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What You Need to Know About Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that develops mainly along the surface of the lung and the chest. The...
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esothelioma is a rare type of cancer that develops mainly along the surface of the lung and the chest. The major symptoms include abdominal pain and shortness of breath. However, the symptoms may take from 10 to 50 years to appear. Many mesothelioma patients have contracted it through occupational exposure to asbestos. However, the causes of this cancer can be unclear sometimes.
Risk Factors of Mesothelioma
- Asbestos Exposure: Asbestos is a group of minerals that can be found in the environment naturally. It is a bundle of tiny fibres and the primary risk factor for developing mesothelioma. Around 70% - 80% of mesothelioma patients have been found to inhale asbestos in large quantity at some time in their life.
- Occupational Exposure: As a flexible, yet strong fibre; asbestos used to be used in cements, insulation and other products. As a result, automotive and construction workers the most at risk for their high-risk jobs.
- Environmental Exposure: Asbestos can be found in the rocks and soils of some parts of the world, exposing miners to it in large quantity. It can also be found in the air around some neighbourhoods because of its use in older building materials.
- Second hand Exposure: People who are occupied in a high-risk job can carry asbestos on their clothes and skin. Second hand exposure to these fibres for many years can put you in danger of contracting mesothelioma. Moreover, if any of your family member has the disease, the risks increase.
- Radiation Therapy: Some researchers have found mesothelioma to develop after a patient was exposed to high doses of radiation to the chest or abdomen, mainly as part of the treatment of another cancer.
