Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Far-reaching Effects Of Cancer Mesothelioma

By Heidi Wingrain

Cancer mesothelioma, which is usually acquired due to prolonged inhalation of asbestos, affects the protective lining of our internal organs called the mesothelium and is a life threatening disease. The disease has wrecked the lives of many workers and ruined their families. Even a ban on the use of asbestos at workplaces has not helped much because the cancer develops only after many years after exposure to the material.

All types of mesothelioma, ie, the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial are deadly. The disease is diagnosed after many years of asbestos exposure making it difficult for the hapless victims to get compensation from the employers. It also hinders the treatment process.

Apart from banning the use of asbestos in work places by the government, the law gives the victim the right to claim strict compensation measures. This comes as a boon for the families of the victims which would be facing great financial crunches. Researches are going on to find better treatment methods to tackle cancer mesothelioma.

The early symptoms of the disease are fatigue, fever, wheezing etc. The patient is made to go through a long series of medications including chemotherapy once diagnosed with the disease. Chemotherapy is extremely painful with many side effects like nausea, fever, rashes, sores, fatigue, diarrhea or constipation etc. This can make the life of the patients extremely miserable. Surgery and radiotherapy are also employed as part of the treatment.

With the advancement in medical technology newer tools and procedures are invented for early detection and treatment of cancer mesothelioma. Modern treatment methods include immunotherapy, angiogenesis, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, complementary and alternative medicine etc. These days palliative care is becoming highly popular. This involves lessening the pain the patient has to endure.

Cancer mesothelioma, being a peculiar disease, requires long term clinical care where the combined effects of medical professionals, oncology social workers, psychologists and nutritionists are required. They provide solace and hope to the otherwise crestfallen patient and family members and give them a new urge to live. Without this urge, any treatment effort would prove futile.

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