Friday, August 1, 2008

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:
  1. chest wall pain
  2. pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
  3. shortness of breath
  4. fatigue or anemia
  5. wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
  6. blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)


Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesothelioma

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