mohar2008  

Many people falsely believe that mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer. This is false because in actuality mesothelioma is cancer but of the protective area of the lungs inside the ribs which is the mesothelium, which is where the name derives from. A membrane quite similar to the mesothelium covers most of the organs in the body but the lining of the lungs is where the cancer develops.

While lung cancer is caused by smoking, mesothelioma is not. The main cause of mesothelioma has been related to exposure to very tiny fragments that are in the air of asbestos. It was used in many construction materials especially insulation. The only actual known cause of mesothelioma is by inhaling these asbestos particles.

Being exposed to asbestos has also been linked to many other life threatening and damaging illnesses. These including asbestosis, lung cancer, and a few other less serious diseases that impact the lining of the lungs such as benign pleural effusions, pleural fibrosis, and pleural plaques.

The risks of being exposed to asbestos fibers have been known since the 1930’s by those who manufacture building materials. However, safety and warnings weren’t implemented until the 1960’s and weren’t fully enforced the way they should’ve been. In the 1970’s the usage of asbestos in construction was finally banned in the United States. Many safety measures have been set forth for situations where asbestos exposure may happen, such as in the demolition of older buildings. The problem lies in the fact that many workers are not informed that they may be working on a site where asbestos exposure is possible.

While the majority of people exposed to asbestos are now older, the newly diagnosed cases are going to rise dramatically. The reasoning for this is that it can take anywhere from 30-50 years for someone to show signs and symptoms of mesothelioma. Those who have it aren’t aware until the disease is in its far advanced stages and this is the reason it’s so difficult to treat and the survival rate is extremely low in comparison to many other types of cancer. The disease’s occurrence in the US has become a cause for concern, with over 2,000 new cases being diagnosed every year.