What Is Mesothelioma and How Dangerous It Is?
What Is Mesothelioma and How Dangerous It Is?
A type of malignant cancer occurs in mesothelium (thin tissue coverings most internal organs) is the short definition to answer, “What is mesothelioma”. However, a longer explanation is needed to understand the cancer and to know how dangerous the cancer is to human life. A good understanding is important for us to prevent it and to reduce the risk. If somehow, one of us is already diagnosed with mesothelioma, it will help us to choose the most suitable treatment and to live with it so we could reduce the suffering. If it happen to someone we know, at least we could help him/her to face the reality together.
Longer Explanation for What Is Mesothelioma
Mesothelium is a thin layer of tissue that covers most of internal organs but so far, mesothelioma is commonly found in surrounding lung and abdomen. Mesothelioma affecting mesothelium of lung is called pleural mesothelioma while ones affecting tissue in the abdomen is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is more common than peritoneal mesothelioma for about 75% of the total mesothelioma cases. Thus, some people reply what is mesothelioma by saying it as lung cancer. However, mesothelioma is different from lung cancer. Mesothelioma is cancer that starts in the mesothelium of internal organ and the growth of cancer in the surrounding organ may cause problem to organ function. Although it mostly occurs around the lung, it is not lung cancer. Condition and treatments available are different.
Actually, finding the accurate answer to what is mesothelioma is not easy. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer so doctors and scientists are finding it harder to make research about mesothelioma. However, the common cause of pleural mesothelioma is known. Exposure to asbestos is linked to the development of most mesothelioma occurs in the lining of lung. This is something helpful for help us prevent mesothelioma and to increase precaution for people who was exposed to asbestos. The other causes of mesothelioma are still under researched. The SV40 virus, exposure to radiation, and exposure to particular chemicals have been looked up as the cause of mesothelioma but the results are not completely clear.
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer. Although there is something people called it as benign mesothelioma, that form of noncancerous tumors occur in the chest and reproductive organ are not counted as mesothelioma. As a malignant cancer, mesothelioma is aggressive and deadly. Up to the recent day, the cure for malignant mesothelioma has not been found. Yet, many doctors and scientists all around the world are working hard to find accurate answer to the question of what is mesothelioma and find the cure. So far, several treatments and medications are available to reduce the symptoms of mesothelioma and improve quality of life of people living with mesothelioma.