Did you know that doctors diagnose an estimated 3,000 cases of
mesothelioma annually in the U.S.? The majority of those are traced to
job-related exposures to asbestos. Most people have the pleural type,
which forms on the lining of the lungs, but the cancer can also form
around the lining of the abdomen or heart.
Although asbestos use in this country has dropped in recent decades, a
steady number of people are still getting mesothelioma. That's because
this cancer can take anywhere from 20 to 50 years after asbestos
exposure before symptoms appear, and an oncologist can make a definitive
diagnosis.
While there's no cure for mesothelioma and the outlook is generally
poor, researchers have made significant progress in understanding the
cancer and developing new treatment options and alternative therapies.
How Does Asbestos Cause Cancer?
Mesothelioma typically develops after people are exposed to asbestos in
the workplace – in industrial settings, shipyards, auto repair shops,
old houses, schools and
public buildings. While it usually takes long-term exposure to put
someone at risk, short-term and one-time exposures are also known to
cause this cancer.
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