Cancer mesothelioma is a malicious disease which is life threatening. It is developed in people who come in direct contact with asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos for a prolonged duration affects the mesothelium, which is the protective lining of our internal organs. The disease has destroyed the lives of many families by killing their dear and near ones. Since the disease is developed many years after the exposure to asbestos, even a ban on it has not helped much.
All types of mesothelioma, ie, the pleural, peritoneal and pericardial are deadly. The disease is diagnosed after many years of asbestos exposure making it difficult for the hapless victims to get compensation from the employers. It also hinders the treatment process.
Apart from banning the use of asbestos in work places by the government, the law gives the victim the right to claim strict compensation measures. This comes as a boon for the families of the victims which would be facing great financial crunches. Researches are going on to find better treatment methods to tackle cancer mesothelioma.
Symptoms like fever, fatigue, wheezing etc often herald the outbreak of this cancer. Once diagnosed with it, the patient is put through a series of medications, including chemotherapy. But chemotherapy is a painful experience with side effects like high fever, nausea, a feeling of numbness in fingers and toes, rashes developing on the skin on its own, sores in mouth or throat, continued fatigue, diarrhea or constipation making life hell for the patients. Sometimes surgery and radiation therapy are also employed.
Angiogenesis, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, immunotherapy etc are some of the modern treatment measures providing a new hope to the patients. New devices are invented for the early detection of the dreadful disease. Palliative care is also becoming popular these days, which focuses on reducing the pain the patient has to suffer.
Long term clinical care is required for cancer mesothelioma. Joined efforts of social workers, medical experts, nutritionists and psychologists can work wonders for the hopeless patients. They can provide comfort and a motivation for the patients assailing in despair. Ultimately this will provide them the will to live and respond positively to the treatment process.




