Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. There are about 70 to 80 percent of all cases that are related to asbestos exposure at work. However, there are incidents that some individuals experience mesothelioma without any known asbestos exposure.
Even if asbestos is ban, it is still widely used in many industrial products such as cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. When the tiny asbestos particulates float in the air, and have been inhaled or swallowed, it can cause serious health problems.
Symptoms of this disease may take up to 30 to 50 years after the exposure. Shortness of breath and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleura are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.
In the early years, this disease has no known cure and historical methods for controlling its progression have not been very effective. But, with technological advancement mesothelioma treatments have led to definite improvements in the effectiveness of the standard therapies. It gives hope for mesothelioma patients to survive for a longer period of time.
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My friend is working in an asbestos factory. He is having this disease.