Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation

The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation is a national organization dedicated to eradicating mesothelioma. It funds the highest-quality research projects with a peer-reviewed research grant program, the only program of its kind among mesothelioma foundations. Three tenets of The Foundation's mission statement for ending mesothelioma suffering are:

*Offer hope and support to patients and families by educating them on the disease, helping them to obtain the most up-to-date information on treatment options and to connect with meso treatment specialists, and providing them assistance, emotional support and community with others.

*Fund the highest quality and most promising meso research projects from around the world through rigorous peer-review.

*Raise awareness of meso, and advocate that the public and private sectors partner in the effort to cure it by directing the resources needed to stop this global tragedy.

Its donors include mesothelioma lawyers, corporations formerly linked to asbestos, and mesothelioma patients and their families/friends. It has been awarded the highest rating--4 stars--from Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator.

Mesothelioma Death Highlights Risk for Sheet Metal Workers

Sheet metal workers are one occupational group that has faced a history of asbestos exposure. In a recent story from Portsmouth England, Betty Williamson’s husband, a past sheet metal worker, passed away from an asbestos-related disease.

Her husband, Tom Williamson, received a mesothelioma diagnosis in October of last year and was informed that he only had a few months to live. The couple initially became concerned after Mr. Williamson developed a bad cough.

Mrs. Williamson believes her husband may have been exposed to asbestos during the 20 years that he worked for a sheet metal business. She said, “I cannot believe what has happened in a year. He was always a healthy person. We had lots of plans for our retirement.”

The Health and Safety Executive plans to launch a new asbestos campaign in November to notify workers about the dangers of asbestos-containing materials.

The use of sheet metal has been a part of several common construction projects, including guttering, siding, roofing and installing ventilation ducts for heating and air conditioning systems. Workers within the sheet metal industry can be exposed to asbestos through shaping and cutting sheet metal, which causes asbestos fibers to become airborne.

The release of asbestos fibers into the air allows for the inhalation of the toxic mineral, the primary method of exposure. Once inhaled, the microscopic fibers that make up asbestos have the potential of becoming lodged within the lining of the lungs, eventually causing pleural mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness.

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is difficult to diagnose because symptoms such as a persistent cough can be mistaken for a less serious condition. Former sheet metal workers who suspect they were exposed to asbestos should seek regular checkups for signs of asbestos exposure.

Present workers who handle sheet metal on a regular basis should use all precautions when working with the material. The Environmental Protection Agency claims there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma Risk Increased with Low Exposure to Asbestos

Malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is linked to exposure to asbestos, which is a substance that was once commonly used is a wide range of industries and applications. It has become known that long term and high level exposure to asbestos dust and fibers can lead to a range of serious health problems including this form of cancer.

However, according to a recent report, doctors are now claiming that even relatively low levels of exposure to asbestos can increase the risk of contracting asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma, with the results of the study being published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

A university professor who was involved in the research stated: “Research into the environmental or occupational causes of cancer is difficult to conduct, for various reasons, and there are too few qualified researchers in the entire area of environmental causes of disease.”

He added: “While many people think that there are armies of researchers investigating such questions, in fact there are only a small number throughout the world, for all environmental chemicals combined. Thus, even though asbestos is the most-studied occupational carcinogen, there still remain unanswered questions about how and under what conditions the different forms of asbestos can cause cancer (such as mesothelioma), and whether MMVF is equally dangerous.”

Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer

In the 20th century many people have been exposed to asbestos not even knowing it. Asbestos is a fibrous silicate mineral notable for its chemical- and heat-resistance and electricity non-conducting. Asbestos was widely used in industry and everyday life until 1980 when the EU and many other developed countries have banned it.

When swallowed or inhaled asbestos can stay in the human body producing toxic effect which may result in a number of serious diseases, such as asbestosis, Mesothelioma (Mesothelium cancer), lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, colorectal cancer, and other illnesses.

