Anything that increases the risk of contracting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean they will suffer from cancer, not having risk factors does not mean that you will suffer from cancer. People who think they are at risk should discuss with your doctor.

Many people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos. After exposure to asbestos, it usually takes a long time until it manifests malignant mesothelioma. Other risk factors for malignant mesothelioma include:

• Living with a person who works near asbestos.
• Being exposed to certain viruses.

Possible signs of malignant mesothelioma include shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage.

Sometimes the cancer causes fluid to collect around the lung or abdomen. These symptoms may be caused by the fluid or malignant mesothelioma. Other disorders can cause similar symptoms. Call your doctor if any of the following problems:

• Shortness of breath.
• Pain below the rib cage.
• Pain in the abdomen or inflammation.
• Lumps in the abdomen.
• Weight loss for no known reason.

The easiest way to understand the difference between lung cancer and mesothelioma is that lung cancer is in the lung tissue, while pleural mesothelioma occurs in the layer of tissue lining the outside of the lung.

Smoking is considered the primary cause of lung cancer, and asbestos as the primary cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer. Smoking does not cause mesothelioma. People who have been exposed to asbestos and who also smoke have up to 90 times more likely to be affected with lung cancer than those who do not smoke.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is typically based on these symptoms and the results of a further physical examination. Chest X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans are commonly used for diagnosis, and also help determine an appropriate treatment plan, because these procedures show whether the cancer has spread from its point of origin.

The diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy needle, tissue biopsy, or both. During a needle biopsy, fluid is removed from the area and then analyzed for the presence of cancer cells. A biopsy of tissue generally involves a relatively noninvasive surgical procedure called laparoscopy, in which a small piece of tissue is removed from the affected area to be analyzed for the presence of malignant cells.

Treatment

Due to the nature of mesothelioma, it’s common that a diagnosis is not made until the cancer has progressed to a stage where curative treatment is not possible. Most treatments for pleural mesothelioma are palliative and are made to encourage the symptoms and improve quality of life for patients. Treatment options are limited to conventional surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In cases where curative surgery is attempted, the patient must be healthy not to have cancer, and disease should not have spread beyond its point of origin. In such cases, part or all of a lung may be removed.

Exposure to Asbestos

People who are exposed to asbestos inhale asbestos fibers that enter the lowercase pleura of the lungs. Once in the lungs, asbestos fibers cause changes in pleural cells making them cancerous.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms All forms of mesothelioma are particularly dangerous because two or three decades may elapse between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms of cancer. Also, the first symptoms of mesothelioma are not specific and these symptoms often resemble those of a simple viral infection that is not very dangerous.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms may include:

• A persistent cough, difficulty breathing or swallowing, coughing up blood
• Weight Loss
• Fever or night sweats
• Inflammation of the facial area
• Shortness of breath even while resting
• Severe chest pain, or pain in the rib area

The main characteristics of asbestos, which is the name given to a group of six different minerals-are long, strong fibers that can be separated and are flexible (can be interlaced) and resist high temperatures.

Because of these properties, asbestos was used in many construction materials:
* Tiles,
* Pipes and asbestos cement products,
* Insulation
* Friction products (automobile clutch, brake, transmission components),
* Thermo-resistant textiles, packaging, gaskets, and coatings.

Asbestos fibers remain airborne for long and are carried by the wind. Not degrade into other compounds and remain unchanged for long periods.
“The asbestos fibers remain airborne for long and are carried by the wind.”
Although since 1989 no longer manufactured products containing asbestos, people are still exposed when you shake that fiber-containing materials, for example, during demolition, to perform maintenance, repair and renovation of buildings or housing.

In general, exposure may occur only when the asbestos-containing material is shaken so as to release particles and fibers. It should be stressed that asbestos in itself is not a health hazard only if fibers shakes and enter the air. So if you are renovating your house and suspect that I have built with asbestos materials, to use a professional to perform the tasks.

The consequences of exposure to asbestos fibers has a latency period of 15 to 40 years. This means that a person who worked in a factory which used asbestos 40 years ago can now develop mesothelioma, so it is advisable to do regular checks.

Symptoms of a mesioteloma
Mesothelioma is a very aggressive tumor that spreads rapidly. The first symptom is constant pain in the chest, the patient has difficulty breathing because fluid accumulates. It also has a cough, fever, extreme fatigue and weight loss. It is diagnosed by chest radiographs.

In the first phase of the disease may be resorting to surgery. The problem is that most patients consult when their condition is already very advanced.

New medical treatments against malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)
The drug Pemetrexed is, to date, the only pharmacological treatment that improves quality of life for patients. Despite not being a newly discovered disease of interest can be expected following the billionaire claims it causes, only this year the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the use of Alimta (s trade name), a drug basis of pemetrexed.

The legal route
In countries like the United States, where people not afraid to sue the pulse, and where there was widespread use of asbestos, there are currently trials millionaires. In fact search for the term “asbestos lawyer”, “mesothelioma attorney” and even “mesothelioma information” or “asbestosis resources” find a directory of sites covering all information on this devastating disease, both from a medical standpoint as advice to start lawsuits.