Mesothelioma Information for Asbestos Workers
The pleura (the outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), and the pericardium (the lining that surrounds the heart) all secrete a fluid which lubricates the organs so that they can easily move as needed inside the body cavity. Mesothelioma, in its early stages, will cause cells in these linings to produce an excess of fluid. If the lining of the lungs is affected, shortness of breath is a common symptom. If the cancer affects the abdominal lining, the symptoms can include such things as a loss of appetite, nausea, or abdominal pain. As the cancer progresses, it can lead to tumors on the linings, or on the organs the linings surround. Eventually, if not detected and treated early enough, in the cancer will spread throughout the body cavity. If your doctor suspects mesothelioma, he will usually begin with x-rays, CAT scans, and possibly biopsy in order to determine the cause of your symptoms. If cancerous cells are found, the next step is “staging.” Staging of the cancer determines how far along the cancer has progressed, so that the appropriate treatment method can be determined. Stage I mesothelioma is the early form of the disease, and as such has the highest survival rate. If the cancer has spread beyond the membrane surface where it originated, the prognosis can be grim.
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