Although it is rare, Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that has been used for decades to make fibers used in building materials and to manufacture other products. Since the material was deemed to be safe for regular use, it was used regularly but without ever giving anyone a reason to think that it could cause cancer.
The material was still available, however, and so companies produced newer fibers that were then used to make products. While they were manufactured to be safer, they weren’t as safe as they could have been. And because they were not known to cause cancer, companies continued to use them.
Asbestos fibers are very dangerous. They are hot to touch and can cause serious burns. Also, they can cause lung and other problems from breathing in dust particles. Because of this, people have been concerned about this problem since the early 20th century.
For many years, there were no treatments for this type of Mesothelioma but a few new techniques were introduced to help people who had been exposed to the material and get the best possible outcome. Some of these techniques helped but others did not. Eventually, there were enough studies done that the information became available to those who knew something about Mesothelioma.
Some researchers believe that these diseases were caused by another type of disease called Asbestosis, which affects the lungs and other parts of the body. The mesothelioma was officially named in 1980. By that time, doctors began looking at cases of this disease and then at the ones that had occurred years before and concluded that this disease was not caused by asbestos. In the years following, a number of studies have been done, proving that the cancer is caused by asbestos.
However, while the reason for the mesothelioma’s development remains unknown, researchers know the cause of this disease: Asbestosis. This asbestos-related disease has been the major focus of research in the past couple of decades. In this case, scientists are still unclear on exactly what the cause is but most agree that a chemical called alpha-pinene may be a significant contributor.
Those who have this disease will experience a variety of different symptoms. These include but are not limited to, difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing and even loss of weight. However, as many experts are quick to point out, while there are symptoms, the actual cause of Mesothelioma is not known.
The difference between a positive diagnosis and one that is considered a false negative is sometimes just a matter of luck. However, having the cancer is a very scary thought. So it is important that if you do have this type of Mesothelioma, that you seek the care that you need immediately.
