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The Link Between Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

A rare, aggressive type of cancer that typically affects the lining of the lungs, heart, and abdomen, mesothelioma is not commonly caused by asbestos exposure, which occurs when fibers are inhaled into the body and become lodged in body cavities. Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma; however, some cases of mesothelioma have been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. Symptoms of mesothelioma do not appear for 20 to 50 years after initial exposure to asbestos.

The risk of such asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, as well as lung, larynx, or kidney cancer, increases with heavier and longer exposure to asbestos; however, some individuals with only brief exposures to asbestos have fallen victim to mesothelioma. There are five known types of mesothelioma; four of those types are malignant cancers and invariably fatal, while the fifth kind is benign mesothelioma, a non-cancerous condition.

Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs and is the most common form of malignant mesothelioma, while peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the lining of the abdominal cavity. Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the lining of the heart, while testicular mesothelioma, the rarest form of mesothelioma, develops in the testicles. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest pain, fatigue, and lumps under the skin on the chest, while symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include weight loss, abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, and bowel obstruction. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms include heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing, night sweats, and chest pain, while testicular symptoms include testicular lumps. The most common treatments for mesothelioma include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

For more information on the harmful effects of asbestos exposure, contact RTS Environmental Services. Serving Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia, RTS Environmental Services has performed thousands of mold and asbestos inspections and solutions throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area, in such communities as Leesburg, Kensington, and Frederick.

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