Lately, many people have been looking for mesothelioma facts and information. One startling fact is that although mesothelioma cancer is rare, every year about 2,000 new cases are diagnosed in the US. And, this number has been continuously increasing for the past 20 years.
Mesothelioma Fact – Alarming Truth
Initially, mesothelioma was recognized as a tumor of the pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium. Later, doctors studied the data linking mesothelioma cancers to asbestos exposure. J.C.Wagner wrote the first paper on mesothelioma and emphasized its linkage to asbestos exposure in about 32 cases of workers in the “Asbestos Hills” in South Africa.
New research
Soon the relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure was confirmed in different research studies around the world. Mesothelioma is caused because of asbestos exposure and inhalation of asbestos particles.
Asbestos was widely used in industrial and manufacturing processes and building materials.
Construction materials such as cement, tiles, roofing shingles, pipes, insulating material, and many more, contained asbestos materials. Another startling fact is that almost all American buildings constructed before the 1970s contain asbestos material that could pose risk for the occupants.
Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation has released a report revealing that, even though since the 1970s the protections against asbestos exposure have been in place, mesothelioma could take 30 to 50 years to be noticed.
This is because mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseases have a high latency rate. The asbestos particles can lie dormant in the human body for 30-50 years before manifesting as mesothelioma cancers.
Types of mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancers are of two main types. In pleural mesothelioma, the cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest and the peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the lining of the abdominal cavity. There are rare instances of mesothelioma of the lining of hearts and testicles. Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than in women.
Awareness of mesothelioma
Awareness about mesothelioma facts is also helpful in having awareness about the symptoms of mesothelioma. This information helps in the early detection and timely treatment of disease. Chest pain that is caused by cancer itself or shortness of breath, abdominal pain and swelling, cough, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss are some possible symptoms of mesothelioma cancers.