Mesothelioma (also known as "asbestos cancer") is a most common asbestos-related type of cancer. The Mesothelium is a cellular membrane lining certain cavities of the human body. Mesothelioma may develop in lung, abdominal, scrotal, and heart sac cavities, the four types of M. being called Pleural, Peritoneal, Testicular, and Pericardial. In 70 percent of cases Mesothelioma is pleural in origin.

Up to 3000 cases of malignant Mesothelioma are registered in the United States every year.
Mesothelioma is often diagnosed at its later stage because its symptoms usually appear 20 to 50 years after the initial asbestos exposure. Another reason of untimely diagnosis is that the symptoms of Mesothelioma (i.e. chest pain, continual coughing, short breath, fatigue or fever etc) resemble less severe and quite common conditions, such as influenza.

Treatment of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is another disease that can cause death evil, this disease is very dangerous and occurs when someone works with asbestos materials. These materials were processed with the help of businesses in the past. Most cases registered in the United States who are diagnosed as victims of mesothelioma have been produced in the manufacturing companies that are building products like cement. Tumors of pleural mesothelioma "the name of development" in the pleura in the thoracic cavity. Pleura, the outer wall of the lungs. Once the exposure to asbestos, symptoms of mesothelioma can take 30 to 50 years.
The treatment options that may be available to treat pleural mesothelioma, a combination of surgical options, chemotherapy and radiotherapy option option. There are many other options such as alternative medicine, which can also be effective. In May the surgical option to remove certain parts of the doctors involved in the areas of the chest cavity, he can not for the test will then be able to remove the first tumor and the tissue surrounding the tumor to ensure that any chance for malignant tumors to be redeveloped. In Option chemical called chemotherapy option "because we are dealing with a special chemical to cancer cells and tumors. It can be effective with some cases and it can be effective with other cases. The doctors can not mix with two options. In the X-ray radiation, and we can use gamma rays to kill infected cells, it could be effective in some cases. Please consult your doctor.

What are the risk factors for mesothelioma?

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure at work is reported in about 70 per cent to 80 per cent of all cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated and woven son purposes. Asbestos was widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, products flooring, textiles, and insulation. If tiny asbestos particles float in the air, especially during the manufacturing process, they may be inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health problems. In addition to mesothelioma, exposure to asbestos increases the risk of lung cancer, asbestosis (a noncancerous, chronic lung) and other cancers, such as the larynx and kidney.

Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the pathways of air into the lungs.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

The wall of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum. It also has two layers: the inner (visceral) layer that is adjacent to the abdominal organs and the outer (parietal) layer, which lines the abdominal wall.

When mesothelioma in the abdominal cavity, it is called peritoneal mesothelioma and causes thickening of the membranes around the abdominal organs and an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity. The accumulation of fluid is called ascites and causes swelling of the abdomen.

Side view of the abdomen. The peritoneum is shown as the thick line surrounding the abdominal organs.

Pleural mesothelioma

The pleura consists of two layers: the inner (visceral) layer, which is next in the lungs and the outer (parietal) layer that lines the chest wall. The two layers of the pleura are usually in contact and push each other as we breathe. The membranes produce fluid, where they can slide over each other easily.

Where is developing mesothelioma of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), the delicate membranes thicken and may press inwards on the lung. Fluid can also between two layers of the pleura, collect: This is called a pleural effusion.

Structure of the lungs and pleura

Mesothelioma information

Here is the fact about Mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a membrane thinner than the thorax and abdomen and surrounds the organs of the lines in these areas. The lining around the lungs in the chest and abdomen is known as the peritoneum.

More than 2,000 people in Britain diagnosed with mesothelioma every year.

Mesothelioma of the lining of the lungs, called pleural mesothelioma, which is much more common than mesothelioma in the abdomen. For every man of peritoneal mesothelioma, is about 12 people who have pleural mesothelioma.