviral drug glanciclovir which under normal circumstances is not effective against these cells. The glanciclovir is then able to destroy all the cancer cells without harming the healthy tissue cells.

Drug Therapy: The drug Alimta is the only chemotherapy drug to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)for the treatment of patients with malignant mesothelioma lung cancer . This new and exciting drug has been demonstrated in clinical trials to reduce symptoms and increase the life expectancy of patients.

Photodynamic Therapy: Photodynamic therapy involves the use of light to destroy cancer cells. The patient first is first administered a photosensitizing drug that only collects in cancerous cells. Fibre-optic cables are then inserted in the body in order to focus light of a certain frequency on the tumour. The light stimulates the photosensitizing drug to produce toxic oxygen molecules that destroy the cancerous cells.

These experimental mesothelioma cancer treatments, although still in the developmental stages, offer cancer victims the prospect of a better and longer life. With the likelihood of an increase in the number of people diagnosed with asbestos cancer, further research into other forms of mesothelioma cancer treatment is vital.

Note to Publishers: You may freely republish this article as is, without editing or modification, and all links must be kept live. The author, Gregory De Villiers, writes on a variety of health and wellness topics. For more information on mesothelioma cancer as well as asbestos litigation, visit http://www.lung-canceradvice.com

Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_121761_17.html

Mesothelioma Pain Management

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease that typically has no symptoms early in the disease process. In many cases, the asbestos exposure that caused the disease could have occurred as many as 30 to 60 years earlier. Mesothelioma starts to develop when asbestos fibers become imbedded in the lung and scar tissue forms around the asbestos fibers. But the patient does not detect the formation of the scar tissue, as it causes no perceptible pain.

As the fibrous scar tissue accumulates in large quantities and the cancerous tumors start to grow in the mesothelium, large amounts of fluid start to gather. This fluid causes much of the pain associated with mesothelioma. Chest pain due to pressure and pain during cough are directly caused by the fluid accumulation.
The growth of the tumors can also cause pain as the tumors push against the nerves and other organs. It is important that if the mesothelioma patient experiences this pain, then the doctor should be advised. There is absolutely no need to endure pain when there are remedies available to make the patient more comfortable.
Certain cancer treatments may help to relieve the pain if the tumors are removed or progression slowed. Also, the fluid can be drained to help eliminate the pressure caused by the accumulation. And there are specific pain management tools apart from the direct treatment for the cancerous tumors. The patient should ask the doctor about directly treating the pain.

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