Mesothelioma and Asbestos Focus on World Cancer Day

Today is the day chosen by The World Health Organization to call attention to the tragic and devastating disease that affects millions of people worldwide; cancer.

The World Health Organization has themed this year's day as "Cancer can be prevented too", and will illustrate the different ways people can help protect themselves from developing cancer.

In accordance with this theme, we are presenting data on a rare but deadly form of cancer called mesothelioma. There are approximately 3,000 cases of Mesothelioma reported per year in the United States.

This type of cancer can manifest in three different types of mesothelioma, epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and mixed/biphasic cell types.

Like most other forms of cancer, it is separated into two groups, malignant and benign. Rarely is mesothelioma benign, so frequently any mention of the condition refers to its malignant state, known as a tumor. A malignant tumor will grow and expand, and can spread cancerous cells into other parts of the body.

The root cause of mesothelioma is from asbestos fibers that enter the body through inhalation. This leads to the question: What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral traditionally used for insulation in construction, engineering, and scientific industries. Asbestos releases microscopic fibers into the air that when inhaled, can cause a number of health hazards.

Who is at risk of asbestos exposure?

Those at greatest risk for asbestos exposure are people who worked in the asbestos, construction, and shipbuilding industries. Millions of people have suffered exposure to asbestos due the proliferation of the over 3000 products know to contain asbestos.

What are the symptoms of this Mesothelioma?

Symptoms for mesothelioma include shortness of breath, chest pain, or coughing up blood. Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with many different conditions, or natural signs of aging. Also, different types of mesothelioma cause different symptoms.

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