Mesothelioma is a type of cancer, and like other cancers, it’s not contagious. This means that you can’t spread the disease by being close to other people, touching them, or coming into contact with the same surfaces or items.
While this is true, there is no known cure for it. While it can’t spread from person to person like bacterial infections or a virus, it can still take a toll on the person with the disease, their family, and friends.
How does a person develop mesothelioma?
The primary cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. For decades, the dangers of asbestos have been known and shared; however, many people are still exposed to the dangerous substance. Some knew of this, while others were unaware of its presence.
Asbestos is classified as a carcinogenic mineral. Breathing it in can cause serious and unrepairable damage to your lungs. Even though the dangers are known, millions of people are still exposed to them every year.
Some individuals who have been exposed to asbestos in the past believe they are fine because they don’t have symptoms or issues after a few weeks or months. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is a disease that takes years and often decades to develop. Because of this, most people don’t know about the condition until long after the initial exposure to the dangerous material.
Dealing with a mesothelioma diagnosis
Once a person is diagnosed with mesothelioma, there are some treatments to help manage and reduce the impact of the symptoms. While the disease is not contagious, it can still have serious and life-changing effects on the victim and everyone close to them. Those with this disease need a strong support system to help during this difficult time.