Mesothelioma is Almost Always Caused by Exposure to Asbestos By Wayne Wilkinson

Every organ in our body has a thin lining around it. This lining is made up of cells called mesothelial cells. The mesothelium (lining) that is made up of mesothelial cells lines the thoracic cavity, heart and abdominal cavity. Due to some factors, the mesothelial cells divide uncontrollably, become abnormal and cannot be stopped. When this happens in the lungs, then you will be diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

In the United States, there are 3000 cases of pleural mesothelioma yearly. Of these 3000 cases more than half of them are men. Depending on the time of diagnosis and its metastasis, the prognosis is usually poor. If it has spread to many parts then you will probably have 1 year to live.

This fatal illness is mainly caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a mineral that occurs naturally and is is mined from rocks found in different countries. It is composed of small fibers as strong as the metal steel. These fibers can be woven and are resistant to chemicals or heat. Back in the days, asbestos was used for construction, insulation, ship building and in many household appliances.

When this asbestos is damaged or destroyed in anyway, tiny fibers are released into the air. When you inhale them, they go into the smallest spaces in the lungs where you cannot cough them out. When the body realizes there is a foreign object, it tries to get rid of it by breaking it down into pieces. By breaking it down, this causes injury to the body and inflammation happens. In 10-30 years you will develop pleural mesothelioma. If you are a construction worker, electrician, ship builder, lumber, demolition worker or a boiler maker then you have a high chance of getting exposed to this deadly mineral.

If you work in these places and have a family or live with friends, there is a high chance you are bringing this fibers home and this can cause the same disease to other people. Therefore when someone has pleural mesothelioma it many not necessarily be caused by first hand exposure to asbestos, it may be the person you live with who comes home with the fibers on this cloths or even hair. This is not a contagious illness therefore do not be cautious if living with a sick person.

The other cause of pleural mesothelioma is exposure to radiation. If you happen to work in a radiation department or you are exposed to ultraviolet rays, this can cause over growth of cells in any organ causing cancer. You are expected to wear protective gear when in a radiation room. Patients that have also had X-rays done with the use of thorium dioxide were later diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. During a study, they suspected that a simian virus which was a component of the polio vaccine used in the early 1960s caused mesothelioma but this was not definite. In the meantime a study is being conducted in the U.K to find more causes of this disease.

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