More and more attention is being paid to a rare cancer, mesothelioma, which is characterized by a long latency period of 20-40 years. The diagnosis is complicated by the fact that its symptoms are not very characteristic, and they can also be the same as the symptoms of other diseases. What type of disease and what organs can it affect?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, the most common cause of which is asbestos. The disease attacks the membrane covering the surface of the internal organs, most often the pleural membrane (pleural mesothelioma), but cancer of the lungs, heart or peritoneum also occurs.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma – which accounts for 70-90% of all mesothelioma cases – are also not typical (shortness of breath, night sweats, chronic cough, back pain, unexplained weight loss), they may also be similar to the symptoms of other diseases.
The symptoms get stronger as the disease progresses. In order to determine the underlying disease in a patient with these symptoms, it is absolutely necessary to consult a doctor. It is important to inform the attending physician whether the patient may have come into contact with asbestos during his lifewith this seriously carcinogenic substance, because based on the current knowledge of medicine, the disease is most often caused by exposure to asbestos.
Diagnosis and treatment
During the examination, a blood sample, X-ray, MR or CT scan will be taken, but in order to further clarify the diagnosis a histological sample may also be taken. After the diagnosis, the targeted treatment consisting of various therapies – which depends on the type of mesothelioma, the stage of the disease, and the general condition of the patient – can extend the patient’s life by a few months.
Unfortunately, in general it can be said that by the time symptoms of the disease appear, the disease is already in a very advanced statethe patient’s life prospects are poor, the average survival time is only 12 months. A patient diagnosed with mesothelioma can get support not only from their doctor, but also from fellow patients and organizations dealing with rare diseases.
Given that the use of dispersed asbestos was banned in Hungary in 1982, and the complete ban entered into force in 2005(it is expected that the number of mesothelioma cases will increase in the coming years due to the long incubation periodn.
Source: www.patikamagazin.hu
