Mesothelioma Essay

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Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops from cells originating in the mesothelium, also known as the protective lining that covers many of the internal organs. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked in jobs where they inhaled asbestos, or were exposed to asbestos dust and fibers. Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to chest wall pain, and signs such as unexplained weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, but must be confirmed pathologically either with serous effusion cytology or with a biopsy and microscopic examination. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma has made leaps and bounds. Now the cancer has been detected so often it isn’t considered rare. Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. In the United States, asbestos is the major cause of malignant mesothelioma and has been considered indisputably associated with the development of mesothelioma. Indeed, the relationship between asbestos and mesothelioma is so strong that many consider mesothelioma a signal or sentinel tumor. A history of asbestos exposure exists in most cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In very rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide, and inhalation of other fibrous silicates; such as erionite. Some studies suggested that simian virus 40 might have acted as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma but these studies have not been corroborated by later research. The Mesothelioma Cancer Allegiance states on their website, “An individual may be at risk to develop

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