Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer

Mesothelioma or asbestos cancer is a type of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos hence the name Asbestos Cancer.

This disease occurs due to the malignant growth of cancer cells in the pleura or the peritoneum or the pericardium therefore named as pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma respectively.

Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A malignant tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma. Because most mesothelial tumors are cancerous, malignant mesothelioma is often simply called mesothelioma.

Causes of Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer

The main cause of mesothelioma or asbestos cancer as the name suggest is exposure to asbestos. The asbestos fibers when inhaled reach the pleura and cause damage to the mesothelial cells which later leads to mesothelioma or asbestos cancer.

There are various reasons associated with exposure to asbestos, for example it may be due to environmental causes, occupational, household contamination and others. Direct exposure involves the exposure to asbestos at work place. Indirect involves washing clothes of people working in places where asbestos is present or used.

Sometimes the workers may not know that they are working around asbestos. This may prove also to be dangerous as single exposure also proves to be a hazardous in due course of time the asbestos fibers may enter the lungs and later produce serious long term problems.

According to research it is proved that all people who are exposed to asbestos anytime in their life are at high risk of developing the disease at any time in later part of their life.

Many health professionals working closely with those suffering from asbestos-related diseases are strongly advocating the new health care reform tax credit, primarily because it offers a wealth of support. Treatment options have come a long way since asbestos was last used, and the new healthcare changes are making those options more convenient, as well as affordable. Even though treatment has improved over the years, the number people who have filed a mesothelioma lawsuit have remained steady as a result of past asbestos use.

Risk factors for Mesothelioma or Asbestos Cancer

The dreadful disease cancer can be developed due to certain factors which form a threat to develop the disease; these factors are risk factors which increase the chances of developing the disease.

Depending on each type of the cancer the risk factors also varies. Skin cancer has a risk factor the exposure to sunlight, asbestos is the very well confirmed risk factor and cause of mesothelioma cancer or asbestos cancer, also smoking is a risk factor for mesothelioma as well as other cancers too.

The risk factors may be similar for some cancers. Person at increased risk should be very precautious in taking care of health and fight against the disease. The very well known risk of asbestos cancer is now not in use any more however the previous use of this substance took several lives.

The tobacco smoking has not been proved to be associated with the development of mesothelioma or asbestos cancer. However the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of lung cancer.

It is reported that asbestos workers who also smoke have a high risk of developing the mesothelioma or asbestos cancer the analysis says that the risk for developing the mesothelioma or asbestos cancer is high in these people.