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Mesothelioma
Medical Questions » Mesothelioma
| Name: Mesothelioma |
| Also known as: |
| A form of lung cancer that may be a serious complication of asbestosis. |
Causes of Mesothelioma
Caused by inhalation of asbestos fibres, smoking, or because of the long term inhalation of other irritants (eg. talc dust, coal dust). Up to 7% of patients with asbestosis develop mesothelioma, but half the time it occurs in non-asbestosis sufferers. The average age of onset is 60, and the latent period between exposure to asbestos and development of mesothelioma can be up to 40 years. |
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Very insidious onset, with symptoms little different to asbestosis itself. |
Tests for Mesothelioma
X-ray changes may not be apparent until the disease is quite advanced. CT scans are more useful in making the diagnosis in suspicious cases. A biopsy of the cancerous area is the only way to make a definite diagnosis. |
Treatment for Mesothelioma
Treatment with surgery, drugs and radiation has been tried, but with virtually no success.
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Complications of Mesothelioma of its treatment
The cancer is extremely virulent and spreads rapidly. |
Likely Outcome of Mesothelioma
Three quarters of victims die within a year of the diagnosis, and 98% within two years. |
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