Mesothelioma Symptoms

All The Facts About Mesothelioma

(PRWEB) June 9, 2005

Asbestos was used extensively as a building material from the 1950s through to the mid 1980s. Although some of this material has been removed over the years, there are many thousands of tonnes of asbestos still present in buildings. It is estimated that over half a million non-domestic premises currently have some form of asbestos in them. There is extensive repair and removal work, which will continue for the foreseeable future.

Asbestos is a toxic material, was once used to make insulation and fireproofing material in houses. Because some forms of asbestos have been linked to certain lung diseases, it is no longer used in new homes. However, some older homes may still have asbestos in these materials.

Another possibly asbestos related material is vermiculite. It is used to make numerous products and by-products such as attic insulation, packing material and garden products. vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that may contain asbestos. Vermiculite has the unusual property of expanding into worm-like accordion shaped pieces when heated. The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, absorbent and odorless material.

Asbestos contamination in vermiculite and vermiculite products has become a national concern. A tremendous amount of information has been made available to the public via print, television/radio and the Internet.

All that brings us to the fact that asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer. Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor which involves the mesothelial cells of an organ, usually the lungs, heart or abdominal organs. Pleural mesothelioma cancer of the lung lining is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer. Peritoneal is cancer of the stomach lining and is the next most common form.

The onset of mesothelioma asbestos lung cancer is usually very slow, and the most commonly noted mesothelioma symptoms are chest pain and pain in the lower back. Sometimes the pain is accompanied by difficulty breathing, coughing, weight loss and fever.

Mesothelioma asbestos lung cancer is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. As the disease progresses rapidly it is very important that one seeks medical treatment as soon as possible.

At least 3500 people in Great Britain die each year from mesothelioma and asbestos related lung cancer as a result of past exposure to asbestos. Annual numbers of deaths are predicted to go on rising into the next decade.

Analyses of mesothelioma deaths indicate that many deaths are due to heavy asbestos exposures in industries like shipbuilding and railway engineering in the past. If current control measures are not adhered to, asbestos removal workers are now potentially at the highest risk, as are workers involved in the refurbishment, repair or maintenance of buildings - such as plumbers, carpenters and electricians.

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