Who Can Be Affected By Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is quite a rare cancer type that will appear in the internal organs’ lining, the cells layer known under the name of mesothelium. This layer is thin but does stand out as highly important for inner body health. 3 mesothelioma types are recognized by doctors:
- Pleural mesothelioma – appears in the lungs’ pleural lining – most common disease form
- Peritoneal mesothelioma – appears inside the peritoneum
- Pericardial mesothelioma – the rarest of the mesothelioma cases
If you have a husband & provider suffering from mesothelioma or you simply know someone that suffers from this cancer type, you want to be aware of some facts of high importance.
Disease Effects
When the mesothelium is invaded by the cancer cells, it is tough for a patient to properly breathe. This leads towards needing oxygen, especially at the later stages of the condition. If you suffer from pleural mesothelioma, it is also possible to have pleural effusions. The effusions will prevent lungs smooth movement, together with movement of the other chest organs. With peritoneal mesothelioma, the abdominal cavity and the stomach are affected. That leads to appetite loss, vomiting and nausea. This is what causes the associated weight loss. It is also possible that the person affected will experience sleeping difficulties, fever, low back pain and excessive coughing.
Generally speaking, mesothelioma is quite painful. It is hard to diagnose in time. Most people that receive the diagnosis are at an advanced cancer stage. Successful mesothelioma treatment is really difficult because of this.
Who Will Get Mesothelioma?
Due to a work history, statistics highlight that most of the people affected are men with the age between 50 and 70. They were employed in an environment that was asbestos-laden before we had the bans and warnings in place during the seventies. Women can also be affected, although frequency is much lower than with the men. That is normally due to second-hand exposure. In many cases we see that the woman diagnosed had a husband that was also diagnosed.
Occupations that are normally associated with the dangerous cancer are electricians, shipyard workers, construction workers, boilermakers, pipefitters and plumbers.
Statistics highlight the fact that mesothelioma is definitely quite rare at the moment. However, we are still faced with 2,000 to 3,000 brand new cases that appear in the US alone. In other countries the incidence of the condition cases is so much higher. An increase is normally seen in the workers at shipyards during the forties and fifties. Now people are being diagnosed.
What Should You Do When Diagnosed?
The most important thing is talking with the doctor and getting the treatment that is possible. However, at the same time you may want to discuss with a mesothelioma attorney. It is possible that some sort of financial compensation is going to be available right now. The attorneys would be able to handle the entire process for you while you are being treated. Just be sure that you discuss with those that know a lot about the subject, may them be doctors or lawyers.