Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos without adequate protection over one’s mouth and nose. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral which was discovered in the 1860s but later became popular in the 1930s. Asbestos was used hugely in construction due to the fact that it is fire resistant even at high temperatures. It was not until much later in the 1960s that it became evident that asbestos was causing a number of diseases. These diseases include mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer.
Mesothelioma is one of the deadliest diseases ever to have been discovered by mankind. Mesothelioma is a malignant tumor that is a fast proliferating type of cancer which affects the mesothelial cells of some internal organs, the mesothelium is the protective thin covering over the organs like heart, lungs and abdomen.
Three main types of mesothelioma:
• Pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lung;
• Peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the abdominal cavity
• Pericardial mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart
Whatever is the verbal definition given out to this deadly disease, one thing that is certain is the deadliness of this fatal disease. It is an absolutely fatal disease which has taken many into its deadly grip. The maximum period of survival after the disease has been diagnosed, is 1 or 2 years. It is the worse form of cancer which is not curable. However, recent studies have suggested that if the disease can be diagnosed at a very early stage then the life of the individual who gets affected by this deadly disease, can be stretched till at the most of 5 years.
