Etiology

-Asbestos exposure
Asbestos is a cheap and effective insulation material and was used in construction, manufacturing (eg, car brakes).
This factor has more than 80% of mesothelioma patients,mostly are men working as plumbers,builders.Family members also have risk of exposed to asbestos fibers on the clothes of the workers during clothes washing.

-Erionite exposure
Erionite frequently is used as a building material in some european countries,also a potent factor in inducing mesothelioma.

-Genetic factors are rarely found,though a potent DNA oncogenic virus, simian virus40 (SV40), can induce pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial mesotheliomas found in experimental animals.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is made histologically or cytologically,although radiology is helpful, diagnosis based on clinical picture or
radiology alone is inadequate.

Symptoms of mesothelioma will appear very late,delay in presentation and in diagnosis.
But when they do,they resemble to any other normal lung diseases.
Of all 3 types of mesothelioma cancer,general symptoms found are weight loss, chest pain, loss of appetite, short breath , plain cough and cough with blood.

Though this is a deadly disease.Patients of this cancer have little chances of survival ( not more than one or two years ).
But if you consult your physician regularly,do necessary test to detect it and start rigorous
medication.Patients are likely to live 5 years later.

by
Dr kampol tan