Asbestos has been shown to cause a host of health problems for those who inhale it. As such, it starts off as a respiratory disease. Unfortunately, it can develop well beyond that. This evolution has caused a massive amount of confusion to the point that two results, Mesothelioma and lung cancer, are often used interchangeably when they should not be.

Asbestos exposure can often lead to cancer in the person exposed if the fibers of the mineral in question are breathed into the lungs. Any form of cancer is simply bad news. That being said, there are different types and each comes with its own issues, treatments and potential outcomes. With asbestos exposure, the two most common forms of cancer are Mesothelioma and lung cancer. They are distinct health problems. Let's take a closer look.

Lung cancer obviously impacts the condition of your lungs. Lungs are the biomechanism we use when breathing. They introduce oxygen into our body and expel carbon dioxide and other minor gases like nitrogen. Breathing in air from the environment can be hazardous. In the case of asbestos, we can breathe in tiny fibers of minerals in asbestos forms. Once in our lungs, they are very hard to get out. Slowly, they can cause damage to the structure of the lung material. Scarring, known as asbestosis, and tumors can occur. The tumors can grow and are known as lung cancer. There are various forms of lung cancer, and that discussion is beyond the scope of this article.

Mesothelioma is often talked about as though it is a form of lung cancer. It is not. To understand this form of cancer, one has to first understand what the mesothelium is. The mesothelium is with us from birth. It is a layer of cells that lines the internal organs and areas of the body. It lines the lungs. It lines the abdomen. It lines areas of the heart. The purpose of the mesothelium is much like oil in a car engine - it acts as a lubricating surface that allows the organs in the body to move without friction. Without the mesothelium, bending over would be difficult and probably a very painful proposition.

Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in this lining. It is caused by asbestos being inhaled into the lungs. From their, the asbestos fibers are absorbed into the body. How exactly they get into the mesothelium is unknown, but they clearly due. Mesothelioma can spread throughout the entire body core or remain in a particular area. If caught very early, treatment options exist. If caught late, it is rarely survived.

So, how do Mesothelioma and lung cancer get confused when it comes to asbestos exposure? Well, Mesothelioma often occurs in the mesothelium lining around the lungs. Although not technically lung cancer, once can see how the two would get confused. Still, it is important to remember that each is unique and calls for different treatments.




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The one disease that posing a stiff challenge to the medical community in terms of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment is the cancer of mesothelioma. It is a known fact by now that the people who have been diagnosed as suffering from this cancer are not the ones to be blamed. The real culprits behind their suffering are the governments and the asbestos industry. The dangers of working with the mineral asbestos had become known to the governments as far back as 1950s. However the findings of the scientific community were hidden and prohibited from being made public. The use of asbestos was persisted with in the subsequent years and thus millions of people were exposed to this dangerous mineral. A majority of these people now run the risk of getting afflicted with the mesothelioma cancer.

The reason that makes this cancer all the more difficult to treat is that the mesothelioma symptoms are not at all specific to this cancer only. A majority of the symptoms are in common with the other well known diseases. The mesothelioma cancer is the cancer of the mesothelial cells. Another reason that makes the mesothelioma treatment all the more difficult is that the asbestos fiber that is the main cause of the mesothelioma cancer has a long latency period. Once inside the human body it can remain dormant for nearly 30 to 40 years. By the time the mesothelioma cancer is detected it has already reached its final stages where any treatment is impossible.

We as a human society need to fight tooth and nail with this cancer and must make sure that no more people are made to suffer from this cancer.



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What does the word asbestos mean to you? I am not really sure why but when I hear the word asbestos my mind thinks of it is a negative, a bad word, I think of cancer and suffering. Asbestos has regularly featured in the news over the last ten years with new industry regulations, asbestos law suits and the development of new awareness training programs.

During the last decade the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 and the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 have come into force as the Government seek to improve and tighten up the laws to do with asbestos.

Many people believe that many dangerous illnesses such as cancer of the lungs, mesothelioma and pleural thickening are caused by the asbestos fibres that people have come in to contact with or have been exposed to. This belief is backed up by a vast amount of research that has been conducted over the last thirty years.

There are now a variety of training programs that people who work within certain industries are able to attend. These industries include electricians, builders, roofers and plumbers.

A number of specialist companies also offer to conduct an asbestos survey where they attempt to identify it, manage it, potentially remove the asbestos, test the asbestos and also write a report about the potential dangers/problems that could arise from its presence.

A company will normally offer three different forms of survey and it is worth inquiring with their specialist team as to which one would be the most suitable for your particular circumstances.




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