Life With Mesothelioma
October 1, 2007
Sometimes life takes a sudden swerve where the job which gave you the most pleasure and satisfaction turns out to be the cause of anguish. This may sound very grim but this is how a person feels after he is diagnosed suffering from Mesothelioma.
Mesothelium is a tissue that lines our stomach, lungs, heart and many other organs. When this tissue gets degenerated with cancer it is known as “Mesothelioma.” This cancer can be detected between the age group of thirty to fifty years who have had prolonged exposure to asbestos. The jobs could be working in shipyards, handling machinery in construction including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, insulation and so on. It is very difficult to notice these small particles of asbestos in air. They are unknowingly inhaled and get entangled in the lungs or stomach lining. They start accumulating over the years and begin to show symptoms like irritation and inflammation. This condition may hasten for smokers.
Initially it is quite difficult to diagnose this condition; it seems that the person is suffering from viral fever or pneumonia. There is shortness of breath, chest pain or persistent cough while others may not show any of these symptoms. There are various tests that can be done to confirm this disease like X-ray, Computed Tomography or CT scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI, Positron Emission Tomography or PET.
Sometimes other tests are also needed to confirm for 100% certainty. Tests like Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS), Thoracoscopy, Peritoneoscopy and Biopsy are done. People diagnosed with this disease are often told the expected survival rate is only eight to twelve months. However, specialists in treating malignant mesothelioma at the leading cancer centers often have better statistics. There are traditional kinds of treatment for malignant mesothelioma like surgery where the cancer is removed, chemotherapy and radiation therapy to kill the cancer cells.
The patient should follow the doctor’s advice and seek consultations on their nutrition and diet. There are many new treatments and clinical trial tests being conducted to help patients. Seeking help from support groups provides emotional healing as well.
©Nayna, 2007. All Rights Reserved.
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