Men represent roughly 80 percent of all mesothelioma cases, but not because of the gender, but because of the fact that men are those that work in rich asbestos environment, and, thus increase the risk of asbestos exposure.
How do men get asbestos diseases?
Men and women get asbestos diseases in the same way, but from different sources. The tiny asbestos fibers implant themselves in the lining of the chest, or other similar tissue, such as the mesothelium, and allow cancer cells to develop. This happens with both men and women.
Men usually get exposed to asbestos at the work place, when women are exposed to asbestos at home, from insulation or roofing, or from the asbestos brought by men back from work on their clothes.
Symptoms of mesothelioma in men
Men experience mesothelioma symptoms after an average of 30 years after the actual exposure. This period is slightly shorter in women. Symptoms experienced by men suffering from mesothelioma are the following:
- severe pain in the abdominal or chest region (depending on the type of mesothelioma, and due the build-up of fluid in the area)
- dry cough, that will not go away even if the person tries to treat it
- heavy weight loss, most of the times without the person following a diet, the loss of appetite might also occur, and be a cause of this severe weight loss
- the person suffering from this disease will no be able to sleep very well
These are the most common symptoms of mesothelioma in a man; there are also some more specific symptoms as the cancer progresses. The largest problem is that, as you can see, asbestos cancer causes symptoms that are very similar to a lot of other conditions, which makes the mesothlioma disease very difficult to diagnose. Diagnosing the disease is vital if the type of mesothelioma what the patient is suffering is malignant.
Treatment methods used for man suffering from lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure range from chemotherapy and radiation therapy to surgery and alternative treatment options. The most appropriate asbestos treatment methods will be chosen after a thorough examination of the case and after establishing the stage and type of mesothelioma cancer cells present in the body.
Would you like to know more about mesothelioma in men? Is one of your loved ones infected and need immediate assistance? Contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers and we will make sure that you receive all the necessary advice and information, absolutely free.