Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a soft, greyish-white material that used to be widely used in building construction as a form of insulation and to protect against fire. Mesothelioma usually develops over 30-40 years after the initial exposure to asbestos however it can range from anywhere between 15 to 60 years after exposure to asbestos.
What is mesothelioma?
Malignant mesothelioma is a tumour which arises most commonly from the thin membrane surrounding the lungs called the pleura, although it may very rarely arise from membranes surrounding the abdominal organs and heart.
Pleural mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos fibres which are inhaled through the lungs.
Symptoms
Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can include:
- pain in the chest or lower back
- shortness of breath
- a high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF) and sweating, particularly at night
- a persistent cough
- unexplained weight loss
Most cases of mesothelioma occur in persons with occupational exposure to asbestos however there have also been a number of cases in which other persons have been indirectly exposed when coming into contact with workers exposed to asbestos or their work clothes. This largely explains why men are approximately five times more likely to be diagnosed than women largely due to their exposure to asbestos in the work.
Most people diagnosed with mesothelioma will die within three years of being diagnosed, and the average person survives for around 12 months.
The number of deaths from mesothelioma is expected to rise, due to the long gap between exposure to asbestos and the onset of the cancer.