What is Mesothelioma and How did I get it?

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer that affects the protective inner membrane of the body that covers a number of vital organs, the mesothelium. Asbestos is the most common cause of this cancer. The most common manifestation of this type of cancer occurs in the chest cavity where it affects the pleural membrane of the lungs. The disease may also affect the fibrous membrane covering the heart and the abdominal cavity. The cancer can spread to the nearby tissues and damage them to a devastating extent. 

Mesothelioma can also metastasize and invade different organs in other parts of the body. This condition has a high fatality rate and people usually survive around 6 months to one year after diagnosed with the condition in the absence of adequate treatment. Most patients die from the pleural variety of this disease, which causes respiratory failure or pneumonia. It may also cause small bowel syndrome in case it affects the membrane covering the abdominal cavity and cardiac failure if it affects the covering of the heart.

Mesothelioma is most common in people whose occupation results in exposure to high amount of asbestos. Asbestos is a group of minerals that possesses a number of attributes, which have made them perfect wide scale application in various industries. However, the asbestos fibers can into the body of people who work in the construction, shipbuilding, or automobile industry. These fibers are small enough to reach the air sacs inside the lungs and cause a number of disease conditions, with mesothelioma being one of them. 

In fact, asbestos is the major cause behind around 80% of the cases of mesothelioma around the world. Therefore, people working in sectors with high exposure to asbestos need to take necessary precautions to cut down on the level of asbestos fibers they inhale. However, family members of people with high exposure to asbestos are also at an enhanced risk to contact this condition. Traces of asbestos in the clothes and hair of these people is the main reason behind this.

Apart from asbestos, zeolites and other such groups of minerals related to asbestos can act as a trigger for this cancer. Some research studies have tried to find a link between infection by SV 40 virus and increased rate of mesothelioma. Genetics can also play a part in the development of this cancer with some people having a genetic predisposition towards it. However, it is clear that people should stay away from exposure to asbestos in order to cut down significantly the risk of developing this particular type of cancer.