Benign multicystic mesothelioma is a form of
non-cancerous mesothelioma. Mesothelioma affects the mesothelium, a protective
membrane that protects and lines most of the body's internal organs, such as
the lungs and the heart. It produces a fluid that lubricates the organs and
prevents friction when they move against other internal organs in the body. The
lungs, for example, can expand and contract during breathing without the danger
of it getting worn or torn once it rubs against other structures. As a form of
cancer, Mesothelioma is considered uncommon whether or not it is malignant or
benign.
Benign
multicystic mesothelioma affects the peritoneal tissue of the abdomen. This is
the lining that surrounds organs like the bowel, spleen and the liver. It may
also affect the pleura, the lining that covers the lungs. A person with this
disease will develop tumors in the affected areas. If the tumors grow, they
will cause difficulty in breathing or cause pain in the abdomen because of the
added pressure placed on the lungs or in the stomach cavity.
Symptoms
Making
a diagnosis of benign multicystic mesothelioma is always a challenge because a
patient can appear to be without any symptoms. However, there are certain
symptoms that may point to the disease such as, chest or abdominal pain,
chronic cough, difficulty in breathing or in moving bowels, shortness of
breath, fever, nausea, vomiting, anemia, swollen feet, fluid build-up in the
lungs or in the abdominal area and unexplained weight loss.
These
symptoms appear once the infection begins to spread or when the tumors grow too
big. Complications may also occur once fluid escapes into the pleura of the
lungs and may pose a serious health risk.
Causes
As
with the malignant form of mesothelioma, the cause of benign multicystic
mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. This places workers involved in
industries and occupations where asbestos is produced or used at a high risk of
developing the disease. This includes people whose occupations belong to
certain industries such as construction, demolition, automobile, ship yards,
power plants, steel mills, oil refineries, factories, railroads and asbestos
mining.
Unfortunately,
asbestos exposure is not only limited to workers in high-risk industries.
People may also be exposed to asbestos through tainted drinking water, use of
products that contain vermiculite such as some pesticides and fertilizers,
exposure to some older appliances that contain asbestos or by living with a
person who is exposed to the material. Asbestos fibers can cling to a worker's
skin, hair or clothing and he or she may bring it home without even knowing it.
Diagnosis
of benign multicystic mesothelioma
People
suspected of having this disease have to undergo a physical examination. This
will include a chest x-ray and CT scan of the affected areas. Biopsies of
tissue samples taken from the lung or the abdomen will also help in determining
whether a person has benign multicystic mesothelioma.
Once
a diagnosis has been made, a treatment option will be prescribed. Prognosis for
people with benign multicystic mesothelioma is significantly better compared to
those with other forms of mesothelioma. With early diagnosis and prompt
treatment, patients can expect a better outcome compared to people with the
malignant form.
Treatment
The
goal of treating benign multicystic mesothelioma is to remove the cause of the
pain or discomfort. Which treatment options to use will depend on the need for
an immediate solution and on the severity of the disease. In this case, the
target of the treatment is to eliminate the tumors. It's not always possible to
eradicate all tumors present in the affected area, but surgical removal will
prevent symptoms and alleviate any pain.
Chemotherapy
may also be used to target the infected areas. With radiation therapy, tumors
are either shrunk or destroyed using high energy beams. As a final solution to
the disease, it is important that further exposure to asbestos is either
limited to such an extreme as to produce only the minimum risk, or to avoid even
mild exposure altogether.
Benign
multicystic mesothelioma is a highly treatable disease. If you experience any
of the symptoms or have had prior exposure to asbestos, it's always best to
consult a doctor for a proper medical evaluation and diagnosis. This disease
may not be cancerous, but it is still a health risk and may prevent you from
living your life fully. You may even want to get in touch with a qualified
lawyer to help you obtain compensation for the suffering you have experienced.
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