Writers’ Paradise

Why am I asking this question? Because until yesterday, I didn’t know this word existed. And suddenly I have been made painfully aware of this new disease called mesothelioma. Its a type of deadly cancer which affects those people who live in asbestos rich environments. This asbestos related cancer involves changes in the outer membrane of organs. Most commonly affected parts of the body are lungs and abdomen.

My friend Patty’s husband was working in an asbestos cement factory in Staffordshire.He was having regular pains in stomach and recently had shed lots of weight. Patty had argued seeing a doctor many a times but her husband always declined on one or other pretext. Last week she forcefully dragged him out of bed and took to the surgery. Doctor ordered some tests and yesterday the reports came positive. Patty is totally inconsolable. She says that Matt( her husband) had suspected that it all along and that’s why didn’t want to go to the doctor for the fear of confirming his suspicions.
What is striking here is that mesothelioma generally appears only after exposure to asbestos for two or three decades. But Matt is still in his late thirties and I don’t think he was employed in the factory for many years. Tolerance limit to disease causing factors is coming down rapidly among humans. And this is all due to changing environment and lifestyle.
Most common form of mesothelioma affects lungs, its called pleural mesothelioma.The person affecting from it, experiences fatigue, shortness of breath and may cough up blood in spit. In this type of lung cancer, patient can develop pneumonia and tumors. It may even spread to other parts of body.

I just hope and pray that Patty and Matt come out of this ordeal fine, hale and healthy.

Comments are closed.