To a young girl that looked up to her father for everything; guidance, love, support, and encouragement; trying to make my childlike brain understand why he was gone was unfathomable. I was trying to comprehend the answer to my own question; What is Mesothelioma? Because everyone was to scared or to upset to answer me. I went to the one person besides my father that I could trust wholehearted, my mother. I looked at her and asked the inevitable question that I had been repeating only to myself; What is Mesothelioma? I knew it could not be good because she began crying and just hugged me.

I remember that was the precise moment when my very fragile 12 year old life change forever. I was turned around by my aunt and led away from my mother by the hand. My aunt told me that she wanted to talk to me in my bedroom and answer all the questions I had. Finally! I had someone that was willing to answer my questions and explain to me what was going on. I practically raced to my room with my favorite aunt and we sat on my bed. I began with the same question; What is Mesothelioma? But then my aunt asked me where I heard such a big word. I told her I heard my mother say it the other day, so I figured it had something to do with why everyone was crying and upset.

She shook her head in agreement and began to explain to me what I had been wanting to know this whole time. She explained to me that because my father was such a hard worker and a good provider he would work in whatever circumstances he would have to in order to earn a paycheck to support his family. Due to this however he got a form of cancer that is acquired from direct contact with asbestos. She must have known what my next question was going to be since she continued on to tell me that asbestos was a chemical that was deadly and also found in old paint. When the paint was chipped off or  blasted off the asbestos would be in the dust and my father breathed it into his lungs.

I sat on the edge of my bed and at that very moment was when I began to hate the cancer, I hated the disease because I knew that it was the reason why my father was not with us anymore. My aunt, my father’s sister, finally answered my question. She looked at me and told me that I may not want to know, What is Mesothelioma? I remember beginning to cry and I think I asked her why, or something to that effect.

She was very quick to tell me never to ask why, but just have reasoning and faith that my father is looking down on me now and he is making sure I am taken care of. We must have sat on my bed for a very long time together, and she answered every question I had. Some I did not want to know the answers to, but I needed to know. I remember falling asleep and waking up in her arms that afternoon. She never once left my side and for that I will forever love her.

Asbestos, we have all heard this word before. But I had no idea that I also had to associate another word with it as well. Mesothelioma. Or more technically it is called malignant Mesothelioma. Either way you want to call it, it is cancer. It is actually a very rare form of cancer as well. Actually it is a form of cancer that begins in the lining of the internal organs in a persons body. And low and behold it is caused by asbestos. Most often times Mesothelioma will begin to develop in the outer lining of the lungs and where the chest wall is. This is because asbestos is breathed in and contained in the lungs. However it is not only contained there. Mesothelioma can also be detected in the stomach cavity, the lining of the heart, and the sac around the testicles of a male.

Breathing asbestos is the culprit for those who are suffering from Mesothelioma now. The people diagnosed with Mesothelioma often have worked in areas where they were exposed to asbestos or the fibers of it. Also, if you are washing and drying laundry of someone working near asbestos your health is at risk as well. Even though smoking cigarettes have not been said to cause Mesothelioma, it has been proven that it speeds the process of the disease greatly.

There are many symptoms of Mesothelioma, but often times people do not get evaluated until they are much further along than they ever imagined. Some symptoms include shortness of breath, and unexplained weight loss. Even with these symptoms an actual diagnosis can only be made through a chest x-ray, CT scan, and a biopsy that includes a microscopic analysis. So unfortunately Mesothelioma is not a cancer that can be diagnosed quickly. There is going to be some waiting time associated with it. Despite going to a doctor and being diagnosed,  Mesothelioma has a very poor prognosis in the long run. Treatment can include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and even as a last resort it may include surgery.

The more common signs or symptoms of  Mesothelioma are:

• pain in the chest
• shortness of breathing
• anemia and lethargy
• wheeziness, coughing
• coughing up blood

Once the cancer has affected the stomach cavity the symptoms may be:

• stomach pain
• mass in the stomach or abdomen area
• bowel issues
• weight loss

In the more severe cases  Mesothelioma will show signs in these ways:

• blood clots
• severe organ bleeding
• jaundice
• low blood sugar

By now, I would hope that you realize how serious Mesothelioma is, not only to yourself but to your family. If you have early on stages or symptoms or something that you can not explain, go to a doctor. Be evaluated and you may have just saved your own life by having it detected early on. And we all know that cancer does not only effect the person diagnosed bu every person that loves that particular person as well.

