Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, with about 3000 cases diagnosed in the United States each year. Exposure to asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos has been mined and used commercially since the late 1800s. The risk of developing mesothelioma is directly related to how much asbestos exposure a person has had and for how long, such as people who work in asbestos mines and asbestos products, and also workers in the heating and construction industries. Mesothelioma is not curable and is treatable only with palliative measures (pain relief).
Mesothelioma has a very long latency period (the time from the initial asbestos exposure to the development of cancer). Mesothelioma can develop some 30 to 40 years after exposure. For this reason, symptoms of mesothelioma do not typically arise until the disease has reached the late stages. Symptoms of mesothelioma in the lining of the lung can include shortness of breath, pain in the lower back or the side of the chest, persistent cough and hoarseness, difficulty in swallowing, unexplained weight loss, and sweating.
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