There are literally thousands of different types of cancer that can strike anyone at any time in their lives. The most common form of cancer in the United States is lung cancer and though the fatality rate has gone down, it is still a terrible killer. Mesothelioma is one type of cancer that though uncommon now, was once one of the most common types of cancer. If you are looking for information or help, the Mesothelioma Cancer Network can help.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that mainly affects the tissue of the lungs. This type of cancer is fairly uncommon now but is a very serious type of cancer that can cause serious ill effects and can even cause death when not properly treated. Mesothelioma is the result of breathing in the minute fibers of asbestos when it goes air born.
Asbestos was commonly used to help insulate vehicles and improve their overall heat resistance. Asbestos was commonly used before the 1970s and before the real health risks that come with it were known. That being said, if you have an older car, there may be asbestos in it. Asbestos is most common in older cars like classic cars so if you restore them or if you work on older cars, you might have been exposed to asbestos without even knowing it.
What are the Effects of Mesothelioma?
There are some notable effects of mesothelioma that are good to keep an eye out for. These are struggling to breathe, you might cough up blood or have difficulty catching your breath fully, you may have trouble breathing when you sleep and more. Asbestos gets into the lungs when it is disturbed and since these fibers are so small, it can be very hard to see them and avoid breathing them in. Without proper protection, you can breathe in asbestos fibers before you even realize they are in the air.
Breathing them in causes the body to fight back. The fibers will become encased in hard and scarred tissue that then makes it hard to breathe and makes it difficult to catch your breath. If the cancer is untreated, it can lead to death of the patient. Mesothelioma can get worse and worse over time and when you do have a diagnosis of acute mesothelioma you do need to seek treatment immediately so that you can get better.
Mesothelioma is a terrible disease, it can strike anyone without your ever being aware of it and it can cause death quickly. If you feel that you have mesothelioma or you have been exposed to asbestos it is important to take the time to get to a doctor quickly and get your treatment started quickly. You can find some great resources out there that can help you to get your cancer under control and can help you get better, despite a mesothelioma diagnosis and despite the fact that you might be afraid something is going to happen to you.