This form of cancer is so tricky to diagnose that often times once it is diagnosed, it is difficult to decide on a Mesothelioma treatment at all. However, before anyone loses their head, everyone needs to understand that there are so many advancements coming up now days there are more treatment options surfacing constantly. All Mesothelioma patients have options ahead of them and they will have several different forms of Mesothelioma treatment to choose from after consulting with their doctor on the best course of action in their particular case. Of course, the most important aspects to be concerned about are the quality of life and the level of pain that the patient may be in. that will help make a difference in the type of treatment you choose.

Something very important to keep in mind is that each course of treatment is going to vary for each patient. The results of the MRI, CT scan, x-rays, and any biopsies will assist them in narrowing down the Mesothelioma treatment options. However, you want to evaluate all the Mesothelioma treatment plans.

Mesothelioma treatment will focus on killing the malignant cells and saving the healthy and strong ones. The treatment chosen will accomplish this. There are basically three different types of treatment; surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Deciding on what course of action to take with be determined by a checklist of sorts.

• type of cancer and the location of it
• actual size of the tumors
• how fast this cancer is spreading
• stage of cancer; I, II, III
• age of the individual
• basic physical health

Many times people think of someone having cancer as being a death sentence and it absolutely does not have to be at all. There are more and more advances coming to light every time I open a paper or click on the news. It is sad though that there are only a very few choice Mesothelioma treatment options even available. I cannot understand how someone can one day be told they have cancer and then the next decide whether they want surgery or not.

When I reviewed different options I found that when someone opts for the surgery it often involves injecting talc into their lungs to absorb the liquid. So it is not a huge evasive surgery, but rather one they can heal from rather quickly. In many cases this procedures only carries a one night stay in the hospital to monitor progress. But the extensive healing process would need to continue at home.

One last thing that can benefit whatever Mesothelioma treatment you or your loved one decides on is; rest. Allowing your body to rest is the best treatment in the world. Whatever you decide on as far as an appropriate form of Mesothelioma treatment, make certain that rest is at the top of the list in your plan. Any doctor that arranges a treatment plan will advise you to sleep whenever you can, do not get stressed and do not over work yourself.

People who are diagnosed with Mesothelioma often want to know immediately what the actual Mesothelioma prognosis really is. Once you are diagnosed with type of cancer you want to know what to expect and basically just how long you have. I have heard it said that no one person comes with expiration on their foot, but when it comes to cancer, there is science to back them up. There is much research going on daily to confirm what they know now. Right now about 10% of pleural Mesothelioma patients can anticipate a Mesothelioma prognosis of approximately three years after being originally diagnosed. Out of those survived, approximately half of them can anticipate an additional five years. Once a patient is diagnosed with advanced Mesothelioma they can anticipate a life expectancy of approximately a year.

There are so many factors that affect these numbers it is amazing. Actually the main factor is the detection point. At what point in the disease was it detected? The sooner the cancer is detected the sooner a doctor and staff can implement a treatment plan. The earliest it is diagnosed the doctors and staff can prepare a treatment plan that will offer a long and healthy lifestyle for the patient.

Early detection and diagnosis are not the only things that impact the Mesothelioma prognosis for someone. There are actually several others that are tied into this as well. All of these factors are determining factors as well.

• the actual stage that the cancer is in when found
• where exactly the tumors are located and the size of them
• the type of cells the tumor is comprised of
• the symptoms that the patient was experiencing
• the age of the patient
• the overall health and wellness of the patient, prior to diagnosis
• the sex of the patient [male/female]
• course of treatment determined for the patient
• the life style the patient led prior to treatment

Determining the Mesothelioma prognosis for a patient can be very difficult because there are so many different arenas that have to be addressed. The stages go from stage 1 to stage 4. Every stage actually represents a different point of progression that the cancer is in. The problem lies with the stages 1 and 2 are often never diagnosed because there are virtually no symptoms at that point. Not so early on that is. And once it is in stage 3 and 4 it is usually progressed to far to offer much high hopes of remission.

What a person diagnosed with Mesothelioma needs to realize is that there is nothing saying that the Mesothelioma prognosis is always dim. There is much research being done every day in order to get a grip on this cancer, and other forms as well. However as with any other cancer, you must have a will to live, in order to extend your time line. At least at that point your quality of life will be well worth it. Making sure to eat right, exercise, and staying away from nicotine will all contribute to your success.

We’ve all heard of various forms of cancer, but perhaps one of the less known forms of cancers is a cancer called mesothelioma cancer. Mostly affecting men 62 years and older, this rare form of cancer typically affects the inner linings of the lungs.

However, mesothelioma cancer, in recent years has also been found in the abdomen, heart, and other organs. Just like most cancers, mesothelioma cancer is extremely deadly.

