Mesothelioma is a heartbreaking condition

By: Wesley Beck

Mesothelioma is a heartbreaking condition and a devastating diagnosis. The National Cancer Institute suggests that mesothelioma is an �oeuncommon” form of cancer, yet for those who have experienced its ruinous ramifications firsthand, the disease is both overwhelming in scope and lethal in purpose. Mesothelioma is a very difficult disease that has symptoms very similar to other common health conditions. Because of this, most patients are not diagnosed with mesothelioma until the diseased has advanced quite a bit. Mesothelioma is caused due to the improper cell alignment in the body. The main source of this disease is asbestos exposure.

Malignant mesothelioma is a particularly dangerous disease because it has a very long latency period. Mesothelioma symptoms may not appear for 10, 20 or even 40 years after exposure to asbestos. Malignant mesotheliomas, however, are very serious. Fortunately, they are rare - about two thousand people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the U.S. Malignant mesothelioma usually starts in the mesothelium lining the lungs, but it can also start in the lining of the abdominal organs or heart. In mesothelioma, the mesothelium's cells become abnormal and divide without control or order.

Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles , flooring products, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed. Asbestos is a type of naturally occurring mineral that was, for many years mixed with cement, plaster and paint and used in the interiors of houses. It was used as it is highly resistant to heat and is surprisingly strong.

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