Mesothelioma - Cause and Effect of Mesothelioma

Almost all Mesothelioma cancer cases are due to asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma affects the protective lining of the body's internal organs known as the Mesothelium. When you inhale air containing asbestos particles, the air directly affects the Mesothelium lining of the body. In most cases, the lungs and abdomen are affected the most.
Asbestos fibers are very fine and tiny and when they come into contact with the lungs of anyone who is exposed, it causes inflammation and the formation of scar tissue. This may then lead to Mesothelioma. The fibers become imbedded into the lungs and works through the membrane around it causing this type of cancer.
Asbestos is made of minerals with long thin fibrous crystals and it is flexible, strong and highly durable. Asbestos as also widely used in insulation because of its resistance to heat, electricity and chemical damage. Because it had so many good properties and was cheap to produce, it was used virtually everywhere and was in almost all buildings and houses. It was only until the 1960s that the link between Asbestos and Mesothelioma was discovered.
Abdominal Mesothelioma is caused when the fine Asbestos fibers find their way into the digestive system when swallowed. Again, this will affect the protective lining of the abdominal passage and may cause this type of cancer. Besides that, exposure to Asbestos may also cause person to suffer from chronic lung disease and respiratory problems.
People who are exposed to Asbestos on a daily basis like construction workers, factory workers or even those who live near asbestos factories are most likely to develop Mesothelioma. Since the link between this deadly cancer and asbestos was discovered, this material is no longer widely used. However, Mesothelioma may not surface for as long as 60 years after exposure. Therefore, anyone who came into contact with this material should be regularly checked for this cancer.
In some very rare cases, Mesothelioma does develop even if a person is not exposed to asbestos. The exact cause for this is still unknown and it may be due to genetics or family history. Since the link between asbestos and this cancer was discovered, home and buildings that used this material for insulation and building materials were removed. As there is a proven direct linkage between this material and Mesothelioma, we should all take extra precaution if were to come into contact with this deadly material. It is best to avoid being exposed to this harmful material at all cost.