Not all forms of Mesothelioma are deadly. You can be diagnosed with
benign Mesothelioma. If you are, consider yourself one very lucky
person. There are many different technical types of tumors we can find in our
bodies. That being said, there are two classifications most of us are
really worried about – malignant and benign. Malignant is a tumor that
is highly cancerous and usually has started to spread. This is very,
very bad. A benign tumor is usually a non-cancerous growth that has not
spread. This is, obviously, very, very good.
Is there such a thing as “benign Mesothelioma”? Yes and no. In my
opinion, there is not, but others would disagree. When it comes to
Mesothelioma, the term “benign” is used to refer more towards a timing
issue than anything. It simply means that the tumor in question has been
found early on in its development. This is vitally important, because
this form of cancer is actually slow growing. If you can catch it very
early, surgery and chemotherapy can usually take care of it.
Now comes the twist.
How does your doctor find early development Mesothelioma tumors? There
are two primary ways. The first is pure luck. Sorry, but it is true. You
might complain of pain in your stomach that suggests a peptic ulcer.
While getting an ultrasound, your doctor notices a tumor and off you go.
The other method is through pain.
The trunk of the body is very
compact. A tumor, even a very small one, in just the right spot can
cause pain. Most of us go see a doctor to find out what the pain is and,
ta da, the tumor is discovered.
So, can you breathe easy once a benign Mesothelioma tumor is removed?
No! The tumor is an indication you have been exposed to asbestos. A
single asbestos fiber can cause cancer. You need to get a full workup to
check for any other problems. Then you need to do it again at regular
intervals for the rest of your life. Remember, Mesothelioma is extremely
hard to find. This is true even when doctors know to be looking for it.
Is there such a thing as a benign Mesothelioma tumor? It is a matter of
debate, but one you really shouldn’t care too much about. As with any
cancer, the key is to find the tumors as soon as possible and get them
taken out and treated.
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