What Is Mesothelioma?

What Is Mesothelioma?

Is one of the most deadliest diseases, uncommon forms of cancer, a lung cancer. Typically Mesothelioma follows an exposure to Asbestos fibers.

From the National Cancer Institute Web Site Says:

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Mesothelioma (cancer of the Mesothelioma) is a disease in which cells of the Mesothelioma become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum.
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What is this Mesothelioma Lung Cancer Site About?

I was once again thinking about my own mortality, while watching my son run around in circles till he got dizzy and fell down. I thought to myself, if I did the exact same thing, I would problem hurt myself. This made me give thanks for God watching over me, blessing with knowledge of not doing things to myself that could hurt me. Then I thought about things I did in the past that could still hurt me, then Asbestos Lung Cancer came to mind. Mesothelioma.

I wanted to take the time to write another web page on the vast web of information about cancers, lung cancers, and this uncommon cancer. You can get all the mumbo-jumbo about the technology for lung cancer detection, or the biology about how Asbestos fibers destroy healthy tissue to it mutates, but I want to put a personal spin on it. It has been an observation, that men were most exposed to Asbestos. Being a man, it seems to be difficult to admit that we need help, when we aren't feeling well. We discount the anything bad as doing something wrong, or spraining a muscle. We men to face the issue, we might not be in total control of our destiny.

If you think you've been exposed to Airborne Asbestos Fibers, tell your doctor. He or she will know the best course of action, in early detection of Asbestos Lung Cancer, and might help you fight a good fight against the deadly effects of developing mesothelioma.

What is My Story About A Possible Future Mesothelioma Diagnosis?

I was in the military for several years. Part of my service time was in a shipyard, dry dock working on an old ship. With the shipyard workers, I was trained against exposure to asbestos, or more importantly asbestos fibers, but the training only made me realize something. Prior to the shipyard, we lived, worked, and played on the ship I was on. We replaced damaged insulation, and many times had steam pipes shacking over our racks (beds). Our whole ship ran on steam, and the ship was build in the 50s-60's.

Back to the ship yard experience, in hind site I tried to be careful working around areas where Asbestos Abatement (removal) was happening, but the one size fits all approach to workers is wrong. The government's approached to equal treatment being fair, meant only one size masks, and suits were available for a diverse group of people. I've torn my suit many times, and some people had a hard time maintaining a seal around their fast with the negative pressure masks. So it is possible, some of us are very doomed.

To add to my own personal stupidity, at the time I usually replaced steam plant insulation, I had a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. I was breathing deep the dust, and having insulation covered hands about my face wasn't smart. Since then I stopped smoking.

What Is The Latency Period For Mesothelioma?

This is an important question. Because we all know 'old-age' will soon kill us, but we are comforted in believing it is so fare off. This Asbestos Lung Cancer will kill us too, but if you rise in symptoms is so far off that something else kills us, before we develop Mesothelioma symptoms, so be it. But we can only guess.

Here is what the National Cancer Society Web Site Says:
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Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the Mesothelioma to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.
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Final Note For Past Asbestos Workers

IMHO: Mesothelioma is a nasty way to die, and if there is any way that the medical community can help minimize the symptoms and the deadliness of this disease you need to work with them. My suggestions after reading up on mesothelioma lung cancer:

• Quit Smoking. Lung Cancer of any type attacks the ability for the lungs to function. Stop voluntarily damaging your lungs!
• Live healthy. If you are a healthy person, it takes more to get you feeling sick.
• Exercise. If you can improve your lungs capability to exchange oxygen, then you can help your body function under stress full conditions.
• See your doctor. If you never been to a doctor, and feel well, still see your doctor, and tell them about your experiences as an Asbestos Worker. Maybe a baseline set of test can be done, allowing for earlier detection and treatment of any later cancers.

I hope that my fellow brothers and sisters of the Asbestos Workers community, continue living healthy and strong, and heed to the warnings of taking care of ourselves. Good luck!