People who have been exposed to asbestos in their line work possess a greater risk of developing Mesothelioma Disease,although the symptoms will not be felt for at least twenty years or more after their said exposure. Their families were also at increased risk of developing the disease because they could also inhale the fibers that have clung to the clothes and hair of their spouses who were directly exposed to these materials in their workplace. Men are commonly affected by the disease more than women and it usually occurs during the later years of life at the age of 65 or older.
The disease could present with symptoms of cough,shortness of breath and pain in the chest. These symptoms signify the development of Pleural Mesothelioma disease caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers which promoted the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity. It could also affect the lining of the heart and cause symptoms of pericarditis. When it involves the peritoneal cavity,weight loss,abdominal pain and ascitis or accumulation of fluid in the abdomen are the common complaints. When disease has spread extensively throughout the body,it could cause difficulty swallowing,as well as pain and swelling of the face or neck area.
Treatment for mesothelioma disease depends on the many aspects of the disease like the location of the cancer or tumor,the stage when it was diagnosed,the age of the patient and the presence of other concomitant diseases. Treatment includes chemotherapy or radiation therapy or a combination of both that has shown a more effective response rate from patients,although toxicity level is also higher. Surgery could also be performed to removed the tumor although at this time there are no studies yet regarding its effect on the disease free survival rate of patients. As of this time there are no surefire way to halt the progress of the disease once it enter the late stage. The patient’s health eventually deteriorate and he would succumb to the disease.