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.

There are mainly three types of mesothelioma – pleural, peritoneal and pericardial. All these are potential threats to human life and are detected only after thirty or more years making it extremely difficult to claim for damages from the employer. This affects the effectiveness of treatment also.

The fight against this cancer has been a multi-pronged one. While many governments have banned the use of asbestos, the law stipulates stringent compensation measures, which enable the affected persons or their family members to claim some money as a solace. Medical researches are on to find better and more effective treatment strategies to counter the menace of 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.

With the advancement in medical technology newer tools and procedures are invented for early detection and treatment of cancer mesothelioma. Modern treatment methods include immunotherapy, angiogenesis, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy, complementary and alternative medicine etc. These days palliative care is becoming highly popular. This involves lessening the pain the patient has to endure.

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.

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