Choosing a Mesothelioma Doctor
Mesothelioma Cancer is considered, within the medical profession, to be a serious illness. Mesothelioma Doctors are now available to those who are sufferers of Mesothelioma Cancer.

Mesothelioma Doctors are well educated in the cause of Mesothelioma Cancer, diagnosis of Mesothelioma Cancer, the affects of Mesothelioma Cancer and the available treatment for Mesothelioma Cancer.

Therefore, when choosing a Mesothelioma Doctor, ensure that they have expertise, or quality experience in the area of Mesothelioma Cancer. This can be achieved through your general GP’s general enquiries on your behalf, or through conducting your own research.

You might even consider making enquiries with the American Cancer Society, who hold a variety of information about different types of Cancer and where to seek help. When seeking help it is best to research all your available options and then choose the best one for you.

Some of the important information that you might need to tell your Mesothelioma Doctor include, what types of symptoms you are experiencing, how long ago since you were exposure to an Asbestos related substance and for how long where you exposed to the Asbestos related substance.

After you receive and initial consultation from your Mesothelioma Doctor, you may be required to undergo either a Chest CT scan, or a biopsy, depending on which type of Mesothelioma Cancer your Mesothelioma Doctor considers that you have.

Essentially, there are three possible types of Mesothelioma Cancer that you could have. These include, Pleural (Lungs) Mesothelioma Cancer, Peritoneal (abdominal) and Pericardial (heart).

Once your Mesothelioma Cancer doctor has made a definitive diagnosis, he/she will then be able to tell you which type of Mesothelioma Cancer you have, at what stage the Mesothelioma Cancer is, whether it has spread to surrounding organs, or whether it is contained within the original area of the diseases initiation.

Your Mesothelioma doctor will then discuss your treatment options in relation to the type of Mesothelioma Cancer that you have and what stage the Cancer is at. Your Mesothelioma Doctor should explain these options in detail, including any side affects and the recovery period.

Your Mesothelioma Doctor should also explain to you what the results of not undergoing these recommended treatment options could be. Essentially, your Mesothelioma Doctor should give you a detailed explanation of your entire prognosis.

Your prognosis should include details regarding any risks that you may be subjected to, the chances of the Cancer reoccurring following treatment and how long you are expected to survive once treatment has been implemented.

Keep in mind that through ongoing research into Mesothelioma Cancer, treatments are becoming more effective and patients diagnosed with Mesothelioma Cancer, who undergo treatment, are surviving for longer periods of time.

A Short Introduction To Cancer
Cancer is a word applied to a multiple number of illnesses. Cancer generally means 'uncontrolled growth'.

Cancer cells bypass the body's normal signals that limit the life and growth of cells. Cancer cells are characterised, and often fatal, because of their ability to move throughout the body. This ability to relocate and then continue to grow is called 'metastisis'.

Cancer is a major cause of death, and, according to the World Health Organization, 12.5% of all deaths worldwide are from cancer related illnesses.

Some factors that can be causes of various types of cancer, whether controllable or uncontrollable, include tobacco, sunlight, radiation, chemicals used in construction and manufacturing (for example, asbestos and benzene), high-fat or low-fiber diets, air and water pollution, low fruit and vegetable intakes, overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol consumption, household use of solid fuels, and contaminated injections.

Although a cure has not been found yet, cancer can be partly treated using radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.

A Short History of Mesothelioma
An article published by Wagner et al in 1960 first established mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to crocidolite asbestos. The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers.

In 1962 Dr McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australian asbestos worker. The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.

In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.

Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. It is difficult to understand why the mine and mill was allowed to initially open and operate without adequate risk control measures - and why nothing was done to force the owner to clean them up, adopt safer work practices or close down their operations.

In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978 the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Department booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.

By 1979 the first writs for negligence related to Wittenoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until up to 50 years after exposure to asbestos.

Shortness of breath and pains 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 pain in the abdomen and swelling due to a build up 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.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions. It is important to see a doctor about any of these symptoms. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that attacks cells, called mesothelial cells, which make up membrane lining in the chest and abdominal cavity. The tissue called mesothelium, which is formed by the mesothelial cells, help protects the organs by producing a lubricating fluid that allows the organs to move without irritating nerves.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring, fibrous mineral that can only be identified under a microscope. Asbestos is found in the ground and is mined all over the world. In the past, asbestos was added to different products as insulation and for fire resistance. Asbestos exposure can cause ailments like mesothelioma and other problems. Extended asbestos exposure usually develops into serious problems.Asbestos is the most dangerous when it is airborne. The lightness of the asbestos fibers allows them to stay airborne for long periods of time and to travel a far distance. There are professional abatement services that will remove asbestos. Attempting to remove the asbestos without professionals is not safe and should not be considered.

About Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure affects an estimated 1.3 million employees in construction and general industry today. The highly toxic, fibrous mineral causes serious problems like mesothelioma and asbestosis. The deadly conditions have put the spotlight on asbestos companies because they were thought to have known the dangers of asbestos exposure many years before warning the public of the risks. Since asbestos fibers cannot be seen, years of asbestos exposure passed without the workers ever knowing they were surrounded by it, but the air they were breathing in every day was full of the asbestos fibers. Once inside the body, the asbestos hooks themselves into the lining of the lungs or other parts of the respiratory tract and remains there forever. Despite these dangers, asbestos is still found in more than 3,000 products today.