What is mesothelioma cancer?
A woman watching with a microscope.
The cells are so small that you can only see them with a microscope.
Our bodies and all living things are made of cells. Cells are tiny one-of-a-kind, self-contained units that work together to form a living thing. Every cell also has life. It divides itself to form new cells, and each eventually dies.
Sometimes a new cell is created incorrectly and is not healthy. It usually does no harm to the body as a whole, as it is just a small cell out of billions of cells, and it dies very quickly. But sometimes a damaged cell divides itself and builds more and more cells in its own shape. These damaged cells reproduce and form an unhealthy lump in the body called a tumor.
A tumor can be benign, meaning it does not spread or cause damage. Or it can be harmful, meaning it grows and invades other parts of the body. This is mesothelioma cancer. Depending on the type of cells and where they grow, cancers can be slow-growing and malignant, or cause serious illness or even death.
Mesothelioma Cancer is not a disease. Every type of cancer is different. Some can be prevented, and some can be easily treated and even cured. Others are deadly.
If you are worried about having mesothelioma cancer
A woman talking to a man. It could be cancer - or it could be a common infection!
It can be very worrying to think you have mesothelioma cancer. If there are any signs of cancer, don't hesitate to seek help, but stay calm and remember that some signs of cancer can also be seen in other less serious problems.
The only way to know for sure if you have had most cancers is to perform a surgical examination called a biopsy which can be done in some clinics and hospitals. During the biopsy, a health worker surgically cuts off parts of the body where the cancer is suspected to have been placed under a microscope to see if there are any abnormal cells.
If there is a new growth or pain under your skin or anywhere on your body, it should be checked. And it is especially important if it is firm and stable. The whole thing can be an infection or a malignant swelling and it will go away on its own, but it can also be a sign of cancer, which can be detected and treated at an early stage. Ask a health worker about any of the following types of gout:
A person with a lump in the neck and groin
Increasing in size
New appeared and did not go away after a few weeks
Causes pain
Is felt stiff
The body fights infections through the lymphatic system, but the lymph glands are also places where cancer can occur. Contact a healthcare professional about swelling or lumps that do not go away easily, especially if:
Is behind the ears
Is behind the ears or below the chin
Is in the armpits and groin
If a person has a whole lot that doesn't grow or change over the years, it's probably not cancer.
There are many signs that can be seen in many cancers, but not all cancers cause these signs. And all of these signs can be caused by chronic health problems that are not cancer. In this chapter you will learn about the signs of the following cancers:
Lung cancer
Cancer of the rectum and rectum
Cervical cancer
Bladder cancer
Liver cancer
Breast cancer
Stomach cancer
Prostate cancer
Skin cancer
Capsular sarcoma
The signs are seen in many cancers
Signs are usually seen when the cancer has spread a lot, so these are not signs to rely on to detect cancer in the first place.
A woman in a room waiting for a clinic to be tested for cancer. The sign says ‘Breast cancer is tested every afternoon.’ Cancer testing saves lives. These should be readily available to all.
Lose weight
Feeling tired all the time (exhaustion)
Acute pain that never gets better
If you think you have cancer, go to a health worker who will help you understand what options are available for treatment or care and where to go. Bring another person on the day of the interview so he or she can help you ask questions and remember information.
Test activities
Some cancers can be detected quickly through test activities before they cause any signs of the disease, which test people who are at risk for certain types of cancer. Testing activities are conducted to detect cervical cancer and breast cancer because these cancers can be detected before they do any harm, and these cancers can often be successfully treated if detected at an early stage.
The sooner the cancer is detected, the more successful it can be treated.
Who gets cancer?
We know a lot about the causes of cancer, but we don't always know the reasons why some people get cancer and others don't. Anyone can get cancer and the older you get, the more likely you are to get it. With just a few types of cancer (especially breast cancer), if one member of the family has this type of cancer, the other member is more likely to get it. But most cancers are not 'driven by other family members'. We know:
Cancer is not caused by magic spells, curses, or evil eyes.
Birth control methods do not cause cancer.
Cancer is not a punishment for doing something wrong.
Cancer does not spread from one person to another - it is impossible to get cancer if you have, spend time with or care for someone who has cancer.
Activities such as smoking can cause cancer. From our workplace or through food, or through the products we use, and through air and water pollution some chemicals enter our bodies that cause cancer. There are many ways to prevent cancer but there are many things that cause cancer that people have very little control over. Even if two people come in contact with the same harmful substance at the same time, it does not mean that they will both get cancer.
Since cancer and its causes may seem mysterious, others sometimes avoid or do not treat cancer patients properly. This leads to further deterioration of the disease. People with cancer need our love and support.