overview
Malignant mesothelioma (me-zoe-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers most of your internal organs (mesothelium).
Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer. Treatments for mesothelioma are available, but there is no cure for many people with mesothelioma.
Doctors divide mesothelioma into different types, depending on which part of the mesothelium is affected. Mesothelioma most commonly affects the tissue around the lungs (pleura). This type is called pleural mesothelioma. Other, rarer types of mesothelioma affect the tissue in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma), around the heart, and around the testicles. Mesothelioma Treatment in Hyderabad
symptoms
The signs and symptoms of mesothelioma vary depending on where the cancer occurs.
Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the tissues around the lungs, causes signs and symptoms that can include:
- Chest pain
- Painful cough
- shortness of breath
- Unusual pieces of tissue under the skin of the chest
- Inexplicable weight loss
The reasons
Cancer usually begins when a series of changes (mutations) occur in a cell’s DNA. DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. Mutations tell the cell to grow and multiply out of control. The abnormal cells accumulate and form a tumor.
It is not known what causes the initial genetic mutations that lead to mesothelioma, although researchers have identified factors that may increase the risk. Cancer is likely to be caused by the interaction of many factors, such as hereditary diseases, your environment, your health conditions, and your lifestyle. Mesothelioma Treatment in Hyderabad
Risk factors
Asbestos exposure: the main risk factor for mesothelioma
It is believed that most mesotheliomas are associated with exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally in the environment. Asbestos fibers are strong and heat resistant, making them suitable for a wide variety of uses such as insulation, brakes, shingles, flooring and many other products.
When asbestos is broken, e.g. B. during the breakdown process or when removing the asbestos insulation, dust can be generated. If the dust is inhaled or swallowed, the asbestos fibers settle in the lungs or stomach and can cause irritation there, which can lead to mesothelioma. It is not exactly clear how this happens. It can take 20 to 60 years or more to develop mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos.
Most people who are exposed to asbestos will never develop mesothelioma. This indicates that other factors can play a role in determining whether a person will get mesothelioma. For example, you could inherit a predisposition to cancer or some other condition that could increase your risk.
prevention
Reducing your asbestos exposure can lower your risk of mesothelioma.
Find out if you work with asbestos Most people with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos fibers at work. Workers who are likely to encounter asbestos fibers include:
- Asbestos miners
- electrician
- plumber
- Pipe fitters
- Isolators
- Shipyard workers
- Demolition workers
- Brake mechanics
- Selected military personnel
- House renovators.