5 Myths About Mesothelioma
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Mesothelioma Myth 1:
A common myth about mesothelioma is that once the disease is contracted, there really is nothing that can be done.
Reality:
Research has been intensifying for this disease and new drugs have come out and new drugs are on the horizon. The key to recovery for the mesothlioma patient is to detect the disease as early as possible. To read more about a new test for detection go to a new test for mesothelioma detection.
Mesothelioma Myth 2:
People assume that just because you have been exposed to asbestos that you will contact this disease.
Reality:
While many people who have been exposed to asbestos have developed mesothelioma, there are people who have had equal exposure and they have not developed the disease. Evidently there is a genetic component involved which is a factor for developing the disease. This is not surprising because today we know there is a genetic factor in terms of probability of development for many cancers. Some people who had only a slight exposure to asbestos developed the cancer while some people who had a major exposure never developed the disease. Statistically though, if you were exposed to asbestos for a substantial period of time in your life, there is a relatively high probability of developing mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Myth 3:
Smoking is a causative factor for the development of mesothelioma.
Reality:
Smoking does not cause mesothelioma and studies have shown that there is no association between the two. Smoking causes lung cancer but not mesothelioma. Smoking does increase your risk for developing asbestosis and asbestosis increases the probability of developing lung cancer. Asbestosis is a chronic inflammatory medical condition affecting the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. It occurs after long-term, heavy exposure to asbestos. Sufferers have severe dyspnea (shortness of breath) and are at an increased risk regarding several different types of lung cancer. For information on the relationship between asbestos and lung cancer go to asbestos lung cancer.
Mesothelioma Myth 4:
Asbestos exposure can only occur from products produced in industry.
Reality:
It is well known that if you worked in an industry which was involved in the production of products which incorporated asbestos, your exposure increases your risk for developing mesothelioma. Asbestos is a naturally occurring product and research is indicating that exposure to the natural form of asbestos may also be a cause of mesothelioma. For more information on this research go to residential proximity to naturally occuring asbestos. It is possible that individuals who developed mesothelioma and were not exposed to the asbestos industry or products produced from that industry, may have been exposed to naturally occurring asbestos.
Mesothelioma Myth 5:
Many people think that chrysotile is a safe form of asbestos and exposure to this form will not cause mesothelioma.
Reality:
The reality is that chrysotile is the main cause of mesothelioma. The three most common forms of asbestos are chrysotile, amosite, and crocidolite. Chrysotile or white asbestos accounts for approximately 95% of the asbestos used in US production of asbestos products. Amosite, brownish in color, is a type of asbestos that is heat and acid proof and is used for heat and pipe insulation. Crocidolite, which is blue in color, found in building materials, formerly constituted about 4% of the world total production of asbestos. All three of these forms of asbestos have shown to be a cause of mesothelioma.
5 Myths About Mesothelioma - Conclusion
These are the most common misconceptions surrounding mesothelioma. The reality for each of these misconceptions can be found from many sources on the Internet. While there is currently no cure, research is intensifying and most importantly, new tests to detect this disease are on the horizon. Early detection is the key for long term remission, and in cancer a long term remission is considered a cure. To stay abreast about the current mesothelioma news in terms of developments, go to Mesothelioma News.
