How do People Get Mesothelioma?

The cancer of the mesothelium is known as Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma damages the tissues and other organs of the body and can also affect the cells and spread throughout the body. Asbestos is the main factor for this disease. People in factories or offices who work under the asbestos roof or people who manufacture asbestos sheets or asbestos related products tend to get this disease. Around 70-80 percent cases for mesothelioma are because of asbestos. However, there are some cases where the person with mesotheliioma has no exposure to asbestos. The tiny particles or asbestos dust float in the air, and when they are inhaled, it leads to health problems. Exposure to asbestos also increases the possibility of lung cancer, and other types of cancers. Smoking as well as exposure to asbestos could lead to cancer in the air passageways.

Before the Internet era it was hard to find any information on mesothelioma. Now, with the advent of Internet, information about the causes, diagnosis, treatments etc can be gained with a click of a mouse. Around 2000 mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in the United States alone every year. In the past 20 years mesothelioma cases have shot up. Mesothilioma mainly affects men rather than women.

Some symptoms of mesothelioma are shortness of breath and chest pain. Mesothelioma is treated by surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy etc.