Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there are an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 new cases per year of the disease in the United States, but this number seems to be increasing. This growing figure is related to the prevalent utilization of asbestos from the 1940s to the end of the 1970s. European researchers studying the disease anticipate deaths from mesothelioma to hit the highest point around the year 2020 and then fall off, because asbestos use has been reduce significantly since the early 1980s.

Causes of Mesothelioma 

The chief peril factor for developing mesothelioma is due to asbestos exposure. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in either ways. It has also been discovered that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos may place a person at risk for developing mesothelioma. Very often, asbestos exposure was second hand through a family member. Clothes dirtied with asbestos dust have carried fibers into homes, affecting spouses and children. Workers who were exposed asbestos are now required to change their clothing before leaving work. Exposure to certain types of radiation as well as to a chemical related to asbestos known as zeolite has also been related to incidences of mesothelioma. The typical age of a person with mesothelioma is 50 to 70 years old. This disease affects men three to five times more often than women.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the lining of the lung, known as the pleura) may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• pleural effusion
• chest pain
•  persistent cough
• difficulty swallowing food
• fatigue

Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the abdominal lining which is known as the peritoneum) may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• weight loss
• pain or swelling in the abdomen
• bowel excretion difficulty
• anemia
• fever
• stomach pain
• nausea and vomiting

The above mentioned symptoms can accompany many other, less serious medical conditions. If you or one of your loved ones are experiencing any of these symptoms, and have been exposed to asbestos, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. Asbestos exposure may have taken place 20, 30, even 50 years prior to symptoms appearing, but is a main risk factor; exposure is reported in between 70-80% of all mesothelioma cases. Rapid attention to symptoms of this malignant illness, leading to early diagnosis and treatment can result to a greater possibility of survival for patients.