Due to the aggressiveness of this cancer and how fast it spreads throughout the body, the life expectancy for most people is less than one year after they’ve been diagnosed with this disease.

It’s not all bad, though. Just as it is with any other disease, the key to surviving it is early detection through screening. Doctors recommend that anyone with a history of cancer within their family to get screened for all forms of cancer.

This particular form of cancer is usually caused or associated with asbestos exposure, so if you’ve been exposed to asbestos or think you’ve been exposed to it, please don’t mess around. Go ahead and get checked out to ensure that you’re free from any sign of mesothelioma cancer lurking around in your body.

The really strange thing about mesothelioma cancer is that its symptoms go virtually unnoticed, simply because they are similar to symptoms related to minor illnesses, such as the common cold.

The symptoms associated with mesothelioma cancer include headaches, fatigue, night sweats, chest pain, weight loss, decreased appetite, difficulty breathing, and abdominal pain.

We’re sure you can see from the list of symptoms why it’s not uncommon for doctors to misdiagnose this disease. However, to ensure that you’re free from mesothelioma cancer, the best way is to have it checked out through:

• MRI

• CT scan

• PET scan

• X-rays

Another way and perhaps the more accurate way that doctors believe to ensure mesothelioma cancer is not present in your body is by having a biopsy done. It’s a quick procedure where a small piece of your tissue is taken and analyzed to see if any form of mesothelioma cancer is present.

The only treatment for mesothelioma cancer is through chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation.

Another really interesting thing about mesothelioma cancer is that you can contract it without having direct contact with asbestos.

Often times men who work in an environment for years are exposed to asbestos without even knowing it. Sometimes they are exposed to asbestos through the products they make on their jobs.

This exposure, however, doesn’t just stay on the person who came in direct contact with it. The toxic fibers from your hairs, clothing, and even skin can invest your home and your loved ones, giving exposure to anyone who comes in contact with you.

So to be on the safe side, the best thing to do is if you know you’ve come in contact with asbestos or think that someone you’ve spent a lot of time around has been exposed to asbestos, it’s a smart idea for you to go and get checked out to ensure that you’re in the clear of mesothelioma cancer.

We’re sure you value your life and mesothelioma cancer is not a disease to under estimate or take lightly.

Being diagnosed with any kind of illness can be stressful to say the least, especially if you haven’t experienced any out of the norm symptoms. Well, that’s sort of how mesothelioma works, which is a rare form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

So if you’re like thousands of people across the globe who have been exposed to asbestos, there are several symptoms that could be a sign of having mesothelioma.

One of the most common signs of having mesothelioma is difficulty in breathing.

Although this is one of most common symptoms of mesothelioma, it’s also easy to brush it off as something else simply because even a common cold can sometimes cause difficulty breathing. Having a hard time breathing is serious enough itself, however, if it turns out that you’re struggling to breath due to mesothelioma, you could have more serious problems on your hands.

Another symptom related to mesothelioma is:

Chest pain: Chest pain, just like difficulty breathing is another common symptom that can be overlooked because it’s so common in so many other illnesses. However, if you’re experiencing chest pains throughout the day and night and you’ve been exposed to asbestos, this is a symptom that should not be taken lightly.

Weight loss is another sign that you may be suffering from mesothelioma. Losing an excessive amount of weight is a sure sign that something is not right with your body, especially if you’re losing a ton of weight in a short period of time and you haven’t been trying to lose weight on purpose.

You see, your body is designed to maintain a healthy weight, so losing a lot of weight for a reason that can’t be explained is a signal that you need to get checked out.

Fever: Although fever is common in virtually every sickness or illness that has ever been diagnosed, if you find yourself with a continuous fever and can’t get it to return to normal levels, regardless of what you do, then your fever could be related to mesothelioma.

Night sweats: Night sweats can literally put a damper on your ability to sleep. If you’re constantly going to sleep and waking up drenched in sweat, not only is your body losing a lot of fluids, but it’s also a sign that you could be suffering from mesothelioma, caused by exposure to asbestos.

Cough: Similar to chest pains, if you find yourself coughing over and over again for an extended period of time, it’s worth checking into because although it’s a common symptom in many illnesses, it’s also a major symptom of mesothelioma.

So as you can see, diagnosing mesothelioma can be a bit tricky simply because the symptoms are so similar to many other illnesses.

For the most part, the symptoms that we’ve listed are the main symptoms of mesothelioma, but also just not feeling well is also a symptom of the rare form of cancer.

The best way to determine if you’re suffering from mesothelioma is to get checkout by a doctor if you’re experiencing any to all of these symptoms, especially if you’ve been exposed to asbestos.